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
Service at restaurants and bars is noted as slower than expected given the pricing — allow extra time for meals
The scale of the combined Royal Barbados and Sandals Barbados property means it's a larger, more crowded operation than quieter Sandals resorts
Sunscape Dorado Pacifico Ixtapa
Pros
Staff consistently learns guest names and drink orders within a day or two — the 285-room scale makes genuine service personalization possible.
Da Mario Italian restaurant has the strongest consistent reviews in the dining program — worth prioritizing for one evening.
Sun Club rooms remodeled in January 2024 are noticeably fresh compared to the standard categories.
Ixtapa town is walkable — you can step outside the resort and explore local restaurants and shops without arranging transport.
Cons
Food quality is polarizing — guest reviews range from very positive to below average, with buffet variety drawing the most criticism. Manage expectations accordingly.
The Sun Club teens club hours (12 PM–8 PM) are shorter than comparable properties — teens without their own plans have less supervised programming time.
Summary
Sandals Royal Barbados has a higher guest rating, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Sunscape Dorado Pacifico Ixtapa is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Sandals Royal Barbados offers more activities.
