What Is Not Included at Sandals Resorts?

The adults-only all-inclusive Sandals resorts are famous for having “more quality inclusions than any other resort on the planet.” In fact, their tagline is “love is all you need; everything else is included.” These luxurious resorts can be found throughout the Caribbean and are some of the most popular places for honeymoons and romantic retreats.

If you’re interested in staying at a Sandals resort you might be wondering, what is not included at Sandals resorts? How all-inclusive are Sandals Resorts, really? In this article, we’ll tell you all about what is not included in Sandals all-inclusive resorts. (Spoiler alert: this list will be pretty short.)

What is not included at Sandals resorts

While all the Sandals resorts in the Caribbean offer complimentary water sports including snorkeling and scuba diving, there are some limitations on the diving. Instruction for scuba diving is not included, but for a fee, you can take courses and get certified during your Sandals vacation.

Once you are certified for scuba diving, you can dive every day (with a maximum of two tanks per day) for free. (Obviously, if you already have your certification, then your scuba diving is also free.) If you want to rent a wetsuit, that cost is not included. However, most of the Caribbean waters are warm enough that you won’t need one.

If you stay at a Sandals resort with golf available, your greens fees (and transportation to the golf course if necessary) will be included. However, if the course requires a caddy, those fees are not included. Golf cart rentals are also not included in your stay at Sandals. Neither are club or shoe rentals, or golf lessons if you want those.

Services and products at the luxurious Red Lane Spas are not included in your stay at Sandals resorts. These include couple’s massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, body treatments, and more. However, you will receive complimentary toiletries in your room that are from the spa.

Excursions in the area around the resort are also not included, since third-party tour operators run those trips (not Sandals employees). While there is so much to do at a Sandals resort that you may not want to leave the property, there are plenty of fun excursion options like horseback riding, ATV tours, swimming with pigs, ziplining, historic tours, boat trips, hiking, and more, depending on which Sandals resort in the Caribbean you choose.

You can browse the different offerings on the Sandals website and see the total price per excursion; it will include your transportation to and from the resort.

Special options like private candlelight dinners on the beach are also not included at Sandals resorts. (These romantic dinners may be worth the splurge, though, as they start at just $199.)  

However, if you are staying in a butler level suite, you get 24-hour room service including private dinners on your terrace or balcony. If you’re staying in a club-level room or suite you can also enjoy room service, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

While you can enjoy unlimited servings of six types of Robert Mondavi wines, other wines are not included at Sandals restaurants. There is a Manager’s Wine List, which you can ask about if you would like to have a special wine with your meal.

Other things that are not included at Sandals resorts are private cabana rentals on the beach or at the pool. These cabanas come with butler service, so you may want to look into that if you aren’t staying in a butler-level suite. Photography packages are also not included at Sandals resorts.

You can have professional photos and videos taken of your Sandals vacation for an extra fee. Shopping is also not included at Sandals resorts. And while there is free WiFi included, you can also upgrade to a premium WiFi service.

And although all gratuities are included at Sandals for bartenders, bellmen, and restaurant servers, there are some people whose tips are not included.

If you stay in a butler-level suite, your butler can and will accept tips. We recommend tipping a butler $20 a day, depending on how much you use their services. Spa therapists and airport transport drivers should also be tipped since they are not Sandals employees.

Last but not least, while you can get a free wedding at Sandals with a minimum stay of 3 nights, there are plenty of optional add-ons that are not included. To learn all about destination weddings at Sandals, check out our article on Sandals Wedding Packages.

What’s included at Sandals resorts

Is all food included at Sandals resorts? Yes! Sandals resort prices include unlimited meals and snacks, at every restaurant on the property. There are no restaurants or dishes at Sandals resorts that are not part of the all-inclusive package.

Does Sandals all-inclusive include alcohol? Not only does your stay at Sandals include all beverages—both nonalcoholic and alcoholic—but you get unlimited premium liquors and unlimited Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks wines; a minibar in your room that is stocked with water, juice, soda, beer, and wine and refreshed daily; and a coffee maker with Jamaican Blue Mountain Blend coffee.

Other inclusions at Sandals resorts are unlimited nonmotorized water sports like snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking, and Hobie Cat sailing, with equipment plus professional instruction; scuba diving; unlimited land sports like beach volleyball, tennis, pool, and more; greens fees at resorts with golf courses; state-of-the-art fitness center; WiFi; daily and nightly entertainment; complimentary airport transfers; and all tips and taxes. You can also get a free wedding at Sandals with a minimum 3-night stay!

Do Sandals resorts provide toiletries? Yes, there are luxe toiletries in each room that come from the onsite Red Lane Spa, as well as a hairdryer for your convenience.

Each Sandals resort offers multiple different gourmet restaurants to choose from; several fun bars including swim-up bars, beach bars, and piano bars; and a huge variety of onsite activities and amenities. Rooms are luxurious, with even the most affordable rooms offering luxe amenities and gorgeous décor.

In short, practically everything is included in a Sandals vacation, to give you the most stress-free experience possible.