St. Lucia: Gem of the Caribbean - 3

Where to Stay

There is no shortage of hotels on St. Lucia. Sandals Resorts has three properties: Regency, Halcyon Beach, and Grande St. Lucian. There are plenty of smaller intimate hotels and villas from which to choose. Depending on your vacation goal (and to an extent your wallet), they all offer something different—from non-stop action to a secluded romantic room where you could go a week without seeing another human being. It is so difficult to choose, I offer my top three—and one on my wish list.

Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa. This is my favorite family resort on the island. A family of hour can stay for about $3,700 a week (rates begin at $430 per room per night and $55 or $75 per night for kids). It is all-inclusive—meals, drinks, activities, entertainment, water sports, etc. Its kid’s club is wonderful, with segregated age-appropriate activities for toddlers to teens. With my kids, it is difficult to pull them away for dinners. Thankfully the club is not open 24/7. The resort is also divided into a family side and an adults-only side. So sneaking away for some grown-up time is very easy and stress-free knowing the kids are being taken care of on the other side. The resort’s full-service Kai Mer Spa is wonderful, and you can’t beat luxuriating in a hot-stone treatment while looking at the aqua-colored ocean a few feet away. It doesn’t get any better than that. This resort is located on the southern tip of the island and has 254 guest rooms, three pools and the island’s largest water park. It offers pretty much everything for singles, couples, families and kids.

• Lazy river at the Coconut Bay's Water Park
• Courtesy of St. Lucia Tourist Board

Anse Chastanet. While probably not the best choice for the toddler crowd, Anse Chastanet is perfect for couples and families with older children. There aren’t a huge number of amenities, but if you are looking for water sports, relaxation and some of the most spectacular views in the world, check in. Anse Chasanet has been named one of the Top 25 resorts in the Caribbean by Conde Nast Traveler. While not cheap, I have to say the experience is well worth it. Rates for a week for two begin around $6,000, all-inclusive.

Ladera. For the true romantic, how does a private room with a personal plunge pool and a view of the glorious Pitons sound? These rooms feature an “open wall” that literally brings nature to your bedside. Need to make a call home? Forget it. A two-way radio to the front desk is your communication for the week. Dine in your room or in its wonderful restaurant. Rates for a week for two begin at $4,300, all-inclusive. This is an adults-only resort. 

Cotton Bay Village. This property is on my wish list for our next trip. The resort opened its doors on Jan. 29, 2007, and its sole goal is to reinvent the family holiday. All ages are welcome in the very upscale, affluent seaside village setting where guests are encouraged to break apart from the typical resort routine and design their own vacation. The accommodations range from suites to town homes to villas. A family of four could rest their sand-covered feet in a Calabash Suite, which costs from $4,900 a week. This resort is not all inclusive, so pack some extra change for the meals.