Priced Like a Luxury Resort, But Feels Like a Construction Site, Sandpiper Bay Resort is Full of Missed Promises.

May 18th – 20th, 2024

Sandpiper Bay Resort, which is currently undergoing major renovations, falls short of expectations, especially given its high price tag. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by visible construction, creating a less-than-ideal first impression. There’s so much of it too along the property that’d you’d feel like a foreman on your own vacation. Furthermore, the makeshift lobby is reminiscent of an eerie hallway from the movie The Shining, lacking clear signage for check-in, which sets a disorganized tone for the stay.

Now, despite offering a range of amenities such as unlimited dining and drinks, pools, Wi/Fi, a fitness center and various outdoor activities, the resort’s entertainment options are severely lacking. The only evening activity they had was live music, which repeats the same schedule every day of the week. You’re literally living out the movie Groundhog Day. Yet, during the day, the all-inclusive options were bountiful including swimming in the main pool or the Adults Only Infinity Pool, participating in non-motorized watersports or playing sports such as basketball, pickleball, tennis, soccer and beach volleyball. Guests can also enjoy ping pong, bean bag toss and other small games until dusk. However, the repetition of participating in these activities on my own with my guest and not a part of a large group resulted in us spending more time in our room than we desired, a situation made worse by the scorching heat outside. The only thing hotter was our frustration. Had there been actual activities or competitions run by the property, then things could’ve been a lot more appealing, but again there’s NOTHING!! It’s almost like everybody working there simply gave up. Can’t fathom why the property doesn’t host things such as Trivia Night, Free Throw Shooting or simple Competitions. There really is a lot of potential with the property if the effort is made.

The room’s accommodations themself were disappointing. While its size was a positive, as a pricey beachfront room, the view was a nightmare. Dirty river water instead of a vibrant blue ocean. We felt like we were visiting a sewage plant. And the beach chairs? Covered in bird poop. We had to play musical chairs just to find a clean one.

While out of the hands of the resort, the weather went from one extreme of sweltering heat to pouring rain, but the lousy conditions were exacerbated by the lack of cover anywhere on my way back to the room. The short end is we got soaked. Mind you we had the most expensive room on the property, but unlike some of the other rooms, we had to walk back under heavy rainfall.

Food is scarce as far as options go. The property has only one restaurant (down from four other options), which serves all three meals buffet style, and one nearby food truck. Now, while the food wasn’t terrible, we felt misled by the company’s website not listing it as a buffet. It was a major letdown considering it’s not the type of atmosphere you get all dressed up for. Sure, there was a chef carving up steak and cooking up pasta after you picked the ingredients, but again this was nothing like you’d expect when staying at an all-inclusive resort.

Sandpiper Bay Resort lone restaurant, Match Point Kitchen, offers guests buffet selections for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

However, while the property visually was not too pleasing, the staff was pleasant and accommodating as much as they were able to be. When approached about the issues, they almost seemed prepared by it, kind of like a shrug of the shoulders, a deep breath and an overwhelmed stated “we know.” It should be noted too that the staff weren’t present at the pool areas to check on guests or to take orders.

In conclusion, Sandpiper Bay Resort‘s current state makes it difficult to recommend. The ongoing construction, limited entertainment, and high prices overshadow the benefits of its all-inclusive offerings. Potential visitors should wait until renovations are complete or seek alternatives that offer better value for money.