I am so excited to tell you about the last three hotels I visited on this trip! Why you ask? Because they are all so different and wonderful in their own way. Each property distinctly caters to a different type of traveler. Which one is right for you?
The Landings – luxury condo living
Personally, I love to stay in a condo when I travel. I have three boys so trying to cram into one hotel room just isn’t going to happen. The units at The Landings are beautiful! You have your choice of 1-3 bedroom units that either overlook the marina or beach. It’s not a terribly large property but because of the layout and how it curves around the marina that comes into the center of the property there is a fair bit of walking (or golf cart riding) involved. Each fully air conditioned condo is luxuriously appointed with full kitchens, ample living room for gathering together and with a private balcony or patio. Some even feature a private jacuzzi on the patio! This really is condo living at it’s best but with hotel amenities! The main building houses the lobby, Soleil spa, fitness center and The Palms Restaurant which is open for dinner in the evenings. During the day there is casual beach dining at Callaloo (open for lunch) or The Beach Club (breakfast, lunch and dinner). There is a Kid’s Club during peak winter months and a wide open lawn space near the beach which would be great for kids to run around. There are several pools throughout the property so no matter which of the 21 buildings your condo/villa is housed in, you’re close to a pool and only a short walk to the beach. I would suggest having a rental car if you stayed here so that you can easily travel to Rodney Bay just 5min away for restaurants, shops or the market. I’d stay here with my family in a heartbeat. I’ve also had honeymoon and babymoon clients stay here in the past with very positive feedback.
Calabash Cove Resort & Spa – romantic hideaway
Nestled in the residential community of Gros Islet, is Calabash Cove Resort & Spa. This small 36 room boutique hotel enjoys a private beachfront location, away from the hustle & bustle of the city nearby. It’s a rather odd location given that you really can’t walk anywhere from the hotel so you’ll want to plan on getting around by taxi. The crazy road is well worth the journey when you arrive to Calabash. There is a small desk in the lobby where the attendant will greet you with a cool towel and a bottle of water. Right away you notice the view to the sea from Windsong, the main restaurant on property. The main building houses the junior suites which are under the restaurant. It’s a bit dark and dreary getting to the rooms but once there, you’re on ground level and it’s quite lovely. The rooms are spacious, simply decorated and close to the pool. My favorite however would be the Water’s Edge Cottages. They are gorgeous wood duplex-style cottages with a sitting area, bedroom and private pool on the deck. Just a short walk down the path until you’re on the beach. Because of the way the property is laid out it’s not really geared for anyone with mobility issues or in a wheelchair so that is something to make note of (no elevator and lots of stairs). You have the option to book either a Bed & Breakfast rate or the all-inclusive plan. I think the rates are quite high compared to similar concept hotels but what you are paying for is the beachfront location which comes at a premium on St Lucia and overall ambiance. It’s quiet, relaxing and the staff will remember your name & your preferences. There are many special offers and discounts available throughout the year so booking early is key. Also, given the smaller size of the resort, this is also a wonderful spot for a destination wedding. Plan at least a year ahead if you want to talk about booking the enter resort for your special event! Contact me for details.
Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa – family friendly beachfront oasis
The final stop on my grand hotel tour of St Lucia is the Coconut Beach Resort located on the Atlantic side of the island just a 5 min drive from the Hewanorra Airport! And wouldn’t you know it? My poor camera battery died 
just as I arrived. I was able to get one shot of the main pool off the lobby. I know you can always visit the hotels websites for detailed pictures and descriptions of the rooms. So I’ll try to leave you with my overall impressions. The Coconut Bay Beach Resort is a large, beachfront property with a Family Friendly “Splash” section and the Adult Only “Harmony” side.
The rooms on the Splash side are bright, fun and spacious. Real thought has been given to families traveling together. Rooms have 1 king or 2 queen beds with a trundle bed in the living room. Plus connecting rooms are also readily available which is ideal for larger families traveling together. As the name implies, this side of the resort is also home to the Splash waterpark which has a few water slides and large pool area for the kiddo. A petting zoo and large Kid’s Zone with indoor/outdoor play area and organized activities by age round out the amenities for the kids.
The Harmony rooms are the same size but a bit more elegantly appointed with toned down colors are upgraded furnishings. There is a quiet adults-only pool and the spa is on this side of the resort adjacent to a wedding reception area. Onside destination weddings are a big focus of the resort. It totally makes sense if you want to have an affordable wedding, especially if your family & friends include children.
Between these two room blocks you’ll find a central pool, open air lobby with restaurants and shops. Did I mention this resort is also all-inclusive? So all meals and beverages by the glass are included. The resort is beachfront on the Atlantic so that means the sandy beach is a bit narrow and the water rougher than the Caribbean side so you do need to be a bit more careful ocean swimming with the kiddos. Location wise, being closer to the airport makes this resort an ideal select for a short or long stay. The onsite tour desk can help you coordinate any island activities you may want to do.
Overall I would say this resort is a modest 4* as far as accommodations and onsite amenities go. There are a handful of suites and a concierge level for those looking for more personalized attention and space. Again, another super option for family groups or weddings! I’d stay here so it has my stamp of approval.
This is probably my favorite Sandals resort for a beach vacation. The beach here is long, clear and mild. The swim-out rooms and romantic Rondoval Suites make it an ideal honeymoon hot spot. This resort feels very open and airy with one of the larger Red Lane spas and fitness centers. The main pool area is very lively and winds around through the room buildings. So no matter where you stay, you’re close to the water. There are several wedding gazebos and a very large indoor reception/meeting area that would work well for larger groups. I also liked the little hidden nooks throughout the property. You’ll find a private bench or hammock for two tucked away between the trees. Perfect for spending an afternoon away from the beach but out of your rooms. Thankfully it was a sunny day so I was able to take quite a few photos.
On the other side of Castries is Sandals Halcyon. This is the smallest of the three resorts (169 rooms), also with a lovely beachfront location. I really like the smaller atmosphere of Halcyon. While there is not a full Red Lane Spa onsite, guests can take the shuttle to one of the nearby hotels for full services. I really liked the smaller, almost cottage like vibe that the rooms have. Most of the accommodations are tucked back in the gardens which are lush and filled with beautiful flowers. There is a row of rooms closest to the beach that would be ideal if you want to be closer to the action. The patios however here are not private at all as they open right out to the lawn and public areas. Inside, the rooms are quite modest decor wise of the three. Nice bed, bathroom area etc. but not super luxurious. Comfortable though. I had lunch in the main buffet which was quite good with plenty of salad options. Of the three Sandals property this resort had a more mature feel. There were still plenty of young honeymooners but I also saw more mature couples looking for that ultra-all inclusive romantic getaway on St Lucia. The main pool is quite lively with music, entertainment and of course a swim up bar. On the back side of the property is a quiet garden pool near the rooms. So even if you opt to stay in one of the lower priced room categories, you’ll still be close to a pool and because the property itself it not very large, it’s just a short walk to get anyway.
So I have a little trouble describing this property. It’s just soooo big with just over 210 acres! I think the main reason you would stay at Sandals La Toc is if you’re a golfer. This is the only resort on the island with a 9- hole golf course. Green fees are included (mandatory caddy/cart is extra). The resort also has the largest pool in the Caribbean! This is a good thing because the beach (while half a mile long) is super narrow and a bit rough given the rocky coastline that most of the property hugs. All of the lower tiered rooms are near the main resort building. You may not have a view but you’ll be closest to the restaurants, pools, bars, etc. If you look at the property maps, it looks like there is a second beach in front of the Royal buildings (12) but the beach washed away in a storm a few years ago. So the only sandy beach access is near the main access to the resort. The Royal section of the resort is where you’ll have the top tier rooms including concierge level rooms, ocean front butler suites. It’s almost a resort within a resort as there is a separate pool area for this zone. If you’re looking for really quiet, larger accommodations with butler access and don’t mind being a 5 min golf cart ride away from the beach, this is a great option. Rooms are all very lovely no matter where you stay. The resort just involves a lot of walking which I normally don’t mind at all but there is a lot of golf cart traffic and it just seems “busy”. I can see this being a good option for larger destination wedding groups with the variety of room type options, numerous venue locations and onsite activities like the golf course.
St. Lucia — an island in the eastern Caribbean possesses a wealth of natural beauty—lush mountains, a steaming sulfur volcano, 19,000 acres of rain forest (35% of the country), charming black- and white-sand beaches, rare colorful foliage and exotic wildlife. Add to this mix the pleasant St. Lucia weather and the nice beaches, and you understand why it is a popular Caribbean destination.