If you’re trying to decide between Baoase Luxury Resort Curaçao and Sandals Royal Curaçao, this Sandals Curaçao vs Baoase comparison is my take after staying at both. They’re both talked about a lot, but they are completely different experiences.
If you want the shortest answer possible, here it is.
I’d book Baoase for a quiet, private, high-end luxury stay.
I’d book Sandals for an all-inclusive, social, easy vacation where everything is handled.
But the reason why I’d pick each one is completely different depending on the trip.
I walked into Baoase and it immediately felt tucked away from everything. It was quiet, really private, and had that boutique luxury feel where I wasn’t constantly seeing people around me.
I spent most of my time at the beach or in our room, and both felt secluded enough that I wasn’t thinking about anything else going on. It fully gave that hidden oasis energy.
I got to Sandals and the shift was immediate. The property is bigger, there are more people, and there’s more going on overall.
I moved between different areas depending on what I felt like doing, and it never felt like I was stuck in one type of atmosphere. I sat by a more social pool one day, then ended up in a quieter area the next, and having those different zones made a difference.
I stayed in one of the villas at Baoase, and the room felt like part of the resort amentites. We had a private pool, an outdoor bathroom, and a villa-style setup that made it feel like we had our own space the entire time.
I barely left the room (in the best way), and I didn’t feel like I needed to.
I stayed in a club room category at Sandals, and it was clean, updated, and in a good location. It was comfortable, clean, and modern but I wasn’t thinking about the room once I left it.
I spent most of my time out at the pool, beach, or restaurants instead, which is kind of the point there.
If you’re trying to compare room categories and locations, you can see my full breakdown in Sandals Royal Curaçao Review: What You Should Know Before Booking.
I sat down for dinner at Baoase every night, and this is where it really stood out. The food was high-end, creative, and each dinner felt like its own experience.
I was excited for dinner every night, and I left dinner already thinking about what I wanted the next time (which says a lot). It is expensive unless you’re doing all-inclusive, so that’s something to factor in.
I ate at all the restaurants at Sandals, but Gatsu Gatsu and Butch’s were my favorites. I also grabbed food from the food trucks during the day, which made lunch really simple when I didn’t want to sit down for a full meal.
There’s a lot of variety, and while it’s not Michelin-level or super high-end, it’s really solid for an all-inclusive. I was genuinely happy with the food, especially for what you’re paying.
I walked down to the beach at Baoase, and it’s a small, calm cove with really clear water. I got in right away and stayed in longer than I planned because it was so calm.
It felt quiet and controlled, and I didn’t have to deal with crowds while I was out there. It was so peaceful and luxurious.
I went down to the beach at Sandals, and it’s more of an inlet, so you don’t get that wide open Curaçao coastline view. The water is calm though, and I ended up taking a nap in the provided float each day.
It’s not a dramatic wow, but it’s easy to enjoy.
If you want beaches with that bright blue water and more dramatic views, check out my Curaçao Beaches with the Clearest Water (Ranked by What I Actually Saw).
Save this for later on Pinterest so you don’t forget it.
I used the pool at Baoase a little, but it wasn’t really the focus. It felt more private, and I mostly stuck to the beach or our room pool instead.
I spent way more time at the pools at Sandals, and this is where the resort really stands out. The double infinity pool is huge, social, and even with a lot of people around, I never felt overly crowded.
I stayed there through sunset each night, and the view from the pool alone made it worth it (I told myself “one more minute” at least five times and somehow stayed another hour).
I interacted with staff at Baoase from the second I arrived, and everything felt very tailored. People knew where we were supposed to be, what we had planned, and things were handled before I had to ask.
It felt like true luxury-level service the entire time.
I talked to staff throughout the trip at Sandals, and everyone was friendly and consistent. It didn’t feel as personalized, but I still had really good interactions across the board.
I could tell the experience would feel more elevated if I had booked a butler-level room.
I looked into things to do at Baoase, and most of it centered around relaxing, spa time, and private experiences. I didn’t feel like I needed a schedule, and I didn’t try to build one. There is good snorkeling right at the private cove beach which is convenient.
I booked and actually used the included snorkeling trip, which made me feel like I was really getting my money’s worth, and they even run trips to Tugboat, which is one of the best spots on the island—so I didn’t have to figure any of that out myself. They also have scuba, pickleball, and other land sports, so there’s a lot more going on if you want options.
If you want a breakdown of snorkeling spots like that, read Best Snorkeling in Curaçao: Top Spots You Can’t Miss.
I stayed on the east side of Curaçao for both, closer to Willemstad, and neither location made me want to leave much once I was there.
Baoase felt tucked away and private the entire time, while Sandals felt like a full destination resort where everything I needed was already on property.
I looked at the total cost after both stays, and Baoase was noticeably more expensive. It made sense once I was there, but it only feels worth it if you’re actually spending time at the resort and using everything.
I paid less overall at Sandals, and having everything included upfront made it easier to relax about spending. I wasn’t thinking about every meal, drink, or activity adding up, which made the whole trip feel more straightforward.
If you’re pricing things out, you can book Sandals here and Baoase here.
I’d book Baoase if I wanted privacy, romance, high-end food, and a quiet luxury experience where I planned to stay on property the whole time.
I’d book Sandals if I wanted an easy, all-inclusive trip, a great pool, a mix of relaxing and social, and something where I didn’t have to plan anything once I got there.
I’d choose Baoase if I wanted a quiet, romantic luxury escape.
I’d choose Sandals if I wanted an easy, fun, all-inclusive vacation.
They’re both great—you just have to match it to your trip.
If you want a full breakdown of Baoase specifically, you can read my Baoase Luxury Resort Curaçao Review: Is It Worth It?.
Pack your bags... ✈️🧳My hiking and road trip gear shop just got a refresh, and this is everything that actually earns a spot in my bag. The dry bag pulls double duty for beach days and trail days, the Osprey backpack is the one I grab for anything motorcycle or day-hike related, and the GoPro comes with me literally everywhere at this point.
Nothing on this list is filler it’s all stuff I’ve used, packed, and repacked more times than I can count. Full shop linked in my bio if you want to build out your own kit before your next trip.
Filing this one under “go now before it gets cold.” Bonneville Hot Springs is one of those trips where fall access is honestly the sweet spot the campground road is open, the hike in is short, and you skip the snow-and-gate situation we dealt with when we went in March.
September and early fall mean clearer trails, easier parking, and pools that are just as good without the extra mile of hiking to earn them. Fewer than 10 people out there when we visited, a rustic changing booth, zero amenities, and pools that range from “relax” to “actually scalding” until you move some rocks around and mix in river water. Small waterfalls feeding in, mountains in every direction, not polished, and that’s exactly the point.
Full breakdown on parking, what to pack, and timing it right is linked in my bio.
Summer’s not even over and I already have the itch. Fall hiking season is calling and I am answering.
Save this if you feel the itch too.🍁
Columbus hotel roundup because “just find something downtown” isn’t a strategy✈️
I stayed across the price spectrum on this one so I could actually compare notes. Hotel LeVeque is the splurge Art Deco lobby, marble bathrooms, and a restaurant (The Keep) worth visiting even if you don’t book a room. If you want to walk everywhere, Le Méridien puts you right in the Short North with murals and shops outside your door. And if budget’s the priority, Aloft gets you clean and modern near Ohio State without the markup.
Want a full escape from the city instead? Hocking Hills lodges and Gervasi Vineyard are both an easy drive out and worth the detour.
Not every hotel on this list is for every trip... that’s kind of the point. Full breakdown by neighborhood and budget, link in bio 🍂
Thousands of motorcycles, decades of history, and one very hot infield. 🏍️
I went into Mid-Ohio Vintage Motorcycle Days expecting a bike show. What I got was closer to a small town that pops up once a year camps stretched across the hills, swap meet tables piled with parts I couldn’t name, and bikes older than some of the people admiring them parked next to restorations that looked showroom-fresh.
Fair warning: this is not a quick stop. Give yourself the whole day, wear real shoes, and don’t skip the racing watching pre-war machines and modern superbikes share the same track is worth the sunburn.
Ohio keeps surprising me. Full recap on the blog link in bio. 🔗
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