For the many Canadian travel advisors with a Sandals clientele, news of the latest property opening on a lush Caribbean island where time stood still, will be welcome news.
The 18th resort in its portfolio, Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines held its ribbon cutting ceremony on 28MAR in celebration of what is being coined as Sandals 2.0 with more ‘firsts’ than any other property.
Some of the firsts include a unique way of incorporating the Saint Vincent culture with local dishes and even a local method of cooking. Enhanced guest experiences with kayak tours to a bat cave and sunset paddle boarding twice a week. There are also unique suite amenities such as a media suite with a home movie theatre for date nights-in and fully equipped fitness suites.
The biggest news is the launch of overwater suites in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. With what are considered some of the most beautiful views in the Caribbean, these ocean suites will likely sell-out quickly.
Overview of Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is easier than ever to reach. A large, new international airport was built a few years ago, allowing direct flights from major cities in North America. The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines tourism minister recently noted that Air Canada will have weekly flights from YYZ to Saint Vincent starting 7APR, continuing through 27OCT. There will also be increased flights in the winter, the minister said.
Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines offers 301 rooms and suites across 50 lush acres, embracing its Saint Vincent location. That includes celebrating the island’s botanical gardens and introducing new dining concepts like Buccan which serves locally harvested food roasted in an open hearth.
“With its dramatic blues and incredible beauty, the Caribbean sea was meant to be explored. But at more than a million square miles, it was also meant to be discovered,” said Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International. “Sandals Saint Vincent unveils a little-known wonder we are proud to bring forward, not only for its show-stopping beauty but for the warmth and grace of its people.
“There is a joy here that pulses throughout and beyond 32 incredible islands. Sandals Saint Vincent was designed to honour that spirit, encouraging carefree exploration, pampered relaxation, and deep connection.”
The Suites
Innovative touches extend across each of the resort’s rooms and suites, where guests are welcomed with an in-room signature cocktail of rum and coconut water. A pioneering concept for the brand, the Vincy Overwater Two-Story Villas will feature expansive spaces spanning two stories above the sea, as well as dedicated villa perks including an exclusive table at Buccan. Beachfront Villas offer a tranquil retreat just steps from the sand; inside, guests are met with warm neutrals, organic textures, locally-sourced volcanic materials and pops of cool blue to create a harmonious connection with the island's natural surroundings.
Many of the resort’s suites also feature elevated amenities – from a dedicated media room and private pool to a personal fitness room with exercise bikes, yoga mats and a library of fitness classes. The brand’s signature butler service adds an additional level of luxury, with butler-level room guests treated to memorable moments.
A Destination Ripe for Discovery
At the heart of Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the destination itself – bold, bountiful and richly colourful – with opportunities for exploration infused into nearly every touchpoint. On site, guests can enjoy guided kayak experiences to Buccament Bat Caves and bikes for winding throughout the resort’s gardens and trails surrounded by the destination’s natural flora. Interactive classes and tastings highlight the region's rich agricultural heritage, from aloe vera to local fruit like mango and breadfruit.
Along the water’s edge, artisans bring forward soap making and handmade jewelry, among other crafts. As night falls, the essence of the island comes alive with vibrant festivities, from sunset parties on the beach to rum sensory experiences and movies under the stars.
Off site, a kaleidoscopic selection of adventure – from marvelling at the foot of a towering waterfall to frolicking on volcanic black sand beaches, sailing the clear blue seas and waving hello to abundant marine life below the surface via Sandals’ award-winning, unlimited scuba diving program.
From Harvest to Hearth and Beyond
Eleven culinary concepts – five novel to the brand – showcase the island’s bounties from bite to imbibe. Guided by a lush jungle pathway and the spark of glowing embers, guests will find Buccan, an immersive family-style, open-air culinary journey and the region’s first-ever solid fuel restaurant. The cooking style, done in local clay yabba pots, becomes a centerpiece of the experience, turning local cedar and sustainable sources like coconut husks into coal as chefs rely on ancient culinary techniques to create a menu highlighting local ‘Vincy’ ingredients with seasonal platters designed for sharing.
Scrimshaw taps into the island's abundant access to fresh seafood from its coveted location on the coastal shelf, starring curry conch fritters with a liquid center; scallops with pickled, locally grown peanuts; and a vegan roasted pumpkin with lemongrass-tofu puree, spiced pumpkin seeds and red onion relish. A sophisticated cocktail menu carries the narrative with the Scrimshaw Martini, finished with a dash of MSG for a unique umami experience to accompany fresh seafood dishes; and the Gin Tonica, a botanical excursion in a glass adorned with citrus wheels, rosemary pimento vermouth, and lime.
Parisol, an open-air beach club and kitchen, invites guests to salute the morning sun with smoothies that incorporate the viral superfood, sea moss; naturally gluten-free cassava flour pancakes; and locally loved ‘Bakes’ with salted fish and guava jam. Day time bites are to be savored by the sea: from the tuna & charred cucumber aguachile to the snapper, skipjack, conch or lobster – served grilled, steamed or fried – accompanied by lemongrass rice and ginger cabbage slaw. Imoro, a Sandals First ‘grab-and-go’ concept, is named after the Arawak term for 'green,' serving up healthy, veggie-focused bowls.
Vincy evenings come alive after the stunning sunset. Vibing to the beat of a curated selection of hand-picked vinyls, Three Jewels rum bar celebrates a quintessentially local Caribbean spirit, with a selection of 32 rums inspired by the destination’s 32 islands within 32 miles; more than two-thirds of the menu hones in on Eastern Caribbean distilled rums – one of five jovial bars around the resort.
For more information, contact your local Sandals BDM or call Inside Sales at 1-800-545-8283.
