Read About Our Stay Before You Book: West Bay Honeymoon Hideaway Oceanview One Bedroom Butler Suite (RS)
Sandals Royal Bahamian
Our All-Inclusive Expert Matt G. spent a week at Sandals Royal Bahamian in the West Bay Honeymoon Hideaway Oceanview One Bedroom Butler Suite (room code RS). Watch his walkthrough video here, then read his full review below, including the one thing he thinks you should know about the view before you book. You can also ask him questions directly!
The RS is a Love Nest Butler Suite in the West Bay building at Sandals Royal Bahamian, on the upper floors. The defining feature is the wrap-around balcony, big enough to entertain on, reachable through three different sliding glass doors. Inside, a separate living room with a fully stocked bar, a small kitchen area with a sink, and a bedroom with a loveseat and a second TV. The bathroom has two sinks on a long stone counter, two closets, and a separate double-headed rain shower. Personal butler service, 24-hour room service, and VIP Rolls Royce or Mercedes airport transfers are all included.
Sandals Royal Bahamian also includes access to Sandals Barefoot Cay, a private offshore island with its own beach coves, pool, restaurant, and an outdoor extension of the Red Lane Spa. The ferry runs hourly and the ride takes about five minutes. There’s no cost to work with us at Creative Travel Brands, we can watch the price after you book, and if a lower rate becomes available we can apply it to your booking. Read on for Matt’s full review.
West Bay Honeymoon Hideaway Oceanview One Bedroom Butler Suite: At a Glance
- Resort: Sandals Royal Bahamian, Cable Beach, Nassau, Bahamas
- Room Code: RS
- Location: West Bay Village, upper floors of the West Bay building on the far west side of the resort. The building connects directly to the conference center, and the Aqua Center, active pool, beach, and restaurants are all a short walk.
- View: Ocean and Pool. West-side rooms look out over greenery to partial ocean views. East-side rooms in this category look over the pool with the ocean behind it.
- Service Level: Butler Elite
- Room Service: 24 hours
- Standout Features: A large wrap-around balcony, with three separate sliding glass doors. Separate living room, and modern carpeting in the bedroom instead of tile. Butler Elite service.
- Bonus Inclusions: VIP Rolls Royce or Mercedes private airport transfers, both directions. Sandals Barefoot Cay, the resort’s private offshore island. The ferry runs hourly from 10am, with the last boat back around 4:50pm.
- Deposit: Refundable. Placing a deposit locks in your rate.
- Price Range: $1,375 to $1,533 per night, per couple. Most dates sit at the lower end of that range.* Tell us when you can travel and we’ll find the best-priced dates in that window.
- How it Ranks: Upper-middle of the room lineup at Sandals Royal Bahamian on price. We can walk you through the comparable options and help you decide whether this is the best value for you.
- Room Price Promotions: Promotions may be available depending on dates and length of stay. Firefighters, military, and police can register a booking for a 10% discount. If you book with us we can watch the price for you and apply any lower rate that becomes available. Check current promotions here.
- Best For: Couples who like space to spread out, a large balcony they can actually entertain on. Couples value square footage and sunset views vs being directly on the beach.
- Accessibility: RS Rooms are located on upper floors, but have elevator access. Reach out to us if mobility is a consideration and we can help find the right fit.
An Honest Look at the Sandals Royal Bahamian West Bay Honeymoon Hideaway Oceanview One Bedroom Butler Suite After Our Stay
With nearly 30 years working in the travel industry, Matt has seen it all and knows what to look for in an all-inclusive resort. He doesn’t hold back when writing reviews of the rooms he stays in (and he has stayed in a lot of them!). All so he can best advise his clients to help make their trips memorable. The walkthrough video above is from one of his stays in the RS room at Sandals Royal Bahamian. The review below is his honest take on this 1 bedroom butler suite.
Where are the RS rooms located at Sandals Royal Bahamian?
Matt G: This room is located in the West Bay building, which is on the far west side of the resort. The building connects to the conference rooms, which made it nice and easy for me. I had a conference when I was there and I didn’t have to leave the building to get to it. It’s just a few steps from the ocean and the beach, and the active pool is right outside the West Bay building.
Is there a quieter pool option?
Matt G: There is. There’s another large pool that’s less active and usually quieter over on the other side of the resort at the East Bay building. So you’ve got both, depending on what kind of day you want.
What else is close by?
Matt G: The Aqua Center is right at the front of the West Bay building, so it’s a very short walk from this room. That’s where the paddleboards, kayaks, Hobie Cats, and snorkeling equipment all are. The pool, the food trucks, the restaurants, the beach and pier, they were all close.
What’s the view like from the balcony?
Matt G: The balcony is what makes this room. It wraps all the way around, big enough to entertain on if you wanted to. There are three large sliding glass doors that lead out to it, two in the living area and one in the bedroom. During the day the view is beautiful over the ocean, and the sunsets were spectacular. Ours was on the west side of the building, so we got the sunset every night.
Is it oceanfront?
Matt G: No, and I want to be straight about that. This room is not beach or oceanfront. It has partial ocean views, and you’re looking out over the greenery first. If you got an RS on the east side of the West Bay building instead, you’d have a pool view with the ocean behind it, and that actually makes for a spectacular photo. I took a couple from the balcony. Either way it’s a very pretty resort, but I wouldn’t want someone booking this expecting to be front and center over the sand.
Anything else about the west side worth mentioning?
Matt G: One thing. The West Bay building is on the west boundary of the resort, and next to it there’s an empty lot with palm trees and a service drive that gives local folks access to the beach. On some days the local residents would use that road. Outside of laughter and the sounds of people having fun, it wasn’t a problem out on the balcony, and you couldn’t hear them at all from inside the room. It didn’t bother us, but it’s the kind of thing I’d rather you hear from me than find out on your own.
What’s arrival like, and how does the butler service work?
Matt G: Sandals has their own lounge at the airport, so you stop right in and they arrange your driver to meet you. It’s about a 15 minute drive to the resort. What’s really special about this room is you currently get either a Rolls-Royce or a Mercedes private transfer to and from the airport. What a treat. We were lucky and got the Rolls-Royce both coming and going. It was an experience, no doubt about it.
And once you’re at the resort?
Matt G: Your butler meets you at check-in and takes you around the resort, highlighting all the best spots, the pools, restaurants, bars, entertainment areas. You’ll have a couple butlers throughout the day, but they give you a cell phone to keep with you so you can reach whoever is on duty at that time, you can reach them for anything 24 hours. They set up your dinners for the week, arrange a candlelight dinner on the beach if you want one, book your massages, change times if you need to.
What’s the most useful thing they do?
Matt G: Two things. If you get a hankering to walk into a popular restaurant right at the dinner hour without a reservation, there’s a good chance they can get you in and walk you right to a table. The butlers are basically the ultimate cut-the-line service. And during the day they’ll ask where you want to be, which pool, sun or shade or both, and they’ll find you the perfect spot and set out a cooler with your room number on it, stocked with whatever you asked for. It really makes the trip seamless. We used them every day, and they exceeded our expectations.
Any advice on butler tips?
Matt G: Butler tips aren’t included. And technically I think you can request no butler, but it would be a shame. These guys really can make your trip a lot of fun and take care of you so you never forget it. They’re joyful, wonderful folks who know the resort inside and out. if you reach out to us we can tell you what we think is appropriate for how much to tip them and when, etc.
How’s the food at Sandals Royal Bahamian?
Matt G: There are 12 options for eating, which includes room service and Aralia House, the restaurant over on Barefoot Cay. Ten of those are specialty restaurants, ranging from Pan-Caribbean seafood grills to Butch’s Island Chophouse, Soy for sushi, Kimonos for Japanese teppanyaki, Gordon’s on the Pier, and La Plume, which is French. There’s also a British pub called the Queen’s Pearl, plus an Italian and Caribbean buffet. My faves are La Plume, Butch’s Island Chophouse, and Kimonos.
Anything worth going out of your way for?
Matt G: La Plume. Even if for some reason you don’t eat there, you’ve got to go check it out. It’s the architecture and the windows. It’s really special. I had breakfast there and the Eggs Benedict was excellent. One tip though, depending on the time of year, I wouldn’t sit in the booths up against the windows, because it gets mighty warm. Gordon’s on the Pier is really good too when you want to eat outside.
What about the food trucks?
Matt G: Two of them, Sweet & Tings and I think the other is Coco’s. They serve a lot of Bahamian favorites and crepes, and my wife loved the lattes every morning. The staff at Sweet & Tings made it a habit for us, we’d go for coffee and end up talking with them for a while, we had a lot of fun hanging out with them. There are also 8 bars including a piano bar and 3 swim-up bars, all with bottomless top-shelf spirits.
What is there to do on the resort?
Matt G: Certified divers can scuba for free. You can take a Hobie Cat out if you know how to sail, and if you don’t, you can get lessons or they’ll just take you out for a nice ride. There are paddleboards, kayaks, and snorkeling equipment. All of that is at the Aqua Center right against the beach, which is at the front of the West Bay building, so it’s a very short walk from this room. There are 7 pools total and 5 whirlpools.
Do they have pickleball courts at Sandals Royal Bahamian.
Matt G: Four courts, and they’re lighted. I think until about 10, though I’m not exactly sure. We were actually there for a group pickleball retreat and the equipment was great, we didn’t have to bring our own paddles. The instructor was excellent and everybody had a great time. And judging by the resident court cat, I don’t know its name, but it was hanging around leaning up against the net and wasn’t afraid of the pickleballs at all, you should be able to get court time pretty easily most of the time.
Anything else?
Matt G: There’s a state-of-the-art fitness center that overlooks the ocean. It’s gorgeous. You get on a treadmill and you’re looking straight out over the water. Some people would stay there all day if you let them, and they probably could if they wanted to.
What’s the entertainment like at Sandals Royal Bahamian?
Matt G: Day and night. The live shows outdoors at Coconut Grove were a highlight. Just as it sounds, it’s in the sand with a bunch of coconut trees, lit up with patio lights. Great atmosphere. We had a nice variety of talented singers, musicians, and performers. And in case it rains there’s a piano bar at the Balmoral Club, right up against the East Bay building, with great music every night and sing-alongs. I’d recommend showing up early though, because it does get crowded. That was our experience for sure. There was also a sax player outside who was very talented.
What’s it like on Barefoot Cay, the private island at Sandals Royal Bahamian?
Matt G: Some people call this a game changer, and I understand why. It’s the private offshore island that comes with your stay at Sandals Royal Bahamian, and you can see it right from the beach. Sandals runs a ferry that starts at 10 a.m. and goes every hour on the hour, with the last one back around 4:50. The ride is only about 5 to 10 minutes.
Nice beach coves on the front and back, lots of room to relax and feel secluded, or you can sit at the pool and catch some rays. Red Lane Spa has an outdoor extension on Barefoot Cay, so you can get a massage outside in these very zen little meadow areas. It’s hard to explain without a picture, but it’s gorgeous.
What did you do while you were over there?
Matt G: We found our own little cove on the backside of the island. There were multiple spots where you could just go hang out and snorkel. The fish were great and the water was great for it. There was a cool breeze back there too. It definitely wasn’t overcrowded, it felt secluded. I’m sure some days are busier, so I’d recommend leaving early. We went in the morning and had no trouble finding a place to set up. Barefoot Cay is the thing that makes Sandals Royal Bahamian special, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants an easy escape and some private space.
What did you like about the RS, and who should book it?
Matt G: The room was very spacious, so I like that. Excellent air conditioning, which matters, because after a while you might need a break and we took one every day at some point. The butlers were excellent and I’d highly recommend them. The location was good. Our RS was on the west side of the building on the fifth floor, and we had that beautiful wrap-around balcony big enough to entertain on, with excellent sunset views over the ocean. I didn’t have to leave the building to get to the conference center, and the pool, Aqua Center, food trucks, restaurants, beach and pier were all close. I really didn’t have any complaints about the room, the location, or the view.
Who’s it best for?
Matt G: Honeymooners, anniversaries, anyone celebrating something. Couples who want more room than a standard suite gives you and want a balcony they can actually use. If being directly on the sand is the priority, there are better categories at Sandals Royal Bahamian for that, and we can point you to them. But if you want space, sunsets, and butler service with Rolls-Royce transfers, this is a strong pick.
What do you like about Sandals Royal Bahamian overall?
Matt G: It’s easy to get around. It’s not huge, but it feels so much bigger than it is, and yet it feels spacious and never crowded. It’s really well designed. The beach is beautiful, the gardens are lush, and the Red Lane Spa is one I’d visit again. It’s close to Miami, which for a lot of people is a real benefit. And it just feels perfect for romance. It’s got the right mix of everything you’d want.
And what do you like about Sandals in general?
Matt G: It’s a comfortable vacation. On a lot of trips you’re carrying your wallet around. Here you can throw it in the safe and not get it back out the whole time you’re on the resort. Dining, drinks, entertainment, activities, all included, no resort fees. There aren’t many all-inclusives left in the Bahamas, and this is one of the best we’ve been to.
Ready to Book the Sandals Royal Bahamian West Bay Honeymoon Hideaway Oceanview One Bedroom Butler Suite?
The RS gives you more room than most categories at Sandals Royal Bahamian. A separate living room, a small kitchen area, and a wrap-around balcony you can actually entertain on, with three sliding glass doors leading out to it. Add butler service, 24-hour room service, and Rolls Royce or Mercedes transfers, and you get a lot of suite for a price that sits below the top of the lineup. Just know going in that this is an oceanview room, not oceanfront.If you’re looking at the RS or weighing it against the other butler suites at Sandals Royal Bahamian, we can help. There’s no fee to work with our all-inclusive experts. You pay the same price as booking direct, but you also get a dedicated Travel Advisor who knows this resort inside and out, has stayed in this room, and can tell you which categories are worth the jump and which aren’t. You can call or text your advisor any time, no call centers, no AI chatbots, we save you time and money. We can request specific rooms, help with flights, watch for price drops after you book.
Not sure the RS is the right fit? Sandals Royal Bahamian has a wide range of rooms, from club level walkouts to swim-up suites to beachfront penthouses. We know every room and can tell you exactly where the value is based on your budget and what matters most to you. Reach out and let’s talk through it.
Questions? Ready to hold your room with a refundable deposit?
Creative Travel Brands, Inc. will use your information to contact you per our privacy policy.