Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Sandy Lane's legendary style makes it one of the most prestigious resorts in the world.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Sandy Lane Hotel has garnered a reputation for its vibrant atmosphere and immaculately clean facilities, with guests frequently praising the luxurious amenities and spacious, well-appointed rooms. While the service generally receives high marks for attentiveness, some guests have experienced slower response times.
Despite the praise for the comfortable and serene environment, the high costs and additional fees have been a point of contention for many travelers, who feel these charges are steep for the value received.
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Opulent
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We have been fortunate enough to stay at Sandy Lane on several occasions, and can't wait for our next visit in April. Having noticed a couple of less than positive postings I wanted to set the record straight.
Now of course it is very expensive, and you are paying a premium for exclusivity and elegance as well as quality. So when I read reports that complain about not being served with drinks while wearing shorts on the terrace at 7:30 in the evening, it just feels like people haven't got the point. There are thousand of hotels in the Caribbean where you can lounge around in your beachwear all evening if you want to. Sandy Lane is not one of them. And all the rooms have a beautiful balcony or terrace where you can enjoy your evening cocktails and wear very little at all if you wish to. But I don't pay a premium to be in a cocktail bar before dinner with people in their beachwear and shorts. There, that's got that off my chest !
The idea that maids entered the room when the Do Not Disturb signs were on (it has never happened to us over many visits) is as surprising to me as the idea that people still leave babies asleep and remotely monitored in a hotel where the rooms are no small distance from the bars and restaurants. Surely if you can afford to stay there, a few extra dollars for babysitting services would have prevented any such issue and made for much more relaxing evenings.
And if the gentleman who compared the rooms to a "shoe box style Marriott room" could let me know which Marriott he stays at, that would be very helpful as I will certainly pay it a visit.
We have received nothing but superb service every visit, from the greetings (always by a member of management) on arrival, to the first nights (always on the deck at Bajan Blue), to the beach service (impeccable) and the Monkey Bar (great staff). Of course the golf is incredible, great caddies and wonderful lunches with one of the best views on the planet. I forgot to take my golf clubs home once, and they shipped them to Florida for me, where I needed them a few months later.
So I sat and thought about what we haven't liked, just to be fair. At busy times, the popular area of beach close to the Terrace, gets a little crowded. Some people seem to like that. You just ask to be set up towards one or other end of the beach, where it is much quieter, and it is done.
That's it for negatives. Well the cost of course. We prioritise holidays, it's our thing, and we're lucky we can go there, but if you can afford it, and want to be part of the party, don't hesitate. You won't be disappointed if you understand what you are getting into.
If you're after a different sort of thing, save your money. There's plenty to choose from in The Caribbean !
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Date of stay: March 2019
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Ocean Rooms are the best value and very convenient
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I recently enjoyed a beautiful birthday stay at Sandy Lane with my husband and additional family from Scotland. It was our first vacation together since covid, so we were long overdue.
Sandy Lane delivered on every level. I felt a sense of old Hollywood glam when we arrived. The ambiance timeless and elegant, offering up top notch service from start to finish. We thoroughly enjoyed multiple spa services, golfing, the beach,(beach services were wonderful)and lovely meals. (L’Acajou made my birthday dinner extra special.)
Every desire is magically met, with seemingly little effort. I noticed our room was not stocked with my favorite tea upon arrival, and when I inquired, almost instantly I was delivered an entire box of my favorite tea! WoW!
Housekeeping was absolutely great, always anticipating your needs, and their perfect timing of slipping in to constantly replace towels, and supplies was incredible. Evening turndown service will be amazing when you see the giant pillow stacks that they prepare for you. Along with nightly macarons.
The entire staff was amazing and on my birthday there was champagne and a cake in our room. Multiple staff greeted me with birthday wishes, which was really nice. At L’Acajou there was another cake and the piano player played happy birthday too. Again WOW.
As you might guess, I loved this place🥰 Thanks for the memories Sandy Lane! Hopefully, I will return someday soon.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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We spent a week in Sandy Lane in an ocean-facing room & upon checking-in casually mentioned we were celebrating news of my recent pregnancy. Within minutes of being in our room a bottle of champagne arrived with their compliments. The staff are incredibly charming, particularly Hazel in the Bajan Blue restaurant and Shane in the beach bar. Senior management are constantly bustling around checking on guests and are equally dedicated to every patron. It’s easy to see why so many people rebook and come multiple times a year - the food is out of this world and the hype is justified!
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So this is supposed to be the best hotel on the island? Thank goodness for Barbados, it’s not. Sandy Lane used to be the best of the best, today it is tired, the rooms need a serious refurb and the staff are all focussed on extracting the most amount of money from you at every step of the journey.
Sandy Lane still plays on it’s reputation from the 90s when it really was the place to go. When you pay over $1000 a night for the cheapest room, you expect to be impressed. The food was seriously average (with the exception of the Sunday buffet, but that is expensive!), the staff rude and our room was miles away from the main areas meaning we had a long walk to go anywhere.
The only thing still going for this hotel is the beautiful beach it is on, but then all beaches in Barbados are public, so you can go and visit anytime you like.
Save yourself the pain, stay at the House, Cobblers Cove, Sandpiper or indeed the Fairmont. You’ll have a better experience and you’ll feel less ripped off when you leave as they’ll be half the price!
I would love to think Sandy Lane can get back to being the hotel they once were, but they have a long way to go, so it’s not going to be any time soon!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have never felt less welcome at a resort in my life. FULL STOP!! We came to the resort for a dinner out during our stay at another villa in Barbados. We didn’t receive our confirmation email (dictating rules of service) until long after we had already arrived. When we walked into reception, the staff was rude and flippant, and we were told that because our partners were not wearing long pants, we were not welcome to dine. We were not offered an option to buy pants, or given some pants on hand (which is typical in establishments like this - we have dined at many Michelin Star restaurants before and this service is always offered). It appeared to us that they believed our only option was to leave. When we (asked) if we could stay for a drink, we were told that we could…but we must leave by 7pm on the dot!!! We were sat at table not visible to the sunset (part of the reason we booked our reservation when we did) and told that this location was our only option and then offered drinks that took years to arrive. By the time we finished our drinks no one asked if we needed another, and we had to flag down any further service (to be clear the resort was NOT busy). We were not offered any food service and the few tables around us were allowed this service. It was disgraceful. I have never felt more unwelcome in my life. Our entire table would have been candidates to stay at this resort on our next visit to the island, but would now never consider visiting this place again.
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were celebrating our Ruby wedding anniversary so had wanted a special Hotel and they really don’t come any more special than the wonderful Sandy Lane.
The attention to detail began before we even travelled to Barbados with emails from the reservations team checking on room requests, restaurant bookings, and making sure everything that would make our trip special was in place. Everything was arranged with such care and helped to make the whole holiday a very memorable and happy one. The Hotel and setting are beautiful and every aspect of this superb Hotel lives up to its famous reputation. I think the overriding thing which stands out though are the excellent staff who really do make you feel so welcomed with genuine warmth whilst maintaining the highest of standards.
Of course at the moment during these sad times Sandy Lane is closed but I hope one day soon they will be able to give many more people the wonderful memories they left us with.
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Date of stay: May 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A delicious meal at the Sandy Lane Buffet last night, such a beautiful location, felt like a real treat. Pure excellence, great staff and so much choice, suited all the family. The seafood selection, fresh Bbq and dessert options were the favourites, this is the best Buffet we have ever been to ! Thank you.
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Date of stay: January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I attended Sandy Lane for afternoon tea earlier this month to celebrate a belated birthday. The booking process took a few days via email but I was fortunate to secure my preferred date. From the moment you enter the property it really is something special. The views and wonderful warm welcome just took my breath away. I had a beautiful table which the team had taken the time to decorate and I had a view of the ocean. Given that I was a solo traveller I had expected to be tucked away at the end and so the fact they had given me such a prime table made me feel very special. Nothing was too much trouble and the ladies looking after me went out of their way to make sure I was comfortable. I chose to have cocktails with the classic tea which was thoroughly enjoyable. The presentation of the afternoon tea and individual flavours were just five star. It was an exceptional experience which I will treasure forever made even more special by watching the sunset on the terrace. It simply lives up to the hype and I love how they get the balance right to it being special but comfortable. I really hope I get to again when I return to the island in January. Due to the pandemic I had missed two birthdays and so to be able to say I marked the occasion at such a special location will be something I will treasure forever. If you get the chance to go don’t hesitate!
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I have just returned from another fabulous stay at Sandy Lane! we have been going for over 14 years now, and we just love it.
Upon arrival at Grantley Adams you get escorted quickly through the airport, and, upon arrival at the hotel, you are welcomed by senior management. Check in is easy in your room, then the fun really starts!We have never had our bags unpacked, but after talking to other guests we so will next year. Rooms are lovely, everything you could want or need. The wonderful Michelle Babb knows our very favourite room, and we do tend to get it.
The beach bar is a fun place. It’s a great to meet friends from previous years there, and the cocktails are fab. The monkey bar is indoors and is air conditioned, so lovely if the weather is a little too warm.
The food at the hotel is the best in the island. Asian and West Indian buffets are a particular favourite. Breakfast is wonderful, anything and everything you could wish for. Acajou is a stylish, classy restaurant. KevIn, who looked after us there so, so well is adorable, and such a professional. The beach is just the best. You have your special place in the sun for the duration of your stay, no battling for sun beds.... no way, this is Sandy Lane. The spa area is so relaxing. Phillipa gave me two massages throughout my stay, and they were the best massages I have ever had anywhere. Huge thanks gain to Michelle Babb who is brilliant See you next year
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Â All rooms are lovely
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandy Lane is supposed to be one of the top resorts in the Caribbean, and it was when I was there about 20 years ago. We went December 2022. Here's what we found: Really lousy evening entertainment. Offensive (we're used to expensive) restaurant prices. Very mediocre food, lunch and dinner. Tried to serve us a non-alcoholic welcome drink. Terrible service. Ignored requests for drink glasses and coffee. Obnoxious beach chair policy (something you'd expect in Miami Beach in 1968). Concierge unable to help arrange anything other than overpriced hotel activities (no snorkeling cruise, no sunset cruise). No water sports available. Eroding beach. Even with all spa treatments including, they somehow manage to charge us more. Tiny drink pours at bar for obscene pricing (again, not just expensive, offensive). No hot tub (you'd think they'd at least have one of those on the property). Complimentary bedtime drinks were hidden in refrigerator the first night (we later found them) and never brought again. Couldn’t get a second cup of coffee at breakfast. Noisy power washing umbrellas during the day on the beach. Pool not heated. Water jet treatment caused black and blue marks. No easy way to play music in the room. Sent an actual paper letter to our room during the day (who's in the room at a beach resort during the day) about a restaurant reservation which we then missed. Generally, the food, service, amenities, spa, bars, and beach would've been ok if this were a Marriott, at Marriott prices. The room was nice. We actually watched the Sandals boat go by everyday with envy (and we'd never go to a Sandals). Terrible, terrible experience. Don't go. Sandy Lame , as we called it, is all washed up.
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We left yesterday. The service is excellent as a guest. The cleanliness in the rooms is impeccable. Other than the birds that are a nuisance, we didn’t spot anything with the cleanliness. As for the sand, there is a ledge into the sea and it could do with some attention if nature allows
Great question. The current curfew restricts persons from leaving their place of residence between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. While in residence at the hotel, operational hours remain the same for our bars and restaurants and thus resident guests may enjoy these facilities as customary.
Thank you for your inquiry regarding Barbados’ travel protocols and entry requirements. Please note that all travellers to Barbados must present proof of a standard PCR test taken 3 days prior to travel. This test must be taken at an accredited or recognized laboratory by a healthcare provider.
For fully vaccinated travellers, a second PCR test may be taken on arrival at the airport or here at the hotel which is subject to a fee of US $175. While awaiting your test results which typically take 1-2 days, you will have restricted movement throughout the hotel but will still be able access the restaurants, shops and swimming pool at your leisure. Once your results return negative and you are cleared by the Ministry of Health, you are free to proceed onto your vacation without restriction.
For unvaccinated travellers, or travellers that have not received the full regimen of an approved vaccine, a quarantine period of 5 days is required with the second PCR test being required thereafter. Results typically take 1-2 days after which you may proceed onto your vacation without restriction once cleared by the Ministry of Health.
In light of the fluidity of the situation, it is also recommended that you check the official Visit Barbados website for the most recent travel advice and arrival requirement for Barbados.
There are more places to choose from in the Saint James Parish area.
PRICE RANGE
$3,414 - $7,442 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
sandy lane resort, sandy lane barbados, hotel sandy lane, sandy lane hotel barbados
LOCATION
CaribbeanBarbadosSaint James Parish
NUMBER OF ROOMS
113
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Are there any historical sites close to Sandy Lane?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Andromeda Botanic Gardens (8.3 miles), George Washington House (6.7 miles), and Garrison Savannah - Barbados Turf Club (6.8 miles).
