Sandals Royal Curaçao ended up being a really easy yes for me. I didn’t have to plan anything once I got there—I just moved between the beach, the pool, and wherever I was eating next (which I was always ready for). It does a lot really well, and it felt different from other stays on the island in a way that actually made the whole trip feel exciting.
If you’re still figuring out if this fits into your trip, check out my guide to Where to Stay in Curaçao (Best Areas + Hotels) because that made a bigger difference than I expected.
Before I arrived , I rented a car to explore the island a bit, it made it simple to see the island as soon as I arrived.
We pulled in and I could immediately tell Sandals Royal Curaçao is newer. Everything looked fresh, updated, and really well designed, and nothing had that worn-down feel some all-inclusives get.
I walked around the grounds right away and noticed how clean everything was, with a lot of greenery and landscaping that made it feel more upscale than I expected.
We spent the first part of the day walking around and figuring out where everything was, and I liked that the resort didn’t feel one-note. I could sit at the beach and it was quiet, then walk over to the infinity pool and it felt completely different.
I ended up in one of the float rings they provide and actually fell asleep at the beach for a bit (which honestly tells you everything). It felt like I could pick what kind of day I wanted without leaving the resort.
We stayed in a Carisia Club Level Oceanview Room, and I was really happy with that choice. I walked in and everything felt clean and updated right away, and there were small details like the moving art over the shower window.
We had a balcony that we loved to use, and the room location made it easy to get to everything we kept going back to. It wasn’t over-the-top luxury, but it worked really well and didn’t make anything feel complicated.
If you want to look at room options or pricing, you can browse Sandals Royal Curaçao here.
We ended up at the double infinity pool pretty much every afternoon, and this was easily the main spot during the day. The pool is huge, so even when it got busy near the swim-up bar, I could still find space away from the crowd.
There were games, music, and people hanging out, so it felt more social without being chaotic. I stayed there longer than planned most days, especially once the sun started going down, because the sunset from that pool was unreal.
We went down to the beach in the mornings, and this is where Sandals Royal Curaçao felt different from what I pictured. The beach is set on an inlet instead of open ocean, so you don’t get wide views or cliffs.
The water was really calm, and there’s a dock and net system that helps keep waves from passing boats out and keeps unwanted sea life away. I got in right away because the water was so still, and we stayed out there for a while without dealing with waves.
We brought my favorite resort item, a beach chair pillow, which made those longer pool and beach days way more comfortable, and I brought my pool float so I could get in, stay there, and relax instead of constantly adjusting or getting in and out.
We made our way through all of the restaurants, and for an all-inclusive, the food was solid with a couple standouts. We went to Gatsu Gatsu and did the hot plate experience, and that ended up being one of the more fun meals because of the hot plate, plus the sauces were so, so good and the sushi was a great add-on.
We had dinner at Butch’s Steakhouse another night and I got the filet and Brad got the surf and turf, which was exactly what I wanted after a full beach day (I clearly earn my steak around here). For lunch, we kept going back to the food trucks because they were quick when we didn’t want to wait on a sit down meal.
If you’re planning to go off resort, you can see my full guide on the best restaurants in Curaçao.
We made our way through all of the restaurants, and since this is all-inclusive, everything is already covered, which made it easy to just order what we wanted and more. That being said I don’t drink, but they still had plenty of mocktail options, so I never felt limited at all. If you want ideas, I have a full list of my favorite mocktails to order that I kept going back to.
I had been to several Sandals so I wasn’t expecting Michelin-level food, but I also didn’t feel like I was settling—it hit a good balance of quality and variety (you could say it really… meat expectations).
We interacted with staff throughout the stay, and everyone we talked to was friendly, welcoming, and helpful. By the second or third day, I already had a couple people I recognized and went back to, which just made everything feel like home (but more tropical).
We had a lazy day where we stayed in our room from breakfast through lunch and used room service, and it was honestly really nice to not leave the room at all. Everything just showed up and we stayed in that slow, relaxed mode longer than planned.
Room service at Sandals Resorts is included with specific room categories, so Club Sandals rooms get service from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and Butler Elite suites have 24-hour service. If you’re in Club or Butler levels, you can order breakfast, lunch, and dinner to your room, and butler guests can also order directly from the resort restaurant menus.
We looked into activities early in the trip, and there was more included than I expected for a place that feels more relaxed overall. They have snorkeling gear, daily snorkeling trips, scuba diving for certified divers, pickleball, land sports, a fitness center, and both day and night entertainment.
One of my favorite things we did was the snorkeling trip to Tugboat Beach, and not having to figure out logistics made it better. If you are going on an adventure for the day and want more details on spots like this, you can read my guide to the best snorkeling in Curaçao.
If you’re planning to explore outside the resort, booking something a tour here or renting a car in Curaçao here makes it easier to get around and see more of the island.
We tried to grab chairs at the pool a few times, and this is where it got a little annoying. People were definitely saving chairs early, especially in the best spots, so I had to be a little strategic about timing.
To be honest, we stayed in the pool most of the time anyway, so a lot of the time we just left our stuff off to the side and stayed in the water, which ended up being easier and way less of a hassle.
The pool itself never felt overcrowded, but getting a good chair sometimes took more effort than I wanted to put in on vacation.
We kept falling into the same routine most days without planning it. We’d start at the beach in the morning, stay in the water for a while (or really take a nap in the floats at the beach), grab lunch at the food trucks, and then end up at the infinity pool for the afternoon and sunset.
This setup works really well if you want a great pool scene, like having everything included, want a mix of relaxing and social, and don’t want to plan every meal or activity.
It’s probably not the best fit if you want a big open-ocean beach, something ultra-private, or super high-end gourmet dining across the board.
Save this for later on Pinterest so you don’t forget it.
We checked out at the end of the stay and I didn’t feel like I was ready to leave, which usually tells me everything I need to know.
I would come back to Sandals Royal Curaçao again without second guessing it.
I left thinking about whether Sandals Royal Curaçao was worth it, and it felt pretty clear by the end. If you want an affordable luxury all-inclusive, love having a great pool, and want a trip where everything is handled for you, it does exactly that.
If you’re ready to get planning then, I usually start with searching flights on here so I can compare options quickly.
Sandals isn't trying to be ultra-exclusive or over the top—it just delivers a really good trip, and we enjoyed every part of 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. 🔗
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
