The Sands Barbados

Back from a holiday at The Sands. We thoroughly enjoyed it and would go back. This was a different sort of holiday for us as we usually do tours and so we were not sure if we would enjoy the one hotel all inclusive experience. We were surprised and delighted by how much we enjoyed it. We were met at reception by Ricardo, who gave us a cold drink and a cold flannel - very welcome after our flight from London. We were given the option of a paper form or Q code for registration. We chose paper. Straightforward, but we can understand the problems some have reported using the Q code as there were a lot of initialling and signing for both myself and my partner. We had booked a double room with Ocean view and were upgraded to a duplex right on the beach. A lovely apartment, with Amazing Views! Diana and Shauna in housekeeping were lovely and friendly, Shauna deserves 5 stars for putting up with us trailing in sand on her clean floor every day. Margaret from the restaurant was always able to assist ( she and Cyreline were always impeccably dressed) and we met the Hotel Manager (Dawn) at the Tuesday Cocktail evening - friendly and helpful. We found the food good and plentiful. We always found something we liked, and enjoyed the different dishes. Service is relaxed- but remember that you are in the Caribbean not London! The bar can get busy but the team were always cheerful and during the day would come round the loungers and take drink orders and deliver them to the loungers. Yes- people do use their towels to book the loungers early, but there were always plenty available and the guys who put them out would always help. We had no issues accessing the sea or dodging umbrellas. We did experience Seaweed on the beach. Overall not a major issue, but we did notice that it was not cleared - not sure if this is because of the Turtles we saw further out or another reason? Across the road is small ice cream shop called Churns - BB15$ for two scoops - great flavours . Opens in afternoon to evening -- definitely recommend. The portions for the A La Carte are not huge - but with 3 courses you do feel full. We tried Noir where service was impeccable, the food was lovely, but we were out in an hour and felt rather rushed, although it was not busy. Evening entertainment was usually a singer/band which ended when the bar closed about 10.30. Our room was near the front, and it was loud, but it did not cause a problem to us. The hotel can book tours and there are daily entertainment sessions. They do change the sessions regularly (we sadly missed the ice cream morning), so keep an eye on the board at reception. Akema? ( very tall guy) was excellent, and worked very hard to keep people entertained. Overall we enjoyed our stay, would happily recommend it and we would like to come back in the future. Please remember that this is Barbados, things do not go fast, just relax and enjoy it. Read less

A bit disappointing on the whole- barely making it into the 4 star category…..probably more 3 star. The room was good but the bed was small, and that let it down. We had a room (more like an apartment) on the ground floor overlooking the beach which was very spacious. It was cleaned well everyday. Food was the biggest disappointment. The breakfast was basic e.g. either white or brown sliced bread. I asked everyday for plain yogurt instead of the fruit ones on offer which they did go and find but that took up to 15 minutes. Buffet meals were not exciting but the a la carte meals were better. When the rose wine ran out I thought it would be re-stocked the next day but this never happened for the rest of our holiday. The alternative rose wine was not nearly as good. The evening entertainment was good but too loud and a struggle to chat to other guests we were sitting with. It doesn’t go on past 10.30 so I was glad about that as our room was right next to the stage. A big shout out to the staff and especially the guest relations team who were excellent in their job and making us guests feel special. Thank you Jacki, Chad and Kemar who were all so helpful. The front desk/reception in the lobby could do with some lessons from the guest relations team!! The hotel is in a great location for getting to Bridgetown which is so easy to do from outside the hotel. Great! We did visit the sister hotel further north- probably worth the extra cost that I believe it would be to stay there…….maybe another time. I feel like this is a very negative review but I’m trying to be honest. We did have a good time but small improvements would go down so well. Read less

We’d been recommended The Sands and I really wanted to like it more than our experience allowed.  We stayed a week after doing a week’s cruise. Check in was painful, you had to check in on your phone while a rather bored receptionist waited for you to complete the many screens you had to go through even uploading images of your passports even though she was sat in front of a computer, not sure why they just can’t do it.  We had no welcome drinks as others said they had but not too much of an issue.  We had come off a cruise and were told our cases would be brought to our rooms once they arrived.  4 hours later they had not arrived so we went to reception to find our cases sat there and the male receptionist simply said they didn’t know who’s they were despite them having our name on them. Our room was over 2 floors and clean & spacious although we found we didn’t use the ground floor at all. Disappointingly neither balcony had a table and chair for you to enjoy the view just a futon type thing pushed against a wall on one balcony and there was a maiden for wet swimwear etc which was good.  Rooms were cleaned daily but we did find for several days we didn’t get a replacement shower mat despite leaving it neatly on the floor (I know we could have just asked for one).  One day we’d put all the towels on the floor for exchange and our room never got cleaned. We spoke to guest services and new towels were delivered within the hour which was good.  The next afternoon we went back, the room had been cleaned but a bag of dirty towels had been left on the downstairs floor despite not having put any one the floor to be exchanged!   Food was ok, I am quite picky but even I found something I could have at every meal and it was nicely presented and we did take advantage of the speciality restaurant on the 5th floor which was also good.  The wines were also fairly decent for what was really house wines.  The general restaurant seems a little chaotic even though you have to book a slot for lunch & dinner they never seem to know where they are going to seat you or even if there is space despite have empty tables and queues forming.   There was always some form of afternoon entertainment bingo/quizzes etc which were fun and afternoon tea was often on offer.  Evening were generally singers. There is nowhere to sit in the shade in the communal areas (or to get out of the rain when a sudden downpour happens) which would be a nice addition.   The beech is very small but lovely and the waves can be quite rough so be careful leaving bags by your beds as they can end up soaked.  I went down one morning and pulled 2 x bed in a space on the sand and was instantly told I could not go there, I explained a couple had been there the last few days and he told me ‘well that was yesterday’  I said no they’ve been there most of  the week so why can’t I go there’, he said you will ruin the aesthetics of the beech.  PARDON!!!  I said so you will not allow anyone to get in this spot at all then not just me and he got quite abrupt with me and dismissive.  I was on my own so felt uncomfortable and went and found 2 loungers by the pool.  When my husband came down I was telling him and another chap we had met during our break and when we looked, there was the same couple in the very same spot I was told I could not go in.  I walked over to the Beech attendant and asked why they were now there when I was told no, and he completely and blatantly ignored me (I was not shouting or rude I was calm and polite!).  I spoke to management about it and although she said she would have a word there was no feedback or anything given to me by way of an explanation.  I am presuming, but everyone else we spoke to said the same, but we were sure money had exchanged hands for that ‘spot’ to be reserved for that one couple as they were there every day before & after no encounter!!!! The staff overall are very efficient but certainly not friendly.  David was nice in the restaurant/Grill, the young girls in the restaurant are polite and the trio of Jackie, Chad & the very Tall gentlemen who’s name begins with a K (apologies I forget your name) on Guest Services were lovely but beyond that you struggled for them to break a smile.  Junior in the restaurant managed to understand our reservation, show us to our seats and give us our menus without even acknowledging our existence or muttering one word to us before leaving us to a slightly more polite young waitress.  There’s never much of a queue at the bar and the chaps will make cocktails beyond the menu but again no laugh with them, no characters just efficient service (without a smile). It just felt everything was a little painful and too much effort.   Having said all this we did enjoy our break courtesy of meeting some lovely people.  A shout onto Chad from Guest Services for getting us on the Harbour Lights Event after the Tui Rep told us it was fully booked – it’s a fantastic night.  We also took advantage of the Hotel organised trip to Oistins on the Friday evening too which was good. Read less