With the Butler Suites at Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island in Montego Bay, Jamaica, clients can have exactly that. Or breakfast on the beach. Or a private dance lesson. Whatever a guest can dream up, an assigned room butler will take care of it. These butlers will stop in for turndown service and drop off a daily afternoon snack, but they’re also on-call for any assistance a client might require, such as arranging a transfer to the airport or printing a boarding pass.
But a personal butler isn’t the only reason to check out Sandals Royal Caribbean (though it is a big draw). Many of the all-inclusive resort’s suites have undergone renovation and now sport additions such as soaking tubs on the balcony, refurbished bathrooms and new interiors. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a tranquil bath outdoors during a balmy Jamaican night.
The rest of the hotel has the same charming feel of fellow Sandals resorts. Once I stepped inside Sandals Royal Caribbean, I felt like I had entered a different world — one where someone immediately offered me a cold towel and a drink after my long flight. (That is a world I could get used to.)
The architecture is British-inspired, with meticulous gardens and peacocks roaming the grounds. At The Cricketer’s Pub, visitors can dine on hot wings (with jerk sauce, naturally) and enjoy watching a game. At times, it didn’t even feel like I was at a hotel at all, but instead at an ultra-luxe small village that just happens to a boast a cocktail bar and dining options such as The Regency, which is decked out in 19th-century British style and features jerk snapper filet and an amazing mahi mahi dishes, among others. Even the poolside dining options, such as pizza from Bella Napoli, are terrific.
Oh, and did I mention that the resort has its own private island?
Guests can visit the private island whenever they would like; a boat is almost always available to take them straight there so they can take a dip in the ocean or start sunbathing on the white sand. Every week, the island also plays host to a themed party, with a tricked-out buffet as well as acrobats, fire eaters and limbo dancers — or combinations of all three. When I visited, the hotel was hosting a White Party. A DJ spun tunes while acrobats twisted above him and revelers danced on a floating platform.
For those looking to recover from partying, the resort’s Red Lane Spa will fix up travelers with massages and other spa services. I suggest requesting an outdoor massage in the special cabana.
If you can think it up, you can probably request it at Sandals Royal Caribbean. While staying at the resort, I saw several couples having a private candlelit dinner on the gazebo overlooking the water — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg with Sandals.
The Details
Sandals Royal Caribbeanwww.sandals.com
