Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort vs Sandals Royal Barbados: Which is Better? (2026) | Resort Flock
Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort vs Sandals Royal Barbados
Royalton Luxury Resorts vs Sandals Resorts — Side-by-side resort comparison
Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort
Sandals Royal Barbados
Our Rating
8.0
8.2
Star Rating
5.0
5.0
Room Count
292
222
Restaurants
7
21
Pools
4
11
Year Opened
2018
2017
Year Renovated
2018
2021
Features
Metric
Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort
Sandals Royal Barbados
All-Inclusive
Yes
Yes
Adults Only
No
Yes
Beach Access
Yes
Yes
Spa
Yes
Yes
Kids Club
Yes
No
Dining Comparison
Metric
Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort
Sandals Royal Barbados
Total Venues
15
26
Included
15
26
Extra Charge
0
0
Room Comparison
Metric
Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort
Sandals Royal Barbados
Room Categories
5
12
Suite Categories
5
12
Activities Comparison
Metric
Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort
Sandals Royal Barbados
Total Activities
31
24
Included
19
18
Extra Charge
12
6
Pros & Cons
Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort
Pros
All specialty restaurants are reservation-free and included — no daily scramble to book tables at check-in
Star Kids Club runs 9am–5pm daily, giving parents a genuine multi-hour break
Guy's! Burger Joint runs until 6pm — a reliable option when the buffet doesn't appeal
STAR Class butler service handles excursion bookings, restaurant logistics, and room requests proactively
The bay beach has almost no waves, making it safer for toddlers than most Caribbean beaches
Cons
The hillside layout means every trip to a restaurant or pool involves elevation change — expect 10-15 minute walks or golf cart waits
Black sand beach reaches scalding temperatures midday — water shoes are necessary, not optional
The So Cal buffet receives consistently average reviews; plan most dinners at the specialty restaurants
Noise from slamming corridor doors is a recurring complaint; request upper floors away from the main entertainment venue if you're a light sleeper
Kids Club activities skew younger than the stated 4–12 range — children over 9 often find the structured activities limited
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
Summary
Sandals Royal Barbados has a higher guest rating, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort offers more activities.
