If you’re headed to one of the luxurious adults-only all-inclusive Sandals resorts for the first time, you probably have some questions about what to pack.
In this article, we’ll tell you all about the Sandals dress code for men and women so you know what to pack.
Sandals Dress Code Quick Take
The Sandals dress code is pretty simple. It’s relaxed during the day—think shorts, sleeveless or short-sleeved tops, sundresses, and of course, bathing suits—and either resort casual or resort evening for dinner at night, depending on the restaurant.
Sandals Dress Code: Daytime
During the day, guests at Sandals Resorts tend to wear “resort casual” clothing, but other than a few specific guidelines there isn’t a set dress code. Bathing suits should be covered up when not at the pool or on the beach, and shirts and shoes are required when in a restaurant.
Daytime clothing at Sandals will depend on what you’re doing, from bathing suits for swimming or lounging on the beach to exercise clothes for the fitness center or tennis courts to shorts and t-shirts or tank tops for hanging out. Flip flops are great all-around shoes, as are flat sandals.
For excursions off the resort, you may want some nicer casual options like linen slacks or sundresses for exploring the town, or activewear for more adventurous activities.
Snadals Dress Code: Evening
The dress code at Sandals at night is dressier than during the day. How dressy depends on which restaurant you’re going to. While some restaurants ask for “resort casual” attire, some require “resort evening” dress.
What’s the difference between resort casual and resort evening, you ask? Resort casual means nice shorts or jeans with t-shirts, polo shirts, or other casual tops. Women could also wear casual skirts or sundresses. If you’re wearing a bathing suit, it must be covered, and you must wear a shirt. Shoes are required but can be casual like flip flops.
Resort evening attire at Sandals, on the other hand, is much dressier. For men, it includes dress pants or very nice jeans with long or short-sleeved dress shirts and closed-toe dress shoes (but no jacket or tie is required).
Women should wear either dress pants or nicer jeans with a nice top, a skirt and blouse, or a nicer sundress or cocktail-type dress. Heels, sandals, or wedges are great. Note that if you’re dining at one of the beautiful beachfront restaurants, you may want to wear flat shoes for the sand.
No tennis shoes, flip flops, slippers, shorts, t-shirts, sleeveless shirts (for men), hats, or caps are allowed.
How strict is the dress code at Sandals? It’s pretty strict in terms of dinner at the restaurants, so be sure to pack appropriate clothing. FYI, while Sandals does say jeans are appropriate, you will most likely be hot if you wear them. You may want to pack khakis or other lightweight pants instead.
Sandals Dress Code: What to Pack
Since all Sandals resorts are in the Caribbean, you’ll want to bring warm weather clothes. However, you may want to pack a light sweater or jacket in case it gets chilly in the evening, or you find the air conditioning in a restaurant too cold.
Also due to the tropical locations, you will need a sun hat and sunglasses when you’re outside!
Bring versatile pieces of clothing that you’ll be able to mix and match, as well as dress up or down, depending on the activities you have planned. FYI: each Sandals resort holds a “White Night” event every week, so you might want to pack an all-white outfit for that.
Women will want to bring a few light, airy dresses and/or skirts plus tops for daytime activities and dinner, as well as some more casual options like shorts, t-shirts, and swimwear.
Most of what you will wear at Sandals Resorts is going to be related to what you plan on doing. If you want to lounge on the beach or by the pool most days, be sure to bring several swimsuits. If you want to do watersports, women might want to bring a one-piece, and both men and women may want to wear a rash guard.
Don’t forget to pack a cute cover-up to throw on over your swimsuit. It’s a perfect option to have when you’re taking a stroll on the beach or exploring town. Also, it’s required for going into restaurants.
For shoes, you’ll want to wear something easy to slip on and off that can get wet and/or sandy during the day, like flip-flops. You may also want to bring water shoes. At night, a pair of nice sandals or wedges works well in both casual and dressy restaurants. You can bring heels if you want, but remember that you may be walking on sand.
Men will also wear a mix of casual and dressier clothes at Sandals Resorts. Swimwear, shorts, and casual shirts are a must for days spent lounging on the beach or exploring your surroundings.
For shoes, you’ll also want casual options like flip-flops, water shoes, and tennis shoes. Remember to bring dress shoes for dinner. Sandals are fine in casual restaurants, but the nicer restaurants require closed-toe shoes (and no sneakers).
For dinner, you’ll want to wear nicer shorts in the casual restaurants or dressier pants (khakis are fine) and shirts in the nicer restaurants. Feel free to bring a blazer or jacket if you want to, but it’s not necessary.
For both men and women, if you’re heading to a Sandals resort with golf, you will need to wear appropriate attire and golf shoes (same for if you want to play tennis).
There are complimentary fitness centers at each Sandals, as well as classes like yoga, so bring workout gear if you want to take advantage of those. And if you plan to go on any excursions, think about whether you will need something special like comfortable walking shoes or a raincoat.
For stress-free packing, check out our detailed Sandals resorts packing list.
Is clothing optional at Sandals?
No, Sandals resorts are not clothing-optional resorts, although one has a clothing optional beach (Sandals Montego Bay).
Did we tell you all you need to know about the Sandals dress code? Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below! And if you’d like help planning your Sandals getaway, reach out to one of our expert Sandals travel agents!