Sandals Celebrates 35 Years Of Swim-Up Bars With A Summer Sweepstakes

Winners will be chosen weekly for a free stay in a swim-up suite.

Thirty-five years ago, Gordon "Butch" Stewart had a pretty simple idea: What if people could order drinks from a bar without ever leaving the pool? Thus, the swim-up bar at Sandals Montego Bay was created, the first of its kind in the Caribbean, and the founder and chairman of Sandals Resorts International has since made it a staple of all Sandals properties.

Over the years, that idea has evolved into swim-up and Skypool suites, overwater bungalows and even overwater chapels. In honor of this anniversary—and National Swimming Pool Day on July 11—Sandals launched the "Swim-up Suite-stakes" to give away a 6-day/5-night vacation for two, with winners chosen every Friday for the rest of summer.

Said Stewart: "Thirty-five years later and the swim-up pool bar is an iconic cornerstone of our brand. Not many people know that Sandals invented the swim-up pool bar—but we were only getting started. Since then, we have continued innovating by introducing many firsts beyond the swim-up pool bar to the Caribbean—from Swim-Up Suites, to the iconic Over-the-Water Villas and Bungalows, overwater bars, rooftop and infinity pools, a speakeasy, a gourmet donut shop, and even a four-lane bowling alley—all at an all-inclusive resort."

Suite view at Sandals Montego Bay
A view from inside the swim-up suite at Sandals Barbados. | Courtesy Sandals Resorts

Among the rooms that winners could stay in is Montego Bay's Beachfront Swim-up Millionaire Suite, which features a king-size bed that faces a retractable glass wall that opens into a living area and patio that overlooks the beach. Or winners might stay in the Crystal Lagoon Swim-up Suite at Sandals Barbados, which features a two-person tranquility soaking tub that overlooks the pool. That's just the tip of the iceberg with suites at nine Sandals resorts up for grabs.

In addition to the accommodations, guests will have access to a variety of amenities, including fitness centers, butler service and complimentary greens fees at the Sandals golf courses.

The contest is open to U.S. residents ages 18 and older, and it ends on September 20.