Book Sandy Lane Barbados with VIP Benefits

Ronald Tree chose the site of an old sugar plantation for the original hotel. Ancient mahogany trees reached toward the beach, and the west coast road was moved inland before construction began. When Sandy Lane opened, it had 52 bedrooms. Coral stone, arches and the sea-facing lobby established the architecture that shaped its later rebuilding.

The resort was rebuilt around the turn of the century, reopening in 2001 with its neo-Palladian character retained. The redevelopment protected the mature mahogany trees and introduced larger accommodation blocks, a villa, a substantial spa and more golf. The grounds still carry the old trees alongside the later buildings.

The Old Nine golf course follows a route through the estate and has been here since 1961. At its seventh hole, an elevated tee looks out toward the sea. The course's mature setting belongs to the same grounds as the old mahogany grove.

There are 113 hotel rooms, suites and penthouses, in addition to a secluded five-bedroom Villa. Hotel accommodation looks toward gardens or the Caribbean Sea. The penthouses were introduced as part of the resort's rebuilding, which also protected the mahogany trees and retained the classical architectural language.

The Villa is a separate residence within the resort, rather than another hotel room category. Its five bedrooms give it a different scale from the rooms and suites. Garden and ocean outlooks belong to the hotel accommodation collection, while the Villa has its own secluded setting.

The white coral-sand beach runs for roughly 1,000 feet along the Platinum Coast. Sandy Lane's west-coast position places it beside the Caribbean Sea rather than Barbados's Atlantic shore. Water sports are part of the resort's activity program, and beach dining is offered on the sand. The hotel also arranges private dinners and gatherings there, with menus and wine selections prepared for the occasion.

A large swimming pool with underwater music was part of the resort's redevelopment. On the beach, service includes reserved seating, cold towels, fresh fruit and drinks, as well as water sports. Sunglass cleaning and Evian misting are also among the beach services. The Beach Bar has its own drinks menu.

Sandy Lane has three golf courses: The Green Monkey, The Country Club and The Old Nine. Tom Fazio designed the first two; The Old Nine dates from the hotel's opening year. The Green Monkey occupies a former limestone quarry, whereas The Old Nine winds through the estate's older landscape.

The Green Monkey is a par-72 course of 7,343 yards, set against the Caribbean Sea. The Country Club, also par 72, measures 7,060 yards and hosted the 2006 World Golf Championships Barbados World Cup. The Old Nine is a par-36 course of 3,345 yards.

A 450-yard driving range, practice bunker and putting green sit within the golf program. There is a clubhouse with locker rooms, and course services include caddies, club and shoe rental, and GPS-equipped golf carts. The Country Club also has a dining room high above the coastline.

Racquet facilities include seven floodlit tennis courts and four padel courts. Five tennis courts have cushioned hard surfaces and two have AstroTurf. Lessons and racquet services are available. Children's nets and progressively sized balls are provided at the tennis courts, along with loaner racquets.

The Treehouse Club provides arts and crafts, swimming activities and play space for children. A Toddler Corner sits on its upper level, while sports camps include water skiing, tennis, golf and football for older participants. Teens have The Den, with pool tables, foosball, electronic and board games, computer stations and large-screen televisions.

The Spa at Sandy Lane covers 47,000 square feet, with treatment suites and a full fitness facility. Its marbled staircase leads into a complex that includes a panoramic sauna, steam room, hydrotherapy pool and cold plunge pool. Warm and cold experience showers add another element to the spa's water facilities.

Private treatment rooms, a relaxation room and a meditation room give the spa different spaces for its services. A Rhassoul pink-clay experience and an amethyst and Thai massage room are among its named facilities. Couples treatments can conclude in a private hydro pool for two.

The fitness side includes a 2,500-square-foot gym, yoga studio and exercise studio. Cardio and strength equipment sit alongside options for personal training and classes. Boxing equipment is also available. The spa's water facilities extend to crystal cold rooms and a panoramic sauna.

Bajan Blue is an open-air, beachside restaurant reached by a sweeping marble staircase. Umbrellas shade its seating. Its cooking draws on European, Caribbean and Asian influences, with a wine bar, sushi station and grill alongside all-day dining. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served there, and Sunday brunch and themed buffet evenings are also part of its program.

The Lower Terrace has open-air seating beneath broad umbrellas, reached by a marble staircase. It faces the Caribbean and serves dining and drinks, including afternoon tea. The tea is served beneath the shade of mahogany trees, bringing another part of the original grove into the dining setting.

The Monkey Club is a contemporary brasserie. Its bar and lounge overlook the Lower Terrace and the ocean; monkey murals appear on the ceilings. The Country Club provides another dining setting above the coastline, while the Spa Cafe sits poolside by a cascading waterfall.

Beach dining and in-room dining extend the restaurant program beyond those named rooms. The cellar holds more than 12,000 bottles from Old and New World wineries. The Monkey Bar has its own monkey-themed murals and artifacts, distinct from the open-air Monkey Club. On the beach, fresh fruit and tropical drinks are part of the service.