Honeymoon Bliss: Sandals All Inclusive Saint Lucia Guide

Why We Chose Sandals All Inclusive Saint Lucia for Our Honeymoon

How we decided on Sandals resorts

Whenever, I think of Sandals, I always think of the episode of “The Office” where Michael Scott takes Jan on vacation to Sandals Jamaica! My now husband kept talking about Sandals when we were starting our honeymoon research. I had always wanted to go to Saint Lucia, otherwise known as the “Hawaii of the Caribbean”, so we decided to narrow down our options to one of the three Sandals resorts there.

I ended up speaking extensively with a local travel agent who had visited all three resorts: Sandals Grande St. Lucian, Sandals Halcyon Beach, and Sandals Regency La Toc. She recommended the Grande St. Lucian as the one with the best beach, restaurants, and nightlife. Although you can visit any other Sandals resorts with the “stay at one, play at three” exchange program that includes free shuttles between the three, the other two resorts are quite smaller.

Sandals Halcyon Beach is a more laid-back resort. There are 6 restaurants and 7 bars, which is quite small compared to the Grande St. Lucian. The beach is supposed to be very nice with soft sand. The atmosphere is very chill. I think this was my second choice because it sounds nice, but we decided to go with the #1 spot that most people recommend.

Sandals Regency La Toc is a bit larger with 8 restaurants and 9 bars. There is also two golf courses nearby. This one has a lively atmosphere as well, with a mix of entertainment options.

What makes Sandals Grande St. Lucian unique

Since this was our honeymoon, we really wanted to relax and spend most of our time on the beach or at the pool. The Sandals Grande St. Lucian is consistently ranked as the resort with the best beach. It sits on a peninsula, the sand is soft, and the water temperature is perfect. That, combined with the fact that it has the most dining options, made our decision easy.

One thing to note is that when we were booking the resort, a lot of room categories were booked up. There are a bunch of confusing categories of rooms. It helped to have a travel agent who could explain what they all meant. She also told me that many people reserved rooms at multiple resorts. I think you are allowed to hold a room for 24-48 hours. So, we initially booked what is considered a standard room category, but ended up upgrading to a Caribbean honeymoon club level suite. I believe it was called a penthouse as well but that just refers to the room being on the third or fourth floor.

First Impressions of Sandals Grande St. Lucian

Arrival experience and welcome

Upon arriving at the airport, we had access to the Sandals reception area. There were drinks and bathrooms, and a waiting room. However, we were not there long because the shuttles are pretty efficient. We were on a shuttle van with other guests staying at the same resort. The driver was very friendly. The roads were not fun. It takes about 90 minutes on curvy, bumpy roads to get to the Grande St. Lucian. The roads in Saint Lucia can be extremely uncomfortable, but are also very scenic and beautiful.

Once arriving to the resort we had access to the club reception room because of our room category. They call this Club Sandals. Basically, there is a lounge with dedicated staff where you can check in, ask questions, and book excursions or extras at the resort. The lounge itself also has couches and a flat screen TV where you can watch sporting events and things like that. There is food and drinks there throughout the day, from coffee to water to spirits. In the morning, there were croissants and muffins. Midday, there were sandwiches, and later, there were sweet treats like cookies that you could grab and go.

Checking into our suite

As mentioned, because of our Caribbean honeymoon suite, we had a person who showed us to our room and gave us a brief overview of the resort. I did not find the resort to be overly large, but it was nice to have that orientation and get our bearings from someone familiar with it.

Our suite was nice. It looks a lot like the pictures on the Sandals website. We did not have a great view even though we were in an oceanview room. We were on what I would consider the backside of the resort, so the view was basically a street lined with cars and water beyond it. I didn’t particularly mind as we were just in the room at night to sleep, but I thought calling that room oceanview was a stretch.

Also, once you get settled, they recommend you check in with the concierges at the club lounge to book any excursions for the week. I am not sure if it was because we arrived on a Wednesday, but many of the excursions we selected were already booked up. That was somewhat annoying because they cannot be booked in advance. We ended up booking one excursion, which took us to a bunch of different locations. Then I separately booked us a sightseeing trip on Trip Advisor. Those were the only two activities we did all week outside of the resort. I think it was the perfect mix of exploring the island and relaxing.

Accommodations at Sandals All Inclusive Saint Lucia

Our honeymoon suite features

Because we were on our honeymoon, we had a “honeymoon suite”. This is not a different class of room, but more of what the staff will do for you when you are there. Three extras are included:

1. A bubbly welcome: a bottle of champagne or sparkling wine in your room to toast your future.
2. Special turndown service: flower petals on your bed the first night of your stay. I don’t believe we received this, but we also went to bed early after a long day of traveling.
3. Free breakfast room service: We were able to choose any morning to receive this breakfast in bed feature. We had a card that we left outside the room the night before to select what we wanted and what time we wanted it delivered.

The honeymoon package is available for one year from your wedding date, so even if you have a delayed honeymoon, you can still take advantage of it. I sent my travel agent a copy of our wedding invitation because they required some sort of proof that you are on your honeymoon.

Room views and amenities worth highlighting

As I mentioned briefly, we were not on the “beach side” of the resort so our view from our room was not the best. There was a long one-lane road and back staff parking lots. There was water behind it, but it was not the scenic view that is on the front side of the resort with the beach and mountains.

There are some very nice rooms including ones that have a little pool and overwater bungalows. However, those room categories are quite expensive and since there are limited rooms I think they book up quickly. It felt unnecessary to book a bungalow since we would be right on the beach anyways. I am still glad we did not waste money on that.

The room was typical and comfortable. We had one bed, one bathroom, and a little deck. There were free drinks including water, soda, and alcohol which were replenished every day. There were nice bottles of shampoo and conditioner, which is typical for most hotels. It was a very comfortable room, but nothing spectacular.

Dining and Drinks at Sandals Grande St. Lucian

Favorite restaurants at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian

We quite enjoyed the dining and drinks at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian. In fact, I took quite a few photos of our meals, drinks, and desserts. The Sandals Grande St. Lucian is the largest of the three Sandals resorts on the island and has 12 restaurants and 7 bars. There are plenty of options to keep everyone satisfied for a week’s stay. There are also plenty of options for casual and more special dining experiences.

Bayside Restaurant is a nice open-air buffet for breakfast and lunch. We came to this buffet every day for breakfast because it had a beautiful view and a delicious buffet with healthy options. For dinner, it transforms into French cuisine and is a sit down dinner with waitstaff. They had vegetarian and vegan options as well as meat and fish.

Toscanini’s is their Italian restaurant with something for everyone. We went here a couple of time during our one week stay. I am a vegetarian and my husband is a meat-eater, and we are both very happy with Italian food. There were nice salads, appetizers, main courses, and desserts.

The dinner highlight for us was our one night at Gordon’s on the Pier, which was the only place we needed to make a reservation in advance. I would recommend coming here once on your trip. It was right over the water. Gordon’s is the perfect place to celebrate your honeymoon or anniversary. They had something for everyone on the menu with vegetarian and vegan options as well as pastas, fish, steak and lamb.

During the day, there are casual options by the ocean and pool. There is a pizzeria, creperie, and jerk shack that offer options for quick meals. There were also a few restaurants we didn’t try: Indian, Japanese, and a sushi bar.

Every restaurant is listed as resort casual. We did dress nicely for dinner but nothing was overly fancy or stuffy. I appreciate that because when you are at a tropical beachfront location, it feels more fitting to the environment being allowed to wear nice shorts and sandals.

All-inclusive cocktails and bars

There is a nice English pub here called the Olde London Pub. This has an interior location at the resort whereas most of the others have an outdoor or patio environment. The menu is typical pub food and beers. There are also pool tables and sports on the TVs here. They offer a late night menu here too which is just a smaller version of their dinner menu.

There are bars spread out all over the resort and offer nice seating options and ambiance. There is a swim-up bar in one of the main pools. There are two bars near the reception area: a piano bar and the lobby bar. These areas were very nice to sit in at night and have a drink before or after dinner. There is also a beach bar for when you are lounging at the beach during the day.

The options at the bar are considered top-shelf liquors and are included in your room price. The difference in booking a club level room is that spirits like vodka, gin, and rum are also included in your room bar. So you have the option to make yourself a drink to bring to the beach or pool if you want to.

Activities and Entertainment at Sandals All Inclusive Saint Lucia

Water sports and beach adventures

Water sports at this Sandals are included. There are options for kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, and paddleboarding. There was a spot for scuba diving rentals and tours as well. There were also large floating rafts in place in the ocean that you could swim out to and relax in.

Evening entertainment and live shows

There were a lot of events in the lobby area after dinner that varied from night to night. There was always some sort of entertainment whether it be a performance or karaoke or something of that nature. There is also a nightclub called the Palladium Nightclub. We never went there so I cannot speak to that but I am sure its fun for the night owls!

Relaxation and Romance at Sandals Grande St. Lucian

Spa treatments and couples’ massages

We did book the couple’s massage, which was quite indulgent. There is a nice spa and fitness center called the Red Lane Spa and Fitness Center. However, our massages were at the pier gazebo, which is an open-air over the water, shaded gazebo overlooking the ocean. It was an extremely relaxing experience to get a massage in that sort of setting. I had never done anything like that before but it was worth the price. This is an add-on, so it cost a little over $400 for both of us.

Private moments and hidden spots on the resort

One of the things that I loved most about this Sandals resort is that it never felt crowded. One of our favorite spots was the river pool which had lush tropical plants. We were often alone in this section of the pool it felt like our own private tropical jungle.

After dinner, we often found spots around the resort to sit and relax. These are all spread out around the resort so it never feels overcrowded. There are many fire pits, gazebos, and lounge furniture spread around so anyone can find a spot to sit and take in the tropical breeze before heading back to their rooms.

Exploring Saint Lucia Beyond the Resort

Day trips and excursions we loved

As I mentioned before, it was a bit disappointing that when we arrived on Wednesday, many of the tours we selected were already booked up. Perhaps the experience is not the same for people arriving on Saturday, but that is what happened to us. Nevertheless, we were able to book the Soufriere Adventure Cruise through Club Sandals.

The cruise had pickups from our resort as well as other locations. Once everyone is picked up, you board a large catamaran with both under and above deck seating options. There were also bathrooms. We took a tour of the coast along Soufriere and overlooking the magestic Pitons – which was quite spectacular! After that, we boarded a tour bus and were driven to the Sulfur Springs and the Toraille Waterfalls. Returning to the boat, a local lunch is served, which sadly was not vegetarian-friendly. We stopped to snorkel at Marigot Bay before heading back to our launch site and hotels.

The Soufriere Adventure Cruise was incredible and we both really enjoyed this day. We have incredible photos from the coastline. Many of these tours include quite a bit of activity in one day but considering how long it takes to drive around the island and the conditions of the roads I can understand why.

Best tour we booked on our own

I really wanted to see the Pitons, however, hiking them can be very challenging. We were on our honeymoon and didn’t want to do any strenuous activity. So, I found the Tet Paul Nature Trail, which was such a nice experience. I booked a private tour with St. Lucia A1 Taxi & Tours. Our driver picked us up at Sandals at our agreed-upon time and took us to the Tet Paul Nature Trail.

The Tet Paul Nature Trail felt extremely private with incredible views. When we were there, we only saw two other groups along the trail. It cost $10 per person for admission, and we also had a tour guide who took us along the trail and shared facts about the history and community. He also took photos of us, which we appreciated.

I consider this an easy trail. It was about .6 miles (1 km) in length and included a set of stairs called the “Stairway to Heaven”. It leads to incredible 360-degree views of the Pitons. It probably took an hour or so to hike the whole trail, which included plenty of stops for photos along the way.

Our driver waited for us at the entrance, so once we were done, we hopped right back into the van and drove back to the resort. He stopped at some scenic spots on the way so we could get out and take pictures. It was an incredible tour and I am glad that I booked it. It was also a shorter day than the Soufriere Adventure Cruise, so we had time to swim in the pool at the resort before dinner.

Tips for Planning Your Honeymoon at Sandals All Inclusive Saint Lucia

Best time to visit

Hurricane season in Saint Lucia is from June 1 through November 30th, although hurricanes here are extemely rare. Hurricane potential generally increases towards the end of that time frame. We visited the second week in July and had a gorgeous week with wonderful weather every day. There were a few rain showers, but nothing substantial.

The best times to avoid crowds are in the spring and fall, specifically March and April, or October and November. Saint Lucia has pretty even weather throughout the year. Temperatures are often hovering around the 70s and 80s. Technically, December through April is the dry season. Keep in mind, though, that December through February are the most expensive dates for a trip. May through November is the tropical season.

What to pack for a one-week stay

Staying at Sandals, you have the option to dress resort casual or fancier if you desire. I brought a few nice sundresses and dressy sandals. My husband had linen pants and some nice Aloha shirts and dressier sandals. That is what we wore for dinner every night. Then, you just need two bathing suits so you can alternate, swim coverups, and some hiking or athletic wear for trips to the gym or excursions and tours. Bring sneakers for those activities as well. Bug spray is a necessity if you are going on any sort of rainforest tour, as these areas are quite lush and rainy. As always, don’t forget the sunscreen!

How to make the most of your honeymoon package

I would recommend planning what you want to see on the island ahead of time. If the Sandals sponsored excursions are not available, do some research. I found some great options on TripAdvisor that included transportation.

Make sure you send the resort a copy of your wedding save-the-date or invitation in order to get all of the offerings of the honeymoon room. They also have options like private candlelit dinners that you can book separately if you wish.

Above all, don’t try to plan too much on your honeymoon. I prefer to visit places that offer cultural and scenic activities, but we didn’t plan many activities. The beach and pool were beautiful, and we were happy there every day.

Final Thoughts on Our Honeymoon at Sandals Grande St. Lucian

Would we recommend Sandals All Inclusive Saint Lucia?

Yes, I would recommend the Sandals Grande St. Lucian. Although we technically traveled during a busier season in July, it felt very spacious and private in many places. It was the perfect spot for our honeymoon. I am definitely not a rowdy party person. Some all-inclusives can be full of a party atmosphere, but this one was calm and serene. There were nightlife and entertainment options, but you could easily skip those if that is not your scene.

I want to visit other Sandals resorts so I can compare them but for our first trip, we enjoyed this one. The food and drink was delicious. The resort and atmosphere was perfect for a honeymoon. The only drawback to this one is the distance and drive to and from the airport. They actually have options to take a helicopter instead. Next time we go, I would like to try Sandals Halcyon Beach.

Also, talk to a travel agent. Many do not charge fees because they get commissions from the resorts. They also travel extensively to these places and can offer first-hand experiences. The travel agent I spoke to was honest about each resort and offered suggestions such as “If you want to golf go here or if you like nightlife, go there”. I have discovered that not all resorts owned by the same company have the same vibes, so it’s important to choose one that you and your partner will enjoy.

Our favorite memories from the trip

Our favorite spot at this resort was definitely the river section of the pool. We were often there in the afternoon with drinks from the pool bar. There was nice shade and tropical plants. It was extremely relaxing. We also loved all the seating areas for relaxing under the stars after dinner.

As for Saint Lucia itself, I can understand why it’s called the Hawaii of the Caribbean. There were incredible mountains, rainforests, and tropical plants. Take the time to see some of this beautiful island and soak up its culture.