I have to admit, I’m shocked. Before June of 2017, my only trip to any tropical beach had been to Cancún with family. And while the trips there had certainly been filled with adventure and discovery (along with the beautiful ocean views and quite a bit of sunburn), it had never been one of my favorite styles of travel. Preferring the cities and towns with lots of food, local activities and street photography, tropical beaches just had never taken a super high spot on my wandering list.
Grenada has one of the most beautiful, intimate resorts.
Then came our honeymoon. Knowing next to nothing about Caribbean travel, we booked a trip to the Sandals Grande resort on Saint Lucia. After months of planning and work and writing checks for our wedding, a week of doing next to nothing in a pool or in crystal clear Caribbean water sounded pretty great. So we hopped on a plane out of JFK airport the morning after our wedding and headed off into…paradise?
The reason I am shocked, mostly, is that I loved it. Although it was never my style of travel to just sit and relax for a week, there is a certain focus that returns to life when we allow ourselves to be calm and unwind a bit. We think of things in a different light, share new perspectives and allow our minds to be more fully refreshed. In a book I’m currently reading, The Psychology of Trading by Brett Steenbarger the author remarks that there is something about travel that changes our perspectives and paradigms, and enables us to reflect on our current situations in an entirely different light [paraphrased]. So, after knowing next to nothing about the Caribbean, you can imagine my surprise as I sit here writing this today on our fourth trip back since that first adventure.
While this article is going to focus mostly on the experience at Sandals Resorts, the general principles and ideas can no doubt be applied to many different all-inclusive, tropical vacations. Here are just a few things that we hope can help you if you choose to try it out for yourself.
Beautiful boat ride around the island of St. Lucia.
1. Do your research.
No matter if you’re going to Sandals or some other island resort - spend an hour or so and use the wonderful world of Google to find out some info on where you are going. (Or, better yet, use our own travel services and get a professionally prepared travel plan! ) Our biggest shock of the trip came not ten minutes after landing on St. Lucia and hearing - “sorry guys, it’s a two hour drive through the mountains and rainforest to get to the hotel - in a rickety old van with no air-conditioning”. Not thrilling. Thankfully, we discovered another option, an equally rickety death-defying helicopter ride over said rainforest, that ended up cutting down the travel time significantly. Here are some things you should research before traveling :
Where your hotel is in relation to the airport, what are the transfer options?
What time is check-in, & what kinds of amenities can you expect in your room?
Where the room you are booking is located on the resort (some are huge and picking the right type of room can be VERY helpful to save a lot of walking through your stay.) Studying resort maps can be very helpful in booking.
What kind of electrical plugs do they use - do you have the correct adapters?
What is the dress attire for certain restaurants, did you pack properly?
Are there any rewards or travel loyalty programs you can sign up for on your first booking to start earning rewards?
Quiet fountains and soft music fill the air each evening
2. Mind the sky.
In case you’ve forgotten, there is this thing called Hurricane Season. While it doesn’t typically affect anyone outside of the southeastern US and Caribbean, it also means we often forget about it entirely. Hurricane or “the rainy” season generally lasts from June through November in the Caribbean. While most times you will be totally fine, even during these months, travel insurance is never a bad option.
While the days may be scorching, nights can get surprisingly cool, especially in the winter months, or after a nice thundershower. Pack accordingly.
Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. Those of us that live in the more northern areas are not used to the scorching sun down much closer to the equator. What may burn you in 2 hours at home, may only take 10 minutes in the Caribbean, and ruin your vacation!
Life size chess set at sandals grande antigua
3. Schedule.
Unless you truly just want to sit on the beach or pool every single day and do absolutely nothing, it is never a bad idea to schedule your time at the resort. Some restaurants require reservations, and waiting until the last minute can mean a missed opportunity to enjoy.
Excursions are extra, and some require an entire day away from the resort. Prepare for being away from your room for 4-8 hours, and pick the right day so that you don’t feel like you are losing precious beach time. (Note : it will rarely be that private or intimate - everyone goes on these.)
If the hotel doesn’t have pre-arranged airport transportation, make sure you schedule some in advance to ensure you arrive as early as you can.
Chances are when you arrive, your room will not be ready yet. Pack your swimsuit, some sunscreen and other essentials in your carry on bag, change in a bathroom, and park your butt by the pool until it is. Nothing is worse than walking around the resort in jeans just waiting until your room is ready.
4. More.
Just because you are at an all-inclusive, don’t expect not to spend money, unless you are immune to all sales tactics ever. Between excursions, spa services, photo shoots, premium wine bottles, room upgrades & booking another trip, they aren’t going to just actually let you stay all week for free without trying to sell you more.
Beach vendors are a necessary evil at some beaches, especially if the beach is public, and the resort has no control. Politely say no, smile and keep walking - or bring some cash if you think you might enjoy buying something.
Pool chairs can be a premium. If you have the willpower, get up early, grab a towel and a book and claim some premium beach or pool chairs. By the time you get up and down there otherwise, there may be limited seating left.
Most resorts have amazing night time entertainment and activities, but if you choose to venture off resort to enjoy a more realistic island experience, always take care and follow the advice of the hotel staff.
Whether you are going to an all-inclusive, the Caribbean, Mexico, or some other exotic beach location, do your research, plan, learn and make the most of the time you have there!
Until next time!