Staff quality is a consistent highlight — attentive, friendly, and frequently cited as the best aspect of a stay
Complimentary shuttle to Dubai Mall and Sharjah City significantly extends what you can do without a rental car
Heated pool means year-round swimming in comfort — valuable during the November–March cool season
Breakfast buffet is genuinely well-regarded — fresh, varied, and reliably good
Direct Persian Gulf beach access with included sunloungers and umbrellas at a price point well below equivalent Dubai beach hotels
Cons
This is a dry hotel — no alcohol served anywhere on property, including the 'sports bar'
Stray cats on the beach and loungers, with occasional cleanliness issues on the sand
City-view rooms affected by nearby construction noise and dust — ask specifically for sea-view rooms
Dinner buffet inconsistency — some nights good, others over-spiced or misaligned with the announced theme
Some rooms have noisy or underperforming air conditioning units — worth requesting a different room if yours is problematic
Sandals Royal Barbados
Pros
The rooftop infinity pool is the Caribbean's first — an evening pool experience with ocean views that's unavailable at other Sandals properties
All-suite property means no standard rooms — every guest has suite-level accommodations
'Stay at One, Play at Two' with adjacent Sandals Barbados effectively doubles dining to 20+ restaurants and 10+ bars
15-minute transfer from Grantley Adams International Airport — one of the shortest Sandals arrivals in the Caribbean
Lovers Lanes bowling alley and craft beer bar are genuine novelties within the all-inclusive format
Cons
Maxwell Beach is a public beach — other hotel guests and persistent local vendors are present and regularly cited by guests
Lounge chair competition is consistent: early morning positioning is required for both the main pool and beachfront spots
Summary
Occidental Sharjah Grand has a higher guest rating, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Sandals Royal Barbados offers more activities.
