Here’s an update on the status of the various islands that Sandals resorts operates on:
Jamaica
Has had only one confirmed case
There was one case that was recorded, but was not confirmed to be locally transmitted. The patient has been cured and there has been no known spread of the virus.
That same individual has already recovered and nothing since has been reported. As of February 3, CDC has added Jamaica to the list of Zika affected countries.
Saint Lucia
No Zika Virus Cases have been reported.
Bahamas
No Zika Virus Cases have been reported.
Barbados
As of February 3, there have only been 3 confirmed locally transmitted Zika Virus Cases.
Turks & Caicos
No Zika Virus Cases have been reported.
Antigua
No Zika Virus Cases have been reported.
Grenada
No Zika Virus Cases have been reported.
Of course things can change, but as of February 17, 2016 there does not appear to be a tremendous amount of concern for the islands where Sandals exists – but precautionary insect repellent is always advised.
You may have heard about the Flowriders – surf simulators that exist on some of Royal Caribbean’s newer ships. They are very popular and based on most reports, alot of fun!
Now you can enjoy the same experience on land – at Moon Palace in Mexico!
Moon Palace is an amazing resort located south from Cancun along the Mayan Riviera – or Riviera Maya area – fantastic destination for an all-inclusive resort vacation!
For more info please contact “Your friends….in the travel business” – EZTravelPad
Like all Sandals resorts, this property appeals most to adults couples looking for a stress-free luxury Caribbean vacation. Excellent for Anniversary celebrations, Vow Renewals, Destination Weddings and Honeymoons
If you haven’t been to one of the NEW Sandals resorts – or one of the the resorts that they have recently upgraded then you might not understand how much they have stepped up their game. Simply put, this resort is fantastic. From the grounds and layout to the rooms to the general decor to the staff to the cuisine I am having trouble finding fault.
(Note- the photos contained in this post are all my own, so photo quality and staging are not professional but for a fantastic pictorial look professionally put together then check out Sandals Barbados “Flipbook” at this link )
As a Certified Sandals Specialist I feel it is critical to my business and credibility to visit and completely understand not only Sandals resorts – but all resorts that complete in the adults-only all-inclusive genre throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. I have been to, experienced and come to understand each of their great resorts throughout the Caribbean and I can say without hesitation that this is certainly one of, if not THE best in class.
The grounds and layout – are terrific. It feels great to walk the gardens between the lobby, bars, spa, various room blocks, restaurants & beach.
The quiet pool has a chic and luxurious feel with red & white striped cabanas.
The active pool at the beachfront includes a swim-up bar, ample and comfortable lounge chairs and plenty of floats to chill in the pool as you move to the groove of the music and vibe – or have fun and get some exercise playing pool volleyball
The lagoon pool is totally chill and open to all guests but mostly for the use of the Club Level and Butler Level guests with swim-up suites surrounding the meandering pool
As I sit at the poolside bar writing this review I am struck by the gorgeous view past the pool and beach to the blue ocean just beyond
steak lovers will appreciate this supper club with classic decor and a great vibe
at night the pub is one of the centers for socializing
Dining options are plentiful with reservations required at both Kimonos Teppanyaki Grill and the widely acclaimed Butch’s Chophouse but other good specialty dining options which do not require reservations include
Portofinos’ (Italian)
Bombay (Indian)
Schooner’s (Seafood)
Soy (Sushi)
Bayside (International)
Merry Monkey (British Pub)
Mariner’s Grill (Seaside Grill)
Dino’s (Pizzeria)
Cafe du Paris (Pastries, Coffee and Ice Cream)
Oh yes – and there are several bars serving top shelf international liquors and wines
Rooms-
a glass window between the shower and main room space can be closed off by the sliding photo – a great feature!
This is where the real improvements are taking place. Even the entry level rooms all feature comfortable 4 poster king sized beds, coffee maker featuring Blue Mountain coffee, patios or balconies and all the normal equipment but the decor and styling are a huge cut above both the competition and many of their own sister resorts. Features like no-slip showers and very comfortable lounging space – super-quiet and efficient A/C, Smart TV, Complimentary WiFi (that works pretty well) and many more subtle styling features
Upgraded suites feature a wide range of enhancements such as
Beachside & Oceanviews
Swim-up Suites
Tranquility Soaking Tubs on Balconies & Patios
1 Bedroom Suites
and of course many of the rooms & suites come standard with the legendary Sandals Butler Service
butlers prepare your cabanas with towels and coolers with your favorite beverages
Butler level guests will often reserve space in the terrific cabanas which are first-come first-served
The Playmakers entertainment staff keeps everybody engaged if they want to be, but are not in your face over loudspeakers every 10 minutes so everyone can enjoy the fun…or not, depending on their inclination
Location –
The location is terrific as well with a prime location on the Maxwell coast only about 15 minutes from the airport and easy and safe walking distance (about 10-15 minutes) to several of the local restaurants, bars & clubs in St Lawrence Gap or a short taxi ride to Oistin’s Fish Fry (a must visit on Fridays) or Bridgetown for shopping & more. Streets are lively at night but as clean and safe as anywhere
Clientele tends to be slightly more British and skews a bit older than many other lower priced options but plenty of young Americans are still actively enjoying their
Keeping it real….at the time of my recent visit the beach was undergoing some reconstruction – a breakwater was being installed in an effort to improve water conditions and will be completed in late October. The beach would have been a weak spot for many but every other aspect of the resort was fantastic!
For much more info reach out to Scott or one of the other EZTravelPad consultants who are especially skilled at making sure that your vacation is as AWESOME as you dream for it to be (and maybe even a little more)
Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in St Thomas, USVI is good choice for All Inclusive Resort
A large part of my job as a travel consultant/adviser with EZTravelPad revolves around touring, experiencing and understanding a wide variety or resorts to better be able to help people with deciding what their best choices are on their next vacation
Often there is a great deal of similarity between resorts and even between destinations, but sometimes I find something that is unique, and I believe Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in St Thomas to be one of those – a family friendly resort that is not fancy, but delivers on their promise of being a laid-back spot, managed by the owners and it’s definitely the kind of place WHERE EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR NAME!
Bolongo Bay Beach Resort is a family friendly resort located on the island of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. As such, a passport is not required for US citizens to visit so this is a popular choice for those people wanting to experience an authentically Caribbean island feel without straying too far from the feel of the US. It is significantly more affordable than the other US island destination of Hawaii, which is also very popular for Honeymoons (but Hawaii does not offer all-inclusive resorts)
Couples wanting to enjoy a tropical island without the need of a passport should consider the US Virgin Islands
On the surface the Bolongo Bay Beach Resort is a bit primitive- not fancy or luxurious in the least, but when you scratch the surface and look a little deeper the friendly service and family feel of the resort more than make up for the rather dated accommodations.
Upon entering the resort, honestly, I was a little disheartened with what felt like a motel that hasn’t changed much in the last 40 years – as depicted in this photo of the front desk
The rooms were very basic, the restaurant and common areas were not grand, and the beach was not vast
BUT- I had a total change of opinion ofter spending only an hour or so with my resort host Colleen (who quite obviously DOES know everyone’s name)
Sure, Colleen was welcoming and polite and nice, as all resort management always is when hosting a travel agency having a look around – but this went a little deeper. She was more engaged with her staff and more friendly with the guests….and more American (a California transplant to the island many years ago) than most – in short, she sold me on the fact that this place is different – it’s like going to your home…. in the Caribbean!!
Bolongo Bay Beach Resort may not be fancy – it’s not luxurious – but it is most definitely welcoming and friendly and clean and comfortable, which is not a bad thing!
For so many people comfort and clean and friendly are more inportant than luxury and the “wow” factor, and if this describes you then this might be an excellent choice for your next vacation to the Caribbean
Honeymoon couples staying 7 nights can enjoy inclusions such as
a sunset catamaran cruise
a catamaran cruise to snorkel with sea turtles
a la carte dining including lobster, steaks
and much more…
Competitive pricing vs. other resorts in the USVI make this resort with an all-inclusive option a strong contender for those vacationers (especially Honeymooners) who choose not to acquire a passport and would prefer to saty on “U.S. soil”Some fun things to do include
Paddleboarding
Windsurfing
Scuba lessons
Hobie cats
Water trikes
Oh – and napping under a palm tree – that’s a fun thing too!!
There is much more to convey, so when you are ready to decide on your next vacation turn to EZTravelPad where we like to think of ourselves as – “Your friends….in the travel business”
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