Beaches and oceans are popular lures for travelers and vacationers. There is always something to do while turning relaxation into an art form. Several marvelous Sandals all-inclusive luxury resorts in the Caribbean have taken this concept to a higher level with over-the-water bungalows – individual bungalows on stilts built over the ocean. For many, this can be the most stunning vacation of their lives. A Sandals overwater bungalow includes Sandals’ 5-star luxury service and some of the best accommodations in the world.
The Best Sandals Over-The-Water All-Inclusive Bungalows
Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica
Visitors to Sandals Royal Caribbean have free access to nearby Sandals Montego Bay. Reminiscent of old English elegance, this all-inclusive resort has a British Pub, traditional English teas, and its Georgian-style Great House with manicured garden and colorful peacocks.
Luxuries at Sandals Royal Caribbean
The resort’s private island, accessible by ferry, with cabanas, a pool, a swim-up bar, a whirlpool, and a restaurant, is an additional treasure at the Sandals Overwater Bungalows at Sandals Royal Caribbean.
- Nine restaurants, five bars (including a swim-up bar), and a well-stocked bar in the bungalow.
- Eight pools and six whirlpools
- Croquet and watersports.
- Certified Scuba Diving lessons
- Live entertainment nightly
- Free wedding for guests staying more than three nights.
Luxuries at Private Island Over-the Water Bungalow
- Floating water hammock
- Infinity pool.
- Glass floors with a stunning view of the Caribbean marine life.
- King-sized bed with luxury Egyptian linen.
- Soaking tubs for two
Private butlers who the Guild of Professional Butlers trains – they train butlers for royalty and know how to make each guest feel like one. Butler service includes:
- 24-hour service to tend to guests’ every need
- Cocktails and snacks upon arrival
- In-room dining
- Unpack luggage
- Make reservations for dinner, tours, and all activities
- The private butler will escort guests to their dinner while ensuring that their bungalow is prepared for its nightly turndown.
- Butlers are known to surprise guests throughout the day with special snacks and treats.
Things to do Near Sandals Royal Caribbean, Montego Bay
Reggae Sunset Catamaran Cruises from Montego Bay are a three-hour treat that includes resort pickup, a visit to Jimmy Buffet’s fabulous Margaritaville with all its activities, and drinks and appetizers while enjoying an amazing sunset to live music. It’s a party on the water.
Treasure Hunt Gaming is the number one betting lounge in Jamaica, and it’s right in Montego Bay. Slots, betting tables, and horse racing gaming are available 24 hours a day.
Rose Hall Montego Bay is a historical 18th-century residential gem. There are tours of the house and garden which highlight Montego Bay’s colonial history and how the rich lived. The evening tour brings life to the great spirits that inhabit the mansion as the dead seem to come alive. To calm frayed nerves, guests are invited to the Dungeon Bar for a “witches brew.” This is the only haunted tour in Jamaica.
The Rose Hall property is also home to two acclaimed golf courses.
Sandals South Coast in Whitehouse, Jamaica
Sandals South Coast all-inclusive resort has two miles of exquisite coastline, and the resort takes its influence from the magnificent surrounding waters with its Over-the-Water Butler Bungalows, Over-the-Water bar, and even an Over-the-Water Wedding Chapel. At Sandals South Coast, water is healing.
It is the winner of the Caribbean Leading Honeymoon Resort award and Best Resort for Weddings in the Caribbean award. It has also been awarded the 2010 World Travel Award for “Jamaica’s Leading Resort.”
Sandals South Coast Luxuries
This all-inclusive resort has nine restaurants, all serving premium liquor and the world’s best coffee, Jamaica Blue Mountain. A secluded candlelit dinner at the beach or garden is about privacy and romance.
Certified Scuba Diving Lessons.
All watersports, including windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking, and waterskiing.
All nightly entertainment, including carnival night, Caribbean Night, and live bands are included.
Land activities include tennis, lawn chess, shuffleboard, croquet, bocce, and volleyball.
The resort’s Red Lane Spa is a sanctuary within a soothing garden offering yoga, Pilates, massages, a steam room, and a plunge pool. It is known for its West Indian massages and ancient 14th-century Thai therapies.
Sandals South Coast Over-the-Water wedding chapel has one of the best views of Jamaica. Couples can work with the resort’s wedding planner to make this a once-in-a-lifetime wondrous event – everything from makeup to flowers.
Luxuries at Sandals South Coast Over-the-Water Bungalows
The Over-the-Water Butler Honeymoon Bungalows afford newlyweds a luxurious beginning to their wedding life together. King-size beds, soft lining, hardwood floors, soaking tubs, and a walk-in rain shower are just a few of the basics included. The bungalows also offer:
- A private patio
- A sun deck
- Glass floor to assure a grand view of the surrounding marine life.
- All of Sandals’ elite 24-hour Butler services.
- In-Room bar with premium liquor
- An outdoor tub
Things to Do Near Sandals South Coast
Sandals South Coast has a plethora of tours to nearby must-see locations. Whether it’s an off-road safari through the jungle, a heart-pounding ziplining adventure, a sunset cruise, or a Dunn’s River Falls tour, Sandals South Coast will make it happen.
Sandals Grande St. Lucian in Gros-Islet, Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island in the Caribbean formed by volcanic activity. It features mountains, rivers, and healing hot sulphur springs.
Sandals Grande St. Lucian is on Rodney Bay, with its calm, soothing waters and an Instagram view of the volcanic mountain region. The resort has been listed as the top 25 all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, the Caribbean’s leading honeymoon resort, and St. Lucia’s leading resort.
Luxuries at Sandals Grande St. Lucia
- Five large pools
- Twelve international gourmet restaurants.
- Over-the-Water Wedding Chapel
- Scuba certification lessons
Guests partake in watersports such as kayaking, windsurfing, sailing, paddleboarding, and waterskiing.
Land activities include table tennis, board games, tennis, volleyball, and croquet.
Green fees for two amazing Saint Lucian golf courses are included in the stay – the Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Club and the Sandals St. Lucia Golf & Country Club.
There are themed beach and pool parties every night – Mondays are devoted to honeymooners and romance. From bonfires to fire dancers to Reggae shows, something is always happening at Sandals Grande Saint Lucia.
A stay at Sandals Grande Saint Lucia provides unlimited all-inclusive free access to facilities at Sandals Halcyon Beach and Sandals Regency La Toc, leaving guests with a choice of
11 pools, 11 whirlpools, 27 restaurants, and 21 bars. Three luxurious vacations for the price of one.
The Red Lane Spa provides exclusive treatments using botanicals.
Private cabanas on the beach allow privacy and relaxation while cool libations and tasty foods are being delivered.
Luxuries at Sandals Grande St. Lucia Over-the-Water Bungalows
These bungalows connect guests directly with the Caribbean Sea and its turquoise beauty. As do most of the Sandals over-the-water bungalows, these have a glass floor with lit water to ensure a perfectly unique view of Caribbean marine life day and night. It’s like letting the exotic outside come inside. More luxuries include:
- Gorgeous hardwood floors and vaulted ceilings
- Walk-in rain shower
- Tranquility tub for two
- Over the ocean hammocks
- King-sized bed with soft linen
- Sun deck and private patio with bistro set
- Outdoor shower
- Sun loungers and bistro set for two on the deck
- Sandal’s elite 24-hour butler services
- Bar with premium liquor inside the bungalow
Things to Do Near Sandals Grande St. Lucia
Gros-Islet Street Party
Gros-Islet Street Party happens every Friday, when Gros-Islet fills with food, music, and dancing. And food here translates into fresh lobsters or aromatic barbeques. Visitors can be picked up at their location, and the party begins when refreshments are served during the trip.
The Diamond Waterfall in Soufriere
An hour and a half from the resort, and well worth the trip, The Diamond Waterfall in Soufriere can be found within a botanical garden in the town’s center. This 17-meter-high waterfall is filled with minerals and sulphur that keep changing the water’s color. Guests are invited to take a soothing mineral bath, then enjoy a meal at the Old Mill & Waterwheel Restaurant before strolling through the beautiful garden.
Pigeon Island
A Sandals vacation is definitely a beach getaway, but for the outdoor person in you, there is Pigeon Island in St. Lucia. It is a mere five-minute walk from the resort and makes the ideal day trip. Actually, it is not an island; it was joined to the mainland by a road in the 20th century.
With a long colorful history – it was once the home of a pirate, then a strategic site during the British and French wars – Pigeon Island has military ruins, including an old mess hall, and a museum provides more information on Pigeon Island’s past. It used to be part of a US Naval Air Station. Now, the site is a lovely park brimming with history, ruins, beaches, and hiking trails to see it all. And the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival takes place here every spring.
The Best Features of an Overwater Bungalow
- All you need to explore your world is a swimsuit. Step out of your bungalow and step into the water to swim, snorkel, paddleboard, kayak, or just laze on your private deck and enjoy a great view. Count the various types of fish, dolphins, or sea turtles you can spot.
- The panoramic vista can stretch for miles and the sunrises and sunsets will leave you breathless.
- Imagine starting your day getting out of bed and jumping into some of the world’s clearest, bluest water. These bungalows have luxurious showers, but nothing beats the luxury of diving into the Caribbean Ocean.
- Room service: These luxury over-the-water bungalow resorts come with room service, and your food can arrive as scheduled by boat or canoe from the shore or be hand-delivered by your private 24-hour butler.
- Over-the-water bungalows have a glass floor that serves as an incredible doorway to the marine life below.
- Spending the day in a hotel room, even a luxurious one, can eventually feel confining. An over-the-water bungalow is a breathtaking scenic outdoor experience with continuous activity, from a plunge pool, jacuzzi, a deck, hammocks to enjoy the sea breezes, and a front-row vista to incredible beauty. Few other venues can provide visitors with such memories. Imagine relaxing in your private jacuzzi beneath the stars while sipping champagne.
Over-the-water bungalows are indeed an expensive splurge. However, they can be made affordable. For honeymooners, there is no more romantic getaway – but how to indulge after a costly wedding? Smart newlyweds are foregoing the standard wedding registry, as they have most necessities anyway.
Therefore, they opt for a “honeymoon” registry. Instead of gifting the happy couple with a crystal salad bowl or wine glasses, guests contribute to the cost of the honeymoon at the couple’s choice of an all-inclusive luxury resort. This helps with the expenses involved or takes care of them altogether. An all-inclusive resort is the best choice because one payment includes meals, premium alcohol, and most activities.
Another smart way to save on a luxury Sandals resort vacation is to visit off-season, which would be April through June (spring) and September to November (fall). The rates are generally lower during those months. They are considerably higher during the holidays and winter vacation period, from December to April.
Why Choose Sandals Resorts?
Sandals began developing its now-famous resorts in 1982, and they have been voted the world’s leading all-inclusive, adult-only resorts for 26 years in a row. The resorts’ very concept is built on luxury, pampering, and providing top-quality service to each guest.
All Sandals resorts are all-inclusive – that means ultimate savings to guests because everything is included in one fee, and tipping (except for the private butler and spa services) is discouraged. There is no reason to carry a wallet while staying at any Sandals resort. And many couples appreciate the adults-only atmosphere which creates a more romantic ambiance.
Some resorts lure guests with their fine beaches, but the food and quality may not live up to high standards. Each Sandals resort has several excellent dining options with five-star menu choices prepared by the best chefs. And the unlimited liquor is top-of-the-line, such as Grey Goose or Crown Royale. No other resort provides as many award-winning dining choices as Sandals. Some resorts have as many as 16 restaurants. Sandals definitely qualifies as the most romantic of all resorts.
Guests can take advantage of the free snorkeling trips – most resorts have several daily trips to a variety of great sites. There is never a charge for these adventures.
Sandals begins its pampering with its rooms. Regardless of what category room is chosen, each has a comfortable king-sized bed, quality soaps and shampoos, and an in-room bar kept filled with juices, wine, and beer.
Travelers frequently worry about getting from the airport to their destination. That is never the case with Sandals guests, who will be picked up from the comfortable airport Sandals lounge by a designated driver. The famed Sandals pampering begins as soon as guests step off the plane.
Sandals and Romance
All Sandals resorts are adults-only. Any couple can have the time of their lives, but the resorts are very special for honeymooners. Brides Magazine has voted Sandals “Top All-Inclusive Resorts for Honeymoons.” Each includes the services of a trained 24-hour butler who will attend to all the guests’ needs.
Over-the-water bungalows are designed for romance. These exotic bungalows are literally called Love Nest Butler Suites and provide the ultimate in luxurious pampering with a private pool, deck, and glass-bottomed floor.
It is no coincidence that the most romantic resort has an official Engagement Concierge. Should anyone wish to pop the question while staying at any Sandals resort, this romance consultant will help plan the best time and place for this monumental occasion – complete with photos. Any couple will remember this forever.
Sandals is a natural choice for honeymooners, and their honeymoon package consists of chilled wine to toast upon arrival, flower petals on the bed for the first night, and a luscious post-nuptial breakfast in bed.
Engaged couples can use Sandal’s honeymoon registry instead of a regular wedding gift registry. Friends and family can contribute funds for the honeymoon, thereby alleviating much or all of the expense of such a luxurious getaway.
