Sandals Royal Curaçao — Hotel in Curaçao

I waited two full weeks to write this review wanting to allow myself to fully absorb the overall experience from my trip, but I would recommend saving your money and not going to both Sandals nor the location of Curacao. Other than the layout of the grounds being picturesque and the friendliness of the staff, there is nothing I can offer in a positive light on this resort and island.|| ||The core issue of the resort is staffing (lack of) which only compounds the negatives for other areas of deficiency. Arrival was horrendously inefficient. After waiting around wondering "whats the next step", they finally say "go to the club concierge building". So you go there and wait with 100 other people and they talk to you in a crowd, not one-on-one! I couldnt hear a word they were saying. Maybe its understaffing or maybe it is just a terrible welcoming process, but NEVER have I gone through such an experience. I usually fly first class and upgrade to nice rooms so maybe I am spoiled, but even when I have just booked regular type rooms and such, the process has always been much smoother and personal and efficient.||||If they are able to get you into the restaurants timely, it takes forever to get to the point of receiving your food and drink. The staff is limited in knowing how to make a decent drink! Leroy at Butch's and Shontel in the lobby bar are by far the best, but everyone else really struggles to get the drink order correct. Lots of ice means lots of water so the drinks are watered down imo. Maid service was once a day and only during the turn-down service. The fire-pits only run for a short period of time and seem only for show or photo op's and then they are off. NO SHOWERS or FOOT WASH's around the pool or getting off the beach and walking onto sidewalk. NO BAR SERVICE ATTENDENTS around the beach areas or pool. You basically have to go to the bar to get a drink. Well, that means waiting and waiting and waiting! ||||We did an excursion and then cancelled when it was evident we would depart 45-60 minutes late. Process of accounting for who is going or not was inefficient. When they say 130PM departure, I expect things to run like clockwork, but not here. My bus to the airport left 50 minutes after schedule. Go to the restaurants for breakfast and the line and wait is horrendous. At least have the bar going with bartenders (plural, nor singular!). Getting a bloody mary was like impossible - anywhere we went!||||I only went to Sandals because I was with a friend and his wife and it was like their 15th time to go to a Sandals as he is a premier member or whatever level they call it. That level did NOTHING for him in regards to perks or recognition. He and other frequent members said Sandal's doesnt wait on you around the beach and pool but I find that impossible. Every other All-Inclusive resort I have been to (15-20 I would say) has offered constant service wherever you are. Drinks are a priority and food is too - at least get that area perfected and this is why i wont ever take the chance of going to another Sandal's. ||||The room I got wasnt anything like a Club Room I have had with other resorts. I couldnt really even enjoy the room as the patio had so much growth around it and the humidity. Even the wet cloths we would lay out to dry only stayed wet for days. The Club Level does not have any perks you would expect either. A concierge that 100's of others are utilizing only means you wait and wait and wait. I tried to order Room Service directly by calling. Even tho I was in a club room they said I had to order through my concierge. I called the concierge and they told me to call room service direct and hung up on me lol. When did room service only become a Club perk and not a resort perk! And the menu is very limited too. However, the staff is friendly and they really try hard, but the deck is stacked against the patron/customer and even friendly staffing will not make for a great stay.||||The Island - I did a 1 year military deployment to Africa and thats what it reminded me of - barren lands. It is not the tropical paradise you see in Jamaica, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and most other Gulf locations. Outside of being right on the water where the views are nice, the island is basically barren. I presume Aruba is too since its sort of next door. The weather during September is horrendously humid and hot. Ive been on the equator in Africa for months and its not as bad as Curacao, at least in September!||||There are so many things I could go on and on about, but you hopefully get the picture! If you must go simply to see a new location good luck. Im sure its not as bad as I say all the time, but it just was disappointing. My advice is spend your money on another location where you know the landscape and resort property better - Sandal's has a long way to go to get this location anywhere near...

From the moment we arrived, this trip was seamless. At the airport, we were met with bottled water, guided straight to the bus, and had our luggage handled. Upon arrival, we were greeted with cool towels and a signature cocktail, and check-in was so smooth that we were in our room within minutes. The first thing that took my breath away was the stunning infinity pool. With an upper level overlooking a swim-u bar, beach, and the ocean beyond, it's the most spectacular pool/ocean view I've seen across all Sandals resorts.||Rooms & Accommodations:|We stayed in a Luxury level room since we spend little time inside, and it allowed us to enjoy 13 full days on the island. The room was spacious, modern, and spotless thanks to daily housekeeping and nightly turndown. The beverage service was outstanding; staff fulfilled our requests for extra waters and Coke Zeros daily, which hasn't always been the case at other Sandals resorts. The only minor issue was damp floors in the evenings (common in the Caribbean climate). By no means was this a deal breaker, just keep a pair of sandals or slippers by the bed for middle of the night trips.||Food & Drink:|We ate at every restaurant, and the variety and quality were excellent. Some standouts include:|Butch's: Delicious hash and eggs benedict at breakfast, plus a classic surf & turf dinner.|Zuka: The Elote was SO good we went back twice and ordered it three times. Adobo made the best espresso martini on the resort! |Strand: Our go-to for daily lunches after diving. The fried fish sandwich and grilled fish fillet were wonderful.|Aolos: Incredible oceanfront views and highly personalized service. The sea bass is a must try! |Vincent: Absolutely outstanding! From foie gras and escargot to duck a l'orange, everything was exquisite. The staff remembered us between visits and went out of their way to make us laugh and feel at home. Easily one of the best dining experiences I've ever had at Sandals! Shoutout to Cherry from Culinary Services for getting us a last minute, last day, reservation for our favorite restaurant! She was fantastic and super helpful! |Pietra: Great buffet breakfasts, hearty pasta dinners, and late-night pizzas that hit the spot after long days.|Food Trucks: A fun touch! Everything was tasty (BBQ pork sandwich, albondingas, bao)! Be patient! The chefs often juggle heavy orders, but the food is worth the wait! Grab a drink, enjoy the view, and embrace island time! |Special thanks to bartenders Farelies and Hayslenn at the Quiet/Sports Bar! They were always attentive and fun, no matter how busy it got. ||Activities & Diving:|The dive crew was, without question, the highlight of our stay. They were professional, safety-focused, patient, and FUN! As someone who has lost muscle mass recently, I never once felt like a burden. They helped me confidently get back into diving more than I usually do at Sandals. My husband took the Invasive Species Extermination certification and loved the hands-on experience of removing Lionfish from the reef! ||We also did the Klein Curacao excursion and an unforgettable night dive with sea turtles, octopus, and squid. This night dive was far better than the one we did a few months ago in Fiji! The team managed every detail seamlessly, from safety briefings to spotting divers in drift conditions. They even surprised me with champagne after diving on my 40th birthday! ||Special shout-outs to: Dive guides Joel (who taught me how to blow bubble rings!), Darnel, Jordy, Soniel ("Doc"), Kerniel, Ridley ("Paco Taco"), Corwin, JJ, and Roderick. Also, Captains Michael and Darwin who always made sure we were safe and secure. A final shout out to JoyAnn and Suzette, who made us feel like family every day! ||Service & Staff:|Across the resort, service was consistently warm and attentive. At Vincent, Desterlina, Lelieth, and Kimisha went above and beyond to make my birthday so special. Everywhere we went, staff remembered us and greeted us with genuine smiles.||Atmosphere:|The best part about Sandals Curacao is that it can be whatever you want! It was the perfect combination of peaceful and romantic, social and lively, and adventurous and active. For us, it was the perfect mix of all three! ||Tips and Takeaways:|1. Bring sandals for damp floors in the room.|2. Food trucks are delicious but may take some time to get. Embrace the wait!|3. Be a gracious guest! Staff work hard to make your vacation amazing. Treat them with kindness and respect and you'll receive it back 100 fold! ||Overall: |We've been to Halcyon (St. Lucia), Grand Antigua, Royal Bahamian, and now Curacao. Curacao is hands down our favorite. We already booked St. Vincent with some newly made dive friends from 2026, but I know we'll be back her soon! This resort exceeded every...

My husband and I just returned from a 7 day stay at Sandals Curaçao and we had a great time! Neither him or I are super picky people who are high maintenance so that may have some impact on our review. This review is an honest review of our experience.

The landscaping/views- were absolutely stunning and well-maintained! We thoroughly enjoyed walking the entire property to see the beautiful plants and flowers that are on the property. Would love to shout out to Nathaly for going well above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that my husband and I had an extra special experience while we were touring the grounds! We are forever grateful!