Our Full Walkthrough of the South Seas Royal Rondoval Butler Suite with Private Pool Sanctuary (RPP)
Sandals Royal Barbados
Carol G. stayed at Sandals Royal Barbados in a Rondoval like this one. Below is her review of the South Seas Royal Rondoval Butler Suite with Private Pool Sanctuary, room code RPP. Watch her walkthrough video here, then read her full review below. If you have a question she doesn’t answer, you can ask her directly!
The RPP is a stand-alone Rondoval, a round villa with a 20-foot conical ceiling, set about two-thirds of the way back into Sandals Royal Barbados in a private tropical garden. It’s very private. Inside there’s a custom mahogany king bed, an elegant living area with a sofa, a fully stocked wet bar, and a spa bathroom built around a soaking tub carved from stone, with his-and-her quartz vanities and backlit mirrors. Out on the spacious patio is a private plunge pool, lounge chairs, a dining table, and a tranquility soaking tub for two, all surrounded by a privacy fence and foliage. Every stay is Butler Elite with a private Rolls-Royce airport transfer, daily housekeeping and nightly turndown, and all the luxury inclusions Sandals is known for. And because this room comes with Stay at One, Play at Two, you also get full access to the neighboring Sandals Barbados, a short walk away.
Working with us at Creative Travel Brands costs you nothing. You book at the same price as going direct, with a dedicated advisor who has stayed at this resort and knows it inside and out. A $98 refundable deposit locks your rate, and after you book we can watch the price and try to apply any new promotions for you. Read below for Carol’s full review.
South Seas Royal Rondoval Butler Suite with Private Pool Sanctuary: At a Glance
- Resort: Sandals Royal Barbados, St. Lawrence Gap, Barbados
- Room Code: RPP
- Location: Stand-alone Rondoval set about two-thirds back in the resort, in a private tropical garden. 5 to 7 minute walk to the beach.
- View: Tropical garden, private
- Service Level: Butler Elite.
- Room Service: 24 hours
- Standout Features: Round Rondoval with a 20-foot conical ceiling. Zero-entry private plunge pool and a Tranquility soaking tub for two on the patio. Spa bathroom with a round stone soaking tub and his-and-her vanities.
- Resort Access: Stay at One, Play at Two with Sandals Barbados next door. 21 restaurants, 14 bars, 11 pools, 6 whirlpools, a bowling alley, and watersports including SCUBA across the two resorts. Golf not included.
- Bonus Inclusions: Private Rolls-Royce airport transfer. Daily housekeeping and nightly turndown. Butler chair service and reservations.
- Deposit: $98 refundable.
- Price Range: $1,855 to $2,465 per night, per couple. Most dates $1,880 to $2,165.* Tell us when you can travel and we’ll find the best-priced dates in that window.
- How it Ranks: One of the higher-tier butler suites at Sandals Royal Barbados. Stand-alone Rondoval with a private plunge pool, set back for seclusion.
- Room Price Promotions: At the time we’re publishing this page, the RPP has some dates with a Last Minute Deal, a free first night on an eligible 3 or 4-night stay. These change weekly, so tell us your dates and, if you book with us, we can watch the price and apply any deal that comes up. See our current top picks from all of Sandals last minute deals.
- Best For: Couples celebrating something special, honeymoons and anniversaries, who want a private plunge pool and seclusion with easy beach access. Not for those who want to be right on the beach.
- Accessibility: Not a designated accessible category, set back in the garden. Ask us and we can help find the best fit for you.
Honest Review: South Seas Royal Rondoval Butler Suite with Private Pool Sanctuary (RPP)
All-Inclusive Expert Carol Garton has stayed at Sandals Royal Barbados, including in a Rondoval like this one. The walkthrough video above is from her stay. Feel free to ask her any questions directly using the form below!
Tell us about the Rondoval itself.
Carol G: This is a Rondoval, which is different and unusual and really a wonderful place to stay. It sits about two-thirds of the way back into the resort in a tropical garden, so it’s very private, perfect if you’re celebrating an anniversary or a honeymoon. It’s a stand-alone, round, cone shaped building, my husband jokes it’s like a hobbit or Smurf house, with a 20-foot ceiling. They’re awesome though. Inside there’s a custom-made mahogany king bed with warm wood along the wall behind it, lots of windows so it’s bright and airy, with shutters you can close for privacy, an elegant living area with a sofa and a writing desk, a smart TV, and a fully stocked wet bar. The floors are ivory porcelain with pebble and coral-stone accents, really unique. It’s all very classy and it doesn’t feel cheap or anything like that there was a lot of attention to detail in designing them. The bathroom is like a spa, with a round soaking tub that looks like it could be carved out of solid stone right in the center, his-and-her white quartz vanities, backlit mirrors, a separate walk-in shower, and a private toilet area. It’s spacious and extremely classy, one of those units where you feel like you could live there.
What’s the patio and private pool like, and how private is it really?
Carol G: The patio is very spacious, with a plunge pool, lounge chaises which are sort of like soft outdoor lounge chairs, a dining table, and a Tranquility soaking tub for two. The plunge pool is very private, there’s a privacy fence around the whole patio area and lots of foliage around it. So yeah it’s very private one of the most private Sandals rooms I’d say. And Sandals is very good about respecting that privacy, there’s a little indicator light you can switch on your Rondoval for privacy, and the butlers pay attention to it. It’s a very romantic, secluded spot, but you’re still only about five to seven minutes’ walk to the beach, and I like to walk through and look at the other rooms and the village and maybe grab something at a restaurant on the way.
Can you walk from Sandals Barbados to Royal Barbados?
Carol G: Yes, and it’s wonderful. There are two resorts, Sandals Royal Barbados and Sandals Barbados, and it’s stay at one, play at two, so you can stay at one and use the restaurants, pools, and beaches at the other. They’re right next to each other, separated by a small walkway, so you just walk across and you’re at the other resort, one of our rooms, we walked out the door and were right in the other resort. It feels like one giant resort, and you have full access to both sides. Best of all, there are no annoying wrist bands, you just walk over.
Are drinks free at Sandals Royal Barbados?
Carol G: Yes, this is an all-inclusive resort, so all taxes and gratuities are included except tips for the butler and the spa. Your Rondoval has a fully stocked wet bar and a refrigerator with all the drinks you’d like plus premium liquor, and between the two resorts there are 14 bars, so anywhere you are you can grab a tropical drink or a cocktail and head to the pool or beach, the bartenders are so much fun. A tip, bring an insulated cup and they’ll fill it so your drink stays cold in the warm weather. There’s also a great donut and coffee shop, Sweet & Salty’s, where they’ll even add Baileys or another liqueur to your coffee.
What’s the dining like, and do any restaurants need reservations?
Carol G: Between the two connected resorts there are 21 restaurants, everything from gourmet to a donut shop, so you’re never without food. Some of my favorites are Butch’s Steakhouse, the French, La Parisienne, and Neptune’s Seaside Grill, and on the Royal Barbados side we thought Schooners was excellent for Caribbean seafood, the chef even came out to meet us, and Kimonos is always good that’s the hibachi grill. Butch’s and the French restaurant take reservations, and not every restaurant is open every night, so as soon as you arrive have your butler book the nights you want. Everything else is easy to walk into. We can help you with all that if you book with us.
Are Sandals Royal Barbados or Sandals Barbados better?
Carol G: Both are lovely and you can use both, but if I had to choose I’d stay at Sandals Royal Barbados. We felt the restaurant service was a bit better on the Royal Barbados side, though the Sandals Barbados side was close to sold out and very busy when we were there, so that may have played a part. If I were going back, I’d stay at Royal Barbados, honestly in the Skypool Butler Suite with the balcony pool overlooking the beach, but this Rondoval is a wonderful, private choice too. I like them both and our clients do too.
What is there to do at the resort and on Barbados?
Carol G: The main pool is a huge infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean, beautiful to swim in or hang out at, and there are 11 pools and 6 whirlpools total, some lively, some quiet, plus the “Lovers Lane” bowling alley that was a lot of fun in the evening and a Sky Bar where I had my first chocolate martini, oh man, haha. The beach is pure white sand, though the water can be a little rough and windy, so the Hobie Cats are sometimes grounded. If you’re certified you can scuba dive, and you can snorkel every day with the equipment provided, plus paddleboards, kayaks, a glass bottom boat, tennis, and a fitness center. All included. There are a number of things to do on land including volleyball, bocce ball, chess, karaoke, billiards, shuffle board, table tennis and more. We also enjoyed the nightly entertainment and wonderful nighttime strolls through the beautifully lit landscape. Off the resort with Island Routes you can see the historical buildings in Bridgetown, Hunts Gardens, snorkel Carlisle Bay, do a 4×4 Jeep tour, a Harrison Cave tram ride, St. Nicholas Abbey, a catamaran cruise, or a submarine. There’s honestly a ton to do whatever you’re interested in. We snorkeled over a shipwreck on the calmer side of the island and saw turtles, toured the whole island and saw the green monkeys (which aren’t really green, well not if you ask me), and one evening did a public fish fry on the wharf with a local guide, which was a cool experience.
Is Sandals Barbados worth the money?
Carol G: I’d say yes and pretty much all of our clients think so. It’s a stunning resort, the turquoise water and pure white sand feel like walking in sugar, the large infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean is special, and the whole place is set up beautifully. All taxes and gratuities are included, the butlers pamper you, and with two connected resorts and 21 restaurants and there’s endless list of things to do. This Rondoval is currently around $940 to $1080 per person per night depending on the season. If you’d like to be right on the beach, there’s a beachfront Skypool Butler Suite with a balcony soaking tub that’ costs a bit more, or a swim-up suite by the big pool for less. I’d absolutely go back.
How does the butler service work?
Carol G: You usually have two butlers a day, one morning and one evening, and they greet you, check you in, and walk you to your room pointing out the amenities. Sometimes they’ll do your check-in in your room which is nice. They’ll save your chairs at any pool or the beach, bring a cooler with whatever drinks you want, make your restaurant reservations, seat you and pour your wine, book your Red Lane Spa massages, and sometimes fill your soaking tub with water and rose petals after a long excursion. They can even set up a candlelight dinner on the beach or in your room. When people hear butler they worry someone will be following them around all day, but they’re not, they give you a phone so you can call them whenever you need something and let you have your space while making sure you have a great time. We tip each butler separately based on the number of shifts they work with us. We can advise you on all that, just reach out.
Carol G: I’d be happy to request the best Rondoval and the best butlers, set up your Rolls-Royce transfer and excursions, and find the best-priced dates for your trip. Just give me a call! There’s no cost to work with us and we’ve been to all of the Sandals resorts and know all the room types. We will help you find the best fit for you.
The South Seas Royal Rondoval Butler Suite with Private Pool Sanctuary is one of the most private, romantic ways to stay at Sandals Royal Barbados, a stand-alone Rondoval with a private plunge pool, a beautiful soaking tub, and a secluded garden setting, with full access to a second connected resort just across a walkway.
There is no cost to work with us at Creative Travel Brands. You pay the same price as booking direct, and you get a dedicated advisor who has been to this resort and knows every room category. We can request the best Rondoval, set up your Rolls-Royce transfer and excursions, dinner reservations etc., and after you book we can watch the price and try to apply any drop or new promotions. If anything comes up before or during your stay, you can call or text your advisor any time, no call centers, no AI chatbots, we save you time and money.
Not sure if the RPP is the right room? 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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