Sandals Royal Curaçao Opens With “Island Inclusive” Concept

Sandals Royal Curaçao, the 16th property in the Sandals Resorts portfolio, opened its doors on June 1, 2022, within the exclusive 3,000-acre Santa Barbara estate. The resort sits just 15 miles from Curaçao International Airport, but its west-facing position on the southernmost part of the island feels a world away from the terminal. That orientation captures one of the Caribbean’s most spectacular sunsets, and it also means the property catches the trade winds differently than resorts on the island’s more sheltered side.

This article covers what the new “Island Inclusive” concept actually delivers, which room categories justify the upgrade, and where the resort’s location creates both advantages and logistical friction. I’ll also point out a few things the marketing materials don’t emphasize — like the seven-night minimum requirement for the off-site dining voucher and how the resort’s isolation affects your ability to explore Willemstad independently.

Orientation on the Santa Barbara Estate

The resort occupies a specific corner of a much larger development, and that shapes your entire stay.

The Santa Barbara estate covers 3,000 acres, and Sandals Royal Curaçao sits on its southern edge, facing the Spanish Water inlet. That body of water isn’t open ocean — it’s a protected lagoon, which means the water at the resort’s beach stays calm compared to the rougher surf on the island’s north coast. The trade-off is that you’re looking across a wide channel rather than uninterrupted sea, and the mountain backdrop behind the resort adds a dry, cactus-dotted landscape that feels more like the American Southwest than a typical Caribbean postcard.

The resort’s isolation is its main selling point and its main limitation. You’re roughly 15 miles from the airport, but Willemstad’s historic Punda and Otrobanda districts are another 10–15 minutes beyond that. Without a car, you’re dependent on the resort’s scheduled shuttles or taxis that run around $30–40 each way into town. Michael and I found that the colorful Dutch-Latin streets of Willemstad are worth the trip, but you’ll want to plan for at least half a day to make the drive worthwhile.

Main Experiences and Where to Spend Your Time

The resort packs its signature features into a relatively compact footprint, but the real draw is how the property uses its waterfront position.

The Dos Awa Infinity Pool and the West-Facing Sunset

The brand’s first bi-level Dos Awa Infinity Pool sits at the heart of the property. The upper tier feeds into the lower level, and both face west over the Spanish Water. The effect is that the pool appears to merge with the lagoon, and by late afternoon the sun drops directly behind the distant hills. The water temperature stays comfortable because the pool isn’t shaded by buildings — something I noticed when we visited in early afternoon and the sun was still high. The pool deck gets full by mid-morning during peak season, so the chairs with the best sightlines go fast. If you want a lounger with a direct view of the sunset, aim for the upper tier before 3 p.m.

Island Inclusive Off-Site Dining Program

This is the feature that separates Sandals Royal Curaçao from other all-inclusives on the island. The Island Inclusive program gives guests a $250 USD voucher to dine at one of eight partner restaurants around Curaçao, with roundtrip transportation included. The catch is that the voucher is valid only on seven-night minimum stays, and it’s available exclusively to guests booked in Butler suites or Sandals Select Reward Members at the Diamond, Pearl, or Ambassador levels. That means a standard room guest on a six-night stay doesn’t qualify. The eight partner restaurants include spots in Willemstad and along the coast, so you’re not limited to resort food for an entire week — but you do need to meet the booking criteria to access it.

New Room Categories: Awa Seaside and Kurason Island Poolside Bungalows

Two new signature suite categories debuted with this property. The Awa Seaside Butler Bungalows sit directly over the water on stilts, with private pools and Tranquility Soaking Tubs. The Kurason Island Poolside Butler Bungalows are set back slightly but still offer private pools and butler service. Select suites also come with access to a convertible MINI Cooper for exploring the island — a perk that makes the isolation of the Santa Barbara estate much more manageable. The rooms use Papiamentu-inspired names: Melemele (affectionate) for the walkout suites and Sunchi (kiss) for the beachfront category. The local naming is a nice touch, but the real value is in the butler service for guests who want dinner reservations, excursion bookings, and poolside setup handled without queuing at the front desk.

Practical Planning for Your Stay

The resort’s location and booking structure create specific planning decisions that affect your experience from check-in onward.

Getting There and Getting Around

Curaçao International Airport is a straightforward 15-mile drive along the island’s southern highway. The road is well-paved and signed, but the last stretch into the Santa Barbara estate passes through a gated entrance with security check-in. If you’re not renting a car, the resort offers transfers, but they cost more than a local taxi. For guests in Butler suites with the MINI Cooper perk, the car solves the isolation problem — you can drive into Willemstad in about 20 minutes. Without it, you’re looking at $30–40 each way for a taxi into town. Michael and I rented a car for three days of our week-long stay, which let us visit Willemstad’s UNESCO World Heritage core and the floating market without worrying about return-trip timing.

Best Time to Visit

Curaçao sits outside the hurricane belt, so the dry season from January to September offers consistent sun and low humidity. The trade winds blow steadily from the east, which keeps the resort’s west-facing pool deck comfortable even in August. The rainy season from October to December brings short afternoon showers, but they rarely last more than an hour. The island’s southern position means sunset is around 6:15 p.m. in winter and 7:00 p.m. in summer — the west-facing orientation of the resort makes the most of that golden hour regardless of season.

Costs and Booking Considerations

The Island Inclusive voucher requires a seven-night minimum stay, which pushes the total cost higher than a typical five-night all-inclusive package. Butler suite categories command a significant premium over standard rooms, and the MINI Cooper perk is limited to select suites. If you’re a Sandals Select member at Diamond, Pearl, or Ambassador level, you qualify for the voucher without booking a Butler suite — that’s the most cost-effective way to access the off-site dining program. For everyone else, the math works best if you plan to spend most of your time on the resort property and treat the off-site dinner as a single splurge rather than a nightly option.

On the Ground: What to Know Before You Go

A few practical realities of the resort and its surroundings that don’t show up in the brochure.

Packing for the Santa Barbara Estate

The resort’s west-facing position means the sun hits the pool deck and beach directly from midday onward. A reef-safe mineral sunscreen is essential — the Spanish Water is a protected lagoon, and the resort encourages guests to avoid chemical sunscreens that can damage the marine environment. The trade winds keep the temperature comfortable, but they also kick up dust from the dry hills behind the resort. A lightweight travel windbreaker is useful for evening walks along the water when the breeze picks up. For the off-site dining program, pack at least one outfit that works for a nicer restaurant — the partner spots in Willemstad range from casual to dressy, and you’ll feel underdressed in flip-flops at some of them.

Dining Beyond the Resort

The eight partner restaurants in the Island Inclusive program are spread across the island, with several in the Pietermaai district of Willemstad. That area is known for its restored colonial buildings and a mix of Caribbean and European cuisine. The $250 voucher covers a meal for two at most of these spots, but drinks and gratuities are extra. If you’re not in a Butler suite and don’t qualify for the voucher, you can still dine at these restaurants independently — the resort’s concierge can arrange transportation, but you’ll pay out of pocket. For a deeper look at what Willemstad offers beyond the resort, the floating market and Dutch charm of the capital are worth a dedicated afternoon.

Local Etiquette and Language

Papiamentu is the local language, but Dutch and English are widely spoken, especially in tourist areas. A simple “bon dia” (good morning) or “danki” (thank you) goes a long way with locals. The island’s Dutch influence means that service standards lean formal — don’t expect the rapid-fire friendliness of some other Caribbean islands. Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory; the all-inclusive structure at Sandals covers gratuities, but off-site restaurants typically add a 10–15% service charge.

Questions About Sandals Royal Curaçao

Is the Island Inclusive program worth the upgrade to a Butler suite?

If you’re staying seven nights and want to eat off-site at least once, the $250 voucher covers a solid dinner for two at most partner restaurants. The Butler suite also includes the MINI Cooper perk on select rooms, which solves the transportation problem. For shorter stays or standard rooms, the voucher isn’t available, so the upgrade math changes.

How far is the resort from Willemstad’s attractions?

About 20–25 minutes by car to the Handelskade waterfront and the Queen Emma floating bridge. The resort’s isolation means you’re committed to that drive each time you leave the property. The floating bridge and slave museum are both in the same district, so you can combine them into one trip.

What’s the biggest downside of the resort’s location?

The Santa Barbara estate is quiet and secure, but it’s also removed from everyday Curaçao life. You won’t stumble into a local market or a roadside food stand — everything is curated through the resort. If you want spontaneous exploration, you need a car or a willingness to pay for taxis.

Can families stay at Sandals Royal Curaçao?

No — Sandals properties are adults-only (18+). The resort’s pools, bars, and dining venues are designed for couples. Families with children should look at other Curaçao resorts or consider a villa rental near the coast.

Does the resort feel crowded during peak season?

The property has 351 rooms spread across a relatively compact area. The pool deck and main restaurant can feel busy during breakfast and late afternoon, but the beachfront and the quieter corners of the estate offer space to spread out. The bi-level pool design helps distribute guests across two levels rather than concentrating everyone in one spot.

One Last Thing

The west-facing position that makes the sunsets so striking also means the resort catches the full force of the afternoon heat — by 4 p.m., the pool deck is bathed in direct light with almost no natural shade. That’s a trade-off the marketing photos don’t show, but it’s also the reason the light at golden hour feels different here than anywhere else on the island. For a deeper look at why Curaçao works as a low-risk Caribbean destination, this guide explains the island’s hurricane-belt position and dry climate.

Sources and further reading

An All-Inclusive Luxury Resort Just Opened in Curaçao — and It Has a Two-Level Infinity Pool. Offshore Travel Magazine, 2022.