Sandals Royal Curacao is one of the newest Sandals resorts. Having opened in June of 2022, this luxury adults-only all-inclusive resort was initially met with a few negative reviews due to ongoing construction and some other issues.

We visited the resort twice and have seen it improve to be one of the best Sandals Resorts and a favorite for many.

Here’s everything you need to know about Sandals Royal Curacao to help you decide if it’s right for your dream vacation or honeymoon.

Sandals Royal Curacao Promotions

Make sure to check current specials before booking your stay at Sandals Royal Curacao. Each week, there are new specials on 7 different suites, there are always last-minute deals and they have seasonal sales as well.

Current Promotions

Sandals Royal Curacao: Overview

Sandals Royal Curacao is a luxurious adults-only all-inclusive resort set on the south of the island. It spreads across 44 acres of the exclusive 3,000-acre preserve of Santa Barbara estate.

It features a wide range of rooms and suites, restaurants, bars, and activities–many of which are new to the Sandals brand–as well as a relaxing, fun, and romantic atmosphere.

Sandals Royal Curacao: Location

Curacao is a very unique island since it is a Dutch Island in the Caribbean, giving you a mix of both cultures. One of the reasons we were excited to go was to see how much influence the Dutch had on the island. The island is known for its sparkling blue waters, beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and adorable pastel-colored Dutch colonial architecture, and it was nice to explore.

We arrived a few nights before our stay at Sandals to try out a different resort and to check out the iconic town of Willemstad. We loved that everywhere we went we felt safe and were not hassled by vendors.

Arriving at Sandals

Sandals Royal Curacao has an almost perfect location in a tranquil and beautiful nature preserve. Just south of the capital of Willemstad, it is remote enough that you can enjoy a peaceful island escape, but close enough that you can head into the city for a day trip.

Since we were already in Willemstad, we just had the hotel call a taxi, and we were there in about 20 minutes. If you come directly from the airport, it is a 40-minute drive on well-paved roads. We both get car sick, and this drive was not an issue. As at all Sandals resorts, transportation to and from the airport is complimentary.

Sandals Club Lounge

We were staying in a Butler suite, so we were taken to the Club Sandals lounge, where we awaited the butler to escort us to our room. This is also where you will go to check into a club room or the main lobby if you have a luxury room.

Room and Suite Reviews

Sandals Royal Curacao offers an impressive selection of romantic accommodations to choose from, including two luxury suite options that were introduced when Sandals Royal Curacao first opened its doors.

Luxury Rooms

Since most rooms at Sandals Royal Curacao are elevated and luxurious, only a few are luxury level rooms. These two room categories are in the Subi building and the Carisia building. They are a typical hotel room layout, but with a modern Caribbean decor and spa like bathroom features.

Club Rooms

The club level rooms are throughout the resort with some of our favorite features like swim-up suites, Tranquility Soaking Tubs, and ocean views.

Butler Suites

These are the most expensive suites with over-the-top luxury and amenities like private pools, living rooms, multiple balconies, and amazing ocean views.

The most luxurious suites are the Awa Seaside Butler Bungalows. These are situated along the water’s edge and boast great amenities such as a bistro set, Tranquility Soaking Tubs for two, sun loungers, walk-in rain showers, spacious private patios, dining tables, seating areas, large private pools, and even interiors with vaulted ceilings.

If you’ve been to other Sandals resorts before, you may be able to compare them to the overwater bungalows there. However, instead of sitting over the water, these villas have a large private pool. We actually prefer these rooms.

The other new villa type well worth staying in is the Kurason Island Suites. These sit in a manicured, private garden, surrounded by a secluded lagoon. They overlook a private heart-shaped pool, which is reserved exclusively for the guests staying in these adorable villas. These suites have all the same amenities as the Awa Seaside Butler Bungalows, with the exception of the private pool.

Both of these accommodation types are a great choice if you’re looking to stay somewhere a bit more secluded. However, if you’re looking to be a little closer to the action, or if you’re on a tighter budget, there’s a wide range of other accommodation types to choose from at different price points.

Dining Review

One of the main highlights of our trips was the food at Sandals Royal Curacao. They have taken the traditional Sandals food and thrown it out to replace it with new eateries.

The 11 on-site restaurants are equally diverse and range from casual eateries and cafes to mouthwatering gourmet restaurants.

We started each day with coffee from Kanaal Cafe and would head to the buffet or to Aolos for the a la carte breakfast.

For lunch there are plenty options but the big hit is the group of three food trucks where you can get Sandwiches, Tapas or Asian bowls and drinks from the bar. You can also go to Pietra for the rotating lunch buffet menu or to The Strand for seafood.

For dinner, the restaurants really come alive, giving you plenty of options. We loved that reservations were only required at Butch’s Steak House and Vincent. The most memorable meal was at Zuka where they serve South American fusion. The decor is vibrant and there is a good variety of options on the menu.

Vincent served European fusion, but I’m mostly remembering the drink menu. They did a great job with the pan-seared Salmon.

Butch’s Island Chop House is never my favorite at other Sandals Resorts, but here they did amazing, making it hard to choose between the Surf & Turk and the Lamb chops so I ordered the Lamb Chops with a side of lobster.

Some other options for dinner are Southern Italian dishes at Pietra, The Strand which focuses on Seafood, Aolos for greek which had amazing food, a sunset view but long wait times, and Gatsu Gatsu for Sushi.

Of course, all meals, snacks, and beverages are included as part of the all-inclusive package.

Dine around Curacao

One new program which applies to guest with 7+ paid nights in a butler suite or 7+ paid nights in any room category for Diamond Level and above Sandals Select Rewards members.

They allow you to choose from a curated collection of six restaurants ranging from cool to classic that serve up delectable authentic cuisine showcasing the creativity of local chefs and the amazing ways they channel their passion into unique culinary experiences. Plus, round-trip transfers to the restaurants are included.

Beach Review

Before we went to the resort we were told the beach wasn’t like other Caribbean beaches. Instead of the white sand beach and smooth waves and view of the ocean, the beach at Sandals Royal Curacao is a man-made stretch of sand, placed on part of an inlet and separated by a dock.

That said, there’s plenty of space to relax here, and you can even go snorkeling in the surrounding waters to catch a glimpse of some of the gorgeous marine life. The dock is where you can hop on a boat ride or tour to explore the waters further with a snorkeling or scuba diving excursion.

This beach was a deal breaker for some, but we spoke to a lot of guests no one really complained about the beach. Since they came with the right expectations they didn’t mind it.

Pool Review

If you’re disappointed by the beach, you’ll be happy to know that Sandals Royal Curacao boasts a great selection of pools, including Sandals’ first-ever Dos Awa infinity pool. This incredible pool has both upper and lower decks and offers amazing views of the surrounding sea and mountains.

Guests can also enjoy relaxing at the swim-up bar, the main pool, the small pool located next to the main pool, or a quiet and secluded pool on the other end of the resort.

Activity Review

Sandals Royal Curacao features a huge range of activities for you to enjoy day and night, in water and on land, so you can fill your vacation with unforgettable memories.

There’s a variety of watersports available, including Hobie Cat sailing, paddleboarding, scuba diving, kayaking, and snorkeling. If you’d prefer to stick to dry land, there’s a range of sports as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center. Be sure to check out the spa, where you can indulge in a relaxing treatment.

You may also want to spend time discovering the island. Unique to Sandals Royal Curacao, you can explore the surrounding preserve on a Dutch bike, or by going on a hike. If you’re looking to go a little further afield, head out on one of the exciting area excursions.

There’s plenty of nightly entertainment to be enjoyed at this resort too, after you enjoy the incredible sunset views, including beach parties, talent shows, live music, and theme nights.

Excursion Review

As we’ve just mentioned, one of the best ways of getting out of the resort and exploring the island of Curacao is by taking an excursion. (Note that these do come at an extra cost.)

Sandals Royal Curacao offers a variety of fun-filled excursions, including guided snorkeling tours, e-bike tours of the capital city of Willemstad, Jeep safaris through Curacao National Park, or bar-hopping in the capital city of Willemstad.

Whether you book an excursion or want to head out on your own, we recommend including at least one visit to the island’s capital city of Willemstad. Located just a short drive from the resort, this vibrant city is home to a colorful array of pastel buildings in a unique Dutch architectural style and is teeming with quaint cafes and adorable shops. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage historic center, where you can uncover the island’s rich history and culture.

What’s Included?

As with every Sandals resort, all-inclusive truly means all-inclusive. For just one price, you can enjoy unlimited fine dining (including snacks!), unlimited nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages including premium liquors and Robert Mondavi wines, an in-room minibar that is refreshed daily, a variety of activities, and free Wi-Fi.

There are very few extra costs–even tips and taxes are already included! That said, if you’re staying in a butler suite, it’s recommended to tip your butler daily, especially if you’re using their services often. Spa staff also should be tipped if you go to the spa.

Not only are your airport transfers also included, but so is a huge range of activities and entertainment for you to enjoy while you’re at the resort. You’ll be able to enjoy unlimited watersports, scuba diving, and on-land activities, including Dutch bike rentals to explore the surrounding area.

There’s no need to pay any extra if you’re looking for a fun-filled night either; whether you want to enjoy a show, some live music, or simply some fun karaoke, this is all included in the rate too.

If that’s not enough, you may even be able to enjoy a free wedding! If you stay 7 nights or longer in a club or butler room at any Sandals resort, your destination wedding is on the house, as Sandals is committed to being the best resort chain for couples in the Caribbean. The Sweetheart Package, which usually costs $1000, is good for up to 10 people and also gives you a 15% discount at the spa as well as credits toward photography and videography packages. Free ceremonies are limited to Monday through Thursday, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Sandals Royal Curacao: Weddings

Sandals Royal Curacao is wonderful for a destination wedding, with a variety of beautiful indoor and outdoor venues. As we discussed above, you can get a free wedding with a 3-night minimum stay. If you stay 7 nights or longer, you can add premium perks for free.

Or, you can choose from a wide selection of Sandals wedding packages to create the custom wedding of your dreams. The onsite wedding coordinator will make sure that your every desire is catered to for a stress-free and magical experience.

Honeymoons at Sandals Royal Curacao

Whether you’re spending your honeymoon here after getting married at Sandals Royal Curacao or just coming within 30 days of your wedding date, you can receive a complimentary Sandals honeymoon package.

The package includes a bottle of sparkling wine, a delicious breakfast in bed one morning of your choosing, fresh flowers, and a turndown service with flower petals on your bed the first evening of your honeymoon.

Now that you’ve read all about Sandals Royal Curacao, does it sound like the dream getaway spot for you? If you’re not sure, or if you’d like help making your travel arrangements, visit our Contact Us page to get in touch with one of our expert Sandals travel agents.

Sandals Royal Curacao Review: Everything You Need to Know Before Booking