Earlier this year, we visited Turks and Caicos and LOVED our stay at the all-inclusive Beaches Turks and Caicos. So now, we’re on a mission to explore more of the Caribbean islands. Enter Curaçao! We learned the Sandals team is opening their newest property, the Sandals Royal Curaçao, and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be one of their first guests!
⭐ I’ve linked my entire Curaçao trip and Sandals Royal Curaçao experience on my Instagram highlights!
1. Sandals Royal Curaçao Resort
Sandals Royal Curaçao is the newest of the Sandals properties. This is their 16th resort and 9th island in the Caribbean region.
Curaçao is nestled in the Southern Caribbean between Aruba and Bonaire. It’s known for its azure waters and vibrant culture. It also has 65 dive sites and an incredibly diverse marine ecosystem. The island echoes of old world European charm from its rich Dutch history. If you visit the island’s capital, Willemstad, you’ll feel as if you’re transported to a small town in Amsterdam, one with colorful architecture and Dutch colonial houses. The weather is a sunny 80°F throughout the year, making it an ideal Caribbean destination all times of the year. The best way to get around is by car and Sandals Royal Curaçao can help arrange airport shuttle service or a private car. The resort is about a 1-hour drive from Curaçao International Airport (CUR).
We’re so thrilled to have experienced Sandals Royal Curacao on opening week! The resort feature 351 rooms and suites (scroll down to the Rooms section to read more about the unique room types). It’s the first Sandals property with a 2-Level Infinity Pool (this was definitely one of the highlights of our trip!). The resort is all-inclusive, which means ALL the food and drinks are included. There are 11 restaurants and 13 bars including a swim up bar. Incredible right?
ARRIVING IN CURAÇAO: When you arrive at the airport, a representative at the Sandals kiosk will meet with you. We called ahead of our travel just in case to ensure the airport transfer is ready for us when we arrive. The car ride is about 45 minutes (without traffic) and our private car had wifi, which we really appreciated. When we arrived at the resort, we were greeted with a glass of crisp sparkling wine and whisked away to the club lounge for check-in. The lounge has small snacks like sandwiches and cookies. Check-in was a breeze and our room was ready immediately.
2. The Pool
Double Infinity Pool, say it with me, ooooh ahhh! It’s every bit as dreamy as it sounds. It’s impossible to tell where one pool ends, the other begins, and the ocean begins. The main pool is lined with day beds, all of which are first-come-first-serve. They can also be reserved if you have one of the rooms with butler service. The main pool also has a swim-up pool bar, and it’s a VIBE. They have music playing throughout the day and drinks are free flowing (and all-inclusive of course!). There are multiple other pools and jacuzzis on the property if you find the main double infinity pool too crowded.
Try all their Caribbean classic and crafted cocktails. I really loved the Blue Lemonade, an electric blue citrusy cocktail featuring island-made Curaçao liqueur and vodka (don’t be shy to ask for a double shot of vodka because I definitely did!). I also lost count of the Aperol Spritzes and Amaretto Sours I had. It was a grand time!
3. The Rooms
Sandals Royal Curaçao has 351 rooms and suites. We stayed in the Kurason Island Poolside Butler Bungalow with Patio Tranquility Soaking Tub. These bungalows face a semi-private pool and a lush man-made island. It’s absolutely swoon-worthy and we loved the privacy. As the name suggests, the room comes with a personal butler and 24-hour room service. The bungalow has custom crafted king-size beds, vaulted ceilings, and a fully stocked bar with premium liquor. The bathrooms have his and hers sinks, a large backlit mirror with mosaic tile, and a walk-in rain shower. The private patio has a soaking tub, a sun deck, and sun loungers to really enjoy every ray of the Caribbean sun.
The Awa Seaside Bungalows are also a unique room type on the property. The seaside bungalows directly face the waters and give you front-row seats to the incredible Caribbean sunsets. The private infinity pool in each villa make them even more magical. You can read about all their room types here
4. All-Inclusive Food
Two words: All inclusive! The resorts boasts 11 dining options which include 3 food trucks, so there’s something for everyone and countless options to choose from. We tried most restaurants on the property (and on some occasions went to 2 restaurants in 1 night because we had to try them all!). Most restaurants accept walk-ins, except Vincent, but be sure to check with the staff on the latest.
BREAKFAST: For breakfast, we frequented Pietra which serves a buffet (with an option to order hot items à la carte). Their pastry selection had me coming back every day! Their almond croissants were some of the best we’ve had (and you know I would never steer your wrong with croissants!) and don’t even get me started on their banana bread. The buffet was stacked with pancakes, French toasts, smoked salmon, and fresh fruits. An omelette bar for made-to-order omelettes and scrambles was a nice touch.
Aolos also serves breakfast and it’s à la carte. Be sure to try their salmon eggs benedict, steak-and-eggs, blueberry pancakes, and crunchy banana French toast. Mimosas are on free-flow at all the restaurants, and we loved that.
LUNCH: The food trucks are a great lunch option. Toteki serves up a traditional Caribbean fare where you can find dishes like fish kebab, pulled pork sandos, and kroketten (beef croquettes). Kishi is an asian-fusion truck serving piping hot baos and curry bowls. Be sure to try their tempura shrimp baos and tonkatsu. La Palma is Spanish tapas, their gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp) is a must! There are other restaurants that serve lunch, like Pietra, but be sure to check with the staff regarding the latest hours.
DINNER: Zuka is a Latin fusion restaurant with a full cocktail menu to match. We loved the pisco sours, the surf-and-turf, the perfectly cooked South American lechon, pork belly, and tres leches. Vincent is a fine dining concept featuring European flavors and techniques. We got the duck à l’orange and pan-seared Atlantic salmon. If you like sushi, definitely make a stop at Gatsu Gatsu. Strand Seafood House was one of my favorites. The lobster in their surf and turf was perfection. And we got 2 orders of their hazelnut opera cake because it was as good as any patisserie in Paris (I kid you not!)
5. The Beach
The beach is dotted with heart-shaped cabanas, all of which are first come first serve. Grab a cocktail from one of their 13 bars and spend the morning gazing over the azure waters. Guests also have complimentary access to water activities like kayaks and paddle boards.
6. Amenities and Activities
- Water activities: Complimentary rental of kayaks, paddle boards, and wind surfing is available to all guests. Snorkel trips are also complimentary and offered a few times a week. Check with the front-desk for the latest schedule
- Dutch Bikes: all guests have complimentary access to bikes to explore the 3000 acres of the estate
- Convertible Mini cooper: If you’re staying in the Kurason or Awa suites, you also get complimentary access to a blue convertible Mini Cooper to take a joy ride around town!
- Spa and Gym: the resort boasts a full wellness spa and gym on property
- Island Routes: the resort partners with Island Routes to offer excursions. Spend a day in Klein, off-road on an ATV, or take a tour through downtown. You can ask the Island Routes representative at the front desk for details and prices
- Beach club and shows: When the sun sets, the beach club comes alive. Come here to dance the night away and watch performances
7. Excursions
Sandals Royal Curaçao partners with Island Routes to offer off-property excursions. Here are some activities you can do:
- Catamaran Cruise to Klein Curaçao
- West Curaçao Half-Day ATV Experience
- Curaçao Sunset Catamaran Cruise
- E-Bike City Tour of downtown
- Sandals Exclusive Curaçao Sightseeing Tour
You can ask the Island Routes representative at the front desk for details and prices.
We took a tour of the downtown and loved it! It really felt like we were transported to little Amsterdam for an afternoon. We started at the Curaçao sign in Pietermaai side, explored the Dutch colonial architecture, crossed the bridge towards Otrabanda, and explored the shops within the Rif Fort.
Overall, we LOVED our stay at the brand new Sandals Royal Curaçao! The food and vibe was everything we wanted from a Caribbean getaway and can’t wait to explore more of the Sandals Caribbean properties!
If you’re looking for more travel inspiration, check our my other blog posts:
If you have any questions, leave a comment below or message me on Instagram @croissantsandcaviar!
And as always, thanks for stopping by!
Shway
