An all-inclusive resort right here in the United States? I was excited to find out what voco Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort had to offer!

Located along the St. Lucie River in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the resort combines accommodations, dining, drinks, activities, and entertainment in a waterfront setting. It's a different take on the all-inclusive experience for travelers who want to stay closer to home.

A Quick Note About Getting There: The resort is approximately 45–50 miles from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), about an hour's drive, and roughly 120 miles from Orlando International Airport (MCO), which is about a two-hour drive. There isn't an airport shuttle provided by the resort, so be sure to factor in the cost of a rental car, rideshare, or private transfer when budgeting for your stay. Travel times can vary with traffic.

We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and were greeted at the gate by a fabulous gentleman who was cheerful, welcoming, and clearly happy to see us. Check-in continued that positive first impression. Darla walked us through the property, explaining the activities, locations, schedules, and other helpful details. We loved her!

First impressions matter, and the team members we encountered at arrival definitely started our stay on a high note.

We stayed in Building D, directly in front of the adults-only pool, the Solara taco spot, and a little hidden gem of a bar also called Solara.

Our room was on the second floor of a three-story building. There was an elevator, but the signage after getting off wasn't particularly clear. We had to pick a direction and follow the room numbers to figure out where we were going.

Once we found our room, though, I was impressed!

The room was spacious, with a king bed, two twin-size sofas that converted into beds, a coffee table, and a small dining table with two chairs. The bathroom had two separate areas, each with a sink and plenty of counter space, making it convenient for three adults to get ready.

And the closet! Oh, the closet! It was a walk-in closet with plenty of room for all our belongings. Three adults and our collective overpacking habits had space to spare.

The only thing missing? More hangers. Fortunately, we're travel professionals and had already packed extra. 😉 Not everyone travels with spare hangers, though, especially those flying and packing more strategically, so that's an easy improvement I'd suggest.

We also appreciated the number of accessible parking spaces near our building and throughout the parking areas. One downside was that we couldn't find a luggage cart, so getting everything from the car to our room was a bit of a challenge. In fairness, we know we overpack!

The Triple-Occupancy Problem

Unfortunately, our room experience wasn't all sunshine and walk-in closets.

Most rooms are set up for double occupancy, with additional guests permitted for an extra charge. We had three adults in our room, but there was no bedding for the third person when we arrived. We also didn't have enough towels.

Around 8 p.m., we contacted the front desk and were told someone would take care of it. When we returned around 9:30 p.m., there was still no bedding. We called the desk, but no one answered, so we went back in person. It was around 10 p.m. before someone finally arrived—with bedding, but no towels.

The towel situation continued into the next day. We rationed what we had so we could all get ready for work, then specifically requested additional towels at the front desk during lunch. They still didn't arrive until around 11 p.m., by which point we'd given up waiting and were already in bed.

Remember, this was a work trip for travel professionals. We weren't exactly spending our days lounging around waiting for towels!

We eventually spoke with someone the following morning and specifically requested that our room be treated as a triple-occupancy room, with the appropriate supplies. After that conversation, we didn't have further problems.

I understand that mistakes happen, especially at a newer property, but guests shouldn't have to make repeated requests over two days to receive basic supplies associated with their reservation. If additional guests are accepted and charged for, the room should be prepared accordingly.

It's worth confirming the current additional-guest fees and room setup directly with the resort if you're planning to share a room with more than two people.

A Few Little Things

We didn't find any information in the room explaining how to connect to Wi-Fi, navigate the television channels, or learn more about the property. A simple in-room guide or digital welcome sheet would have made settling in easier.

We received a schedule of Sunday's activities at check-in, but not a full week's schedule. Guests are encouraged to use the resort app, and printed schedules are available at the front desk.

These aren't huge issues, but a few simple improvements could make the guest experience smoother.