Firsthand, not brochure
Sandals and Beaches have new resort names. Search for the old name or the new one and you will land in the right place.
Illumia has stayed at Sandals Bahamas Nassau, Sandals Curaçao, Sandals Jamaica Dunns River, Sandals Jamaica South Coast, and Beaches Turks & Caicos. We have toured Sandals Jamaica Caribbean Cay, Sandals Negril, Sandals Ocho Rios, and Sandals Royal Plantation, plus Beaches Jamaica Negril. Many of the resorts have undergone recent renovations and we are so excited for our clients to experience the newly reimagined resorts!
Couples, start with the Sandals section. Families and multigenerational groups, skip down to Beaches. Either way, tell us who is traveling and we will tell you which resort fits.
Why Plan Sandals & Beaches With Illumia
All-inclusive is easy. Choosing well is the art.
As your Sandals travel agent, we help you choose well, not just book fast.
Real relationships
We work directly with the Sandals team, so what we share comes directly from the source, not the brochure.
The right resort, not just a good deal
Sandals has many resorts, and no two feel alike. We match the property and room category to your style, your occasion, and your budget.
No surprises
We walk you through what is included, what is an upgrade, and what to book early, so you can relax from the moment you arrive.
Support from start to finish
From airport transfers to special-occasion touches, we are available to assist until you are home.
A Note from Bridget
Jamaica is back, and I could not be more excited!
I recently sat down with my Sandals business development manager and the general manager of Beaches Negril to hear what is coming next. Jamaica is where Sandals began, and the company is investing about $200 million to reimagine three of its Jamaica resorts. I cannot wait to share what is ahead.
Resort Name Changes
Sandals & Beaches New Resort Names
Same resorts, new names.
Sandals and Beaches announced several new resort names in October 2026. The properties you know and love are the same, and the new names make it easier to understand where each one is located. Here is your quick reference guide.
| Island | Former name | New name |
|---|---|---|
| Jamaica | Sandals Montego Bay | Sandals Jamaica Montego Bay |
| Jamaica | Sandals South Coast | Sandals Jamaica South Coast |
| Jamaica | Sandals Royal Caribbean | Sandals Jamaica Caribbean Cay |
| Jamaica | Sandals Dunns River | Sandals Jamaica Dunns River |
| Jamaica | Sandals Negril | Sandals Jamaica Negril |
| Jamaica | Sandals Ochi Beach Resort | Sandals Jamaica Ocho Rios |
| Jamaica | Sandals Royal Plantation | Sandals Jamaica Royal Plantation |
| Jamaica | Beaches Negril | Beaches Jamaica Negril |
| Bahamas | Sandals Royal Bahamian | Sandals Bahamas Nassau |
| Antigua | Sandals Grande Antigua | Sandals Antigua |
| Curaçao | Sandals Royal Curaçao | Sandals Curaçao |
| St. Lucia | Sandals Grande St. Lucian | Sandals St. Lucia Grand Bay |
| St. Lucia | Sandals Regency La Toc | Sandals St. Lucia La Toc |
| St. Lucia | Sandals Halcyon Beach | Sandals St. Lucia Halcyon Beach |
| St. Vincent | Sandals Saint Vincent & the Grenadines | Sandals St. Vincent |
Not renamed: Sandals Royal Barbados, Sandals Barbados, Sandals Grenada, and Beaches Turks & Caicos already lead with their destination, so their names stay the same.
Already have a booking under an old name? Nothing changes for you. If you booked through us, we will make sure your confirmation, transfers, and details are all in order.
Now booking: Sandals Jamaica South Coast reopens November 18, 2026, and Sandals Jamaica Montego Bay and Sandals Jamaica Caribbean Cay reopen December 18, 2026. All resorts are taking reservations now for stays from their reopening dates.
Side by Side
Sandals vs Beaches: Which One Is Right for You?
| What matters | Sandals Resorts | Beaches Resorts |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Couples, honeymooners, and adults celebrating together. Adults only. | Families of every size, including multigenerational groups. |
| The feel | Romantic, polished, and relaxed, with elevated dining. | Lively and fun, with spaces for every member of the family. |
| Dining | Multiple restaurants across cuisines, included in your stay. | Family-friendly dining for every age, included in your stay. |
| Activities | Land and water sports, entertainment, and spa options. | Water parks, kids' programs, and activities for every age, including spa options. |
| Rooms | Suites designed for couples, including swim-up and overwater options at select resorts. | Family suites and connecting rooms, with room options for every age. |
| Best for | Honeymoons, anniversaries, babymoons, friend groups and couples' escapes. | Family vacations, reunions, and grandparents traveling with grandchildren. |
Not sure which fits? Tell us who is traveling and what you are hoping for, and we will point you in the right direction.
Sandals Resorts for Couples
Formerly Sandals Dunns River · Ocho Rios, Jamaica · Bridget has stayed here
Sandals Jamaica Dunns River
Best for: Couples who want an upscale feel and the option to be very social.
This Sandals feels like a lot of little resorts brought together into one big, fabulous resort. The beach, the restaurants, and the BLŪM coffee shop are things we talk about with our clients.
BLŪM is a specialty coffee shop at select Sandals resorts. The coffee drinks are included, made with Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, and there are pastries, treats, and ice cream too.
Formerly Sandals South Coast · Jamaica · Bridget has stayed here
Sandals Jamaica South Coast
Best for: Couples who want an upscale, quiet escape.
If you want a week of real quiet, this is one we point to. It is relaxed luxury set against a truly magnificent setting in Whitehouse, Jamaica.
Reopens November 18, 2026, and reservations are open now.
Formerly Sandals Royal Curaçao · Curaçao · Bridget has stayed here
Sandals Curaçao
Best for: Couples who care about a great room, great food, and a spa day.
We love this resort. The rooms are fabulous, the food is wonderful, the spa is a great retreat. We love the pools, especially Dos Awa, the resort's signature two-level Infinity Pool, featuring a see-through glass panel that overlooks the water. One honest note: the beach isn't really swimmable, but the lagoon is the answer, and it's a wonderful place to swim and snorkel.
Formerly Sandals Royal Bahamian · Nassau, Bahamas · Bridget has stayed here
Sandals Bahamas Nassau
Best for: Couples who want an easy trip from the US.
Nassau is an easy island to get to. The food here is great, and so are the beach and the pools. The real prize is Sandals Barefoot Cay, the resort's private island. It's a 5 to 7 minute boat ride off the coast, open only to resort guests, and it runs as a daytime retreat. It's gorgeous!
The rest of the Sandals collection
We have toured many of these resorts. Check back for our notes on each.
| Resort | Former name | Island |
|---|---|---|
| Sandals Jamaica Caribbean Cay | Sandals Royal Caribbean | Jamaica |
| Sandals Jamaica Negril | Sandals Negril | Jamaica |
| Sandals Jamaica Ocho Rios | Sandals Ochi Beach Resort | Jamaica |
| Sandals Jamaica Royal Plantation | Sandals Royal Plantation | Jamaica |
| Sandals Jamaica Montego Bay | Sandals Montego Bay | Jamaica |
| Sandals Antigua | Sandals Grande Antigua | Antigua |
| Sandals St. Lucia Grand Bay | Sandals Grande St. Lucian | St. Lucia |
| Sandals St. Lucia La Toc | Sandals Regency La Toc | St. Lucia |
| Sandals St. Lucia Halcyon Beach | Sandals Halcyon Beach | St. Lucia |
| Sandals St. Vincent | Sandals Saint Vincent & the Grenadines | St. Vincent |
Beaches Resorts for Families and Multigenerational Groups
Beaches is a perfect resort for families, multigenerational family groups, and even family friend groups. We have spent time at both Beaches resorts currently in the portfolio and we are excited to see new resorts coming in the near future!
Formerly Beaches Negril · Negril, Jamaica · Bridget has toured here
Beaches Jamaica Negril
Best for: Families who want a beautiful beach, busy kids, and happy parents.
Beaches Negril is perfect for families. The beach is beautiful, and there's plenty to keep the kids occupied and the parents happy.
Turks and Caicos · Illumia has stayed here
Beaches Turks & Caicos
Best for: Families who want a kids water park and a lot of choices in one place.
This resort has everything. There's a kids water park, a wonderful beach, and fabulous dining options. The newest addition is Treasure Beach. Set on Grace Bay this Beaches has the most restaurants to choose from.
Planning a trip with grandparents, cousins, and everyone in between
Multigenerational trips are our specialty, and the hard part is finding a place and activities that make every age happy. So we start by listening to who is traveling together before we plan anything.
Our one request: pick a point of contact. We usually start with one or two people. By the end we've talked with most of the group, and that's fine, as long as everything stays organized in one place.
Sandals & Beaches Destinations
Pick your island.
Jamaica
Jamaica is the birthplace of Sandals and is home to the largest number of Sandals and Beaches Resorts in the Caribbean. Sandals Jamaica South Coast reopens November 18, 2026, and Sandals Jamaica Montego Bay and Sandals Jamaica Caribbean Cay reopen December 18, 2026. The rest of Jamaica's Sandals resorts and Beaches Jamaica Negril are welcome guests now.
The Bahamas
Sandals Bahamas Nassau puts you minutes from the airport, so you spend more of your trip on the beach.
St. Lucia
Dramatic Pitons views, lush hillsides, and three very different Sandals resorts to choose from: Sandals St. Lucia Grand Bay, Sandals St. Lucia La Toc, and Sandals St. Lucia Halcyon Beach.
Antigua
Sandals Antigua pairs calm beaches with a polished, easygoing feel.
Curaçao
Sandals Royal Curaçao pairs all-inclusive romance with the colorful charm and vibrant island spirit of Curaçao for a Caribbean escape that's anything but ordinary.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines blends all-inclusive luxury with the island's lush rainforests, dramatic mountains, and secluded Caribbean shores for an escape that feels a world away.
Turks & Caicos
The flagship Beaches resort on Grace Bay, with Pirates Island Waterpark, the most restaurants of any Beaches resort, and villages with room for the whole family: Beaches Turks & Caicos.
Barbados
Two side-by-side resorts with stay-at-one, play-at-both exchange privileges: Sandals Royal Barbados and Sandals Barbados.
Grenada
Sandals Grenada is set on Grenada's Pink Gin Beach, with lush hillsides and a relaxed couples' feel.
On the horizon: Beaches Exuma, transforming the former Sandals Emerald Bay, plus new Beaches resorts in Runaway Bay, Jamaica, and Barbados. Stay tuned for confirmed opening dates and booking announcements.
All-Inclusive, Explained
What your stay covers.
- Your suite, plus meals at the resort's restaurants
- Premium drinks and snacks
- Land and water sports
- Daily activities and nightly entertainment
- Airport transfers (we will confirm for your booking)
- Gratuities
- Select experiences, which vary by resort and room category
Some extras, such as certain spa treatments and off-property excursions, may cost more. We will tell you up front, and we recommend booking popular experiences before you arrive.
Travelers Say
"We absolutely LOVED Sandals St Vincent. It was the perfect location for us. The resort was gorgeous, brand new, and modern. We absolutely loved our accommodations - the swim up room was perfect. The whole resort was breathtaking - it wasn't crowded (which we loved) so we were able to sleep in, go to the breakfast buffet and then head to the pool for the morning. The food and dining choices were all great! The people that work at the resort are WONDERFUL. They bent over backwards to accommodate anything we needed/asked for. We enjoyed getting to know some of the servers at the restaurants! Our excursions were wonderful as well! We loved the catamaran tour - that was probably our favorite. We absolutely loved this honeymoon and wish we were still there!!! Best resort I've ever stayed at."
Kristen Griffiths, Sandals St. Vincent honeymoon
"Bridget worked with us and our multiple date changes. She is professional and made our trip easy and absolutely amazing. Will be using her again."
Richard Baird, Sandals Royal Bahamian (now Sandals Bahamas Nassau)
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Sandals rename its resorts?
Yes. On the list we received, 14 Sandals resorts and Beaches Negril have new names, such as Sandals Royal Caribbean becoming Sandals Jamaica Caribbean Cay. The table near the top of this page matches every old name to its new one.
What is Sandals Royal Caribbean called now?
It's now Sandals Jamaica Caribbean Cay. It's a Sandals resort in Jamaica, not a Royal Caribbean ship. We toured it.
What is Sandals Dunn's River called now?
It's now Sandals Jamaica Dunns River. Bridget has stayed here, and it's her favorite.
What is the difference between Sandals and Beaches?
Sandals is adults only and designed for couples. Beaches is built for families, with suites, kids' programs, and water parks for every age.
Which Sandals resort is the easiest trip from the US?
Sandals Bahamas Nassau, formerly Sandals Royal Bahamian. Nassau is so close, and the resort has great food, a great beach, and great pools.
What is Sandals Barefoot Cay?
It's the private offshore island for guests of Sandals Bahamas Nassau. It's a 5 to 7 minute boat ride from the coast, open only to resort guests, and it runs as a daytime retreat.
Can you swim at the beach at Sandals Curaçao?
Not really. The beach isn't swimmable, but the lagoon is a wonderful place to swim and snorkel.
What is BLŪM at Sandals?
BLŪM is a specialty coffee shop at select Sandals resorts. The coffee drinks are included and made with Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, and there are pastries, treats, and ice cream.
Which Sandals resort is best for a honeymoon?
It depends on what you picture: a quiet beach, swim-up suites, an overwater villa, or a lively social scene. Tell us your priorities and we will narrow it down.
Which island should I choose?
Each island has its own personality, from Jamaica's energy to St. Lucia's scenery to the Bahamas' easy access. We help you choose based on your travel time, season, and style.
Is Sandals worth it compared to booking a regular resort?
Absolutely! The food, drinks, activities, and more are included, making your total cost easier to predict. We will help you compare options so you can decide with confidence.
How far ahead should I book?
For popular seasons, holidays, and weddings, earlier is better. Book as soon as you have dates for the best choice of rooms and resorts.
Can you plan a destination wedding or honeymoon?
Yes. We help with weddings, engagements, vow renewals, honeymoons, babymoons, and celebrations of every kind.
Is Sandals good for families?
Sandals is for couples. Families do better at Beaches, the sister brand built for kids and parents together.
Which Beaches resorts have you visited?
We've been to both resorts, Beaches Jamaica Negril (formerly Beaches Negril) and Beaches Turks & Caicos. Both are family resorts and both have different amenities to offer families. We can help you choose which one best fits your dream vacation.
Why book Sandals or Beaches through an advisor?
If something is wrong in your reservation and you don't catch it, you're on the hook. An online booking engine gives you no one to advocate for you when something goes wrong. With us, you also get advisor-only perks, amenities, and offers, and a team that stays with you from first call to the trip home.
Should I buy travel insurance for a Sandals or Beaches trip?
You should always purchase travel insurance for peace of mind. We are happy to help you choose the right plan for your vacation.
Do you charge a planning fee?
Our planning services are complimentary for many of our travelers, thanks to our supplier partnerships. For new clients and highly customized itineraries, a planning fee may apply, depending on the requirements of your trip. Your initial consultation is complimentary, and we'll let you know upfront whether a fee applies before any planning begins.
Last updated: October 2026
Ready for sun, sand, and nothing to worry about?
Tell us who is traveling and what you are dreaming of, and we will find the resort that fits.
Email: hello@illumiatravel.com · Phone: (321) 754-6039