The 5 Newest Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean
Sandals Dunn’s River
Updated May 2026
When clients ask me what the newest Sandals resort is, they're usually really asking two things at once — which one just opened, and which one should we book. Those aren't always the same answer. My wife and I have personally stayed at all five of the latest Sandals openings, including our 10th anniversary trip to Sandals Dunn's River and a recent arrival at Sandals Saint Vincent that I'm still telling people about. So instead of a list of brochure bullet points, this is what I'd actually tell you over coffee.
As a Certified Sandals Specialist, I've been lucky enough to experience the "Sandals 2.0" wave firsthand — the swim-up suites, the rooftop pools, the overwater villas — and I'll be honest about which features are worth the splurge and which ones get more hype than they deserve.
Table of Contents
- Quick Answer: What Is the Newest Sandals Resort?
- The 5 Newest Sandals Resorts — In Order of Opening
- 1) Sandals St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- 2) Sandals Dunn's River
- 3) Sandals Royal Curaçao
- 4) Sandals Royal Bahamian
- 5) Sandals Royal Barbados
- The Newest Sandals Suites Worth Booking
- Which Newest Sandals Resort Is Right for You?
- How to Book the Best Experience
Quick Answer: What Is the Newest Sandals Resort?
The newest Sandals resort is Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, which opened on March 27, 2024. It's the first Sandals property in Saint Vincent and the first in the brand's history to feature two-story Over-the-Water Villas. Before that, the most recent openings were Sandals Dunn's River (May 2023), Sandals Royal Curaçao (June 2022), the fully-renovated Sandals Royal Bahamian (2022), and Sandals Royal Barbados (December 2017).
The 5 Newest Sandals Resorts — In Order of Opening
Here's the chronological rundown, newest first, with what I personally loved (and a couple of honest critiques) at each.
Opened: March 27, 2024
Location: Buccament Bay, Saint Vincent (main island of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Why it's #1 on my list: It's brand new, it's the first Sandals with two-story Over-the-Water Villas, and the arrival experience alone is worth the trip.
One of my favorite memories from Saint Vincent has nothing to do with the resort itself — it happened before we even got there. As Butler Elite guests, we had the option of a private boat transfer to the resort, and watching the coastline of Saint Vincent from the water (instead of crawling along a road) was hands down the best "arrival" I've experienced at any Sandals property. By the time we stepped onto the dock with a cold drink already in our hands, I knew this trip was going to be different.
The resort itself sits on a smaller calm beach — not the dramatic surf you get in Barbados, more of a wade-in-and-float kind of bay. The two-story Overwater Villas are a sure headliner, but some of the swim-up rooms are a perfect experience as well.
What stood out:
Two-story Over-the-Water Villas — a Sandals first, with private patios and direct ocean access
11 dining venues — more variety than I expected for a new build
Special boat transfers from the airport for Butler Elite guests
World-class spa and a fitness-room-equipped suite category (also a Sandals first)
Calm, swimmable Caribbean coastline
Honest critique: It was the best experience I’ve had at a Sandals. Saint Vincent itself is harder to get to than Jamaica or Nassau — you'll likely connect through Miami. Budget the extra travel on each end.
Opened: May 2023
Location: Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Rooms: 260
Why I went: My wife and I celebrated our 10th anniversary here in 2023.
This is the one I have the most experience with, and it's the resort that really kicked off the "Sandals 2.0" design language — the brighter, more modern aesthetic with rooftop bars, specialty coffee, and pools that feel like the actual centerpiece of the resort instead of an afterthought.
The moment that sticks with me is from the Rum Club. I’m a sucker for a nice cocktail and the chance to experience different rums from around the world. We spent at least a portion of most evenings here grabbing drinks, chatting with others, and playing a round of pool.
What stood out:
Coyaba Sky Swim-Up Rondoval Butler Suites with private rooftop terraces and pools
12 dining venues — one of the most varied in the brand
New concepts you won't find at older properties: Dunn's Rum Club, Blum Coffee, Skyline Rooftop
Unlimited land and water sports
Walking distance to the iconic Dunn's River Falls
Honest critique: This is the resort that set the bar for Sandals and began my partnership with the brand. You can really tell a difference with the 2.0 experience, as they stepped it up. Everything here feels so much nicer.
Read my full Sandals Dunn's River review for the deep dive.
Opened: June 2022
Location: Santa Barbara Plantation, Curaçao
Rooms: 351
Why it's worth a look: This is Sandals' first venture into the Dutch Caribbean, and it doesn't feel like any other Sandals resort I've stayed at.
If I had to pick one image that captures Royal Curaçao for me, it's the two-level infinity pool. I'm normally a beach-chair guy, but I spent more time at that pool than anywhere else on property — the vibes of the pool, plus waiters walking by handing out drinks, made the afternoons.
Curaçao itself is also part of the appeal. The island has a different rhythm than Jamaica or Barbados — drier, more European-influenced, easier to explore on your own. Sandals even has a deal for high-tier rooms that includes a day in a Mini Cooper to explore the surrounding island.
What stood out:
Sandals' first-ever two-level infinity pool
A floating, over-water restaurant
Awa Seaside Bungalows with private pools and butler service
8 dining venues
On-site 18-hole golf course
Full-service spa and a wide range of land and water activities
Honest critique: If you are more of a “pool” person, then this is the best resort pool experience I’ve seen. If a calm swimmable beach is your top priority, this isn't the pick. You have a nice beach view on one end, but you can’t actually swim into the ocean.
Read my full Sandals Royal Curacao Review here.
Reopened: 2022 (after a full top-to-bottom renovation)
Location: Cable Beach, Nassau, Bahamas
Why I keep coming back: This one isn't brand-new in the strict sense, but the 2022 reopening turned a legacy property into one of the better Sandals experiences in the brand.
Most reviews of Royal Bahamian focus about the offshore island — and I get it, Barefoot Cay is a special place. But my wife and I have a different favorite: the resort's quiet pool. It's tucked away from the main action, surrounded by European landscaping, and filled with comfortable loungers that always seem to have shade exactly when you need it. We made a routine of it — late breakfast, walk down to the quiet pool, doze for an hour, repeat. Easily one of the most elegant "do-nothing" spots in the Sandals portfolio.
I also have a soft spot for the water taxi to Barefoot Cay — finding your own spot on a corner of a private island feels appropriately Sandals-y.
What stood out:
New River Pool Swim-up Suites
Redesigned restaurant lineup, including Butch's Island Chop House (offshore)
Exclusive access to Barefoot Cay, the resort's private offshore island
Mr. B's floating cocktail bar
Multiple infinity pools, including the quieter adults-focused one I keep going back to
Easy international access via Nassau (NAS)
Honest critique: Nassau as a destination isn't for everyone — it's a busy city compared to Saint Vincent or Curaçao. But it’s also one of the closest properties. If you want "remote escape," this isn't it. If you want "easy flight + luxury reset," it's nearly perfect.
Read our Sandals Royal Bahamian review here.
Opened: December 2017
Location: Maxwell, Christ Church, Barbados
Why it still belongs on this list: It's the oldest of the five, but Royal Barbados introduced so many "firsts" that it's still shaping what new Sandals resorts look like today — and you get two-resort access in one stay.
My personal must-do here is the rooftop infinity pool and bar — the first of its kind at any Sandals property. We grabbed a corner spot one afternoon, watched the surf roll into Dover Beach, and didn't move for hours. It's also a sneaky-great place to watch the sunset before dinner; not officially advertised that way, but it works.
Royal Barbados is also a great example of why I tell clients not to fixate only on the newest resort. The Skypool Suites, the Tranquility Soaking Tubs, the rooftop pool — these design moves debuted here and got refined at every newer property. And because Royal Barbados is connected to the original Sandals Barbados, you essentially get two resorts' worth of restaurants, pools, and beach on a single stay, which no other Sandals property in this list can match.
What stood out:
Sandals' first rooftop infinity pool and bar
The original Skypool Suites
4-lane bowling alley (yes, really)
Sandals signature Tranquility Soaking Tubs
7 restaurant options on-property
Full access to neighboring Sandals Barbados (5 additional restaurants, additional pools)
Honest critique: Barbados can be expensive to fly to in peak season, and the resort doesn't have the dramatic "wow" arrival of Saint Vincent. But the day-to-day experience is, in my opinion, one of the most consistent in the whole portfolio.
The Newest Sandals Suites Worth Booking
Of all the new accommodations rolled out across these five resorts, two really stood out to me:
Over the Water Villas
Overwater Villas at Sandals Saint Vincent
These are the first two-story overwater villas in the brand, and they're the suite I'd recommend if you can comfortably stretch the budget. The upper level is a private sun deck with a small plunge pool; the lower level has a glass floor panel and a ladder straight into the sea. The privacy is unreal.
Click Here for More on These Accommodations at Sandals Saint Vincent
Swim-Up Suites at Sandals Royal Bahamian
If overwater isn't in the cards, swim-up suites are the next best thing. My wife and I have always hated saving pool chairs at 7 a.m. — with a swim-up, your "spot" is permanently waiting for you outside the patio. Every one of the five newest Sandals resorts now offers a swim-up category, and they're consistently the rooms my clients are happiest with after the trip.
Which Newest Sandals Resort Is Right for You?
A quick decision framework based on what I've seen with my clients:
Want the absolute newest + overwater bucket-list moment? → Sandals Saint Vincent
Want the Jamaica energy + a modern, full-featured Sandals? → Sandals Dunn's River
Want something different from "every other Sandals trip"? → Sandals Royal Curaçao
Want easy flights + a legacy resort with a major upgrade? → Sandals Royal Bahamian
Want rooftop pools, two-resort access, and proven consistency? → Sandals Royal Barbados
If you're stuck between two of them, that's exactly the conversation I have with clients every week — happy to help you pick. (Also, if you're weighing Jamaica options, my covers another strong choice on the island.)
How to Book the Best Experience
Whichever of the newest Sandals resorts you choose, the smart move is to book through a Sandals Specialist who has actually stayed at the property. We help you pick the right room category (not always the most expensive one), time your trip around the best rates, and stack any current Sandals promotions you might otherwise miss.
If you'd like a hand picking between these five, I'd love to help — at no extra cost to you. Contact us here and we'll reach out shortly with a personalized recommendation based on what you're looking for.
