Choosing between Sandals Royal Barbados and Sandals Negril comes down to the vibe you're seeking. Sandals Royal Barbados is a newer, ultra-modern all-suite property offering exclusive brand firsts like a rooftop pool, craft beer bar, and bowling alley. In contrast, Sandals Negril is set right on Jamaica's legendary Seven Mile Beach, offering a more laid-back, classic Caribbean atmosphere with arguably better calm-water swimming right off the resort. If you want cutting-edge luxury and dining, choose Barbados; if a pristine, expansive beach is your priority, choose Negril.
Key Metrics
Metric
Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa
Sandals Royal Barbados
Our Rating
7.8
8.2
Star Rating
5.0
5.0
Room Count
222
222
Restaurants
8
21
Pools
4
11
Year Opened
1988
2017
Year Renovated
2004
2021
Features
Metric
Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa
Sandals Royal Barbados
All-Inclusive
Yes
Yes
Adults Only
Yes
Yes
Beach Access
Yes
Yes
Spa
Yes
Yes
Kids Club
No
No
Dining Comparison
Metric
Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa
Sandals Royal Barbados
Total Venues
18
26
Included
17
26
Extra Charge
1
0
Room Comparison
Metric
Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa
Sandals Royal Barbados
Room Categories
19
12
Suite Categories
10
12
Activities Comparison
Metric
Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa
Sandals Royal Barbados
Total Activities
25
24
Included
22
18
Extra Charge
3
6
Pros & Cons
Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa
Pros
Closer to the water's edge than any other property on Seven Mile Beach — the sunset view from the beach is among the best in Jamaica.
Motorized water sports (waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing, kneeboarding) are included — these typically cost $80–150/hour at non-inclusive operators.
Eight restaurants for 226 rooms is a favorable ratio — shorter waits and more consistent quality than larger Sandals properties.
The Sunburn Rescue spa treatment is a genuinely useful, practically-minded option not found at every all-inclusive spa.
EarthCheck and Green Globe environmental certifications are actively maintained, which matters to guests with sustainability priorities.
Cons
The 75–90 minute transfer from Sangster International Airport (MBJ) is among the longer Sandals transfers in Jamaica.
Seven Mile Beach is public — persistent local vendors approach from the beach boundary, which is an unavoidable feature of Negril.
Property pools are notably smaller than those at larger Sandals resorts — guests who want a big pool scene should choose differently.
The resort is adjacent to Hedonism II's beach boundary, which occasionally creates unexpected interactions.
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 Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa offers more activities.
