Sandals St Lucia

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The Bumblebee

Original Poster:

266 posts

217 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
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Has anyone been on a Sandals holiday to St Lucia? The Mrs wants to go and we wanted to see if they are worth it for a week or so.

Zod

35,295 posts

272 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
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Why does she want to go there? Sandals is the Butlins of the Caribbean. Go to Anse Chastanet instead. I'd bet it's hardly more expensive, but it's a lovely place.

JMT1

60 posts

237 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
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Have a look at the Jalousie Plantation - set between the Pitons......stunning....just stunning!

adqt

93 posts

244 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
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We honeymooned at the Sandals at the very north of St Lucia on the Pigeon Island causeway (cant remember the name of it but there are three on the island...we thought this one was by far the better one). The view over Rodney bay is spectacular and a very short walk away from Pigeon island.

The Sandals experience was very special and were glad we honeymooned there..but as a normal holiday resort we have found other places in St Lucia have given just as much satisfaction at a much reduced cost.

Al







ukwill

9,518 posts

221 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
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JMT1 said:
Have a look at the Jalousie Plantation - set between the Pitons......stunning....just stunning!
We were there in Jan - was only 50 guests in the hotel at the time. Bloody marvellous. They are in the process of refurbing the whole estate. If you can get one of the refurb'd rooms you'll be doing well. The beach area is simply stunning. Totally idyllic, with a totally tropical taste. cool

A couple we met whilst there did go on to stay in the Sandals (up by Castries), and they reported back that they had a wonderful time up there as well - but it was a total contrast. As you would no doubt imagine.

miniman

28,013 posts

276 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
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JMT1 said:
Have a look at the Jalousie Plantation - set between the Pitons......stunning....just stunning!


Ignore the bad reviews on Trip Advisor. Most are from Americans who think "five stars" means it should be like the Airport Hilton at LAX.

pgtips

181 posts

230 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
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Zod said:
Why does she want to go there? Sandals is the Butlins of the Caribbean. Go to Anse Chastanet instead. I'd bet it's hardly more expensive, but it's a lovely place.
Seconded. Totally reccomend the Jade Mountain at Anse Chastanet- the sister resort slightly higher up the hill. Only bad thing about Anse Chastenet is when the boat from Sandals pitches up smile (Never been to Sandals but it does look very Butlins-esque)

Tyre Smoke

23,018 posts

275 months

Thursday 25th June 2009
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We got married in St Lucia and got 'upgraded' to Sandals near Castries. It is full of young Americans on vacation paid for by 'daddy'. They can't drink - get pissed after two beers. Need to go and lie down and rest from 4-6 in the afternoons and are in bed by 11pm each night. It really is Butlins for rich spoilt American 20somethings.

Yes, everything is top class, and the staff really appreciate you talking to them as fellow humans and not some Louisiana slave. But there are just too many loud w a n k e r s.

Go elsewhere.

Zod

35,295 posts

272 months

Thursday 25th June 2009
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pgtips said:
Zod said:
Why does she want to go there? Sandals is the Butlins of the Caribbean. Go to Anse Chastanet instead. I'd bet it's hardly more expensive, but it's a lovely place.
Seconded. Totally reccomend the Jade Mountain at Anse Chastanet- the sister resort slightly higher up the hill. Only bad thing about Anse Chastenet is when the boat from Sandals pitches up smile (Never been to Sandals but it does look very Butlins-esque)
I didn't want to say that. There you are just about to set off from the dive centre when the Sandals boat pitches up, overloaded like an Indian train with people in pink Sandals snorkeling gear. hehe

hman

7,497 posts

208 months

Thursday 25th June 2009
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Theres 3 sandals resorts on st lucia, we stayed at the Grande it was fooking brilliant.

Met loads of really nice english people and ignored the yanks (apart from organising a lilo race US vs. UK - we won!)

Took a trip to the halcyon beach sandals resort but wasnt all that impressed by that one.


If you go to the Grande look out for the guys to the right of the beach (the non sandals dudes), next to the watersports hut and the pier- Rastaman John (gold boat with rasta colours on it with a very rude boat name) is the guy to ask for a day out that will not dissapoint - get him to show you how fast he can make the boat go jeez i dont think the law would have much chance of keeping up!.

oh, and take the heli transfer to and from the hotel, the roads are something else !

looking forward to going back in 18 years when the kids have grown up!

Rum Runner

2,338 posts

231 months

Thursday 25th June 2009
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I live off and on in St.Lucia and Sandals Grande is in a top spot. I would recommend it . There are other quieter more secluded hotels but it is near Pigeon Island 100yrd walk if you want peace ans quiet. Go and see Mike at Captain Cellers on Pigeon .

Get a car and go travelling around the Island do pitons and especially Ladera ( Dasheen Restaurant) above Jalousie. Also drive over to the East coast Cas-En-Bas and around Cap Estate. Get a car from Drvie-A-Matic.

Edited by Rum Runner on Thursday 25th June 23:37

ukwill

9,518 posts

221 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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Rum Runner said:
I live off and on in St.Lucia and Sandals Grande is in a top spot. I would recommend it . There are other quieter more secluded hotels but it is near Pigeon Island 100yrd walk if you want peace ans quiet. Go and see Mike at Captain Cellers on Pigeon .

Get a car and go travelling around the Island do pitons and especially Ladera ( Dasheen Restaurant) above Jalousie. Also drive over to the East coast Cas-En-Bas and around Cap Estate. Get a car from Drvie-A-Matic.

Edited by Rum Runner on Thursday 25th June 23:37
Did I ever tell you that I hate you! biggrin

bad company

20,394 posts

280 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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Mrs BC and I stayed at Le Sport in February - much nicer than Sandals IMO for a similar price.

coolcatmaz

3,521 posts

216 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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Sandals grande if you're going - top hotel last time I was there.

Oh and Heli transfer as the roads were somewhat of a lengthy and bumpy experience as we found out on the journey out to the hotel. Heli transfer was booked for the transfer back to the airport at the end of the stay

Rum Runner

2,338 posts

231 months

Friday 26th June 2009
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Le Sport is good but the beach(volcanic) is not as good and there can be a lot of swell.

CaptainSlow

13,179 posts

226 months

Sunday 28th June 2009
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Zod said:
pgtips said:
Zod said:
Why does she want to go there? Sandals is the Butlins of the Caribbean. Go to Anse Chastanet instead. I'd bet it's hardly more expensive, but it's a lovely place.
Seconded. Totally reccomend the Jade Mountain at Anse Chastanet- the sister resort slightly higher up the hill. Only bad thing about Anse Chastenet is when the boat from Sandals pitches up smile (Never been to Sandals but it does look very Butlins-esque)
I didn't want to say that. There you are just about to set off from the dive centre when the Sandals boat pitches up, overloaded like an Indian train with people in pink Sandals snorkeling gear. hehe
I went to the Sandals Grande in March. It's the best of the three on the island but they all suffer from a degree "artificialness" however the level of service was fantastic. I was on the dive boat most days which was nowhere near full, I'd say the capacity was 20 divers, the maximum we had was 8 plus the guide.

I went to the Royal Bahamian in 2004, this was nowhere near as good as the St Lucian Grande. The resort was far smaller and more built up. The diving was better though.

mdotd

6,871 posts

198 months

Monday 6th July 2009
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Just found out I'm off to St Lucia! biggrin Staying at The Windjammer Landing for 10 days in Sept woohoo

Can.

Not.

Wait!!

audidoody

8,598 posts

270 months

Tuesday 7th July 2009
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Zod said:
Why does she want to go there? Sandals is the Butlins of the Caribbean. Go to Anse Chastanet instead. I'd bet it's hardly more expensive, but it's a lovely place.
What he said. Exactly. Spot on. Best place I've stayed in St Lucia (have stayed at Sport and Sandals). House reef for snorkelling, inacessible by outsiders, friendly, fantastic location, very near the airport, great diving facilities, superb food.

Edited by audidoody on Tuesday 7th July 12:54

audidoody

8,598 posts

270 months

Tuesday 7th July 2009
quotequote all
Zod said:
Why does she want to go there? Sandals is the Butlins of the Caribbean. Go to Anse Chastanet instead. I'd bet it's hardly more expensive, but it's a lovely place.
What he said. Exactly. Spot on. Best place I've stayed in St Lucia (have stayed at Sport and Sandals). House reef for snorkelling, inacessible by outsiders, friendly, fantastic location, very near the airport, great diving facilities, superb food.

Edited by audidoody on Tuesday 7th July 12:56