Is Sandals a bit council?
Is Sandals a bit council?
Author
Discussion

85Carrera

Original Poster:

3,503 posts

259 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
quotequote all
Looking to book a holiday to the Caribbean early in the New Year and the Sandals resorts look quite nice. Only downside is that I suspect that they appeal to the PCP Evoque crowd who I would rather avoid.

Anyone got any experience of staying at one and/or alternative options?

TIA

85Carrera

Original Poster:

3,503 posts

259 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
quotequote all
Yes, that’s all very well, but the trouble with being council is that while you may have a good time to be council you have to have no regard for anyone else and behave like a selfish prick which is why I would rather avoid them on holiday.

85Carrera

Original Poster:

3,503 posts

259 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
quotequote all
nuyorican said:
Hmm. Methinks the lady doth protest too much.

I mean, if you have to ask...

scratchchin
Sorry if I’ve offended your council sensibilities but I’d rather not holiday with your lot of it can be avoided.

omniflow

3,562 posts

173 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
quotequote all
85Carrera said:
Sorry if I’ve offended your council sensibilities but I’d rather not holiday with your lot of it can be avoided.
Well - you're planning to go to the Caribbean - what exactly do you expect? Also, you're looking at "All Inclusive" - I think you've really self selected the demographic with those two choices (that you appear to have freely made)

Han Solo

266 posts

47 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
quotequote all
It’s full of Americans, last time I went I can’t remember any other British people.

Was 10+ years ago when I was 20/21.

You sound like the type of person I’d rather avoid, it’s an AI holiday in the Caribbean, put your hand in your pocket and go on an expensive holiday if you’d rather avoid ‘council’ types (yet you are the one who wants to go!).

Being council is much more fun than stuck up middle class.

Gompo

4,640 posts

280 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
Where (island/coast) are you looking to travel to? I'm sure there's a few here that could advise on hotels. I can't offer much but have just returned from the Caribbean for a second time. We look forward to returning so I'm interested in suggestions too.

GT03ROB

13,969 posts

243 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
I’ve done a few of the Sandals resorts. If you think there are all the same standard, you will be surprised they are not.

I would say you don’t so much see UK council, but you can see US council! In some resorts be prepared for drunk young Americans in the pool whopping & hollering. We also met some really nice US couples. The food quality is good for the most part, the drinks are also the top notch stuff not cheap local. Butler service in the better rooms in the better resorts is definitely not council. Basic room in the cheaper resorts can be less good.

gangzoom

7,981 posts

237 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
GT03ROB said:
Butler service in the better rooms in the better resorts is definitely not council.
We found the whole Butler concept really uncomfortable, especially with the whole ethnic contrast in clients vs staff. I don't think we called ours once during a 5 night stay, left a tip regardless.

We wouldn't be going back to Sandals, not because it wasn't nice, just not the kind of holiday we really enjoy. Some of the concepts offered seem to belong to a different era.

Back on topic, aren't most councils going bankrupt now anyway? smile.


Edited by gangzoom on Sunday 5th November 10:02

Griffith4ever

6,255 posts

57 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
You were uncomfortable being served by with black staff...in the Caribbean....?

I've got news for you about their staff pool / population :-)


gangzoom

7,981 posts

237 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
I looked up the Butler service before we went, and didn't really think the reality would acutally be like the photos.....but it was.....Depends on your world view, but honestly I couldn't wait for the flight home!!!


Puzzles

3,211 posts

133 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
We enjoyed ourselves. The Americans weren’t that loud. I’d say it wasn’t exactly vfm.

Griffith4ever

6,255 posts

57 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
nuyorican said:
gangzoom said:
I looked up the Butler service before we went, and didn't really think the reality would acutally be like the photos.....but it was.....Depends on your world view, but honestly I couldn't wait for the flight home!!!

[Img]https://cdn.sandals.com/sandals/v13/images/EN/general/all-inclusive/butler/hero-section/couple.jpg[/thumb]
Am I missing something? Why wouldn't the reality be exactly like that photo? Western couple visiting the Caribbean...

I think maybe you've been taking UK television adverts at face value. Where that photo would portray the western couple as black, same-sex, one possibly in a wheelchair, and the Caribbean butler as a fat stupid white guy.
Can we have a "like" button for this man? :-)

DodgyGeezer

46,216 posts

212 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
OP could always try the Hedonism resort for a different 'all inclusive' resort. hehe

GT4P

5,769 posts

207 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
nuyorican said:
gangzoom said:
I looked up the Butler service before we went, and didn't really think the reality would acutally be like the photos.....but it was.....Depends on your world view, but honestly I couldn't wait for the flight home!!!

[Img]https://cdn.sandals.com/sandals/v13/images/EN/general/all-inclusive/butler/hero-section/couple.jpg[/thumb]
Am I missing something? Why wouldn't the reality be exactly like that photo? Western couple visiting the Caribbean...

I think maybe you've been taking UK television adverts at face value. Where that photo would portray the western couple as black, same-sex, one possibly in a wheelchair, and the Caribbean butler as a fat stupid white guy.
biglaugh

Smurfsarepeopletoo

971 posts

79 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
85Carrera said:
Yes, that’s all very well, but the trouble with being council is that while you may have a good time to be council you have to have no regard for anyone else and behave like a selfish prick which is why I would rather avoid them on holiday.
I have to disagree from a few cruise experiences, I find it tends to be the people with money who are very entitled, and expect to be treated as far more important than everyone else.

abzmike

11,211 posts

128 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
DodgyGeezer said:
OP could always try the Hedonism resort for a different 'all inclusive' resort. hehe
Lol… I recall the Negril branch is right next door…

Kerniki

2,903 posts

43 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
85Carrera said:
nuyorican said:
Hmm. Methinks the lady doth protest too much.

I mean, if you have to ask...

scratchchin
Sorry if I’ve offended your council sensibilities but I’d rather not holiday with your lot of it can be avoided.
It’s amazing how much you need to spend now to get away from some of them tho, we were at our normal hotel (so it’s comparable to other years) which is the no.1 5* hotel in Marbella last year, £1200 a night for a room with a garden, always been a guaranteed good stay with quiet likeminded people.

Last year there were loads of chav type stayers and we ended up with a set next door to us who have no idea on how to conduct themselves around others, after an altercation we got upgraded to a separate bungalow free of charge but wouldn’t go back there now, I’m friends with the owner and he said it’s been a nightmare change in the English demographic since covid.

Guessing this incoming Uk recession should address that a little better smile

Conversely we’re currently in Tenerife near las Américas and there’s hardly any council, less than there was 10 years ago tbh, yet to dip into (and probably won’t) las Américas itself where things are more than likely different..

Edited by Kerniki on Sunday 5th November 15:05

LimaDelta

7,915 posts

240 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
Kerniki said:
It’s amazing how much you need to spend now to get away from some of them tho, we were at our normal hotel (so it’s comparable to other years) which is the no.1 5* hotel in Marbella last year, £1200 a night for a room with a garden, always been a guaranteed good stay with quiet likeminded people.

Last year there were loads of chav type stayers and we ended up with a set next door to us who have no idea on how to conduct themselves around others, after an altercation we got upgraded to a separate bungalow free of charge but wouldn’t go back there now, I’m friends with the owner and he said it’s been a nightmare change in the English demographic since covid.

Guessing this incoming Uk recession should address that a little better smile

Conversely we’re currently in Tenerife near las Américas and there’s hardly any council, less than there was 10 years ago tbh, yet to dip into (and probably won’t) las Américas itself where things are more than likely different..
Location more important than cost. No matter what you are spending, certain places (Marbella a perfect example) will always be council magnet. Remember council is a state of mind, and not an indication of wealth.

Picking a destination not served by low-cost carriers is a good place to start.

Vasco

18,009 posts

127 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
LimaDelta said:
Location more important than cost. No matter what you are spending, certain places (Marbella a perfect example) will always be council magnet. Remember council is a state of mind, and not an indication of wealth.

Picking a destination not served by low-cost carriers is a good place to start.
Surely, this is the key point ?

Find a really good destination that suits you - then determine how to go/stay there.

anonymous-user

76 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
gangzoom said:
I looked up the Butler service before we went, and didn't really think the reality would acutally be like the photos.....but it was.....Depends on your world view, but honestly I couldn't wait for the flight home!!!

[Img]https://cdn.sandals.com/sandals/v13/images/EN/general/all-inclusive/butler/hero-section/couple.jpg[/thumb]
I grew up on a council estate and having a butler service like that would make me feel very uncomfortable. I understand that some people with money like to lord it over people without money in this fashion, but I personally couldn't do it.

Probably just because of the way I was bought up, I guess if you have grown up with wealth you would be used to it.