SANDALS EMERALD BAY: WHEN IT “REIGNS!”

We recently visited Sandals Emerald Bay for a week.  We have been there previously and have posted well-deserved glowing reviews on our website.  However, we have always been blessed and enjoyed wonderful weather for our entire trip.  Not so with this visit, so the question is, can Sandals Emerald Bay still “reign” when it rains?

​We had beautiful weather on our day of arrival 

and our day of departure, 

​but every day in between was cloudy with various intensities of rain from drizzle to downpour.  

So were we still satisfied with our stay at Sandals Emerald Bay?  The answer is a resounding, “Yes!”

Sure, we didn’t get to soak in the sun as much as we anticipated (probably to the delight of our dermatologist), but we were still able to soak in the sunshine and warmth of its incredible staff.  We were also able to enjoy the protective cabanas at the quiet pool and get in a good swim when the rain subsided, since the quiet pool is well-heated.  I believe there are plans to heat the main pool, but it wasn’t heated during our stay.
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We were also able to fully partake not only of the fine restaurants and food we had come to know and love, but also explore the four new restaurants which had just opened:   

​The Kimonos Japanese hibachi; 

the Soy sushi bar and restuarant; 

the Bombay Club Indian restaurant; 

​and the outdoor Jerk Shack. 

We are happy to report that they all maintain the same high standards we have come to expect with Sandals properties.  We had a particularly good time at the Japanese hibachi, where our chef not only prepared the selections perfectly, but entertained us as well. 

Because of the storm at the time, we had a few brief moments of power outages.  Guests around the table happily pulled out their cell phone flashlights and the meal preparation and dining experience went on uninterrupted until the generators kicked in.  We all gladly accepted this unique “challenge” and reveled in our joint ability to overcome it easily, thanks to modern technology.

We came to realize that Sandals is at the ready to make provisions during bad weather and skillfully accommodate Mother Nature.  While the Barefoot By The Sea beachfront restaurant and the Jerk Shack are closed during inclement weather, there are so many other eating alternatives.  Besides the main restaurants, you can grab a pizza at Dinos or something sweet at Café de Paris.

​One of the draws for us to visit Sandals Emerald Bay is the on-location 18 hole golf course.  Even with the intermittent rain, we were able to take our golf carts and go out most days, sometimes having to wait in our cart for a few minutes until rain showers passed.  One time we really lucked-out as we played the first nine holes, which brought us back near the club house, when it started to really pour.  We took refuge in the clubhouse for about 15 minutes and when the rain subsided, we were able to play the rest of the next nine holes.  This golf course is as beautiful as it is challenging and we never tire of playing it. 

​Yep, that’s my ball on the first shot.  I birdied this magnificent par-three hole! The fact that it is right on the resort property makes it that much better.  You can see a more in-depth discussion of the golf course, restaurants and everything else Sandals on previous blogs.  You can see a more in-depth discussion of the golf course, restaurants and everything else Sandals on previous blogs.

​So what did we do when we couldn’t lie out on the beach or participate in water sports?  There is a well-equipped game room, a wonderful Red Lane Spa and a nightly karaoke sing-a-long.   We still had our beautiful room on the beach overlooking the ocean.  We still had our butlers surprise us by preparing and decorating our bathtub and bed, and providing snacks.  We still had twenty-four hour room service, included, and we still had each other, so use your imagination. :)

​Earlier, I mentioned the warmth of the staff, and this should not go without being highlighted and emphasized.  The General Manager, Jeremy Mutton; Hotel Manager, Kreshville Ritchie; and guest relations director, Sharlaine N. Adderley-Lloyd, are gems – all personable as they are professional.  

Second from the left, General Manager Jeremy Mutton. On the right, Hotel Manager Kressville Ritchie.

Our butlers, Garth and Jackson were a dynamic duo and our restaurant servers Sonia at Il Cielo and Crystal at La Parisienne enhanced our dining experience with their exceptional personalities and their ability to remember all our dining preferences.
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No sooner did we get back home, than we made a reservation for another trip to Sandals Emerald Bay in four months’ time.  And although SEB “reigned” while it rained, we will still be keeping our fingers crossed for the amazing weather we have experienced in the past.