Honest Review: Awa Seaside Butler Bungalow with Private Pool (ASP)
Sandals Royal Curaçao
Our All-Inclusive Experts have stayed at Sandals Royal Curaçao many times, and today Susie is sharing an up-close look at one of its most elite rooms. In fact, the Awa Seaside Butler Bungalows are some of the hardest rooms to get across all Sandals resorts. Watch the walkthrough video here, then see below for her honest review of the Awa Seaside Bungalow with Private Pool (room code ASP). You can also ask her any of your own questions about this room!
In Papiamentu, “awa” means water. It’s a fitting name for these five standalone bungalows that sit literally right on the beach with private infinity pools looking out toward the ocean. Each bungalow features hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, a fully stocked wet bar, his and hers sinks, a walk-in rain shower (with interior and exterior entrances), and a spacious patio with a soaking tub, sun loungers, and of course… your own oceanfront infinity pool. 24 hour butler service is included.
Because there are only five of these bungalows and availability is extremely limited, we strongly recommend placing a deposit well in advance. There’s no cost to work with us, and we’ll watch the price for you after booking… if it goes down, we’ll work to get you the better rate, all without you having to do a thing.
Sandals Royal Curaçao Awa Seaside Bungalow: At a Glance
- Resort: Sandals Royal Curaçao
- Room Code: ASP
- Location: Five standalone bungalows with private infinity pools right on the beach.
- View: Beach, Ocean, Sunsets
- Service Level: 24 Hour Butler Service
- Availability: Extremely limited. Only 5 bungalows at this resort. We often see clients book this room 1 year+ in advance.
- Deposit: $1,000 deposit required. Non-refundable, but dates can sometimes be changed if needed. Reach out to us for details on how to hold this room.
- Price Range: $3,808-$4,400 per night, per couple. $3,808/nt is the lowest published rate for 2026,* however please contact us for additional options/rates.
- Room Price Promotions: Rarely goes on promotion given how limited availability is. Check current promotions here.
- Bonus Inclusion: Complimentary convertible MINI Cooper for exploring the island. $250 dine out credit for use in Willemstad.
- Best For: Couples celebrating something special, honeymoons, anniversaries, travelers looking for a once-in-a-lifetime all-inclusive experience.
- Accessibility: Resort is situated on relatively flat terrain with paved pathways. Reach out to us for specific accessibility questions about this room.
- Noise Level: The ocean, mainly. Some noise possible from the main pool during the day depending on your bungalow. We can help you choose.
Honest Review: Sandals Royal Curaçao Awa Seaside Bungalow with Private Pool
All-Inclusive Expert Susie Christensen has personally visited every Sandals and Beaches resort and has spent extensive time at Sandals Royal Curaçao. The walkthrough video above is from her most recent stay.
Where exactly are the Awa Seaside Bungalows located, and what’s the location like day to day?
Susie C: They’re right on the beach, steps away from the water. And they’re centrally located, so there are restaurants really close by. The food trucks are right there, and then some of the main restaurants are just a little further. Butch’s is actually directly behind these rooms.
One important thing to note is that you can walk right out to the beach and the water, but you can’t actually swim in the ocean right there. The currents and the rocky shoreline make it so that the swimming beach is elsewhere, about a five-minute walk. You can also grab one of the cruiser bikes that are spread around the property and just ride over, leave the bike, and you’re good.
Walk us through the room. What’s it like when you first walk in?
Susie C: When you first walk in there’s a little entryway with the wet bar, so your mini fridge, beer, wine, liquor is all right there in its own separate area. Which is actually really nice because the butlers can come in and out through the front door to keep everything stocked and dirty dishes taken out, and it’s all kind of contained there so you don’t have it in the main part of the room.
Then it opens up into the main area and the bed is facing this massive sliding glass door, basically the whole wall, looking right out to the deck and the ocean. You can open it completely or keep it closed, either way the views are right there in front of you. Sunset is right there. There’s also a TV at the end of the bed that’s hidden and rises up when you press a button, so you can hide it out of the way for an unobstructed view from your bed or pop it up if you want to watch something.
The ceilings are really high, vaulted, all light wood. It feels airy and spacious. There are curtains along the whole wall if you want full privacy, and blackout shades if you want to sleep in. The bathroom is off to the side, sinks are open into the room, and then the shower has a really cool feature which is there’s a second door that opens right out to the pool and the deck. So you can step out of the pool, take a few steps into the shower to rinse off, and then walk right into the room. You don’t have to track water or sand through the whole space, which is a really nice touch.
Tell us about the private pool and the patio setup.
Susie C: It’s completely your own, not shared with anyone. Your sliding glass doors open right out to the deck where you’ve got the soaking tub with its own privacy curtains, two lounge chairs, and the infinity pool facing the ocean. Best views at the resort, honestly, from right there on your deck.
The pool itself has steps with a handrail on the side so it’s pretty easy to get in and out. There are two foam floating loungers that come with the room, just for you. And then there’s a built-in hammock area that’s kind of suspended over the pool. You’re not in the water, you’re above it, but it’s just another spot to hang out and have a drink.
The butlers will float things to you on trays in the pool if you want, drinks, snacks, whatever. You can do happy hour right there watching the sunset, have a charcuterie board brought out, champagne, shrimp cocktail. Really whatever you want.
How private is it?
Susie C: Pretty private. Sandals does a good job with the vegetation and the walls between bungalows. If somebody were in exactly the right spot they might be able to see you, but it’s rare. And the beach right in front of these is really quiet. There’s just not a lot of foot traffic out there because the swimming beach is elsewhere, and to the left of the bungalows is where the golf course starts, so people don’t really have a reason to walk that direction. We didn’t really see anybody our whole stay in front of the bungalows. That said, you can see in the pictures, there are tiny sections on the side of the bungalow next to you where you do see a sliver of your neighbors deck so it’s not 100% but close.
Who is this room really best for, and how does it compare to the Kurason Island Poolside Bungalow (KB)?
Susie C: Really anybody celebrating a special occasion. Honeymoons, anniversaries, or just someone who wants a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Because they’re on the pricier side, a lot of people save these for something meaningful. But honestly, if you really want to impress somebody or give an amazing gift, this is that kind of trip.
It’s almost like having your own little mini resort within the resort. You’ve got your private infinity pool, your own deck right on the beach, a butler taking care of everything. You can choose to never leave if you don’t want to, or wander out whenever you feel like it. A lot of people end up spending a good chunk of the day just right there in their bungalow because they have everything they need.
And how does it compare to the Kurason Island Poolside Bungalow?
Susie C: The interior of the rooms is actually exactly the same. Same layout, same finishes, same butler service, same Mini Cooper included. The difference is the KB is arranged around a heart-shaped semi-private swim-up pool that you share with 7 other units vs oceanfront. It’s not on the beach. The ASP is fully private, your own infinity pool, right on the water. So the KB is a really good option if you love the room and the butler experience but want a more affordable price point. The ASP is the upgrade if the oceanfront and the private pool are important to you. Typically the KB runs about $1,400 to $1,600 per night less than the ASP, so it’s a pretty meaningful difference depending on your budget.
What did you think of the butler service in these rooms?
Susie C: You get two butlers per day, one per shift. They’ll reserve pool or beach chairs for you in the morning, bring any meal you want, snacks, drinks, whatever. You can have all your meals brought right to your bungalow if you don’t feel like going anywhere, or they’ll set up outside on the deck. Breakfast in bed watching the ocean is one of my favorite things.
And no matter where you are on the property, pool, beach, your bungalow, they’ll keep an eye out for you and check-in. It’s not just in-room service, they’re helping you the whole time and making sure you have what you need.
Any tips on getting the most out of the butler experience?
Susie C: If you book through us, we can request specific bungalows and butlers for you. Some people want to be closer to the main pool, others want it a little more quiet and further away. Not guaranteed until check-in, but Sandals is pretty good about honoring our requests. We’re one of the top sellers of Sandals, we have direct contacts at the resort, not just the 1-800 number, and staff members that know us by name. So we tend to have a pretty good success rate. If you have special requests or you’re celebrating something, those are things we can help get in place ahead of time so you’re not dealing with it when you get there.
Where does this room fall price-wise, and how hard is it to get?
Susie C: The price range is anywhere from $3,800 to $4,400 per night per couple, so these are pretty high-end, pretty elite. And they do sell out. There are only 5 of them, and they can book up sometimes a year in advance, especially around the holidays. So if you’re interested, sooner is definitely better.
Does it ever go on promotion?
Susie C: It’s very rare. But if you’ve already booked with us and something comes up, we’ll reach out to you. You don’t have to track it yourself, that’s something we do for our clients. And if you’re flexible on dates, we can help you find the lowest rates because it does vary throughout the year.
What about the deposit situation for this room?
Susie C: This room requires a $1,000 deposit at the time of booking, which is non-refundable. But if something comes up and you can’t go, the deposit is transferable to the same room type for up to a year, so they will generally work with you if you need to move things around. Reach out to us before you put a deposit down and we’ll make sure everything is in order first.
What else separates these rooms from a lower level room at Sandals Royal Curaçao?
Susie C: A couple things that most guests at the resort don’t get. One is the use of a convertible Mini Cooper for 4 hours during your stay. Your butlers set it up, you just pick a time, and then you’re free to take it and explore the island. Curaçao is one of the safest islands in the Caribbean. It’s a Dutch overseas territory so it has a very European feel, things are clean and comfortable, and it’s just a really fun place to explore on your own.
The downtown Willemstad area is really popular. There’s a great brewery there that we love with awesome views. All the buildings are different colors, there are murals everywhere, it’s vibrant and pretty. A lot of people use the Mini Cooper for that. Some people head to the other beaches, or go see flamingos in the wild on the other side of the island. There are also shipwrecks you can snorkel and dive to that are pretty close by. One of them is in pretty shallow water, maybe 20 or 30 feet deep, and you can swim right over the wreck. Super cool.
The other thing included is a $250 dine-out credit to use at local restaurants off the resort. That’s something pretty unique for an all-inclusive.
What other ways can you explore the island beyond the Mini Cooper?
Susie C: There are around 20 different excursions available if you want to get off the property. Some are by boat, where they’ll actually pick you up right at the resort’s pier. It’s more than I can describe here but folks reach out and I can help them navigate all the different options.
And back on the property, the beach area is protected by a pier, so a lot of fish gather around the base of it and it’s actually a decent snorkeling spot. People bring their own gear and just go out there during the day and see all kinds of fish. You can also watch the yachts and boats coming up and down the canal from the beach, which is just kind of a cool thing to sit and watch.
We loved this room, highly recommend it, but given the price point we encourage you to give us a call to go through all the details to make sure it’s the perfect fit. Some folks might prefer the KB over the ASP.
Ready to Book an Awa Seaside Bungalow?
The Sandals Royal Curaçao Awa Seaside Bungalow is one of the hardest rooms to get across all of Sandals. With only five of them available and demand that regularly books a year out, if you’re interested, sooner is always better.
If you’re considering this room or want to compare it to other options, reach out to us! There’s no cost to work with our all-inclusive experts, you get the same price as booking direct, and you get a personal expert who knows this resort and this room inside and out. We monitor prices and promotions before and after you book, we know the best butlers by name, we can help you book the best flights at the best rates, and if anything comes up before or during your stay we’re a phone call/email/text away. No waiting on hold with a call center, no AI chatbots, just people who can help you.
Not sure if the Awa Seaside Bungalow is the right fit? We’ve stayed at every Sandals resort and know every room category. Tell us your budget, your travel style, and what matters most to you, and we’ll help you make your trip perfect.
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