The beautiful island of St. Lucia is the ideal destination for beachgoers, those looking for adventure, and couples having a romantic getaway. The picturesque terrain makes one feel like they just stepped into paradise. Now imagine all that plus getting top-notch treatment. After staying at Sandals Grande St. Lucian many times, I have noticed how welcoming and friendly the staff is. The minute you step off the shuttle bus and into the main foyer, you are greeted with a “welcome home” while passing you a drink and warm towel that’s dipped into a lemongrass scent. The mantra on the island is to relax, forget about your worries, and enjoy the company and views.
Getting There
St. Lucia is ready to welcome you home! Before heading to this majestic island visit StLucia.Org to stay current with Covid Entry Protocols and my Guide to the island of St. Lucia blog of what to expect when arriving at St. Lucia’s Hewanorra Airport.
Sandals Grande St. Lucian Resort & Spa is on the Northside of the island. It takes approximately 90 minutes from the airport via shuttle buses, private car transfer, and ferry boats. Another alternative to reaching the North end quicker is taking a 15-20 minute helicopter ride. You will start your trip off with scenic aerial views of the island, which is a tour in itself, by taking the flight! The helicopter will take you to the smaller airport George F. L. Charles Airport that’s designed for private jets, island hopper planes, and helicopters. From there, a Sandals transfer bus will meet you and take you the rest of the way. Sandals Resort provides complimentary transfer on a shuttle bus that holds a few other couples going to the same resort. However, If you choose an alternative route by taking either the ferry, private shuttle, or helicopter, you will have to book those separately through a local company.
Island Taxi and Tours has various options to get you and your significant other to the resort. If you want to start your trip off in total luxury, opt for the private transfer upgrade, where you will have a police escort to your resort. This option is the fastest way on land to avoid traffic congestion and definitely a showstopper.
Accommodations
Whether you choose to go for just a simple Caribbean Deluxe room or you plan to spend your vacation in total luxury in an over-the-water bungalow. You will not be disappointed; you’re in paradise after all!
The three times my husband and I have been to Sandals, we decided to stay in the Caribbean Walkout Deluxe with a lovely porch overlooking the gardens. Why have we not splurged and stayed at a club level or butler room? We chose this room knowing that Sandals is not a cheap vacation, and we would use that money and extend our vacation days or explore the island with tours. Plus, we are only in the room at night or getting ready for dinner. The remainder of the time, we’re having fun on the beach, dancing at dusk, or doing sing-a-longs in the Piano Bar.
So let’s talk about what each room does have and consider what you might want to pack. One big “must-have” is bringing electrical adapters or a USB port. Each room has at least one 110 volt outlet, but it’s usually not in the bathroom area. So it’s worthwhile to pack an adapter since most outlets are 240 volts. All rooms come stocked with a small hairdryer along with Red Lane Spa amenity kits (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and soap). These toiletries you can avoid packing unless you’re like me and love using your supplies. Each room also has a security safe that’s perfect for throwing your passports, purses, and any other valuables you may have brought. The best part about Sandals All-Inclusive is no cash is needed unless buying something from outside vendors or going on tours. You will be charging for any extra goods or services on the card used at check-in. That said, you can leave all your belongings in your room without having to deal with it.
Another note is that each room has a small refrigerator stocked with cold water, sodas, juices, and beer. If you’re running low, a quick call to the lobby can have your fridge restocked. The bed is comfortable after a long day of drinking by the pool and having fun with the nightly entertainment planned by the Sandals Entertainment staff. The WIFI is throughout the entire resort, which is perfect, especially if you don’t have an international cellphone plan and don’t want to spend money on the extra charges for long-distance.
Dining
If you ever wanted to try a new dish or cuisine, now is your chance with the diverse array of 12 restaurants on the Grande property. By staying at Sandals, under normal circumstances, guests staying at Grande St. Lucian can usually shuttle to the other two Sandals Resorts on the island and visit their restaurants. Shuttling to other resorts has been postponed until further notice due to the pandemic. However, check before heading to the resort to see where that situation stands. Depending on vaccination status, you can hire a taxi service to pick you up and take you to one of the other two resorts.
Please note that La Toc is about a 30-minute drive, and Halcyon is about a 20-minute drive from Sandals St. Lucian Grande Resort.
Most restaurants in the evening are resort casual attire, with only a few exceptions that are resort evening attire. What does this mean?
Simply put, resort casual means shorts, jeans, and polo shirts for men, and resort evening attire means that dress pants, dress shirts, and nice sandals/ shoes are allowed. For us women, the most common apparel for evening dining tends to be summer dresses or skirts with a nice top and sandals. The temperature stays pretty constant at a range of 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit, so getting cold at night isn’t an issue. Be mindful that most restaurants need to have reservations, especially now with the pandemic. Currently, only London Pub, Bayside, and Soy are the only restaurants not requiring reservations.
A pro tip is to make your dinner reservations with the resort concierge as soon as you can.
Unfortunately, you cannot make any reservations until you reach the resort. However, if you’re staying in a Butler suite, you may be able to set something up directly with them based on your priority preferences. What I find efficient is knowing what restaurants you will want to dine at and what days certain ones are closed. Having a rough idea will give you a leg up when you’re talking with the concierge trying to set up your dining experience for the duration of your stay. The more organized you can get, the faster you can relax and enjoy the day sipping drinks by the pool. You can find each restaurant’s menu, hours, and dress code by visiting www.Sandals.com.
Daytime Activities and Adventures
When you stay at the resort, you will get a copy of the “Today’s Activities” newsletter in your welcome packet located in your accommodations. Inside the newsletter, you will find a daily activities guide to showcase where and when pool/beach activities will commence, entertainment for the evening, and what workout classes are taking place in the gym area. Trust me; you will want to participate in the prizes’ activities. Rewards can range from a small gift from the souvenir shop, a bottle of rum, to a day under a cabana. Currently, when playing games, you are rewarded with points. Once you reach 100 points, you can cash in for a prize.
My husband and I won the day under the cabana after participating in their nightly Dancing with the Grande Stars entertainment back in 2019! Unfortunately, this event is currently postponed due to Covid. However, the Sandals Playmakers and the talented, friendly Sandals Entertainment Manager Jeva will ensure your entertainment and games are top-notch! Other options are hitting the greens to play a round of golf in paradise and visiting other nearby Sandals (La Toc and Halcyon) via shuttle bus; however, currently, to gain access to the other resorts, you must hire a taxi. The taxi service has restrictions based on vaccination status and conditions due to the pandemic.
If you want a more relaxed vibe during the afternoon, head to the front desk and book a cabana for the day! Sanjay and Heather were the best cabana attendants we had! The cabana is an extra cost to your stay. The mini cabanas cost $130 US, and the stage cabanas, which come with a larger space, table, and lounge couch, cost $150 US per day. My husband and I definitely thought it was worth it and ended up booking three times during our time at the resort. The cabana includes a cooler stocked with water and beer, breakfast off the Toscanini’s menu, and lunch off various restaurant menus that will be brought to you by the attendants for your choosing. Throughout the day, any frozen drinks, cocktails, or anything you need, Sanjay and Heather will help you out! Also, ask what their favorite drink is and try it out! Going off the drink menu is always a fun experience.
During the afternoon, stroll to one of the pools on Sandal Grandes Property and grab a drink at the Beach Bar or swim-up bar.
The Grande has in total four pools which are:
- The Main pool is where you will find the swim-up bar, daily activities put on by the Sandals Playmakers, and a game of water volleyball by the waterfall section across from the bridge.
- The Lovers Pool shaped like a heart and away from the hustle and bustle gives you that privacy but still can hear some music being played at the main pool.
- The Lagoon pool is for those with a swim-up suite or those looking for additional privacy
- The Scuba Pool is for those looking to take it up a notch, get certified, and head to the open waters.
There are also multiple whirlpools available to use throughout the day into the evening and after the entertainment is done for the night.
Spa Services
While on the property, choose your journey and experience a lavishing massage with your significant other. Whether you decide to escape from your stresses in a botanical garden or on the beach with a Caribbean backdrop setting, Red Lane Spa Massage Therapist will make sure your journey will heal the mind-body and soul. There are many massage options to choose from that will be customized to you and your significant other. If you opt to skip the full body massage, Red Lane Spa service also provides facials, manicures, and pedicures to enjoy. Regardless of whether you choose to enjoy any treatments during your stay, the spa area offers people to use their hot tub jacuzzi area, which is a hidden gem tucked back into a tropical garden. Under normal circumstances, guests can also enjoy the sauna on the property without any additional charges. However, the sauna is currently on hold due to the pandemic. Check with the front desk or Red Lane Spa desk to find out what’s available when you’re on the property.
Water Sports
Sandals offer various options to choose from when hitting the high waters. Share a kayak and paddle around the bay with your significant other, Stand-Up Paddle-board on the calm waters, set sail to cruise around the harbor on your own Hobie Cat. Feel the adrenaline and hit the wakes with waterskiing and kneeboarding or dive under the sea and snorkel with the diverse array of fish and coral. These water amenities are complimentary when staying at the Grande.
If you’re a certified Scuba diver, you can go out with Sandals dive boat once a day with two tanks or twice a day with one tank per trip. If you’re not certified, but scuba diving is on your bucket list of things to do when staying on the island, there are options for you to get out in the open water.
- Take a 3-hour short program when on the resort, which will allow you one open water dive during your stay.
- Take an 8-hour online program before arrival. Once you are on Sandals property, you will take a practical exam with a PADI-certified instructor and dive the same day if you pass.
Tours
Sandals have joined forces with Island Route tours and JJ Speedboat. St. Lucia has an abundance of options for sightseeing and adventure. Whether you take your trip to new heights and hike the Pitons, take a therapeutic sulphur mud bath, visit a rum distillery, zip-line through the lush rainforest, or scuba dive under the sea. There is something for everyone to enjoy. My suggestion is to wait until you’re on a sandal property to see the various tour options offered and figure out what’s your best day to head off the resort. I say this because the weather can be a deciding factor, and with a Covid-19 pandemic, only certain ones may be available at the time. Another tour that’s also fun is the Joe Knows Land and Sea tour; however, this is similar to JJ Speedboat.
My husband and I have done the Joe Knows tour twice and the Soufriere Adventure with Island Routes. If you want that fun, energetic party vibe, I highly suggest doing JJ Speedboat or Joe Knows tour. If you’re more prone to motion sickness opt for a more low-key boat ride and book the Catamaran Soufriere Adventure Cruise with Island Routes.
Pigeon Island National Park
Pigeon Island National Park is next to the Sandals Grande St. Lucian Resort. If you are vaccinated, you will be able to venture over on your own or go with a tour guide if you’re unvaccinated. Entering the park is $10USD per person, and you will have access to all hiking trails and recreational areas. Most people visit this National Park by hiking to Fort Rodney. The path to the fort is paved and compacted dirt. It starts to get a bit steeper at the midway point, but there are handrails to help give you the last push to climb up a set of vertical stairs. The next trail takes you to Signal Peak. The trail is more intense than the one leading to the fort, but it’s doable. The rock scrambles and loose gravel makes the hike more challenging but making it to the top is worth it for the views. Descending from Signal Peak and taking the trail that leads down to the Atlantic Ocean, you will be able to walk through ruins from military buildings used during the French and British battles.
Getting to this park in the early morning will definitely be your friend, not because of the crowds but due to the humidity and sun. It took about an hour to tackle both hiking trails starting at 9 am. If you head out for an afternoon hike, be sure to pack water and take it slow if you’re not used to hiking in the heat.
Nightlife at the Grande
Every night, Sandals has nightly entertainment for guests to enjoy. So be ready to bring your moves out at the beach party, listen and watch the beautiful Sandal’s entertainers light up the night with water, broadway, and burlesque shows, and dance with the DJ into the late night. Suppose you prefer a bit more of a relaxed scene, head down to the Piano Bar for sing-a-longs and music trivia. Gemma, the pianist, knows how to capture an audience and has a great vibe to get guests to engage. Who knows, you might just meet your lifelong friends there while belting out the greatest hits! Piano Bar is a must-visit when on the property, and don’t forget to visit the downstairs bar next to Toscanini’s. The bartenders know how to make one delicious chocolate martini that will make you keep coming back!
Overall Thoughts
Sandals Grande St. Lucian is a gorgeous resort with picturesque views of Rodney Bay. This island is definitely one that should be on your bucket list and visited at least once in your lifetime. The options are endless for activities and tours to do on the island. The amenities and entertainment are plentiful on-site. The Sandals staff would absolutely love to welcome you home and make sure you have the best time in paradise.
