Luxury Beach Vacation at the All-Inclusive Sandals Ochi Jamaica

Beach Vacation Jamaica

I love the beach. I love vacation. When you combine the two with an all-inclusive resort in beautiful Ocho Rios, Jamaica, you pretty much have found paradise. This is not the first time we have stayed at a Sandals resort and I promise you it will not be the last! In case you missed my post about our honeymoon in the Bahamas at Sandals Royal Bahamian, check it out here! 

Sandals Jamaica Beach Vacation

Tropical Beach Resort Jamaica

We had such an amazing time with Sandals for our honeymoon; we decided there really wasn’t a better way to celebrate our first anniversary than in a different country at a different Sandals resort! Two of our friends were married a few months before us and they stayed at Sandals Ochi for their honeymoon and absolutely loved it! My parents have also vacationed in Ocho Rios on two different occasions and they absolutely loved the culture and the beautiful scenery! So, our decision to celebrate our first wedding anniversary in Jamaica was a no-brainer and we are oh so happy we did!

Sandals Ochi Beach Resort

Let me start by saying Sandals Ochi is HUGE and gives you the best of both worlds. There are two parts to the resort; the hillside, which makes you feel like you are in the middle of a beautiful rainforest, and the ocean side with crystal clear water. We decided to book a butler village suite on the hillside. It is a one-bedroom suite with a semi-private pool and a butler. Yes, a BUTLER! I’ll be honest, we were both a little hesitant at the idea, but we decided you only celebrate your 1st wedding anniversary once, so why not?

 

Sandals Ochi Hillside
Hillside at Sandals
Sandals Ochi Ocean Side
Sandals Ochi Ocean Side

When we booked, they had us fill out a questionnaire with our preferences for our stay; our favorite food, drinks, allergies, etc. The closest airport is in Montego Bay, so it was about a 2-hour drive from the airport, but it is totally worth it and Sandals makes sure you are comfortable from the moment you get through customs! We immediately stepped into a Sandals lounge where they take your luggage and offer you a drink and snack while you wait to leave. From there, you take a Sandals chartered bus to the resort. It was so organized and we felt instantly taken care of.

Once we arrived at the resort, we were greeted with a cool towel and a delicious cocktail! One of our butlers, (we had 2!) met us in the butlers’ lounge and drove us on a private golf cart to our beautiful suite! We were given a cell phone to call our butlers at any time and they had already chilled a bottle of champagne, prepared a snack plate, and covered our bed in rose petals with a beautiful anniversary card. The view from our pool and back patio was absolutely stunning! As much as I loved the view, I did really wish we were on the beach.

Room Suite at Sandals Ocho Rios

Sandals Beach Resort Jamaica

Sandals Ocho Rios Resort

When I booked, I didn’t realize how far the butler villas were from the beach. Like I mentioned before, there is the hillside of the resort and the ocean side. While it is still one resort, you do either have to have your butler drive you from hillside to ocean side or take one of their very convenient shuttles that runs every 10 minutes. While I LOVED the beauty of hillside, I really wanted to be on the beach. As much as I hated to cause any issues, I thought, it never hurts to ask! So, we asked our sweet butlers if there was ANY way we could move to the ocean side. Amazingly enough, our butlers and Sandals made it happen instantly! They told us to go to the pool, have a drink, and they would come and get us when our stuff was settled in on the ocean side. We were STUNNED! They were so accommodating and completely understood the confusion when we were booking. This was hands down the best customer service experience EVER!

The Rooms

Sandals Ocho Rios

The rooms are beautiful and have every convenience and want you could possibly think of; including a full mini bar with alcohol that is stocked daily. The bed was so comfortable and there was plenty of room to store all of your belongings. The room also had an AMAZING air conditioner. Trust me, you will be so thankful for this! Room service was absolutely delicious and our butlers always had a sweet note, flowers, and new towel animal on our bed when we came back to the room each night. The resort also offers a daily newspaper called Footprints that gives you a full itinerary of events for that day and specific information on all of the restaurants including dress code and their hours for the day.

The Sweetest Butlers in the World

Beach Vacation Sandals Jamaica

We LOVED our butlers. They were so so thoughtful and quickly learned our favorite things. We would come back to our room with a hot bubble bath with rose petals and champagne, a fresh fruit and cheese plate to enjoy before our dinner reservations, and the sweetest notes! One morning, we had an excursion booked, so one of our butlers brought us smoothies and breakfast in bed before our excursion to make sure we had plenty of energy! They made all of our dinner reservations for us, escorted us to dinner, and would always have the best tables reserved covered in candles and flowers. They really made our week perfect. If we were out on the beach, they would call and ask if they could bring us lunch or a cocktail. We seriously lived like kings and queens.

Sandals Jamaica Beach Resort

The Food and Drinks

Sandals Resort

Kimonos Restaurant at Sandals Ochi

There are a total of 16 restaurants and 11 bars throughout the resort and they are all amazing! I will admit, there were a couple of occasions where we had our first dinner at 5 and then a second dinner at 9. One night, the hubs couldn’t decide which entre he wanted for dinner, so our waiter suggested he order both. We both laughed and he said, I’m serious! So we ordered both. There are so many snack shacks, pizza parlors, and bars all over for a quick snack or cocktail. One of the pools has a brick oven pizza place by the bar. We would order a pizza, hop in the pool and grab a drink at the swim-up bar while we waited for our pizza. Once it was ready, they would deliver it to us in the pool and we could just eat it on a pool float! Oh, I would also like to recommend you order a Bob Marley and a Miami Vice during your visit. Oh, and a Blue Hawaiian! Those are all oh so yummy!

Jamaica Sandals Ocho Rios

Sushi at Sandals Ocho Rios

The Excursions

Dunn's River Falls Jamaica
We hiked up Dunn’s River Falls!

While we were in Jamaica we booked two excursions through Sandals, Blue Hole and Dunn’s River Falls. Sandals has an excursions desk and the staff is wonderful with helping you arrange the perfect excursion. They just add it to your room and you pay at the end of your trip. My parents had done the Dunn’s River Falls excursion on their last trip to Jamaica and said it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and it really was! Basically, you along with a group and your guide hike up a waterfall! It was absolutely amazing! While it was challenging, these guides know what they are doing! We saw kids as young as 5 to grandmas and grandpas hiking up. It was absolutely amazing! I HIGHLY recommend!

Dunn's River Falls
Dunn’s river Falls

We also did the Blue Hole excursion and went tubing down the river through the beautiful jungle. There really is no possible way to describe Blue Hole and give it complete justice. You start the journey by hiking up little waterfalls and jumping into Jamaica’s beautiful blue holes in the Jamaican jungle! The water is crystal clear and the views are just breathtaking. I believe the highest jump we did was 20 feet, but that was optional. However, we did the jump and it was AMAZING and I highly recommend it!

*Note: I would highly recommend doing an excursion through Sandals. We felt safe the entire time we were in Jamaica, but we were advised to stick with the resort. They had a lot of security and our drivers always stayed with us for every excursion. Also, if you are afraid of heights, I do not recommend either excursion above. 

The Resort

Sandals Ocho Rios
White Chocolate Party

Sandals Ochi has everything in the world. Their entertainment department is absolutely amazing! They had a different show every night, themed parties like a chocolate party by their hillside pool with the most delicious chocolate bar and the coolest performances, they had movie nights on the lawn with giant beds, popcorn, drinks and a fun romantic comedy. They also have The Rabbit Hole which is a speakeasy with amazing performances and a fabulous piano bar! Their entertainment crew for the beach and the pools are so fun and constantly have games and contests for those who want something to do.

The Rabbits Hole SpeakEasy Jamaica
The Rabbit Hole
Sandals Ocho Rios
Coconut Cocktail at the Beach Party!
Events at Sandals Ocho Rios
Movie night on the lawn!

The spa is also amazing! I had a 90-minute massage and a foot scrub and massage and it was heavenly! You can also arrange private massages on the beach or in a cabana over the water. It is so relaxing. They also have an activities center where you can check out paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, snorkeling equipment, and more water excursions! They also have a shipwreck snorkeling excursion that is only $25 per person!

Things to Know Before You Go

Sandals Ocho Rios Jamaica

One of the best things about selecting an all-inclusive resort is not having to worry about spending a dime while you are there! Everything is included; well for the most part of course. They will ask for a credit card when you check-in where they will put a hold of $250. This will also be used if you decided to book any excursions, purchase things at the gift shop, or book a spa appointment during your stay. Once you arrive, I highly recommed take a tour of the resort. They will go over everything you need to know to have the best possible trip. 

Sandals Ochi

To Tip or Not to Tip

Sandals Jamaica

My husband had a hard time with this during our first Sandals visit. He kept trying to tip the gentlemen who helped us with our bags and he politely told him that he was not allowed to accept the tip. Sandals doesn’t allow tipping at all, so that is one thing you don’t need to worry about. However, if you do decide to have a butler’s package, they do allow you to tip your butler at the end of your stay since they do so much more. We tipped both of ours as we were checking out.

Sandals Ochi Jamaica

In case you couldn’t tell, we absolutely loved our entire stay with Sandals and we have already booked our next trip with Sandals in another tropical location! I can’t wait to share our next adventure with you!

Sandals

Have you been to Jamaica or stayed with Sandals before? I would love to hear about your trip!

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Wine Themed Bachelorette Weekend in Fredericksburg Texas

Bachelorette Weekend at Barons Creek Vineyard in Fredericksburg Texas

I may be biased, but I had the best bachelorette weekend in the history of bachelorette weekends! Over a year later and I still just swoon thinking about how amazing my bridesmaids were and still are! They planned the perfect wine themed bachelorette party and turned it into a full weekend in the beautiful Texas Hill Country!

I had a total of 9 bridesmaids. Some people are still shocked at that number, but all of these ladies are my forever friends and I could not imagine doing life without them! Some of my lovely ladies live out of state and have tiny perfect pumpkins of their own, so they were not able to attend my bachelorette weekend, but they still made sure I felt their love from far away!

Bridal Party Fort Worth Texas Wedding
My beautiful bridesmaids! Photography: The Click

I have been in my fair share of weddings and I know how expensive and time consuming they can be. Weddings are so much fun, but they are also a lot of work and money for everyone involved. I told my girls that I would be thrilled with a staycation in our lovely town of Fort Worth, Texas. I just wanted time with my girls. However, one of my bridesmaids had other plans. A few of my other girls had already volunteered to host my showers, so she said she would handle the bachelorette weekend.

She did some research and asked if I would like to go to Fredricksburg, Texas for the weekend. I told her I would love that, but I didn’t want all of my girls having to spend a fortune! She told me that she had already worked it out with the girls and as part of my wedding gift, she would pay for the house for everyone! Part of my gift?! That is like two gifts! I was so excited! A weekend getaway with your besties in beautiful Fredricksburg? Yes, please! I was so excited, I could hardly wait! Here is how my beautiful bridesmaids planned the perfect bachelorette weekend in Fredricksburg, Texas.

 Bachelorette Weekend at The Colored Door Properties in Fredericksburg Texas

The Bachelorette Weekend House

Colored Door Properties Fredericksburg Texas - The Aqua Door

Colored Door Properties The Aqua Door Fredericksburg

We started the weekend with a road trip to Fredricksburg from Fort Worth. It was so relaxing just driving through the beautiful country with your best friends. It was a great way to start the weekend. When we arrived at the house we were all blown away! We rented the Aqua Door Guest House from The Colored Door Properties in Fredricksburg, Texas

Fredericksburg Texas - Colored Door Properties

If you are not familiar with The Colored Door Properties, please get to know these lovely houses and their owners immediately! They have a total of four guest houses: The Aqua Door, The Sapphire Door, The Coral Door, and The Emerald Door. I have only stayed at the Aqua Door, but I have swooned over photos from the other houses and they are all lovely! They each sleep a large number of people making them the perfect houses for a girls’ trip! These owners have seriously thought of everything! We could not get over how perfect everything was!

The Aqua Door - The Colored Door Properties in Fredericksburg Texas
I realize this photo is blurry, but it is just too cute not to share!

Fredericksburg Texas Rental Home The Colored Door Properties

The Aqua Door is only five blocks from Main Street, the main shopping street in Fredricksburg! So clearly this is a huge plus! The bedrooms are all different themes with beautiful bedding and two of the rooms are divided by a beautiful sliding aqua barn door! The bathrooms have plenty of mirrors and counter space, so we were all able to easily get ready together. The kitchen is huge and has everything you need to cook a giant meal together.

The Colored Door Properties Rental Home in Fredericksburg Texas

Colored Door Properties - The Aqua Door

The Aqua Door Colored Door Properties Fredericksburg Texas

Bachelorette Weekend in Fredericksburg Texas - The Colored Door Properties

The Colored Door Properties Fredericksburg Texas

There is a giant chalkboard wall in the kitchen where the owners wrote a special message to us for the weekend. They also had a sound system in the kitchen to play music while you cook. We had so much fun cooking and dancing in that beautiful kitchen! The backyard is absolutely stunning! There is a fire pit with chairs, string lights, a hot tub, and a bar! They even had yard games to play. We had so much fun sitting around that campfire each night and talking late into the evening. This house was made for a bachelorette weekend!

Bachelorette Weekend in Fredericksburg Texas
This adorable swing is one of the bedrooms!

The Colored Door Properties

The Aqua Door Fredericksburg Texas Home
The backyard is stunning!

Wine Tastings and Tours

Barons Creek Vineyards - Bachellorette Weekend in Fredericksburg

My girls hired Off The Vine Wine Tours to pick us up at the Aqua Door and drive us to Barons Creek Vineyards for a private tour and tasting! Y’all. This was LOVELY! Our driver from Off The Vine Wine Tours was amazing. He came straight to our guest house and was just a call away when we were ready to leave our wine tasting. It was so nice to have a driver for the day so that all of us could just enjoy the wine tastings and not worry about driving home. 

Off The Vine Wine Tours Fredericksburg Texas

Barons Creek Vineyards is stunning! Just stunning! Their property is stunning! Did you catch that? STUNNING! There are private villas at the back of the property that you can rent and they have a beautiful space for weddings and private events. Don’t even get me started on their wine! We all left with a bottle to take home. They also have a beautiful gift shop with so many goodies! Our tour guide was absolutely lovely.

Bachelorette Weekend in Fredericksburg Texas - Barons Creek Vineyards

I would highly recommend making a reservation for your tour and tasting! They book up very quickly and you definitely don’t want to miss out on experiencing their beautiful scenery and delicious wine! 

Bachelorette Party in Fredericksburg Texas - Barons Creek Vineyards

You can enjoy their delicious selections of wine in their tasting room for $18 per person or you can schedule a private tasting and tour in one of their four rooms. These prices range from $21 to $25 per person depending on the room. Check out their website for more information on their tasting rooms and pricing. 

Barons Creek Vineyards Bachelorette Party in Fredericksburg Texas

Barons Creek Vineyards is perfect for a romantic weekend away, a girls’ weekend, or the perfect wedding venue! I highly recommend adding this to your itinerary during your next visit to Fredericksburg! Wishing you could taste their wine now? You can! Well, almost! You can order their wine online and enjoy the taste of Barons Creek Vineyards in your home! 

Barons Creek Vineyards

Shopping

Bachelorette Weekend in Fredericksburg Texas

After our morning of tours and tastings, we did a little shopping on Main Street in Fredericksburg. The shops and restaurants are all so lovely! There are so many specialty shops and antique shops going up and down Main Street. We all found something lovely to take home from our weekend away. We only made it down one side of the street before we had to go back to get ready for our dinner reservations. Don’t worry, we went back the next day to finish our weekend with a full day of shopping!

Glitter Themed Night On The Town

Glitter Themed Bachelorette Weekend in Fredericksburg Texas
Glitter themed dinner at Vaudeville!

When my girls were asking what I wanted from the weekend, I told them that I wanted a classy weekend with a glitter-themed night out. I wanted all of us to wear sequin dresses. I know this sounds silly, but I wanted to do something a little differently than the normal black and white dresses. Being the wonderful friends that they are, they did not disappoint! Everyone looked absolutely stunning! We had dinner on Main at this beutiful restaurant AND store called Vaudville.

Vaudeville Restaurant Fredericksburg Texas

Bachelorette Dinner at Vaudeville in Fredericksburg

The lower level is a delicious bistro, the second level is a showroom, and the third level is their formal restaurant. It was absolutely perfect. We had a delicious dinner and enjoyed several glasses of wine. The atmosphere was stunning and we shopped in their showroom after dinner and walked away with some lovely finds!

Wine Glass Painting

DIY Paint Your Own Wine Glasses Craft - Bachelorette Party Ideas

After our beautiful dinner, we went back to the house to paint wine glasses! My girls really stuck to this theme! It was so much fun! They even brought a giant plastic tablecloth to cover the dining room table! We listened to 90’s music, painted our wine glasses, and enjoyed some wine while talking late into the evening.

Bachelorette Weekend Fredericksburg Texas
Don’t worry! We brought a protective tablecloth for the table!

I honestly could not have asked for a better bachelorette weekend. It was peaceful, relaxing, and so much fun. We laughed until we cried, tried some delicious wine and food, and shopped all day. This was truly the perfect bachelorette weekend. So now, I must end this post with a tribute to my beautiful host! My beautiful bridesmaid and one of my very best friends made this weekend possible. She thought of absolutely everything to make this the perfect bachelorette weekend! I’m raising a glass in my virtual toast, to the classiest host. Cheers to you, Sasha! I love you! 

Colored Door Properties Fredericksburg Texas Home

Did you have the perfect bachelorette weekend? Or maybe you hosted a beautiful weekend? I would love to hear your tips and ideas. If you have a blog post, please leave me a comment below so that I can check it out!

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The Perfect Texas Pumpkin Patch

Sunset at Dewberry Farm Pumpkin Patch

Have you ever noticed that movies always have the best places in the world for the characters to hang out? Carnivals with the most picturesque views and delicious treats to help you have the perfect date or a fall pumpkin patch where you can pick out a pumpkin, make your way through a real corn maze, and eat a giant turkey leg while watching fireworks out in the country. I love watching these movies, but I always think to myself, where on earth do these places exist in the real world! Well, I still haven’t found that picturesque fair, but I finally found the perfect pumpkin patch!

The Perfect Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin Patch Dewberry Farm Field

Jeremy and I love having a fall themed date weekend each year! We carve pumpkins, make caramel apples, and visit a pumpkin patch! We decided to research new pumpkin patches to visit this year and goodness did we hit the jackpot! Dewberry Farm is the greatest pumpkin patch I have ever visited! We are talking straight out of a Gilmore Girls episode in Stars Hallow amazing! Dewberry Farm is perfect for a family fun day or a date day! There is so much to do for both kids and adults!

Train at Dewberry Farm

Pumpkins at Dewberry Farm

Dewberry Farm is located in Brookshire Texas outside of Houston. They have a giant pumpkin patch full of beautiful pumpkins to purchase and hay bales all over the place to create the perfect photo setting. Behind the pumpkin patch is a giant Christmas tree farm (we are so excited to visit in December) and next to the pumpkin patch is a giant corn maze! There is a train and a hayride that will take you around the property and a wildflower garden where you can pick a beautiful bunch of wildflowers!

Christmas Tree Farm at Dewberry Farm

Dewberry Farm Pumpkin Patch

 

Corm Maze Dewberry Farm
We made it out of the corn maze!
Sunset at Pumpkin Patch
Sunset from the corn maze!

There is this adorable carousel sitting right by a quaint little pond with a bridge. Talk about a photo op! There are pig races (yes, pig races), pony rides, face painting, a candy cannon, jumping pillows, and so much more! During the fall, they have the Pumpkin Hollar. This is a building full of carved pumpkins! Each part of the building is a different them. It is amazing! They also have apple cannons. You load up a bucket full of apples, load them in a cannon and fire at your target! This was a BLAST, literally!

Dewberry Farm Pond

Games at Dewberry Farm

Apple Picking at Dewberry Farm

Shooting Apple Cannons at Dewberry Farm

Pumpkin Hollar at Dewberry Farm
They have the coolest pumpkin carvings and jack-o’-lanterns! 

No Tricks, Just Treats!

Food At Dewberry Farm

There are so many yummy food and drink options! Fried Oreos, fried pickles, turkey legs, hamburgers, Frito pie, ice cream, pizza… you name it! Everything is reasonably priced, so you can try several different yummies without spending a fortune! As you can see above, we didn’t hold back. When you arrive, they give you a bingo card with your wristband. There are bingo posts set up throughout the property and if you get bingo, you win a free drink! Oh! You have to try the Rooster balls. I promise they are awesome!

The Fall Fireworks Finale

Fireworks Dewberry Farm Purple

The farm is usually open until 6 PM on the weekends, but for two weekends during the fall, they are staying open until 9 PM for a fireworks show! This was truly one of the most amazing fireworks shows I have ever seen! It was absolutely stunning and made for the perfect end to a perfect date day. Talk about a romantic end to the date!

Hours and Pricing

Fields at Dewberry Farm

Admission for kids and adults is $29.95. Kids 2 and under are free. They also offer a discounted rate for seniors 55+ and all military and first responders. PARKING IS FREE! Admission includes all of the main attractions, entrance to the Pumpkin Hollar, a ride on the DewVille Express Train, your choice of Flower Picking or Apple Cannons, plus 4 activity stars to choose from for extra attractions. You can also purchase additional stars and/or tokens to participate in even more activities!

Happy Fall Dewberry Farm

If you want to take the kiddos out for a fun day, there will be plenty to do all day! They are open from 10 AM – 6 PM on Saturdays and 11 AM – 6 PM on Sundays during the fall. However, their last fireworks show for the season is THIS SATURDAY, October 21st! They will be open from 10 AM – 9 PM for fireworks. Since we were going for a date day and don’t have any kiddos yet, we decided to go later in the day. We arrived at 6 PM and had plenty of time to do everything we wanted to do! It really just depends on what you are interested in for the day. Here is their full farm map to help give you an idea of everything they have to offer.

Dewberry Farm Gift Shop
Dewberry Farm Gift Shop

We are so excited to visit again in December to visit their Country Christmas Festival! Christmas is MY TIME, y’all! I can’t wait! Don’t worry, I will fill you in on all the Christmas goodness happening at Dewberry Farm! Do you have a favorite pumpkin patch? I would love to hear all about! Leave me a comment below so I can check it out!

Happy fall, y’all!

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5 Reasons You Should Book Your Honeymoon at a Sandals Resort

Like every girl, I not only wanted a dream wedding, but I also wanted a dream honeymoon. While some stay traditional and have the groom plan the entire honeymoon as a surprise, my groom-to-be knew me very well and decided to let me be a part of the planning; I was oh so thankful for that decision. We found a travel company at one of the bridal fairs we attended and had them help us narrow down our search. We knew we wanted somewhere tropical, not in the United States, and somewhere neither of us had been before. We finally decided to go to the Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau, Bahamas! I had, of course, heard of Sandals resorts before, but I wasn’t sure if they would really live up to their hype. But oh goodness gracious did they ever! Here are 5 reasons you should book your trip to the Sandals Royal Bahamian TODAY!

Everything is All-Inclusive
Yes, there are tons of all-inclusive resorts out there, but not like Sandals. They have thought of things to include that I didn’t even know I wanted until it was presented! You will never be hungry or thirsty and there are so many exciting adventures and activities that are included in your stay.

The Food and the Drinks
I’ve been to other resorts where the food is really only great in one restaurant and just so so everywhere else. At Sandals, all of the food is delicious! The Sandals Royal Bahamian has 10 restaurants and 8 bars. Two of the bars are swim-up bars in two of the pools. The drinks are all delicious and the bartenders are always willing to create new concoctions for you to try! Out of the 10 restaurants, there is only one where you have to make a reservation. There really is a cuisine for everyone and it is all just so delicious! One night, we had dinner at 5 PM and then went to a different restaurant at 9 PM for a second dinner. I’m not even embarrassed to tell you that. They also stock your room daily with sodas, water bottles, and juices. You also have a full bar with vodka, rum, tequila, and gin. It is ALL included in your all-inclusive fee! There is also daily room service that is delicious!

You feel like Kings and Queens
The second you step foot in the Sandals lounge at the airport, you immediately feel like royalty. They escort you to their private bus and drive you to the resort. Once you arrive, they immediately offer you a cold towel and a drink. They have you sit in their beautiful hotel lobby and help you check-in on an iPad. While you are checking in, they take your bags and have them delivered to your room. The staff then gives you a tour of the resort as they walk you to your room. That is just the beginning. Every staff member we encountered was FABULOUS! They wait on you constantly and will stop what they are doing to do mini photo shoots with you. The resort is absolutely spotless, but we hardly ever saw people cleaning! They are very sneaky.
The resort also doesn’t overbook. We never had a problem getting a table, finding a cabana or pool chair, or having plenty of space in the pool.

The Private Island
The Royal Bahamian has a private island that is only a 5-minute boat ride from the resort. You can take a boat every hour starting at 9 AM with the last boat coming back at 6 PM. They had a restaurant, pool and swim-up bar on the island. They also had a spa on the island! You can check out snorkeling equipment at the resort and take it to the island to snorkel. It was so secluded and romantic. It felt like an absolute dream! There were hammocks in the water, comfy beds and cabanas on the beach, and private cabanas overlooking the ocean. We were just walking the island and stumbled upon this cabana. We camped out here for about 3 hours. It was absolute paradise.

The Activities and Excursions
When you arrive, you are advised to meet with the concierge to schedule your tours for the week. There is a schedule in your room for that week’s activities and tours. All of this is included in your stay! Quick Tip: Make sure you plan out your week the first day you arrive so that you don’t miss out on any of the activities. While only one of their restaurants, Kimonos, requires reservations, you will want to reserve your spot as soon as possible! It is very popular and their spots fill up fast! We took a snorkeling cruise, went on a shopping trip and tour of the city, and a rum tasting at John Watling’s Distillery. This was honestly the best Pina Collada I have ever tasted! They have paddle boats, sailboats, water trikes and kayaks that you can check out for the day. They even have a giant chess board on the property! Sandals also ropes off their area of the beach and water to ensure that guests of the resort are the only ones on that part of the beach. If you are interested in excursions outside of Sandals, there is a travel agency at the resort that will help you book additional excursions during your stay. They have truly thought of everything!

If you are looking for a relaxing and exotic getaway, I highly recommend the Royal Bahamian. That was our first Sandals experience, but we are excited to go to Sandals Ochi in Jamaica this summer for our first wedding anniversary! I hope you enjoy your vacation as much as we did! Check back for highlights from that trip soon!

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