Six St Lucia resort options to compare
Start with who is travelling, then compare the package. An adults-only wing is different from an adults-only resort, and an optional all-inclusive rate is different from a hotel where every stay includes a meal package.
This shortlist compares published policies and booking decisions. Choose the option that fits your room, meals, and daily plans; the order in the table is not a rating.
| Resort | Who should compare it | Plan and booking check |
|---|---|---|
| Sandals Grande St. LucianSandals Grande St. Lucian: Check prices | Adults looking for a beach resort with dining and activities | All-inclusive; motorised water sports available. Check the exact room category. |
| Sandals Halcyon BeachSandals Halcyon Beach: Check prices | Adults comparing another Sandals setting | All-inclusive; motorised water sports available. Confirm your preferred facilities. |
| Sandals Regency La TocSandals Regency La Toc: Check prices | Adults prioritising a villa or private-pool room | All-inclusive; private pools belong to selected categories, not every room. |
| Coconut Bay Beach Resort & SpaCoconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa: Check prices | Families in Splash; adults aged 18+ in Harmony | Premium all-inclusive with UVF airport transfers; some dining venues charge extra. |
| Windjammer LandingWindjammer Landing: Check prices | Guests comparing its Premium All-Inclusive package | Food, drinks and water sports; selected items and room-service delivery cost extra. |
| Jade MountainJade Mountain: Check prices | Guests aged 16+ comparing a room and meal package | All-inclusive is an optional plan; check the package and sanctuary category. |
Adults-only stays: compare the Sandals room before the resort
All three Sandals resorts in Saint Lucia are adults-only and all-inclusive. The group includes dining, premium drinks, and activities, with golf green fees and golf transfers for guests at all three. Motorised water sports are available at Grande St. Lucian and Halcyon Beach.
Complimentary transfers let guests visit the other two resorts. Treat that as an option rather than a reason to ignore the facilities at your own hotel: check the current schedule and how it fits your day.
If a private pool is the priority, compare room categories at all three. The resorts offer selected private-pool rooms, but booking a standard category does not give you a private pool. Check room photographs and the written specification for the rate you select.
Families and adults-only wings: Coconut Bay and Windjammer
Coconut Bay separates its family-friendly Splash wing from Harmony, reserved for adults aged 18 and over. Its published package includes dining, premium drinks, selected activities, and return airport transfers from Hewanorra International Airport, UVF. Confirm the wing and room on the quote.
The resort’s dining FAQ marks La Luna and The Greathouse as additional-charge venues and requires reservations for specialty restaurants. Ask which meals and venues your particular package covers before treating every dinner as included.
Windjammer Landing’s Premium All-Inclusive plan includes food, drinks, and water sports, but selected dishes and top-shelf drinks can carry supplements. Its published room-service terms include a US$10 tray charge. Check the cost of the plan for every guest rather than assuming the room price includes it.
Choose the location as well as the meal plan
Write down your two most important outings before choosing a hotel. A northern base suits days around Rodney Bay and Pigeon Island. A Soufrière base makes sense when the Pitons and nearby gardens are central to the trip.
Compare the road journey from your hotel, not just the distance on a map. Ask for the pickup point, expected return time, and cost for everyone. Add those journeys to the package price so a cheaper room does not hide a transport bill.
For a resort-focused stay, compare the beach, room layout, and dining you will use most days. For a trip with several excursions, compare an all-inclusive upgrade with a breakfast or room-only rate. Keep the room and cancellation terms the same.
A day out at Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens
Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens and Mineral Baths is in Soufrière. Allow at least an hour for the gardens and waterfall. Leave more time if you also want to use the mineral baths, which have separate charges.
Bathing is not allowed in the waterfall. For the mineral baths, bring a swimsuit and towel. Check the garden’s opening hours and arrange the return journey before leaving the resort.
Treat the outing as a separate line in your holiday budget. Ask whether a tour includes garden entry, baths, lunch and transport. Do not assume your resort meal plan covers meals away from the hotel.
If you will be away for most of the day, count only the resort meals you expect to use when comparing an all-inclusive upgrade. A day trip with lunch included can change that calculation.
Is all-inclusive worth it in St Lucia?
It is most attractive when you expect to eat most meals at the resort and use the included drinks or activities. It is less compelling when several days will be spent on excursions with lunch included, or when you want to eat in different local restaurants.
Calculate the upgrade for your whole party and full stay. Then compare it with the meals and drinks you would otherwise buy, subtracting anything already included in the base rate. Count included activities only if you would genuinely pay for them.
A simple break-even check
Hypothetical example, not a resort quote: an upgrade of US$180 per person per day costs US$2,520 for two adults over seven nights. If your expected extra spending is US$140 per person per day, the plan costs US$560 more across the stay before any other differences.
Use the same tax treatment on both sides of the calculation. Also weigh convenience: paying a little more for predictable spending may still suit you, but it should be a deliberate choice.
Compare the plan against a week you would enjoy
Sketch the week before buying the meal plan. Mark resort days, a garden or sightseeing day, and any boat outing. Note where lunch is likely to happen on each day. Then price the meals and drinks you would otherwise buy.
For a family, use the children’s ages and menu rules in the calculation. For a couple, count the restaurants and drinks you prefer rather than the largest possible bill. Add supplements for the dinners you actually want.
Keep convenience in the decision. A plan can be worth a little extra if it makes daily spending easier. Choose that trade-off after comparing the total, rather than assuming every all-inclusive package is better value.
Check children's terms and extras
Windjammer’s complimentary dining offer for children aged 11 and under requires ordering from the children’s menu. It is not a promise that every child stays free in every room or package. Jade Mountain does not accommodate guests under 16; its all-inclusive and other meal plans are separate booking options.
For any plan, request the covered restaurants, drink list, room-service charges, activity rules, and exclusions. Add airport transport and flights separately unless your quote explicitly includes them. Do not assume a full-board plan covers the same drinks as an all-inclusive plan.
Five checks before paying for an all-inclusive stay
First, confirm the room and guest ages in writing. Second, request the restaurants and drinks covered by your rate. Third, check supplements, reservation rules, and room-service charges. Fourth, confirm airport transfers for your arrival airport. Finally, add excursions and other extras to the total.
Compare the complete package on the same tax basis. Keep the inclusions with your booking confirmation so you can check a change or resolve a question later. Do not assume that full board includes the same drinks as an all-inclusive plan.
Plan the next part.
Jade Mountain: rooms and booking checks