Sandals Resorts is the definition of Caribbean luxury. The brand has properties across the Caribbean, along with their kid-friendly Beaches Resorts for families. We visited Sandals in Jamaica and fell in love with the experience — mimosas at breakfast, cocktails at lunch, and if you can still function afterwards, maybe some watersports too.
Back home in Barbados we had to check out our own island's Sandals properties. Sandals Royal Barbados is one of the newest and most impressive in the group, and we took day passes to explore both Sandals Barbados and Royal Barbados. Once again, completely won over — every restaurant across the resorts is worth trying at least once.
Day passes at Sandals Barbados run around $130 USD (10am-6pm) and evening passes around $160 USD (6pm-2am) — check current pricing directly with Sandals before you go.
If you're heading to Barbados more broadly, read the full Barbados packing list alongside this one.
Women's Packing List
A swimsuit is non-negotiable whether you're exploring the island's beaches or lounging by the pool all day — bring at least one for the trip, and honestly a spare never hurts given how much time you'll spend in and out of the water. Beach shorts or denim make the right casual daytime staple around the resort, comfortable enough for a beach walk and presentable enough for a casual lunch. A cover-up is essential and easy to overlook — something breezy to throw over your swimsuit whenever you're moving around the resort rather than lying directly on the beach.
Don't forget proper sandals for the trip, alongside sunglasses and a good sun hat — the Caribbean sun at a resort like this is stronger than it feels with the sea breeze cutting the heat. A packable beach bag is genuinely useful for holding your phone, kindle, room key or camera while you're lounging, and it folds down small enough to bring in your suitcase without taking up real space.
For evenings, a maxi dress is hands down the best way to be comfortable and glam at once — pair it with a nice set of dressy sandals or flats and you're covered for the whole evening without needing a separate outfit for every dinner.
- Swimsuit → — at least one, ideally a spare given how much pool and beach time a Sandals trip involves
- Beach shorts or denim → — casual daytime staple around the resort
- Cover-up → — essential for moving around the resort away from the beach itself
- Sandals → — comfortable enough for all-day resort walking
- Sun hat → — the Caribbean sun is stronger than the sea breeze makes it feel
- Packable beach bag → — for phone, kindle, room key and camera by the pool
- Maxi dress → — comfortable and glam in one, the go-to evening outfit
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The full island in one day — from a Bajan who actually lives here.
Men's Packing List
Boardshorts and casual t-shirts cover daytime at the resort without a second thought, but the evening is where preparation matters. Several Sandals restaurants enforce genuine dress codes for dinner, requiring long trousers rather than shorts — pack a proper pair of dress pants or long trousers specifically so you're never turned away from a restaurant you were looking forward to. Pair them with a polo or button-down shirt, which several specialty restaurants also require for men in the evening.
Beyond the evening wear, a good hat and sunglasses cover the daytime sun, and flip flops are the default footwear around the resort during the day. For dinner, dress shoes or enclosed shoes matter just as much as the trousers — some restaurants will turn you away for open sandals just as readily as for shorts, so don't let footwear be the reason you miss out.
- Boardshorts → — the daytime default
- Long trousers → — required at several specialty restaurants, don't get turned away for missing this
- Polo or button-down shirt → — required by some restaurants alongside the long trousers
- Hat → — for daytime sun
- Flip flops → — the default daytime resort footwear
- Dress shoes → — required by some restaurants alongside the trousers and shirt
Dress Code Tip
Check the specific restaurants at your Sandals property before you pack — the specialty dining rooms almost always require long trousers and a collared shirt for men in the evening. It's the single most common thing people forget and then have to scramble to fix on arrival.
The Essentials
Beyond clothing, a handful of items round out the packing list regardless of gender. A good camera captures the resort properly, and a GoPro is worth carrying alongside it for anything on the water — snorkelling, watersports, the kind of moments a regular camera can't easily handle. Bring any regular medications you take, plus a general first aid basics, and don't skimp on sunblock given how much time you'll spend outdoors.
- Camera → — for the resort and everything around it
- GoPro → — for watersports and anything in or near the water
Passport, any regular medications, and toiletries with a good sunblock round out the list — nothing exotic, just the basics that are easy to forget in the excitement of packing for a resort trip.
Sandals South Coast, Jamaica
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Free Barbados Self-Drive Route Guide
The full island in one day — from a Bajan who actually lives here.
Related Barbados Posts
- The Ultimate Barbados Travel Guide
- Barbados Packing List
- Barbados Accommodation Guide
- Romantic Hotels in Barbados
Frequently Asked Questions
Swimwear, a cover-up, casual daytime wear, and at least one dressier outfit for evening dining — many Sandals restaurants have dress codes requiring long pants and collared shirts for men. See the full list below for everything by category.
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