Considering Sandals (first timers) vs Hawaii for Tropical Christmas Holiday
Hello…husband and I are planning a tropical holiday vacation this year. We have never been to a Sandals resort, nor to the Caribbean, Bahamas or other tropical destinations in this region. We love Hawai’i and have been many times over the years. We save so we can spend extra for a luxury property. Our favorite property in Hawai’i is the 1 Hotel in Hanalei, Kaua’i. We love the lush landscape with lots of tropical flowers and palms, biophillic decor inside & out, excellent views, amazing staff, comfortable beds, pristine beaches, incredible pools & phenomenal food and drinks on property. They also have the nicest gym we’ve ever seen at a hotel/resort (we are both very active and like to work out every day) which is a bonus. We tend to spend most of our time relaxing by the pool, with some swimming in the ocean.
We were planning on going back to the 1 Hotel for Christmas this year but have been considering something new and are looking at a Sandals resort (currently considering the South Coast property currently being renovated in Jamaica).
I’ve read really conflicting reviews about Sandals resorts. Being Christmas, either location is going to be expensive. We live in Nashville, and Jamaica is a 5 hour flight (with a connection) whereas Hawai’i ends up being an 18 hour travel day for us.
Excellent food and drinks & a lush, polished, luxury aesthetic are non negotiable. We are super low key, just like to relax in a beautiful place and are willing to pay a premium for quality. What I don’t want to do is pay premium prices expecting premium quality and be disappointed.
Any thoughts on this are appreciated! 🩵🌺🌴
Pictures of the 1 Hotel for reference.