This week, Sandals Resorts International announced the signing of an agreement that will bring Sandals Resorts to a brand-new destination, at the Santa Barbara Resort on the island of Curaçao.

This will mark the ninth island destination for the brand in the Caribbean region. The new Sandals Curaçao will initially include 350-luxurious rooms and suites stretched along the Spanish Water Bay and the Caribbean Sea, with a further expansion planned in the coming years. Formerly the Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort, part of a broader 3,000-acre development, the resort will be completely "Sandalized," a process set to begin in 2021. 

Conceptual plans for the new resort include adding key elements for the signature Sandals experience, including new expansive pools, a variety of gourmet dining options and lavish accommodations, including a Sandals first--River Suites. Guests will also have access to the neighboring 18-hole Pete Dye championship golf course, two onsite marinas and 38,000-square-feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, the largest on the island.  

World-famous for its vibrant culture, pristine beaches and coves, Curaçao also boasts spectacular dive sites and exotic marine ecosystems. With year-round temperatures of 80 degrees, it's touted as the perfect anytime-escape.

I can't wait until this new resort opens--Curaçao has been on my travel to-do list for ages. Knowing Sandals Resorts, the experience will be the perfect mix of all-inclusive and island adventure.

Who else is excited for this new development?