Jonathan Patton
Having just returned from Sandals Royal Curaçao, this resort has moved into the top five of our favorite Sandals resorts and this is why.
Located on the southern coast of Curaçao, the resort is so different from the other Sandals resorts. With mountains, desert landscapes, and Dutch architecture, Sandals Royal Curaçao is more contemporary and was one of the first Sandals 2.0 properties.
We recently visited Sandals Royal Curaçao, and after experiencing the resort firsthand again, there are several things we think you should know before booking.
Starting with the two-level infinity pool, it’s one of the most impressive pools at any Sandals resort. The rooms include some of the brand’s newer design elements, like updated furniture, wallpaper, and innovative restaurant designs. Even the Sandals luxury level rooms are modernized and very similar to the Club Level rooms; they’re just missing the Club-Level benefits. Being 40 miles from South America, dining is a major part of the experience here too. And Curaçao itself gives couples a reason to leave the resort and explore. Fun Fact… You’ll even find an Enterprise rental car desk inside the main lobby.
But Sandals Royal Curaçao also isn’t the right Sandals resort for everyone. Let me explain…
“Hi, we're Jonathan and Angela. As Sandals Chairman's Royal Club Diamond Elite travel specialists who've stayed at every Sandals resort and we've been recognized as a Sandals Top US agency.
Here's our complete Sandals Royal Curaçao review, including what we liked, what we would change, which rooms we recommend, what the beach experience is really like, and who we think should book it.
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Best for: Located outside of the hurricane belt, Sandals Royal Curacao is best for couples who want modernized accommodations, excellent pools, great dining options along with the opportunity to get off the resort in a safe country to explore.
Does Sandals Royal Curaçao Have a Good Beach? If having one of the best beaches in the Sandals portfolio is your top priority, we’d recommend Sandals Saint Vincent or Sandals Grande St. Lucian. While the beach is very swimmable and calm, it does not face the open ocean and has another part of the island opposite the channel directly in front of it. I won’t call the beach experience bad by any means; it’s just something to be aware of, and there are so many other qualities that make Sandals Royal Curacao worth it.
Resort style: Modern, sprawling, and more destination-focused than many traditional Sandals resorts. Because of its size, you’ll find beach cruisers that you can easily get on to ride around the resort. It’s one of our favorite things to do here, with a rum punch in hand (of course).
Dining: 11 included dining options, including eight restaurants, three food trucks, and 13 bars. Zuka is our personal favorite. We recommend trying everything on the menu!
Standout feature: The Dos Awa two-level infinity pool overlooking Spanish Water.
Our favorite feature: If scuba diving is of interest to you. This is a great option. This PADI 5-star operation has a dive boat on site, and with up to 3 dives per day, you’ll get to experience some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean.
Room we stayed in: Awa Seaside Bungalows – ASP. The rooms are small, but the pool is large, and the views are outstanding. There is no beach in front of the bungalow, as this section is rocky, so the privacy here is good. Occasionally a worker will walk by, but this is an intimate room with an amazing outdoor space.
Would we return? Yes, we’d 100% return. The entire reason for our most recent visit was due to the increased number of bookings we’re making at Sandals Royal Curacao. When we see patterns emerging, it’s telling us something, and we had to come back to find out what the magic was. It is indeed an amazing resort and one we feel even more confident in recommending to the right type of client.
What Does Sandals Royal Curaçao Cost? Pricing at Sandals Royal Curaçao is fairly consistent with a seven-night stay in a luxury-level room starting at $4,746, Club Level starting at $5,936, and Butler Level starting at $10,556.
Our overall rating: 9/10
As Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club Diamond Elite travel specialists, we’ve visited every Sandals resort, so when we arrive at a property, we’re looking at it a little differently than someone experiencing Sandals for the first time.
We’re not only asking whether it’s a good resort.
We’re looking to see where it fits within the entire Sandals portfolio and who is the right client for it.
Sandals Royal Curaçao opened with some features that were new for the brand, and you notice quickly that this property isn’t trying to recreate Sandals Grande St. Lucian, Sandals South Coast or Sandals Montego Bay.
Curaçao has its own look and personality, and the resort reflects that.
After an easy 30 – 45 minute transfer by bus from the airport to resort. Upon arrival, if you’re in a club or butler level room category, you’ll be escorted into the Sandals Club-Level lounge, where you’ll be seated with a welcome drink in hand, and either your butler will take you to your room or your Club Sandals agent will walk you to yours. The wait isn’t long, and if you’ve completed your online check-in before arrival, you can expect to wait no more than five minutes.
For us, the first thing I noticed was how impeccable the landscaping was. Sandals Royal Curacao really has the wow factor. Compared to my visit the year earlier, I would say it’s improved with age, and there are plans to build a rum bar, which I was very happy to hear.
The vibe here is a little more relaxed, and while it’s an expansive resort, the resort amenities are mostly central to the main lobby area. After about a day, you’ll have your bearings around the resort and given the direct flight options from Atlanta, Charlotte and JFK. If you’re in one of these hubs, it could be a good option for a 3 or 4 night stay.
On this visit, one of the biggest strengths we found was in the people. Given the island’s proximity to South America and being a Dutch island, you’ll find a team who understands hospitality. Culturally speaking, Curacao is an interesting country as well, and those native to the island speak four languages fluently. There really isn’t anything in the Caribbean that compares and the food diversity is equally represented at Sandals Royal Curacao as well.
The biggest drawback is one that we previously mentioned. Sandals Royal Curacao is not what we’d call a traditional beach resort. It has a great beach, but I’d put it second to the pool scene, which is one of the real highlights.
That distinction is important because there isn’t one Sandals resort that’s best for every couple. Sandals Royal Curaçao can be an excellent choice for one type of vacationer and could be a miss for another.
One of the first differences you’ll notice is the design.
Sandals Royal Curaçao has a more modern aesthetic than many longstanding Sandals properties. You’ll see clean architectural lines, newer room concepts and large spaces designed around the surrounding landscape.
This is a great place for large groups and weddings, as there are ample spaces to host events here. In fact, we’re hosting a 2027 wedding here for over 125 guests and it is one of the few Sandals resorts that can accommodate groups of this size.
Another thing we like about Sandals Royal Curacao is that all of the rooms have been updated, including the entry luxury-level room categories. This, along with Sandals Saint Vincent and Sandals Grenada, are the only resorts of the 17 that we’d recommend a luxury-level room over a club-level room if the savings were substantial enough.
If there is one photograph most people recognize from Sandals Royal Curaçao, it’s probably the Dos Awa infinity pool.
The pool is spread across two levels and looks out over Spanish Water. Sandals promotes it as one of the property’s signature features, and visually, it deserves that attention.
But photographs only tell part of the story.
This is a dual-level pool with two infinity edges, which is, by itself, categorically unique. Butlers will tend to get some of the best locations in the morning, but even in the afternoon, there are chairs available for guests, so there isn’t too much of a pool chair game going on here. During the afternoon, you’ll find a DJ setup playing music, and the swim-up bar is where a lot of the action is at. Personally, we’re beach people, so while I did spend an afternoon around the pool, most of my time was spent at the beach or in my room around our private Awa Seaside Bungalow pool (room code – ASP).
For couples who rank a great pool scene above a great beach, Sandals Royal Curaçao is a great option to consider.
One thing we would not recommend doing at Sandals Royal Curaçao is spending seven days at the resort without experiencing the island.
Curaçao is one of the reasons to book this resort
The colorful architecture of Willemstad, the island’s beaches, Dutch and Caribbean influences, and the ability to easily explore it make the destination a bigger part of the vacation than at some all-inclusive resorts.
Curaçao is known as one of the safest destinations in the Caribbean. According to the U.S. Department of State Curacao holds a Level 1 travel advisory (exercise normal precautions) so it is one of the countries where we encourage clients to explore. You can even book a rental car directly inside the main lobby of the resort.
Now, this becomes particularly interesting for our clients booking qualifying Butler accommodations for seven nights or longer because Sandals’ Island Inclusive program currently provides eligible Butler-level guests staying seven or more nights with a $250 dine-out credit and use of a MINI Cooper to explore Curaçao.
That isn’t something you’ll find at most Sandals resorts and a real reason to consider it over others.
No Sandals resort is perfect, and we think understanding those tradeoffs before choosing a resort is much more useful than discovering them after arrival.
We think Sandals Royal Curaçao is a particularly good fit for:
Couples Who Have Already Visited Other Sandals Resorts
If you’ve been to Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Antigua or The Bahamas and want a different Sandals experience, Curaçao delivers that.
Couples Who Love Great Pools
If you’re someone who spends considerably more time at the pool than the beach, Sandals Royal Curaçao should be high on your list.
Couples Who Want to Explore
Sandals Royal Curaçao makes the most sense when you view the island as part of the vacation rather than simply the location of your resort.
Couples Who Care About Food
With 11 included dining options plus the ability for qualifying guests to participate in the Island Inclusive dine-out program, food is a bigger part of the experience here than at some smaller Sandals properties.
Couples Who Prefer Newer Rooms
Sandals Royal Curaçao incorporates some of Sandals’ newer room concepts, including swim-up suites, Butler bungalows and private-pool accommodations.
This is probably the section we’d pay the most attention to if you’re comparing Sandals Royal Curaçao with other Sandals resorts.
Sandals Royal Curaçao is not the Sandals resort we would choose specifically for the beach.
The resort is next door to a marina facing a channel inlet with another section of the island directly opposite of the beach. At Sandals Royal Curacao, the beach experience is very different from the long stretches of open Caribbean sand you’ll find at resorts such as Sandals Grande St. Lucian, Sandals Negril, or Sandals South Coast.
That doesn’t mean the setting isn’t beautiful as it does have some real qualities.
It just means you need to understand what you’re booking.
What we love about the beach at Sandals Royal Curacao starts with the water itself. The water is deep blue, and the beach is very sandy here, unlike the rocky sections of the island. There are the yellow pool rings that Sandals is so well known for to lounge on, and the size is ample for the resort. You can easily spend the day in the water, which is something we did every day.
BONUS: If you’re a snorkeling fan, this is one of the best Sandals resorts to visit. The beach here is full of fish, and we saw so many all around the pier. They also offer a free weekly nighttime snorkeling trip on Mondays, and it was one of our favorite things to do. We even saw an eagle ray. The same went for the snorkeling trips; they took us to a shipwreck, and we saw an octopus!
Unlike other Sandals resorts, you’ll find beach chairs all throughout the morning and day, so you don’t need to get up at dawn to reserve your spot.
Our beach rating: [8/10]
If an amazing beach is the deciding factor in your vacation, we recommend checking out our guide to which Sandals resort has the best beach before booking.
If pools, rooms, dining, and seeing Curaçao are on the list, the beach may be much less of a concern, and we’d highly recommend Sandals Royal Curaçao for your vacation.
The Dos Awa infinity pool receives most of the attention, but Sandals Royal Curaçao has multiple pool environments across the property.
This is one of the areas where we think the resort stands out.
Unlike Sandals Ochi where you’ll find over 100 pools, Sandals Royal Curacao has three, including 1 whirlpool. While you might think that is limiting at first, it’s actually one of the things we love the most about it, as each one has a real place in the resort experience.
Starting with the activities pool, this is near the Dos Awa pool and where you’ll find pool volleyball, a bar, and poolside cabanas offering butler service that can be rented. Not a lot of people hang out here, so I like this part of the resort for its proximity to the resort amenities but also its vibe.
We’ve already covered the Dos Awa Infinity Pool, so we’ll talk about the Melemele Quiet Pool. This is on the outer edge of the resort and is truly the quiet section overlooking the ocean on the golf course. There is no bar here, but you’ll find a cooler stocked with water throughout the day.
Our favorite pool was Dos Awa Infinity Pool because of the views and socializing opportunities you have here. I like the music at the swim-up bar and it’s a fun place to spend an afternoon.
Our pool rating: [9.5 / 10]
Choosing the right room is an important part of any Sandals resort experience, but it is particularly important at a large property.
Sandals Royal Curaçao has accommodations ranging from Luxury and Club Level rooms to Butler suites, swim-up categories, and rooms like the Awa Seaside Bungalows and rondovals.
Among its signature options are the Kurason Island Poolside Butler Bungalows, which surround a heart-shaped pool and is a separate area within the resort’s Spanish Water lagoon footprint, not a traditional offshore island. Those along with Rondoval Butler villas and several beachfront, oceanview and swim-up categories round out the butler experience offerings.
But a more expensive room isn’t automatically the best room for everyone.
We stayed in the Awa Seaside Bungalow – ASP.
Located in the heart of the resort, there are five Awa Seaside Bungalows that directly face the ocean. These are not huge rooms but ample in size featuring an indoor/outdoor shower, a massive patio with loungers and a pool that you can actually swim laps in. Upon entry, you walk through a fully stocked butler pantry that has a separate door into your room which I think was a great concept as your butler can deliver on your requests without necessarily being in your room unless invited.
While I absolutely love the Awa Seaside Bungalows, I wish there was more storage. I had to put my small roller in the bathroom which wasn’t ideal but a small tradeoff for the experience. Noise isn’t really an issue here at all as these are mostly private and away from the main hubs of activity. Walking distance to the Dos Awa Infinity Pool is two minutes and five minutes to the beach.
This room is also one of the few room categories that come with access to the Sandals Mini-Cooper. Upon arrival, your butler will ask which day you’d like to have it and they’ll reserve the color and car of your choice so you can explore the island on your own. If you’d like to have a picnic along the way, just let your butler know and they’ll pack it up!
Would we book this category again? YES!
For many couples, we wouldn’t automatically jump to Butler level simply because it’s available.
The better question is what you expect from your room and how you’ll use the resort.
Luxury Level: Best for couples who care more about the resort than upgraded service.
Club Level: Often the sweet spot if you want additional room amenities, like room service and Club Sandals benefits without the cost of Butler service.
Butler Level: Worth considering when the room itself is part of the experience or when you want the additional service and qualifying Island Inclusive benefits.
Our personal recommendation comes down to budget. You can easily have an enjoyable visit at luxury level but if the personalized services of a butler and an upgraded room are important, we 100% say go with the butler room.
For the right couple, yes.
But we don’t think Butler service is necessary for everyone.
At Sandals Royal Curaçao, Butler level becomes more compelling because of the resort’s Island Inclusive concept, as qualifying Butler guests staying seven or more paid nights can receive a $250 dine-out credit, and Sandals also gives you use of a MINI Cooper for eligible Island Inclusive stays.
That adds something beyond the standard Butler experience.
We believe that butler service is valuable here due to the size of the resort. It was nice having someone handle our dinner reservations, get our beach chairs and make sure all of the details were attended to. To help with this, our personal advice is to review your butler preferences upon arrival with your team to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
At Sandals Royal Curacao, we’d recommend Butler level most for couples who:
We would be less inclined to pay for Butler service if most of our time were going to be spent exploring Curaçao.
Dining is another area where Sandals Royal Curaçao stands out.
Sandals currently features 11 included dining concepts at the resort: Butch’s Island Chop House, Zuka, Strand, Kanaal, Aolos, Gatsu Gatsu, Pietra, Vincent, Toteki, Heart & Sol and Kishi.
Rather than giving you another list of restaurant descriptions you can find on the Sandals website, here’s how we would break them down after actually eating at the resort.
Zuka: This Latin/Caribbean fusion restaurant is not only beautiful on the inside but we found the most attentive service and a menu that brings together everything that the Caribbean is so well known for.
Zuka: From the appetizers, the Pumpkin Coconut Bisque is such a stand out… We say order two of these. Same with the Seco De Cordero Manabí from the mains which Manabita-style braised lamb in naranjilla-beer reduction with roasted garlic and plantain patacones, followed by Apple Fig Cocada for desert. Honestly, we tried almost everything on the menu and nothing was a miss. We recommend you do the same, too!
Aolos: The food is a standout but the views are what it’s really about here. Overlooking the golf course and directly out over the ocean, you’ll find this ala carte restaurant offering great service to match. My favorite was the Crunchy Banana French Toast and Veggie egg-white omelet.
Kishi & Toteki: The food trucks were a fun and convenient option. We enjoyed the baos from Kishi and the braised conch and beef stew from Toteki.
Vincents: This is one of two restaurants at Sandals Royal Curacao requiring reservations and was the least memorable experience. The service was great but the flavors didn’t do much for me. I much rather preferred Butches and Zuka.
Our dining rating: [9 / 10]
Sandals Royal Curaçao offers 13 dedicated bars, including one swim-up bar. My favorite is the lobby and piano bar as it’s an amazing place to catch a sunset with a cocktail in hand. That being said, there is usually a decent amount of training going on around the resort and there were times, I found someone who didn’t speak the best English. We were always able to make it happen and the drinks were always good made by bartenders who enjoyed what they do.
Certified divers can scuba dive as part of the Sandals all-inclusive package, subject to the resort’s usual diving requirements and availability. Snorkeling, pickleball, fitness facilities, entertainment and other land and water activities are also included.
Curaçao itself is well known for diving, so this is one resort where certified divers should seriously consider getting underwater. On this trip, I was able to get a single tank dive in and was very impressed with the equipment, the teams leading the dives and location we went. The reefs are healthy here and you’ll see everything from fish, rays and sharks.
If you’re researching Curaçao all inclusive resorts, Sandals Royal Curaçao occupies a fairly specific position in the market.
It’s an adults-only, couples-focused all-inclusive resort rather than a family resort or conventional beachfront hotel.
That makes it most appealing to couples planning a honeymoon, anniversary, destination wedding or adults-only Caribbean vacation.
We’d put Sandals Royal Curaçao near the top of the list for couples who want:
We would look more carefully at alternatives if your main interest is in an expansive traditional Caribbean beach.
That’s an important distinction because Curaçao has some beautiful beaches, but the beach directly at your resort may not necessarily be the best one you’ll experience during your trip.
We would probably recommend another Sandals resort if:
There are better Sandals choices if you’re dreaming primarily about walking out of your room and spending your entire day on a large Caribbean beach.
Sandals Royal Curacao is expansive. If you want something more boutique in scale, we recommend Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Negril, Sandals Saint Vincent or Sandals Halcyon Beach.
Curaçao’s landscape is different from islands such as Saint Lucia or Saint Vincent.
That isn’t necessarily better or worse, but it does create a different atmosphere. Personally, I love the topography of Curaçao with the desert-like landscape, mountains lined with palm trees, and the bright blue ocean. It’s very unique in that sense and one of the draws we have to the island.
Having visited every Sandals resort, here’s where we’d place Royal Curaçao in a few key categories:
If you’re interested in seeing how Sandals Royal Curaçao compares with every other Sandals resort, we’ve published our ratings in our Best Sandals Resorts ranked guide.
| Category | Our Rating |
|---|---|
| Rooms | 9 / 10 |
| Beach | 8 / 10 |
| Pools | 9 / 10 |
| Dining | 8.5 / 10 |
| Service | 9 / 10 |
| Romance | 9 / 10 |
| Activities | 9 / 10 |
| Destination | 9 / 10 |
| Value | 9 / 10 |
| Overall | 9 / 10 |
Yes, we think Sandals Royal Curaçao is worth it for couples who prioritize modern rooms, amazing pools, dining and experiencing Curaçao beyond the resort.
We would be more hesitant if the beach is the single most important part of your vacation.
That’s really the key to deciding whether Sandals Royal Curaçao is right for you.
Don’t book it because it’s one of the newer Sandals resorts. Book it because what it does particularly well lines up with how you like to vacation.
For us, after this most recent visit, I know why there’s been an uptick in interest. The resort is doing a lot right in terms of service and experiences. They have a great leadership team who listens to its clientele and there are some big plans for the future of this resort in terms of expansion.
Sandals Royal Curaçao expands what a Sandals vacation can look like. It’s not trying to be another Sandals Negril or Sandals Grande St. Lucian.
Its strengths are different.
You come here for the pools, newer accommodations, dining, Curaçao itself and the opportunity to combine an adults-only all-inclusive resort with time exploring one of the Caribbean’s most distinctive islands.
At Best Caribbean Resorts / Rivage Travel, we’ve done over 75 bookings at Sandals Royal Curacao alone this year. After recently visiting it, I’ve been reminded why it’s become such a popular resort and one that we’re excited to talk to our clients about.
Our Sandals Royal Curaçao rating: 9 / 10
Would we return? YES
If you’re deciding between Sandals Royal Curaçao and another Sandals resort, we can help you compare the room categories, resort locations and overall experience before you book.
At Best Caribbean Resorts, we’re more than travel advisors. What began as a simple love for travel has evolved into a dedication to creating journeys throughout the Caribbean that are both personal and unforgettable. With over 15 years of firsthand experience at every Sandals resort, we know the insider tips, the best suites, and the little touches that change your vacation into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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Our Top 6 Sandals Resorts for 2026
Sandals Grande St. Lucian
Sandals Saint Vincent
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Sandals Royal Curacao
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