My husband and I stayed at the Sandals Royal Bahamian from 25 Oct thru 1 Nov 2008. We were actually booked for Beaches in the Turks & Caicos but due the the extensive damage to the resort had to rebook and choose the SRB. We were not disappointed because it is a very nice resort.

Rooms: We stayed at the low rise garden suites which are very spacious with an extra sitting area, a large, comfortable bed and a huge balcony. The bathroom is on the small side and a bit dated but it has an additional vanity area so two people can manouver around each other.

Food: We enjoyed every meal we had and the service was good and attentive. We had two dinners at the Bacarat and both were outstanding. One was an anniversary dinner and came with a lovely decorated table and a serenade by the wait staff. We ate twice at Crystal's and loved the food and the ambience. Breakfast and lunch we usually had at Spices which constantly had a variety of good food and nice wait staff. No waiting and the staff cleared the dishes so fast, it was incredible. Casanova, the Italian restaurant is also very nice and we liked the antipasta bar. The dishes we had were also very tasty. We never ate at the pub, but went in there once and it is a nice place with lots of wood and the English visitors seemed at home there.

Since we are returning Sandals guests, we attended the Manager's cocktail party as well as the dinner. Both functions were very nice and well presented.

Weather: Unfortunately we did not have the best week with weather. It was unseasonable cool and windy and a bit of rain. The waves were very high and the lovely off shore island was closed on many days. Since Sandals does not heat their pools, only the hot tubs saw any action.

Scuba Diving: My husband is an experienced scuba diver and that was the only negative thing about our trip. Since the sea was rough most of the week, diving was made a bit complicated by being bused the south side where the boat was anchored. That in itself was no problem, but two days the Sandals dive staff decided that it was too rough to dive. Also, no scuba on Sunday. Other divers went to a local dive outfit which did the diving every day, but of course they had to pay extra. My husband dives in every Sandals resort we go, and the Royal Bahamian scores very low. For the diving we would not think about a return visit.

Summation: a very nice resort with friendly and attentive staff, beautiful grounds, especially in the area of the low rise villas were we stayed. Food was good and transportation to and from the airport posed no problems.

If I can answer any questions for you, please feel free to contact me.

Let me start by saying I've stayed at 2 other Sandals and had great experiences and we are looking forward to a week at Beaches in T&C with the kids. However, at the Bahamas, my wife and I just had a below average stay for 4 nights for our 10th anniversary.

As usual, people were great (except one). Bartenders, wait staff, etc, all had great smiles and attitudes and we still enjoyed ourselves. This petty stuff just kept adding up and it was comical after a while.

Here is the list of our complaints - which is way too lenghty for a supposed "luxury" all-inclusive resort:

1) After check-in - took over an hour to bring our bags to our room. We called ater a half hour and asked if we could come down and get them and they said they would be there in a few minutes. So my wife and I watched TV for an hour in our jeans and sweatshirts wile the sun faded away on a great day by the pool.

2) Our room door would only shut with a few slams and some real effort. We called first day to get it fixed. Not sure if they ever tried, but needless to say, I woke my wife up first morning (and probably the rest of the floor). Never got fixed.

3) Bathrooms by the pool were closed for renovations the entire time. Other bathrooms were closed for one day as they were painting. So basically for one day, you had to cross the resort to go - real nice touch.

4) Pool/Billiards room was closed for renovations entire stay

5) 3 of the 5 (I think there were five) hot tubs were broken, including the only one on Sandals Cay (the beautiful little island that they also have). Wouldn;t be so bad, except that it was very windy and cold while we were there and the hot tubs would have been nice.

6) Restuarants don't accept reservations (except Baccarat), but all had lengthy waits after 7:30 at night. I don't get why they don't take reservations. Also, Kimonos (Japanese restuarant) was closed 2 of the 4 nights we were there. Strange since all of the other places were very busy (obviously had enough people).

7) Piano man was a no show one night

8) Comedian left after 5 minutes trying to perform in a crowded english pub

9) I asked the concierge if I could print out my boarding passes the night before we left. After hesitating, I was told that the internet was "down" and she couldn't help. I pulled out my iPhone and pulled up a wireless signal a few minutes later in my room (still couldn't print though - she was full of it and just didn;t want to help). Never actually heard a concierge say something couldn't be done - I guess maybe its different when you don't "accept" tips.

10) In general, place was run down a bit. Faucets in room were broken/cracked, paint chipping, tub was pretty dirty from years of use.

11) Food was only slightly above average - much less than I've come to expect. Baccarat was great, Italian OK, Japanese OK, but everything was overcooked on the habachi.

I read the reviews before I came to Sandals Royal Bahamian and reviewers either made it out to be great or just ok, or horrible! Im going to tell you the things that matter. Lets first start with the workers at Sandals. Everyone is always saying hello no matter what time of day or however the weather is outside. I had no problem with the workers. Put it this way, I had more of a problem with the people staying at Sandals rather than the staff.

From the moment we stepped into Sandals we had these 2 couples in the late 60's or 70's that were just...."rude". Complaininng that it is hot in the lobby, to asking what kind of Champange they were going to be servered in an uppity tone. Not a good way to start off a trip for me and my wife on our honeymoon. P.S. when you book this trip as a honeymooner maker sure they no its your honeymoon. You need to send the ma copy of your marriage certificate and let them no online or by calling. This entitles you to a few perks that were the time. We were never made aware of this therefore I never sent them my marriage certificate which in turn created a annoyed wife.

My take on the food. Gordons on the Pier ($140) was very nice with quality food. Worth the $140. This is also a better choice than the private dinner for 2 ($180). The Pier is covered and shields you from a windy night or rain. Plus you can choose ala carte what you want to eat. The private dinner is open to precip and wind, plus yyou need to pick from pre-fixed menus. Also its more $$$.
Baccarat is great. Everything on the menu is perfect and its included with your stay. The day you arrive at sandals, the next morning you will be able to make a reservation with Baccarat at 9am-9:15am for 2 days ahead. Make sure you call every morning after that if you want a reservation. They book up quick. Sometimes within 5 minutes. PLease note that I ask for 2 entrees and they basically gave me half of the lamb chop entree (2 lamb chops and a reg size beef medallion entree. If Sandals is all-inclusive I should be able to get 2 full entrees. BTW they also give you 1 scallop for an appetizer or 1 crab cake the size of a golf ball if you order that for an app. They taste fabulous, but come on...

Cricketers Pub stinks, the Kimonos Hibatchi is sub par. No noodles and no choices. You get a little of everything. If you have an ari-ranf, or shogun near you this doesnt even come close.

Royal cafe for dinner is very good but no where near baccarat. We didnt get to eat a cafe goombay so i cant say for that place.

Breakfast...DO NOT EAT AT BACCARAT. Its a horrible selection and u will not be happy. Go to SPices, which is the only other breakfast place, its buffet, they have an omlette station(Will even make egg-white omlette), french toast station, and a pretty good selection. NO french toast sticks or belgian waffles. Pancakes were horrible.. But an overall good inclusive buffet, this is coming from a guy who is not a breakfast person.

Lunch is basically the same everywhere except for Spices buffet, which is not very good. All of the places have burgers, only cafe goombay, which is on the island, has chicken fingers with bluecheese dressing...no honey mustard. Everywhere in bahamas servers Conch. Cracked conch, fried conch, conch soup. They love it down there and it doesnt tastes pretty good. If you see the sugar cookies out in the lunch places...eat them..they are good.

Liquor: All drinks near the pool come in a small plastic cup. Not a good size platic cup. Most drinks are mixed without the liquor, poured and then they had the liquor. You need to then mix in the liquor yourself with your straw. Drinks ordered at the restaurants come in good size glasses overflowing with the frozen drink.

Friday night they have a party (with Buffet syle food) on the island with dance music playing and people getting crazy. They tell people to jump in the water with there clothes on and start dancing. Some people start making fools of themselves...its great. Then everyone goes back to the inland to listen to karaoke.

The massage was very nice that we had on the island. Get one if your there.
P.S.>Everyone gets pool chairs quite early in the morning and leaves their towels on them even if they arent using them. So good luck finding one. We saw tons of chairs that are reserved with peoples names on them. We do not know how they got that luxury, but we didnt have that.
If a lady tries to sell you a wooven basket on the beach at the sandals resort..she can be had for $25. Not the $40 shes asks for. The jet skis can be had for $40. Not the $55 they ask for.
Bring your own snorkel mask. There cheap and you dont need to pick one up from the water sport desk every time you want to use it.
Go to the island everyday possible. It's relaxing...the water is calmer which= clearer than clear water and little fish come by to play around you.
Go to atlantis at least once before you leave. Its a $15 cab ride from sandals to Atlantis. Takes about 15 minutes or so. Have a great time!!! If you have any questions feel free to email me!

I took my (now) wife here for 3 days in January.
It's one place I definately love. Great Staff, Great Food!
Don't be fooled by staying at paradise Island, this resort has it all. Open bar, Amazing grouper on the island and 24 hour snackbar.
If your comparing this hotel with another, please choose this one. Sandels does it right with their Flagship resort.