Post Written By: Jennifer Dobrijevic

Destination Wedding Specialist

I have just returned from a FANTASTIC FAM trip visiting Sandals Emerald Bay in Exuma, Royal Bahamian in Nassau and Beaches Turks and Caicos.  For many travel agents, selling from a brochure or website is the norm, so having the opportunity to experience these FAMs firsthand is truly an invaluable experience.  I’m sure I can speak for others when I say seeing these 3 properties firsthand far exceeded my expectations in everything from the accommodations (stunning) to the food (delicious) and the people (friendliest), and I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to recommend these properties to even my most discerning clientele.

Sandals Emerald Bay is a property I had the opportunity to visit earlier this year, shortly after it’s opening.  In such a short time, the already amazing property had been improved greatly!  Emerald Bay really does boast the finest stretch of beach, and yes the water is really as blue as the pictures!  The rooms are luxurious, modern and spacious, many with stunning views of the ocean.  The Red Lane Spa is a dual floor oasis with scents of Lemongrass and the feeling of utter calm sweeping over you from the moment you enter.  Spa manager Karen is absolutely fantastic, contact her ahead of time to book services for your clients and even for recommendations.  The 5 restaurants offer something for every diner, from pizza to fine dining even a dessert bar, along with 5 bars (including 2 pool bars) you can rest assured everyone will be well taken care of.  The Martha Stewart wedding gazebo is surrounded by lush gardens with a view of the ocean in the background, absolutely a picturesque location for a ceremony or even a reception following.  This resort is perfect for couples looking for a quiet getaway, to enjoy each others company, relax and reconnect. 

Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau blows you away from the moment you enter.  It’s old world charm and history at its finest.  The former private home of the Duke has been turned into a modern palatial resort fit for a King (or Queen).  Sitting on a beautiful stretch of beach, in close proximity to shopping and downtown Nassau it’s a great choice for couples who may want to explore off the resort.  However, with everything the resort has to offer, they may not want to do that!  We were treated to a Beach Party on “Sandals Cay” the private island with some of the best food (lobster dipped in garlic butter!) and best entertainment (fire dancers, fire limbo).  This island is a great option for guests looking to book private functions, or just escape for the night, you really do get two vacations in one!  The property boasts 10 restaurants including Sandals signature teppanyaki restaurant Kimono’s, a Pizzeria and Gordon’s where you can dine under the stars on the tip of the pier. The highlight of the property for me was the new fire pits!  Looking out onto the beach, the fire pits and accompanying couches are the perfect way for couples to wind down in the evening, romance romance romance!  At every turn there was a smiling face offering assistance, advice or just a friendly greeting.  One evening myself and another agent were looking to relax with a glass of wine in a hot tub and unwind.  We asked one of the butlers to direct us, rather then just point the way, he took us to a private hot tub, took our drink orders and returned to serve us!  Neither of us were staying in a butler suite, it was just that extra mile that staff will go to in order to take care of guests at the property.  Upon checkout, there was a line of staff on either side of our transfer waving flags and bidding us farewell.  No better way to leave a lasting impression with your clients then a group of staff seeing them off!  

The last stop on our trip was the ultra 6star Beaches Turks and Caicos.  Perfect for families, couples and singles of all ages this property is 4 vacations in one with something to offer everyone!  Between the four villages Caribbean, Seaside, French and Italian; every budget and group can be accommodated.  How many resorts can offer 16 restaurants and 17 bars?  Any parent who has ever travelled with a picky eater will appreciate this!  From Italian to Bobby D’s burger joint to Sapodillas white glove adult only fine dining, everyone will be will fed, so much so in fact that Hotel Manager Adrian Whitehead says it’s his personal mission to make sure each guest goes home 10 pounds heavier than when they arrived!  Parents can rest at ease knowing that child care options available from babies and toddlers, to interactive programs for teens and tweens.  The water parks, Xbox game lounge and Scratch DJ academies provide something for every guest on your list.  Don’t be offended if your kids decide they would rather spend time in the activities than with you! 

I can’t express how much I appreciate and value the opportunities to be on the FAMs and experience the properties firsthand.  There is no better way to recommend proporties to my clients than to have tasted the food, swam in the pools, walked the beaches and met the staff personally. 

Thank you for the amazing opportunity to fall in love with your product again!

Jennifer Dobrijevic

Post Written By: Robin Wight, WPICC

Certified Wedding Coordinator

As a Sandals Certified Specialist, I love learning about what each resort has to offer! The beauty shown in the brochures does not compare to the experience you have as a Sandals guest.  I recently travelled to the lush, tropical island of St. Lucia with my husband and in-laws to experience Sandals Grande St. Lucian ourselves.  Learning that over half of St. Lucia is covered by rainforest and there is a drive-in volcano on the island, we were intrigued and excited to pick one of the three beautiful Sandals resorts on the island.  Although it was a tough choice, we chose the Grande St. Lucian for the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Suite.  This two bedroom suite offered us the unique experience of shared space to relax with my in-laws as well as the privacy we all sometimes need.   

Sandals certainly lives up to their motto of Luxury Included Vacations!  From the moment we stepped off the plane we felt like royalty. A luxurious white Escalade pulled up at the airport to transport us to the resort.  Kim, our driver, entertained us on the journey sharing the island's rich history with us and stopping along the way for photo ops.  Arriving at the resort we were met by Clynns, one of the two butlers who would be taking care of us during our stay.  Within minutes we were in our suite, sipping champagne and pinching ourselves at the beauty of it all!  Clynns had already made reservations for us each evening at the resort’s various restaurants, booked our complimentary photo shoot and stocked our suite with our preferred beverages.  We were a bit hesitant of booking a butler suite at first, seeing as we're not accustomed to such service.  But Clynns and Giselle, our second butler, showed us such hospitality and warmth that we can’t imagine experiencing it in the future any other way. 

The Grande St. Lucian is located at the tip of the island, meaning every morning we would wake up in our 4 poster King size beds with a view of the Atlantic Ocean and eat our breakfast on our second balcony overlooking the Caribbean Sea.  Steps from the Grande St. Lucian is historic Fort Rodney National Park, where we spent a wonderful morning.  Hiking through the ruins and enjoying breathtaking views was the perfect way to start the day, though most mornings were spent on the gorgeous, silky, white sand beach at The Grande, relaxing on beach chairs reserved for us by Giselle or Clynns.       

We were really impressed by the selection and variety of food at each resort.  That was the biggest decision we had each day!  Did we feel like burgers on the beach, Mexican buffet, wood-fired pizzas or an Italian feast?  Our absolute favorites were Gordon's, located at the end of the pier, the perfect place for fine dining while watching the sun set and Kimono's at Sandals Regency La Toc.  Kimono's not only offered delicious Japanese cuisine but also thorough entertainment!  Here the chefs cook and carry on with the guests over the teppanyaki grill. 

Our butlers definitely were the extra special touch to our trip. Escorting us each evening to one of the restaurants where our table would be decorated with flowers and making tee times at Sandals Regency La Toc was just the start. Coming back to our rooms scattered with fresh flowers, sweet treats and bubble baths drawn made us feel like absolute royalty.  A lot more than just Luxury was included in this amazing vacation!

I am very excited to share this post with you that I received from Kristy Newbold, Wedding & Event Coordinator from Platinum Events Group/ Platinum Destinations.                                                                                                                                                                    

My 1^st Sandals Resort Experience

By Kristy Newbold, Wedding & Event Coordinator

Platinum Events Group/ Platinum Destinations

After my most recent travels to Sandals Royal Bahamian, I felt like I was in paradise from the moment I arrived. I now understand what they mean when they say, “Luxury Included® Vacations.” From the moment we arrived the attentive & courteous staff were graciously at our side with cool towels & warm smiles.  

Situated on the sixth floor, Oceanfront Concierge Room, we overlooked the stunning turquoise waters of the Caribbean & glorious white sand beaches below. As a first time Sandals guest (and certainly not my last), I have to say I was very impressed. As I flopped down on the luxurious king size, 4-poster bed, I closed my eyes & thought to myself, “This is heaven!”

As a Wedding & Event Coordinator, I must admit I had weddings on the mind & how could I not with all of the couples surrounding us celebrating honeymoons & anniversaries. The options were seemingly endless… Book a relaxing couples massage with Red Lanes Spa set on the ocean docks or plan a romantic island excursion across the water at Sandal’s Cay where you can lay on big comfy sofas with a Pina Colada in hand. 

Sandals also offer unlimited daily recreational activities from snorkeling with neon fish and barracudas to taking out the big yellow aqua bikes… A hoot let me tell you! In the evening, enjoy nightly entertainment from couple’s jeopardy to unlimited romantic dining options such as a candlelit gourmet dinner for two on the beach overlooking the sunset only to return to the privacy of your room where your personal butler has drawn a relaxing warm bath with rose petals & a bottle of champagne! 

The professional staff at Sandals offers endless on-site wedding options from small intimate gatherings such as the two individuals I watched wed on the beach alone early one morning to large lavish affairs surrounded by family & friends. On-site coordinators are there to assist couples with choosing a cake, picking flowers, hiring a photographer, arranging for a minister & most importantly to enjoy every detail of your perfect day! Sandals offers five exclusive designs by Martha Stewart Weddings that you can choose from which focus on different wedding themes ranging from chic and natural bamboo to my personal favorite seaside serenade consisting of light hues, soft linens & seashells. 

In closing, there are endless opportunities to make your stay special & unique… As I watched from my room on my final morning (as previously mentioned), a single couple so much in love stood together on the beach, a picturesque ceremony location to marry one another. I opened my window to witness this joyful occasion & just in time to see the officiant draw a heart in the sand & ask the couple to walk over & stand in the middle… The two followed his sermon as they held hands gazing into on another’s eyes & repeated each vow he said aloud while standing in the middle of the heart… I sat there & thought to myself, it does not get anymore perfect or romantic than that!

I’m excited to share this post with you that Lori Pannia, Editor In Chief of www.TheRingBearer.ca wrote about her experience at Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Whitehouse:

A few weeks back I had the pleasure of travelling with great people from Sandals on a media familiarization trip to Jamaica. The purpose of the trip was to show us the original Sandals resort “Sandals Montego Bay” and their newest resort “Sandals Whitehouse”.  Although both resorts were completely different, they both share the same incredible vacation experience Sandals is known for. I want to share with you the things you won’t find in the brochure, the extra special touches that I really appreciated on my Sandals tour.

Your vacation actually starts at the airport. As soon as you go through customs and pick up your bags you’re ushered to the Sandals waiting area. Your bags are tagged and you never have to see or handle them again. The waiting area is comfortable and appealing. You can have a drink, freshen up and then just sit down, relax and wait for them to call you for the ride to your resort.  

Pulling up at the resort is another delight. As soon as you exit your vehicle, friendly staff is waiting to offer you a cold refreshing towel and of course, rum punch … or two!

One of my favourite features of a Sandals resort is the personalized butler service. You’ll be brought to your room by a butler and given a telephone so that you can contact your butler anytime anywhere.  Talk about service! If you’re on the beach and you forget something in your room, all you have to do is call - before you know it your butler is there. You can have them unpack on arrival and pack on departure as well. On my last day in Jamaica, I called my butler to have breakfast delivered to the beach which was a fabulous way to relax and enjoy the last moments in paradise. Personal Butlers are hand picked by Sandals and sent through the ultra-prestigious Guild of Professional English Butlers, the world’s premier trainer of butlers for Five Star Hotels and the Royal Palaces of Great Britain!

Another great feature of Sandals Resorts is that you have the freedom to try different restaurants in your own resort as well as any of the neighbouring Sandals resorts. Guests can jump on a complementary shuttle between resorts and decide which one is their favourite. Thai, Teppanyaki, or Italian is all available and if you choose to, you can even go to the same restaurant every night. If you’re staying in Montego Bay, you have a choice of 14 dining options all serving premium brand drinks (i.e. Beringer Wines)

I observed guests at the resort and could clearly see that they were having a great time. The staff not only made guests feel important and welcome, they even memorize your name! The Sandals staff IS what makes the difference. They are polite, professional and most of all, fun.

LP