We checked in the day after Hurricane Sandy. The hotel was understandably effected in anegative manner. The staff were awesome. Our room was great. We did check out after one day and moved to the Cove at Atlantis. The food at Sandals was very good.

Somehow, this place manages to clean up really well for promos and pictures. I will forever cringe when I see that Sandals commercial come on TV...

The best way to describe this place is tired. It looks like it may have once been a nice hotel, but now it just looks forgotten and depressing.

The food is horrible.... and no matter which restaurant you eat, whether it be the Italian or Japanese, the food seems like it's all coming out of the same kitchen and just re-purposed to fit the theme of the restaurant. And, the food was not fresh. Forget fresh fruit, fresh fish, or fresh anything... it all tastes like the frozen bulk food you would buy at Costco, then slathered in grease.

And I can't understand the reservation system. We had to haggle with the hostess at the Japanese restaurant, Kimonos, for a half an hour for a reservation only to find half of the restaurant completely empty for the entire time we were seated for our meal. I don't get it.

The staff is nice enough, but for some reason I felt like a constant bother to them just for being there. I felt bad every time I asked for something, even if it was as simple as a glass of water.

The biggest highlight for me at the hotel was the fire pits by the beach that turned on in the evening.

I've never spent so much money for a hotel stay only to count the minutes til departure. I don't think at the rate they charge per night that it's too much to ask to have decent food and a clean, nice looking hotel. This will probably be my last stay at an all inclusive because the cost just does not make sense for meals and drinks per day.

My wife and I greatly enjoyed this all-inclusive resort for our honeymoon. The restaurants, bars, amenities and activities were excellent. Looking forward to going back someday. I would not upgrade rooms though as we were rarely in the room and could spend the difference on excursions.

Saturday (Arrival): We just got here today for my wife's 40th birthday. This is our first trip in 5 years with no kids and we are/were really looking forward to it. We couldn't book the ocean-view room we wanted as they are booked until tomorrow. Not a huge deal as we figured/hoped we could change or pay to get the room we wanted tomorrow. So far though this is the same experience as my wife and I had the last time we went to a Sandals in Jamaica in 2005. After arriving they took us to the concierge area for check-in. After a lengthy check-in process we asked if we could make a few dinner reservations as we'd read online you need to make them as soon as you check-in. Our check-in host just said, "ok we'll make reservations for you" without actually asking where/what we wanted to eat. When we told him we had specific places we wanted to try he said ok then went off. We were then taken to Spices for a late lunch. Not only was the selection limited but we had to wait almost 15min just to get a plate. Once we got a plate half the food was gone. This was similar to our experience at Sandals in Jamaica -- food never seemed to be available.

Once our room was finally ready we were given our restaurant reservations. We only got one of the restaurants we wanted and not on the day we wanted. When we tried to change we were told everything was already booked -- so much for trying to make reservations at check-in!

When we finally got to our room it is/was nice and spacious, but nowhere near the location we wanted and the balcony is so small we'd be nervous if the wind picked up.

All in all we are still away with no kids and it's warmer here than home, but it's day 1 of our trip and we're already a bit aggravated and seriously debating if Sandals will ever be in our future again. Here's to hoping we can somehow get dinner and maybe get lucky on a room change. Stay tuned!