An Inside Look at the New Sandals St. Vincent & the Grenadines Resort

With the opening of the new all-inclusive adults-only Sandals resort, the Caribbean nation St. Vincent and the Grenadines is ready to welcome the world. 

Adam Stewart, executive chairman of Sandals Resorts International, describes St. Vincent and the Grenadines as “God’s country.” This island is virtually untouched by mass tourism or urbanization, offering guests crystal-clear Caribbean waters, breathtaking views, and vibrant, local culture. Nestled within gorgeous cliffs and natural scenery, the 50-acre resort is escapism at its finest: it’s the Caribbean getaway that actually feels like getting away. 

The new Sandals resort is the first property of its kind on the island—and the island is the first location of its kind within Sandals’ portfolio. The resort is located on Kingstown’s Buccament Beach, approximately a 45-minute drive from Argyle International Airport (20 minutes by water taxi). The area is mountainous and quaint, with twisting roadways taking passengers through the rough terrain. Locals joke there are no straight roads in St. Vincent; there are no traffic lights either. 

According to Stewart, his late father—Sandals’ founder Gordon “Butch” Stewart—fell in love with the region years ago, but was prevented from building on the island by its lack of aviation infrastructure. Argyle International Airport opened in 2017, and was the first major step towards innovating the nation’s tourism, thus making a Sandals property viable. Although airlift to Kingstown is still limited compared to other Caribbean destinations, this is growing: America Airlines is introducing direct flights in December 2024 from Charlotte, North Carolina and JFK, New York, and a source told TMR that Air Canada will add a second, seasonal direct flight from Toronto during the winter. 

Accommodations and amenities
The property features 301 suites and rooms across 15 categories. Guests can choose from three levels: Butler Elite (including two-story, 1,248 sq ft overwater villas), Club Sandals, and Luxury. All accommodations boast king-sized beds, wifi access, and stocked bars (with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks). 

The Butler category is limited to the villas, which range from the basic one-bedroom garden view option to a two-bedroom beachfront suite with a personal pool. The villas feel intimate, offering guests a cozy space to relax and unwind. The kitchens are charming, with wrap-around bench seating and a table big enough to hold a laptop and a glass of wine. At the top end of this range, guests can enjoy luxury upgrades such as direct beach access, private pools, and even media rooms. All guests staying in the butler category have access to butler services, in-room liquors, and complimentary luxury boat transfers from the airport. 

Club Sandals rooms are located in two five-story buildings: Lady Palm and Bamboo Palm. Each room includes an outdoor tranquillity soaking tub. The Luxury-level categories offer additional amenities, such as fitness rooms (with two exercise bikes), media rooms (featuring 75” TV and soundbar), and semi-private swim-up pool access.  

Dining
In terms of dining, Sandals St Vincent and the Grenadines has something for everyone’s tastes. The resort offers 11 restaurants and nine lounges/bars (some of which are located in restaurants), as well as 24-hour room service for Butler suites (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. for Club Sandals). The room service offerings were admittedly mediocre; however, the dine-in dishes ranged from good to spectacular. Those with more daring palates will have ample opportunity to explore different cuisines, from upscale seafood at Scrimshaw, to authentic Jamaican flavors at Jerk Shack, to Japanese izakaya and handrolls at Gatsu Gatsu. Be warned: it was difficult to get a table at Gatsu Gatsu and Jerk Shack, which have limited opening hours and seating capacity (60 and 36 respectively).

Buccan is the standout dining experience. Unique to Sandals St. Vincent and the Grenadines, this is an open-air, family-style restaurant that serves local cuisine. Guests are introduced to the kitchen staff, and are then guided through multiple courses with delectable, complex flavor profiles. The dinner is a love letter to the region, right down to bowls made from the area’s lava rocks. The atmosphere feels authentic and exciting, and is guaranteed to be one of the most memorable experiences during one’s stay. 

Guests may initially be apprehensive about Buccan because of the seating arrangement, which groups diners with strangers. In my experience, it was not uncomfortable or awkward in the slightest, and was a fabulous way to get to know other people staying at the resort. It also added to the overall atmosphere; there’s a community spirit reverberating throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines that Buccan taps into.

  
  
Fun in the sun
Sandals St. Vincent has an adventurous vibe, thanks in part to the mountains surrounding the resort. The property’s centerpiece is a 300-foot pool—the longest in the Caribbean, according to Sandals. Guests can lounge in the provided cabanas (first-come, first-serve), or enjoy a cocktail at the the swim-up bar. For those looking for a quieter retreat, a heart-shaped pool is tucked away in the northeast corner of the property. There are two more public pools (one by the beach, one just south of the main pool), as well as the aforementioned swim-up club-room pools and private villa pools. 

Arguably, the resort’s most serene spot is the Red Lane+ Spa, which elevates the typical spa experience. A central fountain adds an idyllic charm to this area, while open-air cabanas facing the river offer a romantic, intimate spot for massages. The area was also very quiet, which isn’t always the case with these resort spas.

Like the brand’s other resorts, Sandals St. Vincent offers land and water sports at no additional cost (Discover Scuba Diving is available to uncertified divers for a fee). From 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. guests can enjoy Hobie Cats, wakeboarding, and more. Dutch bicycles are available for guests to travel across the property quickly and comfortably. Tennis and pickleball courts are currently under construction and will open at a later date.   

Sandals St. Vincent and the Grenadines continues the direction seen with the new Dunn’s River resort, which opened last year. Spacious and luxurious by design, the St. Vincent property blends modern aesthetics with old-world values. The pace feels slower. There’s lots to do, but so much enjoyment to be had by doing almost nothing at all. As one of the last Caribbean nations untouched by mass tourism, St. Vincent really does feel like paradise. One only hopes that this attribute will remain as traffic to the region increases.