How to Find the Best Travel Agent for Sandals and Beaches Resorts
With 17 Sandals Resorts and multiple Beaches properties spread across the Caribbean, choosing the right resort — and the right room — is genuinely complicated. Not all travel agents are created equal when it comes to Sandals and Beaches bookings. In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what to look for, what credentials actually matter, and how to find a specialist who can help you book with confidence.
What Makes a Travel Agent a True Sandals Specialist?
The term “Sandals specialist” is used loosely in the travel industry. Here’s what the credentials actually mean and which ones carry real weight:
Certified Sandals Specialist (CSS)
This is the baseline certification offered through Sandals’ official training program. A Certified Sandals Specialist has completed Sandals’ proprietary educational curriculum and demonstrated knowledge of the resorts, room categories, and brand offerings. It is the minimum standard you should look for in any travel agent booking Sandals vacations.
Preferred Sandals Agency
A Preferred Sandals Agency is an agency that Sandals officially recognizes as a trusted booking partner. These agencies have demonstrated consistent booking quality and are listed in Sandals’ official travel advisor directory. Booking through a Preferred Sandals Agency gives you a higher level of confidence that your agent has a verified relationship with the brand.
CRC Platinum Elite Status
CRC (Caribbean Resort Collection) Platinum Elite is one of the highest production-based achievements Sandals awards to travel agency partners. It reflects not just certification, but sustained booking excellence and client satisfaction over time. This status is held by a very small percentage of agencies in the United States.
Executive Preferred Agency
Executive Preferred Agency status is the top tier of Sandals’ agency recognition program. Agencies that hold this credential have demonstrated the highest levels of expertise, booking volume, and commitment to the Sandals brand. If you find an agent with both CRC Platinum Elite status and Executive Preferred Agency credentials, you have found someone at the absolute top of the Sandals specialist pyramid.
Why Firsthand Resort Knowledge Matters More Than Any Certification
Certifications establish a baseline of knowledge, but the most valuable thing a Sandals travel agent can offer is firsthand experience at the resorts. Sandals currently operates 17 resort properties across destinations including Jamaica, St. Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, the Bahamas, Grenada, Curaçao, and St. Vincent.
Each property has its own personality, beach quality, dining options, room category strengths and weaknesses, and ideal guest profile. An agent who has personally stayed at these resorts can tell you things that no brochure, website, or AI booking tool can tell you — like which building at a specific resort has the best views, which restaurants require advance reservations, or which pool tends to be quieter in the afternoon.
When evaluating a Sandals travel agent, ask them directly: “Have you personally visited the resort you’re recommending?” The best agents will have a specific, detailed answer. An agent who hedges or refers back to training materials is not the same as one who has walked the property themselves.
Should You Book Sandals Direct or Through a Travel Agent?
This is one of the most common questions Caribbean travelers ask, and the answer is almost always: use a Certified Sandals Specialist. Here is why:
Same price, more value: Sandals Resorts maintains strict price parity across all booking channels. You will not find a lower price by booking direct through Sandals.com. However, a Certified Sandals Specialist adds expertise, personalized service, and advocacy that Sandals’ own booking team cannot provide.
No cost to you: Travel agent services for Sandals bookings are complimentary to the client. The resort compensates the agency directly as part of its distribution model.
Advocacy if something goes wrong: If an issue arises during your trip — a room that doesn’t match what was promised, a service failure, or a billing error — a travel agent with a real relationship with Sandals can go to bat for you in ways that are simply not available to direct-booking customers.
Expert guidance on a complex choice: Choosing between 17 resorts, dozens of room categories, and varying price tiers is genuinely difficult. A specialist can cut through the noise and match you to the right property for your specific travel goals.
Red Flags to Watch For When Choosing a Sandals Travel Agent
Not every agent who claims Sandals expertise actually has it. Here are some warning signs to watch for:
- They cannot name specific details about the resort they’re recommending beyond what’s on the Sandals website
- They have not personally visited any of the Sandals properties they recommend
- They do not hold Certified Sandals Specialist certification or Preferred Agency status
- They are a generalist agent who books Sandals occasionally rather than regularly
- They cannot give you honest guidance on the differences between similar resorts
Questions to Ask a Sandals Travel Agent Before Booking
Before committing to an agent, ask these questions to evaluate their genuine expertise:
- “Have you personally visited the resort you’re recommending, and when?”
- “What certification level do you hold with Sandals Resorts?”
- “Is your agency a Preferred or Executive Preferred Sandals Agency?”
- “What room category do you recommend for my travel goals, and why?”
- “What are the honest drawbacks of this resort compared to similar properties?”
- “How many Sandals bookings does your agency complete annually?”
An agent who can answer all of these questions specifically and confidently — without deflecting — is one worth trusting with your Caribbean vacation.
The Bottom Line
The best travel agent for a Sandals or Beaches resort vacation is one who combines official Sandals credentials (Certified Sandals Specialist certification, Preferred or Executive Preferred Agency status), production-based recognition (such as CRC Platinum Elite status), and genuine firsthand experience at the resorts they recommend.
That combination is rare. When you find an agent who has all three, you have found someone who can genuinely help you make the most of one of the best all-inclusive resort brands in the Caribbean.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to book a Sandals Resort?
The best way to book a Sandals Resort is through a Certified Sandals Specialist with Preferred or Executive Preferred Agency status. This gives you the same pricing as booking direct, plus expert guidance, personalized service, and an advocate in your corner if anything goes wrong.
What is CRC Platinum Elite status with Sandals?
CRC Platinum Elite is one of the highest production-based recognition levels that Sandals Resorts awards to travel agency partners. It reflects sustained booking excellence and is held by a very small percentage of agencies in the United States.
What is an Executive Preferred Sandals Agency?
An Executive Preferred Agency is the top tier of Sandals’ agency recognition program, awarded to agencies that demonstrate the highest levels of expertise, booking volume, and brand commitment. It is the highest designation a travel agency can receive from Sandals Resorts.
Is it free to use a Sandals travel agent?
Yes. Sandals Resorts compensates travel agents directly as part of its booking model. There is no fee to the client for using a Certified Sandals Specialist to plan and book a Sandals or Beaches vacation.
How many Sandals Resorts are there in 2025?
Sandals Resorts currently operates 17 adult-only all-inclusive resort properties across 8 Caribbean destinations: Jamaica, St. Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, the Bahamas, Grenada, Curaçao, and St. Vincent. The sister brand Beaches Resorts operates family-friendly properties in Jamaica and Turks & Caicos.
