Sandals St. Vincent and the Grenadines redefines off-the-grid escape
My last off-the-grid escape plopped in the middle of a jungle, dodging howler monkeys and sleeping underneath mosquito netting. Definitely away from the chaos but lacking the amenities I have grown to love - like coffee, running water and air conditioning. - it was an adventure and I checked it off my travel itinerary.
The latest off-the-grid adventure is my cup of tea. Sandals St. Vincent, located on a small island in the southern Caribbean. has redefined off-the-grid to include luxury accommodations, impeccable service and elevated dining.
The infinity pool is only once choice for soaking in the sun at this destination.
Arrival at the St. Vincent airport immediately exposes us to the care that Sandals will showcase during our quick three-day getaway. Upon clearing customs, a Sandals representative took our luggage and directed us to the pick-up point. Whether you’re going by land transfer (about a 50-minute drive) or by sea (a 15 minute drive to the marina and then boarding the Sandals boat), it is a great introduction to the landscape of St. Vincent, basically a volcano bed. A poor country, the arrival of a Sandals resort (soon a second Beaches resort will come) brought over 300 jobs to the people.
TIP: Take the water taxi to the resort. Yes, it’s an add-on, but it is worth it. If you can arrive by water, there’s no better way to begin your getaway in St. Vincent. And the answer to remember, “Yes, I’ll have champagne.”
Beautiful suites, endless luxury, luxurious amenities
Just outside the living area of our Butler Suite villa, a garden and soaking tub.
Our room for our stay was the Butler Villa Suite with patio tranquility soaking tub, exactly as exotic as it sounds. Escorted from the boat to our suite by our butler, we opened the door to luxury and a welcome choreographed specifically for us. Inside, a bottle of champagne, nibbles and a stunning room. The king bed, adjacent to the sitting room, was perfection and the bathroom included a beautiful wet room shower/tub and dual sinks (which we have come to love when we travel). In addition to the butler service and soaking tub, this booking includes in-room dining, boat transfer, in=room bar with premium liquors and airport transfers.
Although we don’t consider ourselves ‘butler’ people, it was nice to have someone take care of our dining and pool/beachside cabana reservations, as well as make suggestions on what to do and eat. It’s a nice addition to luxurious getaway.
Twelve restaurants, your hardest daily decision
Emmanuel at Blum crafting the perfect coffee.
Upon arrival, it was coffee time. We met the star of the island at Blum café. Emmanuel brewed his signature coffee, mocha, with the perfect amount of chocolate to persuade it me of its coffee-forward flavor. He renewed my love for mocha. As we waited for our coffee, Len perused the ice cream selection, making his choice before he returned post-dinner. Definitely one of the most visited eatery on the island, Blum was the place to start the day with your favorite iced coffee or to end your day with a scoop of cream.
Sandals Resorts serves Blue Mountain coffee, a lovely Jamaican blend. Along with your cup of coffee, enjoy fresh pastries and ice cream. Visit the gift shop and take home a bag of whole bean coffee and remember your stay in the islands.
Buccan, the flavor of the island
Along with extensive culinary world favorites to choose from, Sandals is excited to present Buccan, an open hearth dining experience that brings everyone to the family table. Iconic to the St. Vincent location, Buccan (Caribbean meaning a wooden framework which meat is smoked over open fire) debuted in 2024 to highlight the Caribbean heritage. Unlike other restaurants, it’s family style, where dining with your neighbor becomes one of the perks of the meal. Food is locally sourced, emphasizing sustainability and fresh regional flavors. With its enormous success, Sandals will be expanding this to other locations.
Most impressive is the offerings of seasonings, spices and chutneys which is specific to certain dishes. The server shared which to use on what dish, and the charge that each added to the salad, rice, chicken, lamb and even ice cream made it truly a culinary experience.
🌶️rum spice
🌶️coriander & sundried tomato relish
🌶️coconut seasoning
🌶️buccan spice
🌶️tamarind chutney
🌶️ mint chutney
Four pools, zero obligations
Whether you want to scuba, paddleboard, hop a boat, play pickleball, climb a mountain or do absolutely nothing, Sandals has a spot for you. For my stay, nothing became a priority. With the aid of our butler, we reserved a cabana at party pool for one day, and the next day, on the beach. With butler service, a cooler with your favorite beverage is waiting for you when you arrive. I know. You can also enjoy the swim up bar or order food from restaurants, all delivered to your spot.
