I had a busy week this week. Part of the fun included attending a training session for Beaches and Sandals resorts. I’m now a “Certified Sandals Specialist” – or a CSS.
There are 3 distinct brands within the “Sandals Umbrella” – there are Beaches, Sandals, and Grand Pineapple resorts.
I book a lot of families to go to either the Beaches resorts in Jamaica, and Turks and Caicos. So it was wonderful to get the intensive training on the different resorts, room categories, and amenities.
Beaches, by Sandals, are terrific all-inclusive resorts that cater to families of all shapes and sizes, but it is luxury for everyone: whether you are on a single weekend, a girls’ getaway, or a family reunion trip for everyone related to you. There will be something for everyone at Beaches Turks and Caicos, Negril, Boscobel, and Sandy Bay.
Did you know that you can have breakfast with Elmo & the Cookie Monster at all the Beaches resorts? Or, you and your spouse can enjoy a romantic dinner while the kids have fun in the Kids Camp at all the Beaches resorts as well.
You can watch a perfect sunset from your 3-bedroom suite at Beaches Negril. You can dine at another nearby Beaches if you stay at Beaches Negril or Beaches Sandy Bay. Your kids can take a golf lesson at Beaches Boscobel. And your kids can be quiet in their own room with bunk beds and a game console at Beaches Turks & Caicos.
And, of course, I also learned all the ins and outs of the various Sandals resorts. Unlike Beaches, and its product line being focussed on any and all vacationers, Sandals resorts are meant solely for romantic couples.
There are 13 different Sandals resorts. Jamaica has Sandals Montego Bay, Royal Caribbean, Whitehouse, Negril, Grande Ocho Rios, Royal Plantation, and Carlyle. Antigua has the Sandals Grande Antigua. St. Lucia has the Sandals Regency La Toc, Grande St. Lucian, and Halcyon. Bahamas has Sandals Royal Bahamian and Emerald Bay.
Sandals also has an exciting new partnership with Sandals Weddings by Martha Stewart. There are 7 different wedding packages from “beautiful beginnings” (which is free at select resorts) to the “island paradise” (priced at $6K) for the bride seeing a true Caribbean sunset wedding experience. There’s also a “renewal of vows” package.
Did you know you can have a Catholic wedding in a true garden chapel at Sandals Montego Bay? You can enjoy the brand new Neptune’s seafood restaurant at Sandals Whitehouse or Sandals Regency La Toc. You can golf a course with 6 signature ocean view holes at Sandals Emerald Bay. You can stroll the 7 mile beach during a perfect sunset at Sandals Negril.
You can also marvel at 180 degree views from your Millionaire Suite at Sandals Regency La Toc. You can walk to the casino next door at Sandals Grande Antigua. You can enjoy your Rolls Royce or Mercedes Benz airport transfer at Sandals Royal Bahamian. Or you can enjoy the most intimate all Butler serviced suites resort at Sandals Royal Plantation.
Our trainer, Lorna Richards, did an awesome job of going through all of the different resorts, and focussing on all the terrific features of each one. I’ve never seen one person deliver so much information in such a short time – and all off the top of her head, referring only to the briefest of powerpoint slides for speaking notes.
And our Business Development Manager for Central Ontario & Ottawa, Justin Anderson, was also at the training session to lend a helping hand and provide advice.
Besides Beaches and Sandals, there are also Grand Pineapple beach resorts in Jamaica and Antigua that are value oriented properites on exquisite beach locations.
And for something really special, there are private villas such as Villa Rio Chico Private Estate, which can accommodate 16 adults on a 14-acre oceanfront private estate.
Let me know if you’d like assistance in planning a “luxury included” vacation for your family.