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At Beaches Turks and Caicos, how many full or halfbathrooms does the Michaelangelo Family Suite in the Italian Village have?


the Imperial Family Suites have 2 full bathrooms. the Concierge level rooms in the Italian Village have 1 large bathroom.

Hi, I am looking into visiting Jamaica. What are the main differences between Riu Negril and Riu Palace Tropical?


Riu Palace Tropical Bay is more upscale than Riu Negril. It has larger, more recently upgraded rooms, slightly more upscale food, and a nicer lobby. Guests staying at Riu Palace Tropical Bay can use the facilities at Riu Negril, but not vice-versa. We'll be glad to assist you in getting rates for both properties (and others we like in Negril).

what is an average tip for the butler for a week at Beaches Turkes and Caicos?


Tips can generally be from $10-$100/day depending on how much/little you use the butler and how valuable you find their service. We generally hear people paying $25-$50/day on average.

What is the difference between a couples resort and an adult resort? We want to go to the caribbean from Dallas 6-7 nights and avoid KIDS & prefer male/female couples only but we don't want a nude beach? Where would you suggest with a $2000-2500 budget?


A couples resort is one in which Couples are required/highlighted - Sandals Resorts and Couples Resorts would be the 2 most obvious resort chains in this group. Adults only means that no kids are allowed, and you'll get a mix of couples, singles, groups, and others looking for a relaxing kid-free vacation. Iberostar Grand, El Dorado, Excellence, would be examples of adults only brands. None of these terms mean they have nude beaches or anything risque. We'll be glad to help with recommendations.

We are planning a Sandals Vacation for our 25th anniversary. We are in our mid 40's looking to lay out and site seeing during the day and go dancing at night. We are a casual couple and like our rooms to have A/C. Which Sandels Resorts would you recommend?


Lots of options fit this bill. Sandals Negril has some off resort entertainment near by that would work. Sandals Ocho Rios also have lots of activity both on and off property in that area. If not looking for Jamaica, Sandals Royal Bahamian, Sandals Regency, and Sandals Antigua might all be good fits.

My wife and I are in our early 50's. We are trying to decide between Couples and Sandals; looking at Jamacia. I heard Couples is more for people our age than Sandals; also heard that Couples Nigil is more suited for people who hate(me) having someone in aroom above them because the rooms are more like bungalow's and less like suites or hotel rooms. We both like water sports, I like golf; she loves the beach, while I like to be doing things. We both like 1 to 3 cocktails a day on vacation but no more and while we like to intermingal on vacation and are friendly we do not want a big party scene every night. Although there is a big sale on for Sandals and I hate to give it up we are leaning to Couples. Are we correct or do you have suggestions?


Steve- Unfortunately most of this is stereotype...the client mix at both Sandals and Beaches is both very similar. A mix of honeymooners and older couples, regardless of age.... I believe each property has it's own personality...that is somewhat based on who is there that week. Based on the below: 1) If you want properties more like bungalows and less like hotel rooms, Couples Negril and Swept away would both be good fits. So would Sandals Whitehouse since it's got "villages" rather than some big hotel structure. I would stay away from the Ocho Rios properties because they are all more "hotel" like and Sandals Montego Bay which probably wouldn't be a good fit. 2) Golf - tough one since Ocho Rios is the only place where golf is included. Sandals Grand Ocho is my least favorite Sandals. Couples Tower Isle is a large "hotel" property...and couples sans souci is our lowest rated Couples property. 3) Sandals sales - Sandals is always on sale...so don't let that impact your decision. The sales do change, however. Also, with either Sandals or Couples...should a lower price come out in the future, we'd have no problems getting your reservation adjusted to the then lower rate...so you don't have to worry about that.

Looking at Beaches Turks and Caicos and working up my bugdet. Want to book either Venetian or French Village 1 Bedroom Suite. Like the Venetian being newer and the kids bedroom (traveling with 2 adults and 2 kids 7 & 11) but really like the French 1 bedroom having a real living room area. Price isn't that different so not a consideration...just really intersted in your recommendation.. Thanks!!


The Italian Village rooms are definitely more modern, are in a better location (closer to the beach), and offer better liklihood of upgrades within the Italian Village. Also, they include a real balcony if not on the first floor. The French 1 bedroom rooms are really 2 standard French Village rooms put together..with either double beds or a king bed in the 1 bedroom, and sofa beds in the other. 2 bathrooms in French, 1 nicer bathroom in Italian. Definitely larger, but not as nice or close to the beach. It really depends on your family. I have 2 small kids (5/3) and we prefer the I Village rooms and don't need the 2nd bath. But with older kids that might be a really nice to have. We can obviously help with either, using our relationships with those on property to get you the best popular room. Let me know how we can assist.

Is a 2 week vacation at the Beaches Turks resort too much?


Most of our European and Canadian guests book 2 week holidays...and I've never had a single person complain about 2 weeks at Beaches Turks. With over 10 restaurants, the water park, amazing snorkeling/SCUBA, and tons of activities, it's one of the few resorts that can withstand 2 weeks without a problem. Let us know if we can assist with rates or other questions.

My husband and I are celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary at the Sandals Royal Bahamian during Memorial Day Weekend. We booked a concergie room- it it worth it to upgrade to the butler suites?


Thanks on your note and congrats on the 1 year anniversary. 1) The upgrade to butler really depends on the difference in cost and what is important to you. The butler rooms at SRB are definitely nicer than the concierge ones, the butler service is always a nice touch, and private rolls/Mercedes transfers are always welcomed. But of course, the upgraded room costs more - so depending on your details, I could better give you a feel for the difference in costs. 2) I assume that you booked thru Sandals directly since you are asking us your questions. If you did, and still haven't made final payment yet, you can still request to switch your existing reservation to our agency (with no changes/costs) and we can work with you to both advise you on room decisions and also send a note to the manager before you arrive, ensuring they know it's both your anniversary and hopefully getting you the best possible upgrade based on availability. Let us know and we'll be glad to assist.

Is there any one of the Riviera Maya secret resorts you suggest over another for a 30th anniversary trip?


For a 30th anniversary, our top 5 resorts in Riviera Maya would be (in no order) El Dorado Maroma, El Dorado Seaside, Secrets Maroma, The Royal Playa del Carmen, Secrets Capri, Royal Hideaway, and Excellence Playa Mujeres. We'd be glad to discuss the good and bad of each and provide pricing. Congrats on 30 years.

does sandals whitehouse have gambling


Although the Jamaican goverment just passed rules allowing for future casinos on the island, there are currently (as of 2/15/10) no announced plans to have casinos at a Sandals or Couples property.

My husband and I are looking into belated summer (june - aug) beachy honeymoon. We eat out at nice restaurants and cook well. Food and drink are probably the most important to us. Golf is an added plus. Is there an all inclusive that you sould recommend for us foodies?


We'd be glad to assist you. Don't know if you have a locations that you are interested in or not....but here are some resorts that come to mind. 1) Riviera Maya Mexico- El Dorado resorts have the best food in our opinion. No buffets, all cooked to order meals....blows us away every time we go. They have 3 different resorts, each with their own good/bad that we can walk you thru. No golf included, but available nearby. Other options in the area we'd recommend are: Iberostar Grand Paraiso - great resort, great food, discounted golf walking distance away Secrets Maroma - great resort, great food, discounted golf nearby 2) Sandals - New Sandals just opened in Exuma, Bahamas. Restaurants are all brand new, top notch and the resort sits on a Greg Normal golf course with discounted rates. Bahamas also offering buy 1/get 1 free special on the airfare. All butler property. Other sandals would work also. Looking forward to your feedback.

What's the difference between Riu Negril and Riu Palace Tropical Bay?


Riu Palace Tropical Bay has larger rooms that were renovated at great expense in 2008-2009. The food is also generally better at the Palace. Lastly, those at the Palace can visit the Riu Negril and use its facilities, but not vice versa. The Riu Negril is still a nice property on a great stretch of beach. We'll send you rates for both.

We've heard negative reports about Sandals Ocho Rios, we're booked in the Riveriera Grand Lux ocean front room. Reports of being older not updated, poor beds, service by staff-average, food average??? Is this accurate? thank you, Larry


SGOR is our least favorite Sandals property, primarily due to it's huge size (with the 2 separate areas) and it's very small beach. The rooms are also more dated than most of their other properties, but we definitely prefer the Riviera area where you are to the Manor area on the top of the hill. Food and service are generally up to Sandals standards, but we do receive slightly more service related issues there...but it might be more due to its size than anything. If you are looking for an agent to assist.....and have not made final payment yet - let us know and we can assist if you had booked directly with Sandals originally.

i am in charge of getting together a trip to Montego Bay for approx 20 adults. are there any group discounts available. we want at least a 3-4 star hotel all inclusive w/airfare.


We can definitely work with you to find the perfect resort for you and your group. We'll take you thru all of the options, finding you the right place for your budget and then work to negotiate the best possible package for you. We do a significant number of groups each year due to our personalized service.

I've been put in charge in putting together a vacation for 4-6 couples. We are looking to travel in February or March of 2011. We'd like an adult only all-inclusive in either Cancun or the Dominican Republic. We're in the 35-45 year old age group who prefer top shelf liquor. A great pool/bar area is more important than the beach area. Price range is $2,500-$3,000 (hotel/transfers only - no flight)for 7 days. If possible, can you recommend 1 or 2 places in both Cancun and DR that you believe would fall into the above specifications. Thanks for your help. Brian


Will be glad to provide some sample rates to you of resorts we would recommend for what you are looking for.....2011 rates generally aren't out yet and come out about a year in advance...but I can give you estimates based on 2010 pricing.... The resorts I would consider are: Riviera Maya: El Dorado Royale, Secrets Maroma, Excellence Playa Mujeres Punta Cana: Iberostar Grand Bavaro, Paradisus Palma Real (Royal area), Excellence Punta Cana Get back to me and I can research some sample pricing....

Hello, After some research have finally decided that if we are going to do a famly all inclusive (oct 2010) it should be Beaches Turks and Caicos as it seems to be worth the extra. Couple of things...I am a bit confused from what I have read..does it have room service...that is a vacation treat my children LOVE! And is it in your opinion worth the extra extra to stay in the Italian Village (Venetian Suite)? And if building and floor? We are a family with 2 kids...8 and 10 THANKS!


Beaches Turks is the nicest family resort in the Caribbean....with none even close....and as an agency owner, I've been to them all (with my 2 kids). 1) The resort does not have room service unless you get a butler room. Beaches reserves room service to butler suites on all properties now. 2) The italian village rooms are definitely nicer than those elsewhere....with the separate parents room from kids room with bunk beds....and large bathroom...but we send hundreds of families to the French or Caribbean village each year and they love it also. I'd be glad to work up a quote for you. We know all of the managers on property which helps for room requests, etc....and our rates are exactly the same as beaches.com.

WHAT IS BETTER? SANDALS NEGRIL OR WHITEHOUSE? WE DON'T LIKE PANHANDLERS AND I THINK NEGRIL IS A PUBLIC BEACH? CAN YOU GET GOOD DEALS AND UPGRADES?


The beach in Negril is incredible, but it is a public beach that has plenty of security on it. The beach at Whitehouse is also very nice and over a mile long, with less public interaction. We can assist you in pulling together the best package rates and also work with the resort to request upgrades, due to our volume of business with them.

We have vacationed at El Dorado Moroma in the Riviera Maya for the last two years. While we love this resort we feel we won't be able to spend quite that much money on a trip this year. Is there something else out there that is comparable in size and all-inclusive? It doesn't have to be in Mexico. Thank you for your help. Sincerely, Holly


We love the small size, excellent food & service at El Dorado Maroma also. That being said, there are other smaller, boutique-feel, adults only, all-inclusive resorts to consider. Some of these are La Blanc Spa in Cancun, the new Sandals Emerald Bay in Exuma, Couples Swept Away in Negril, Galley Bay in Antigua, Secrets Capri, and even El Dorado Seaside near Tulum. There are dozens of others and we'll email you some additional options.

I am headed to beaches turks and caicos on Jan 3 2010. I am staying in the french village on the ground floor. It is just my wife and I going. I was wondering if any particular building in the french village is preferable to another as far as convience and proximity to everything. Thanks


The French Village rooms are all the same for the walkouts. That being said, we normally request rooms on the waterpark side of the Village...it is a closer walk to the rest of the property and has a better view. It's a shame you didn't book thru us, for we could have gotten the request to management on your behalf and also increased the liklihood of getting upgraded. If you decide to book another Sandals/Beaches trip via their Soon Come Back program (usually a great deal), please give them our information so we can service your future reservations....the deposit is refundable so it makes sense to take their deal if you think you might go to a Sandals/Beaches again.

I have read online that Sandals Whitehouse might not open on 12/18 as expected - is that true?


UPDATE - JUST SPOKE TO RESORT - OPENED AS SCHEDULED 12/18 FULLY OPERATIONAL. Spa - Totally renovated with new colour scheme Lobby - Refurbished entire lobby including re-upholstering and re-polishing of furniture Suites & Rooms - Soft renovations were done on all bedrooms and furniture especially our Butler Suites – 16 suites have been completely redone with new furniture, new bed linen and drapes. Suites have also been repainted in new color scheme. New Restaurant - Neptune’s, which now serves seafood, replaces Arizona’s which served Southwestern cuisine. Electrical work - extensive repairs to our electrical circuits underground to correct defects identified. Villages - Decorative Molding strips replaced/repaired on all villages. Training & Dev. - All Team Members went through two and a half months of training to further enhance our service offering and standards Public Areas - Re-painted and decorated public areas, repaired floors, tiles etc

Air transportation and ground transportation are NOT required. We only need reservations for the Hotel part of the vacation. Resort: Secrets Maroma Beach Arrival: January 17th Depart: January 24th We're ready to book in the next few days as all other arrangements have been made. Thanks!


Sent you great rate via email - hope we can assist.

My husband and I were scheduled for our honeymoon this December at Sandals Whitehouse. However, we just found out that this resort closed unexpectedly until December 18th. Therefore, Sandals took it upon themselves to move our trip to Sandals Montego Bay. Although they upgraded us to a better room, I have read many bad reviews about this resort. What should I believe? I have the insurance on the trip, what are my options? HELP!!!


Sandals Montego Bay is a nice resort, just very different than that of Sandals Whitehouse. The beach is smaller and the property is older and it's right next to the airport so airport noise will be heard... That being said, the resort is lively with a good location to explore the Montego Bay area....rooms are mostly renovated and the food is the same as at Whitehouse. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask. Also, if you haven't made final payment yet, you can still switch your reservation to work with an agency like ours, where we could put in further requests for upgrades, etc. at no additional cost. Let me know if we can assist. Also, Sandals Whitehouse will be reopening, so if you really wanted that resort, we can assist you in delaying your trip until January.

I'm looking for a all inclusive trip in Feb 0f 2010 that would be no more than 2000 dollars for my wife and I for 5 night. I have heard there are some great deals but is this realistic price or am I way to low?


There are plenty of opportunities that should be in your price range in both the Caribbean and Mexico - we'll be in touch via email with some options.

My husband and I are wanting to take a 40th birthday trip. Friends have asked about a Big Party. We wanted to go to Jamaica but thought that may be too expensive for others. Any suggestions for a beach celebration 40th birthday party for a group of 20 people from St. Louis, MO? (Sept. 2010 dates) Thanks.


First of all, Jamaica may not be too expensive - we might be able to find some great value properties there like the Iberostar Rose Hall or Rose Hall Suites, the Grand Palladium properties, the Bahia Principe properties, Breezes, or others. In addition to Jamaica, we can put together some great group rates to Mexico (Riviera Maya, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, or Cabo), Dominican Republic (Punta Cana or Puerto Plata), the Bahamas, or even some of the other Caribbean Islands. We'll email you more information.

we are taking a group of high school senior boys on a trip to an all-inclusive resort. What resort would re recommend?


Lots of good options for teens....Beaches, Iberostar, Dreams, Azul, etc. If you give us an idea on: a) When? b) Where you would need air from? c) Activities looking for? d) Approximate budget? e) Amount of days? We'd be glad to put something together.

My husband and I are in our early 50's and looking at a Sandals Resort for a getaway next June. Are the crowds much younger than we are? Which one would you recommend for us?


Many of the Sandals Resorts (or Couples Resorts) have a good mix of couples both more mature and young. My initial suggestions for Jamaica properties would be Sandals Royal Caribbean, Sandals Negril, or Sandals Dunns River...but you would not feel uncomfortable at any of them.

My wife and i are going back to Sandals negril in june 2011 for the 3rd time, but our first time with a butler. what do i need to know and whats the tipping ediquitte


Congrats on the butler room. Generally tipping on Sandals Butler Suites runs from $20-$100/night depending on how much you use your butler and how they perform. You can pay them on a nightly basis but most people will just pay them at the end of the stay, or even add the tip to their bill at checkout. We can greatly assist with butler recommendations at each property, so drop us an email or give us a call to see if we can further assist.

Which all-inclusive hotels are the best for a large group of late 30s couples in Puerto Vallarta.


The Grand Velas property is the nicest AI in the area. 2 more economical choices that we really like at the Vallarta Palace and the Riu Palace Vallarta, both great properties.

I was just chatting earlier with someone, but, we are looking for an early or mid December all inclusive vacation in Riviera Maya, MX. We are senior adults and would like very good food, good accommodations and nice pools and beaches. Of course, for a great price.


Some of our favorite adults only properties in Riviera Maya are the El Dorado chain (El Dorado Maroma, El Dorado Seaside, and El Dorado Royale), the Secrets chain (Secrets Maroma, Secrets Silversands, and Secrets Capri), and a few others including The Royal Playa del Carmen, Aventura Spa Palace, the Excellence Properties, and the Royal Hideaway. We will be in touch to determine which of these best fits your needs.

Travel Nov. 8th thru the 13th or 15th , 09. Adult only, nude sunbathing resorts, but private, all inclusive. What is out there?


The most common ones would be the Hedonism II and III resorts in Jamaica, the Grand Lido resorts which offer au-natural areas, and the Hidden Beach Resort next to the El Dorado Seaside near Tulum in Mexico. Others may also work such as Desire Resorts and Temptation Resorts in Mexico

For the last several years we've vacationed in Hawaii. Now my wife and I are looking for something different. Maybe a nice all inclusive resort in Cancun or Cabo San Lucas. Any suggestions? Thanks, Kevin Machado


Lots of options. In Cancun/Riviera Maya you have adults only options that don't exist in Cabo...like the El Dorado Resorts, Secrets Resorts, Excellence Resorts, and The Royal properties (and more). In Cabo, our favorite property is Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas. We'll email you for more information so we can assist in guiding you to the appropriate resort.

What is the best sandals resort for a honeymoon? We are in our 30's and want a great beach w/activities? Nightlife would be great to relax. Are swim up rooms worth the price or ocean view walk out better. Looking at uly or March which month is better? Sorry for more than one question


1) Each of the Sandals Resorts has its own identity...so without discussing your needs, it's impossible to say which is the best one for a honeymoon. We will email you today for more discussion. You can also check out our Sandals link below - which provides some assistance to deciding which may be right for you. Many of the Sandals Resorts are on excellent beaches and have good nightlife including Sandals Negril, Sandals Whitehouse, Sandals Grand St. Lucian, and Sandals Regency St. Lucia. This isn't to say others might be a good fit also.

I am looking for a place for my honeymoon in June of 2010. I would like to find a good all inclusive resort that is relatively inexpensive. The location is not that important to me, just somewhere warm with a beach and ocean! Any suggestions?


There are plenty of nice/affordable all-inclusive options available in Mexico (Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo, and more), Dominican Republic (Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, La Romana), and Jamaica for starters. We need your dates of travel to better look into what deals are available. Congrats on the engagement!

what is a nice decent room to stay at at beaches negril


All of the rooms are generally nice....all furniture was installed in 2007....give me some more on what you are looking for and I'll be glad to provide a better recommendation.

Hello, We are giving some thought to traveling to the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort with our daugther who will be 20 months old at the time. Although we appreciate the idea of the Kids Club, we plan to spend the time as a family. This will include being bound to the room in the evenings once our daughter has gone to bed. Do you know if there will be an issue with us bring food and drink back to the room in the evenings? Additionally, re the comment from another traveller about being in a noisy part of the resort, do you have any suggestion of building 7 or 10 to avoid too much noise when our daughter is napping and sleeping at night? Any additional info you have re Turquoise Deluxe rooms would be appreciate as well. Thank you.


1) There is generally no problem to bring food back to your room from the restaurants. We've done it dozens of times. 2) related to noise, some who stay in the French Village, closer to the Stage have complained about the noise from the shows that go until about 10 pm each night. Having stayed in those rooms, there are only about 3-4 rooms that might be affected and generally only if the windows or patio door are open. The rest of the french village rooms are too far away. We've also had some client complaints related to rooms at the north side of the property just on the day of the beach party, which is on the beach to the north of those rooms. The beach party is currently on Friday nights and goes until 10 or 11 generally. Other than that, we have never received any noise related issues. 3) What information do you need on the Deluxe rooms? They are decent size, on the first floor of the main building and are relatively close/central to everything. They fit a crib rather easily and there is some room to walk around it. Can we assist you in making a reservation? Our prices will be exactly the same as Beaches.com but we'll be able to submit requests regarding your location and possible upgrades

Do you have to have a passport for Montego Bay?


Yes, you need a passport for all foreign locations with the exception of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

Hi, I am looking at booking Beaches Turks & Caicos but the room choices are overwhelming. At the lower end is their a size difference between the Turquoise Deluxe rooms and the Honeymoon Caicos Premium or is it just that the former are on the bottom level?


Yes, all of the various room types at Beaches Turks are overwhelming (and many of the Sandals properties are just as confusing). In this case, the rooms are the same - just first floor vs. 2nd floor. Glad to assist with other room questions.

Not a question but a comment. We just returned from Sandals Negril last week (in our early 60's) and while we had a great time, our room was near the piano bar. Let people know that if they want a quiet location, don't get a room in the Palms Block. It's very noisy til about 1 am. Sandals Negril has a wide range of age groups as you said but it is not a quiet resort.


Thanks very much for the post. It's client provided info like this that helps us, help our clients have amazing vacations.

Hi, my fiancee and I are planning out honeymoon and really want to go to Turks and Caicos. However we are 23 and don't want to rent a car to get around and enjoy the convience of an all inclusive (have been to Iberostar Cozumel). I have been reading a lot of reviews on the Beaches resort there, but would there be too many kids it would ruin our honeymoon? We are very laid back and will just enjoy sitting on the beach so I son't know how much we would be by kids anyway...some help please?!


Beaches Turks and Caicos is one of the nicest family all-inclusive properties in the world...and probably one of the top 3 in the Caribbean/Mexico (if not the best). That being said, we book quite a few honeymooners, adult groups, or other couples to property for it offers a great vacation to people of all ages. Great beach, great activities (snorkeling and SCUBA are amazing - and included), top notch restaurants, great new rooms, 2 adults only restaurants, and even a new nightclub. We'd be glad to discuss the resort in more detail with you.

I guess we are wanting the best of both worlds Is there a resort that is all inclusive in Jamaica this is great for a young couple and gret for 11 year old as well with a water park. My daughter and her husband want to party and do lots of water sports, the 11 year old wants a great beach and water park. Reviews I read everywhere are totally mixed help? looking for 3 nights aug 6-9 from orlando under 3000 hey also why are airport transfers so expensive yikes


Quite a few options that might fit - Beaches Negril and Beaches Boscobel both have waterparks and plenty of water activities for the adults. Iberostar Rose Hall or Rose Hall Suites would be a good fit also. Transfers to the resorts are included in our packages - so no worries there. One of our agents will be in touch.

How early should we book a Sandals Ocho Rios vacation for March 2010? I'd like to wait for a sale, but don't want to miss our chance either.


Get the best of both worlds...book thru an agency like ours to lock in the current pricing, but if land prices drop, we'll normally be able to get your reservation adjusted.

I'm turning 50 this December and my husband (who is 55) and I want to do our first all-inclusive but having trouble deciding where. Do not want to go to a place with alot of young and no old. :) Would like a romantic/privacy place with great soft sand beach. Your suggestions? Thanks.


Quite a few options available. I'd start in Negril with Sandals Negril or Couples Swept Away. You could also do Sandals Whitehouse on the south shore. In Riviera Maya, Mexico, you could do a great adults only all-inclusive like El Dorado Maroma, Secrets Maroma, or Royal Hideaway. Lots of options, so drop us an email and we'll be glad to assist.

Is there a charge for your service to book a sandals vacation? Thank you for your time and help.


Nope. We do not charge any additional fees to book a Sandals or Beaches vacation. Our prices will match those found at www.sandals.com (or www.beaches.com) but you get our excellent service, answers to all of your questions, and we personally contact the resort for each and every customer, making sure they are aware of the client's special needs...and hopefully to get some perks/upgrades also (no guarantees unfortunately).

are there any cheap airfares to cancun during the summer


There some amazing deals to Cancun/Riviera Maya, especially for this summer and early fall. Contact us for specifics depending on where you are flying from.

Does Sandals whitehouse still do midnight chocolate and seafood buffets?


Sandals Whitehouse no longer does Seafood buffets, but they do have the midnight chocolate buffet on Tuesdays at 11 pm.

can I make dinner reservations in advance of my stay at the riu caribe


Unfortunately, even with our great connections to the Riu resorts, none of their properties allow for guests to make dinner reservations until after they are checked in.

I am trying to find out prices for other activities outside of what is offered at Sandals Ocho Rios. Such as dinner for 2 on the beach, kayak excursions, spa services, etc. Thanks


You can book them directly from the activities section on the Sandals.com website or your travel agent can do it for you. I highly recommend requesting info from a Sandals Preferred agent, since some tours are better than others.

I am currently searching for the best All-Inclusive resort/location for late August. I have been working with a local travel agency trying to find the best spot for under $2500 for 6 or 7 nights. Any Ideas?


Mexico has some amazing deals right now...but so does Jamaica and other Caribbean islands - we'll email you for more details.

Hi! We're off on our honeymoon July 26th, 2009 - hoping to book last-minute for the deals. We definitely want Caribbean... would love St. Lucia but willing to be open-minded... no wild singles parties or kids, no upon-arrival BS. We're very interested in all-inclusive but have heard a lot of negative stories, both on the agent and resort sides.... any suggestions? Thanks in advance for your attention. ~ K. Woods


Depending on what you want and which island you go to, some islands are more suited to all-inclusives than others. The Sandals resorts in St. Lucia are very nice, and there are also other smaller boutique properties available both as AI and not. Other islands may also have what you are looking for. Give us an idea on length of stay, budget, and what interests you and we'll be glad to assist.

I booked my honeymoon thru Sandals.com months ago, but we don't travel until the Fall. I'd now like more help in possibly changing our room and making arrangements for tours/spa treatments. Is it too late to switch to work with a Sandals preferred agency?


Although an agency like ours will do our best to assist any customer...even if they didn't book thru us, if you haven't made final payment yet at Sandals (or Beaches/Royal Plantation), you can still switch your reservation to an agent like ours...allowing us to review all details and make appropriate recommendations...and then also make requests directly to the resort ahead of your arrival. This is one of the perks of booking with a Sandals Platinum agency like TripGuy.

my fiance and i are headed to sandals regency st lucia for our honeymoon. we have booked a butler suite. what are the guidelines for tipping the butlers? do we tip them daily or at the end of our stay?


There are no official guidelines for butler tips, however, from my discussions with them......1) Most people pay at the end of the stay rather than every day......2) Butler tips generally range from $20-$100/day depending on usage and value.

Are there any inexpensive decent hotels in Aruba. We need 2 nights to extend our week in a time share. Everything I see on the internet is really expensive!


There are both all-inclusive and EP hotels in Aruba on the less expensive side. For AI, you have the Tamarijn or Divi Aruba. For EP, you have Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort, Divi Village Golf, Manchebo Beach Resort, and The Mill Resort and Spa. We can get pricing for all of them.

I am planning a birthday getaway for my best friend and i'd like to go an all inclusive resort that is single friendly. I'd also like it to have at least a mixed crowd of ethnicity. What resort would be best for us?


Plenty to offer....I would start with Jamaica or Cancun as the most likely resorts that are single friendly, and mixed ethnicity. Here are some to consider: In Jamaica: Riu Montego Bay Iberostar Rose Hall Grand Palladium Riu Negril Breezes Runaway Bay In Cancun: Riu Cancun Grand Oasis Cancun Cancun Palace Dreams Cancun Obviously there are others, but these are all good options

My fiance` and myself are booked for Sandals Whitehouse for May of 2010. What advice would you offer to us, with this being our first all inclusive, couples only resort visit?


My advice - 1)Book thru a Sandals Platinum Agency...for if you had booked thru an agency like us, you wouldn't need to search for answers...we'd have already explained everything possible to you since we've been to each of their resorts dozens of times - AND OUR SERVICES ARE FREE TO YOU! 2)Sandals Whitehouse is an amazing property with a great beach, and every room has at least an oceanview, if not oceanfront. Built from the ground up less than 5 years ago, it's Sandals newest property. Great natural beauty since the area is not yet developed. My free tip - bring 2 big plastic mugs if you are a beer drinker -saves trips to/from the bar.

Where would you recommend that a single guy traveling alone stay in Ocho Rios and Negril. Not reallly interestd in Hedonism extremes. Thanks, Fuzzy


The Riu properties in both locations would have a mixture of singles, couples, and groups...and be nicer places. You have Riu Negril and Riu Palace Tropical Bay that was just renovated. In Ocho Rios, you have Riu Ocho Rios. Other choices would be: Breezes Runaway Bay towards Ocho Rios Grand Lido Negril or Grand Lido Braco Glad to answer any questions or provide rates.

My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon. We already have our flight booked to Jamaica for 10 days. We are thinking either Whitehouse or Negril but don't know which to choose. We are in our early 30's and like to have a good time. We prefer a social enviroment, with activities, good food and fun people. We were told by AAA that Whitehouse would be a better option because Negril was more mellow. However, I have been reading on some websites that Negril is more lively and Whitehouse is more mellow. What is your opinion? Also what category of room do you recommend. Is it really worth the extra money to have butler serive?


1) The Negril area generally has more activity/nightlife, however, sometimes it takes place off resort at Ricks Cafe or Margaritaville....different nights, different places. Sandals Whitehouse offers no local alternatives, so I've found people generally more consistently active on property.......all in all, it really depends on the group of people there that week...I've been to both resorts when they were social...and both when they weren't. Generally, Whitehouse is more mellow in my opinion, and no travel agent who has been there would say otherwise. 2) Room category - depending on resort I have my favorites. The nice thing about Whitehouse is that even it's cheapest room is nice....can't say the same about Negril where the first 2 room categories are rather small rooms with no views. R&J suites at Negril are nice. 2 story loft suite is nice. River suites are amazing but cost a fortune. 3) Butler service is really cool but it depends more on you and your fiance than it does me....for some people, it turns a great vacation into an amazing one...and for others, they just want the nicer room and barely use the service. I've had butler service 4-5 times in the past year, and generally find it improves my vacation.... Glad to answer other questions and would love to assist you on your honeymoon planning.

Which Sandals Resorts are not in hurricane paths and what is the average hurricane season? Ruth


Unfortunately, since all of the Sandals Resorts are in the Caribbean, all of them have the possiblity of being hit by a hurricane. Hurricane season generally goes from June thru November, but August-October are the peak months. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance if you are traveling to the Caribbean during this time.

What are the best Riu Resort properties? Manny


The Riu Palace properties are called Palace for a reason...they are the nicest resorts that Riu offers - Riu Palace Mexico or Riu Palace Riviera Maya in Mexico are great. Riu Palace Las Americas is one of the best properties in Cancun. There are a couple of new Riu Palaces - Riu Palace Tropical Bay in Negril, Riu Palace Pacifico, and Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas...all getting great reviews.

What is the difference between Sandals and Royal Plantation?


Thanks Mike. Although part of the same company, there is a very different feel between the 2. Royal Plantation has 2 resorts to date, the known one in Ocho Rios, and a private island in the Bahamas called Fowl Cay. These are both all-inclusive, but much more relaxed and refined than a Sandals property. Sandals can be elegant also, especially in butler suites, but doesn't compare to the refined elegance that Royal Plantation offers. Email or call for more details, especially about the private island Fowl Cay which is really incredible for a trip. We are one of the few agencies in the world that have sent customers there.

What are some pros and cons of both Sandals resorts and Dreams resorts?


Dreams and Sandals are completely different resorts. Both are higher end chains, but Dreams Resorts are for singles, families, and couples; where as Sandals is strictly for couples. Sandals' family chain - Beaches Resorts - would be a better match for comparison for Dreams, although they do not currently share any locations. Secrets Resorts would be a better comparison for Sandals Resorts...but they also do not share any locations today.

in some of the pictures it looked like you could not swim around the off shore island, or at least on one side of the island, is this true?


Yes, it is possible to swim around the island at Sandals Royal Caribbean.

I'm looking for an all-inclusive resort in Turksandcaicos?


There are a couple but you can't beat Beaches Turks and Caicos.

What are the difference between Sandals Resorts, Couples Resorts, and Grand Lido Resorts? Anne


Very difficult to answer but the differences between Sandals and Couples is subtle and really depends more on the properties locations then on the "brands" themselves. For instance, Sandals Whitehouse is a very different resort than Couples Negril...but Sandals Negril and Couples Negril aren't entirely that different. We can walk you thru the specifics of each comparison via email, phone, or chat. Regarding Grand Lido, the brand will soon be going away and becoming Breezes properties...lower priced with lower expectations.

question on beaches turks and caicos... would you recommend bringing your own floatation for kids? Snorkling equiptment and beach toys for kids or do they have them?


The resort has a rather large selection of beach toys available - not worth bringing.

Help! Can't choose a Sandal's resort! Want great dining, great beach, nice accomadation


First, check out our Sandals Resorts review here: http://tripguy.com/Home/Sandals.aspx....or hit the live chat button or call us for assistance....almost all of the Sandals fit your bill but we can walk you thru it.

What Sandals property is the nicest? Thanks, Robert


It really depends on the individual...but we've prepared a cheatsheet at http://tripguy.com/Home/Sandals.aspx. Also, email or chat with us for more assistance.

What are the best all-inclusive properties in Riviera Maya for a honeymoon?


Our favorite properties would include the El Dorado Resorts (Maroma, Royale, Seaside), the Secrets Resorts (Capri or Maroma), Royal Hideaway, Aventura Spa Palace, and the Excellence Resorts (Playa Mujeres and Riviera Cancun).

Can you please tell me some beach resorts to go to, that I don't need a passport to get there and back? Thank you Robin


You can go to any St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, or Puerto Rico without having a passport. Obviously, you can go to Hawaii also.

Why should we book Sandals thru an agency then direct? Is the price different?


Pricing is the same since Sandals has strict control of their retail pricing. What a Sandals agency offers is personal service...we've been to all of the properties, know all of the people, and really help our clients make good decisions on how to enjoy a Sandals vacation. It doesn't hurt that we also generally have great success on upgrades and sometimes even access to other perks that a customer booking thru Sandals directly wouldn't receive.

Which is the cheapest Sandals Resort? Why?


Sandals Inn(now Sandals Carlyle) in Montego Bay is normally the least expensive property due its small size and lack of traditional Sandals amenities. Sandals Grande Ocho Rios is normally the least expensive "normal" Sandals property due to its large number of rooms that need to be filled.

Do Sandals have resorts in Mexico (Cancun, Cabo, etc.)?


No, unfortunately Sandals only has resorts in the Caribbean countries of Jamaica, Bahamas, St. Lucia, and Antigua. There are Beaches properties in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos.

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