Sandals all-inclusive resorts include lodging, all meals at every restaurant, top-shelf liquor, water sports (including scuba diving for certified divers), nightly entertainment, taxes, and gratuities. The things that are NOT included at Sandals are spa treatments, off-resort excursions, professional photography packages, premium private events, golf cart and caddy fees at golf resorts, in-room dining outside of butler-level rooms, and your flight and trip insurance.
That’s the short answer. Below is the full list — every single thing that costs extra, what it actually costs, and which of these are worth paying for vs. skipping.
I’m Steve Griswold, a Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club Platinum Elite advisor (one of fewer than 100 advisors worldwide at this level) and I’ve personally visited all 17 Sandals Resorts. This post is the unvarnished list, not a sales pitch.
Quick Reference: What’s Included vs. What’s Not (2026)
| Category | Included? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| All meals at every restaurant | ✅ Included | No upcharges, no “premium dining” fees |
| Specialty restaurants | ✅ Included | Reservations required at most resorts; book early |
| Top-shelf liquor | ✅ Included | Macallan, Patrón, Hendrick’s, Grey Goose, Johnnie Walker Black |
| Mid-shelf wine & beer | ✅ Included | Premium wine and rare bottles cost extra |
| Watersports (snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing) | ✅ Included | No equipment fees |
| Scuba diving for certified divers | ✅ Included | Up to 2 dives/day, gear included; certification cards required |
| Discover Scuba lesson | ⚠️ Partial | Pool lesson included; ocean dive costs extra (~$110) |
| Land sports (tennis, beach volleyball, fitness center) | ✅ Included | — |
| Daily/nightly entertainment | ✅ Included | Shows, parties, themed nights |
| Tips & gratuities | ✅ Included | The only exception is butler service tips (see below) |
| All taxes & resort fees | ✅ Included | No surprise add-ons at checkout |
| Airport transfers (round-trip) | ✅ Included | Shared shuttle; private transfer is an upgrade |
| Wi-Fi | ✅ Included | Throughout resort |
| Red Lane Spa treatments | ❌ NOT included | Average $150–$400/treatment |
| Off-resort excursions | ❌ NOT included | $50–$300/person depending on tour |
| Professional photography packages | ❌ NOT included | Wedding/honeymoon packages start ~$400 |
| Private candlelight beach dinner | ❌ NOT included | ~$200–$300/couple |
| In-room dining (non-butler rooms) | ❌ NOT included | Continental breakfast may be included; full menu costs extra |
| Premium champagne (Dom, Veuve) | ❌ NOT included | By-the-bottle pricing applies |
| Golf cart rental | ❌ NOT included | ~$40–$70/round at Sandals St. Lucia, Emerald Reef, Negril |
| Golf caddy fees (mandatory) | ❌ NOT included | ~$25–$40/round + tip |
| PGA golf lessons | ❌ NOT included | ~$75–$150/lesson |
| Premium golf club rentals | ❌ NOT included | ~$50/round |
| Butler service (room category upgrade) | ❌ NOT included | $100–$300+/night upgrade |
| Butler gratuity (recommended) | ❌ NOT included | $10–$15/butler/day suggested |
| Flights | ❌ NOT included | Book separately or bundle with Sandals air partner |
| Trip insurance | ❌ NOT included | Strongly recommended; ~5–8% of trip cost |
| Cabana rentals | ❌ NOT included | Where offered, ~$100–$300/day |
| Private island day at Royal Caribbean | ✅ Included | Boat shuttle, lunch, drinks all included |
The Five Categories of “Not Included” Costs (and how to think about each)
1. Spa Treatments
Red Lane Spa is operated as a separate revenue center inside every Sandals property. Massages start around $150 for a 50-minute Swedish and go up to $400+ for couples packages with hot stones, body wraps, and signature treatments. Manicures and pedicures are roughly $50–$80.
My take after visiting all 17: Red Lane Spa is excellent — easily comparable to a Four Seasons spa experience — but you can replicate 80% of the relaxation by floating in the pool for free. Spend on the spa only if it’s the centerpiece of your trip (honeymoon, anniversary, milestone birthday).
Pro tip: Use the $175 resort credit Sandals offers on most 5+ night stays to cover a couples massage. That’s the single best use of that credit at most resorts.
2. Off-Resort Excursions
Sandals partners with Island Routes Caribbean Adventures for off-resort tours: catamaran cruises, snorkeling sites you can’t reach by hotel boat, Dunn’s River Falls climbs, ATV tours, Pitons hikes, distillery tours, food tours.
Typical pricing:
- Half-day catamaran/snorkel combo: $90–$130/person
- Dunn’s River Falls climb (Jamaica): $80–$110/person
- Full-day ATV/zipline combos: $150–$220/person
- Private boat charters: $1,000–$2,500/half-day
My take: I tell every first-time guest to plan one off-resort excursion. After that, you start to dilute the all-inclusive value you paid for. The best ROI is the catamaran tour — you’ll get snorkeling, drinks, food, and ocean views you can’t get from the beach.
3. Wedding & Photography Add-Ons
Sandals’ “WeddingMoons” packages start at $0 (free with qualifying stays) but the included package is intentionally minimalist. Real-world add-ons:
- Professional photography (1-hour shoot, ~30 edited photos): ~$400
- Full wedding photography (4 hours, 100+ photos): ~$1,200–$2,000
- Videography: ~$800–$1,500
- Live musicians during ceremony: ~$300–$600
- Premium floral upgrades: ~$200–$1,000
- Cake design upgrades (vs. included cake): ~$150–$500
- Private reception dinner upgrade: ~$200–$300/couple
My take: The “free wedding” sounds great in the brochure. In practice, almost every couple spends $1,500–$4,000 on the add-ons that make the day feel personalized.
4. Golf Course Fees (Sandals St. Lucia, Emerald Reef Curacao, Sandals Negril)
Golf at Sandals is technically “included” but has multiple required and optional add-ons:
- Greens fees: ✅ Included for guests
- Caddy: ❌ Mandatory at most courses, ~$25–$40/round + tip ($10–$20)
- Cart rental: ❌ Optional but recommended, ~$40–$70/round
- Club rentals: ❌ ~$30–$50/round
- Shoe rental: ❌ ~$10–$15/round
- PGA lessons: ❌ ~$75–$150/lesson
A round of golf for a couple ends up costing roughly $150–$250 in extras even though the greens fees are included. Budget accordingly.
5. Butler-Tier Upgrades
The butler service room category itself is a paid upgrade (typically $100–$300+/night above Luxury or Club Sandals). Once you’re in butler, almost everything from the resort comes to you at no extra cost — including in-room dining from any restaurant — but the upgrade itself is the cost.
Butler tips are not included and not technically required, but the cultural norm is $10–$15 per butler per day for the duration of your stay. Most rooms have two butlers per shift. A week with butler service typically warrants $100–$300 in tips at the end of the trip.
I have a full breakdown of butler service costs vs. benefits here: Sandals Butler Service: Is It Worth the Upgrade?
Surprising Things That ARE Included (And Often Mistaken as Extras)
Many guests assume these cost extra. They don’t:
- Scuba diving for certified divers — up to 2 boat dives per day, all equipment, all instruction. This alone is worth $600–$900 per couple per week at non-Sandals resorts.
- All specialty restaurants — including Italian, French, Japanese teppanyaki, sushi, Indian, Mediterranean, and steakhouses. No “premium dining” surcharge anywhere.
- Top-shelf liquor in every bar — Sandals is one of the few all-inclusives that includes premium spirits without an upgrade fee.
- Catamaran cruises (resort-owned) — at select resorts like Sandals Negril and Sandals Grenada, the resort-operated catamaran tour is included.
- Stay-at-One, Play-at-Two/Three — at twin/triplet resort campuses (Negril, Halcyon/Grande St. Lucian/Regency, Royal Bahamian/Emerald Bay [closed for Beaches conversion]), you can dine and use facilities at the sister resort at no extra cost.
- Airport transfers (round-trip shared shuttle) — typically $80–$120/person elsewhere.
How to Budget for the “Extras”
For a typical 7-night Sandals trip for two, here’s a realistic budget for “things not included”:
| Category | Budget |
|---|---|
| Off-resort excursion (one full-day combo) | $300 |
| Couples spa treatment (1) | $300 |
| Wedding/honeymoon photo session (if applicable) | $400 |
| Butler tips (if booking butler tier) | $200 |
| Private candlelight dinner (one) | $250 |
| Golf extras (if golfing 2 rounds) | $400 |
| Trip insurance (~6% of $5,000 trip) | $300 |
| Total realistic “extras” budget | $1,000–$2,000 |
For a non-butler-tier couple skipping the wedding package and one round of golf, the realistic extras budget drops to $400–$800.
The smartest move: when you book through me, I help you front-load the $175 resort credit (on 5+ night stays) to cover one spa or excursion, which knocks ~$175 off the extras line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gratuity included at Sandals?
Yes. Standard gratuities for all staff (servers, bartenders, housekeeping, bellmen) are included in the price. The only exception is butler service tips, which are customary but not required at $10–$15 per butler per day.
Are flights included with Sandals?
No. Flights are not included in the Sandals all-inclusive package. You can book flights separately or bundle them through Sandals’ air partner program when you book your stay.
Is the spa included at Sandals?
No. Red Lane Spa treatments are not included in the all-inclusive rate. Treatments range from approximately $150 for a 50-minute Swedish massage to $400+ for couples packages.
Are excursions included at Sandals?
No. Off-resort excursions through Island Routes Caribbean Adventures cost extra, typically $80–$220 per person depending on the tour. Some on-resort activities like the resort-operated catamaran at select properties ARE included.
Is the wedding free at Sandals?
The basic Sandals WeddingMoons package is free with a qualifying stay, but most couples spend $1,500–$4,000 on add-ons like professional photography, videography, premium floral, and reception upgrades.
Do I have to tip my Sandals butler?
It’s not required but is the cultural norm. Most guests tip $10–$15 per butler per day. A 7-night stay with two butlers averages $140–$210 in butler tips.
Is scuba diving really free at Sandals?
Yes — for PADI-certified divers, scuba diving is included with up to two boat dives per day, all equipment, and instruction. You’ll need to bring your certification card. The Discover Scuba intro program includes the pool lesson but charges roughly $110 for the ocean dive.
Are taxes and resort fees included at Sandals?
Yes. The price you book is the price you pay — Sandals does not add resort fees, energy surcharges, or hidden taxes at checkout.
Ready to book? Let’s plan it together.
Booking your first Sandals trip? I can help you map out which extras are worth it for your trip and which to skip — at no cost to you, and often with extra resort credit or perks I can layer on top. Request a free quote here or book a call with our team.
Already going? Read these next:
- Is Sandals Butler Service Worth the Upgrade?
- Sandals Room Categories Explained: Luxury vs Club vs Butler
- 7 Mistakes First-Time Sandals Guests Make
- How Much Does a Sandals Vacation Actually Cost? Real 2026 Prices
About the Author
Steve Griswold is a Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club Platinum Elite advisor — one of fewer than 100 advisors worldwide at this level. He has personally visited all 17 Sandals Resorts and all Beaches Resorts. He is the host of MouseChat (a 15-year-running family-travel podcast) and runs CaribbeanMag, Pixie Vacations, and Pixie Honeymoons with his wife from their home in Atlanta, Georgia.
