What's Included at Sandals — and What Isn't
The full list, including the extras people are most often surprised by at checkout.
What does the Sandals all-inclusive rate cover?
Every meal, every drink including premium spirits, all land and water sports, scuba for certified divers, entertainment, Wi-Fi, airport transfers, and tips. You can genuinely leave your wallet in the safe for a week.
The list below is what Sandals publishes as always included, at every resort and in every room category:
- Unlimited dining at every restaurant on the property — up to 16 at the larger resorts
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and anytime snacks, with no reservations charge
- Unlimited drinks, including premium branded liquors, at up to 11 bars
- Six Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks® house wines
- A stocked in-room bar, replenished on request
- Day and night entertainment
- Unlimited land sports: tennis, volleyball, pickleball, gym access
- Unlimited water sports with instruction
- Scuba diving trips for PADI®-certified guests, with equipment
- Golf green fees at the resorts that have a course
- Non-stop airport transfers in both directions
- Wi-Fi in rooms and all common areas
- All tips and gratuities
What is not included at Sandals?
Spa treatments, off-resort excursions, PADI certification courses, private dining experiences, photo sessions, cabana rentals and the gift shop. These are genuine extras, not hidden fees — nothing is added to your bill automatically.
| Not included | What it is | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Red Lane® Spa | Massages and treatments | The single most common extra couples budget for |
| Local tours and excursions | Off-property day trips | Bookable at the resort or in advance |
| PADI® courses | Certification and specialty dive courses | Diving itself is included once you are certified |
| Wetsuit rental | Optional for cooler water | Standard dive gear is included |
| Private candlelit dinner | Set-up on the beach or in your suite | Booked on property |
| Private photo or fitness sessions | Resort photographer, personal trainer | Priced individually |
| President's wine list | Premium wines beyond the house selection | House wines are included |
| Pool and beach cabanas | Reserved cabana with butler service | Separate from butler-level rooms |
| Gift shop | Souvenirs, clothing, sundries | — |
| Flights | Airfare to the island | Transfers from the airport are included |
Are tips really included?
Yes, and tipping is actively discouraged for most staff. The two exceptions Sandals names are butlers and spa therapists, where a tip is permitted if you want to leave one.
This trips up North American travellers more than any other inclusion, because the instinct to tip at a bar or restaurant is hard to switch off. You do not need to, and staff will generally decline.
Tips for airport transfer drivers, tour operators and spa personnel sit outside the resort's gratuity policy and remain at your discretion.
Does the in-room bar differ by room category?
Yes, and this is one of the few genuine differences between tiers. Luxury-level rooms are stocked with juice, soda, water, wine and local beer. Club and Butler rooms add spirits.
It is a small thing, but it is the kind of detail that decides an upgrade for some couples and is irrelevant to others. The rest of the tier differences are about service, not about what is included on property — see the room categories explained.
Drinking water is safe in every room: all Sandals resorts run their own filtration plants, and bottled water is replenished at no charge.
Not sure which resort has what?
Restaurant counts, golf, and dive programmes differ by property. Checking the specific resort takes a minute and costs nothing.
Common questions
What does the Sandals all-inclusive rate cover?
Every meal, every drink including premium spirits, all land and water sports, scuba for certified divers, entertainment, Wi-Fi, airport transfers, and tips.
What is not included at Sandals?
Spa treatments, off-resort excursions, PADI certification courses, private dining experiences, photo sessions, cabana rentals and the gift shop.
Are tips included at Sandals?
Yes, and tipping is actively discouraged for most staff. The two exceptions Sandals names are butlers and spa therapists, where a tip is permitted if you want to leave one.