Sandals Grande St. Lucian
Sandals Grande St Lucian is the brand's flagship on Saint Lucia, set on a peninsula at Rodney Bay in Gros Islet next to Pigeon Island National Park. Its mile-long beach looks out over both the Atlantic and the Caribbean with the Pitons in the distance, and it is the reason so many couples who stay once start planning a return. It is adults only and couples focused, one of three Sandals resorts on the island.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +A mile-long beach on a peninsula at Rodney Bay with 360-degree views of both the Atlantic and the Caribbean, and the Pitons on the horizon; many repeat Sandals guests rank it among the best beaches the brand has
- +Twelve specialty restaurants and seven bars, including a swim-up bar, with unlimited drinks, stocked in-room minibars and Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks wines included
- +The water-sports list is unusually generous: PADI-certified scuba diving with a dedicated scuba pool, snorkeling gear, water skiing, wakeboarding, Hobie Cats, paddleboards and kayaks, all included
- +Green fees at the 18-hole Cap Estate Golf & Country Club, about five minutes away, plus round-trip shuttles to the course are included
- +Taxes, gratuities, round-trip airport transfers and Wi-Fi everywhere are in the price, so there is no tipping arithmetic and little to pay on top
- +Stay at 1, Play at 3 gives you the amenities, services and dining at Sandals Regency La Toc and Sandals Halcyon Beach too
- +Overwater Bungalows with glass floor panels and butler service, two-story oceanfront Butler Suites and Rondoval Suites with private plunge pools give honeymooners real room choice
Cons
- −It sits at the top of the Saint Lucia all-inclusive market, and the total for a week with flights runs well above comparable resorts in the Dominican Republic or Mexico
- −The main international airport, Hewanorra (UVF), is a 41-mile drive away at the far end of the island; helicopter transfers cost extra
- −Service gets mixed reviews: not every couple gets the over-the-top treatment the honeymoon marketing promises, and some guests describe a sales push from certain staff
- −Some high-end all-inclusive veterans prefer Excellence Punta Cana for food consistency and service at a lower price
- −Hurricane season runs June to November, and rain is possible even outside it
- −The Red Lane Spa costs extra, as do excursions like the Soufriere cruise to the Pitons and Sulphur Springs
The practical package is broad. There are 12 specialty restaurants and seven bars, including a swim-up bar, and the food gets better reviews than the Sandals average from guests who have stayed at several of the brand's resorts. You also get five pools, three whirlpools and a scuba pool, PADI-certified diving, water skiing and wakeboarding, golf green fees at the nearby Cap Estate Golf & Country Club, tennis and a fitness center, all included along with taxes, gratuities and airport transfers. Rooms run from standard categories up to Overwater Bungalows, two-story Butler Suites and Rondoval Suites with private plunge pools. Service is warm for most guests but not uniformly so, and the Red Lane Spa is extra.
It suits honeymooners, anniversary couples and divers who want Saint Lucia's volcanic scenery with almost everything prepaid. It sits at the top of the island's all-inclusive price range and costs more than comparable Dominican and Mexican resorts once flights are added, though included diving, golf and transfers narrow the gap. Stay at 1, Play at 3 adds the facilities at Regency La Toc and Halcyon Beach, and the Pitons, the Sulphur Springs mud baths, ziplining and Pigeon Island are the usual excursions.
Common Questions
How does Sandals Grande St Lucian compare to the other Saint Lucia Sandals resorts?
What is included at Sandals Grande St Lucian?
How far is it from the airport?
Is it worth the premium over Mexico or the Dominican Republic?
When is the best time to go?
Restaurants (12)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Italian | Toscanini's, Dino's Pizzeria |
| Japanese & sushi | Soy Sushi Bar |
| Teppanyaki / hibachi | Kimonos |
| Seafood | Barefoot By The Sea, Gordon's on the Pier |
| French | Bayside, Josephine's |
| Caribbean & local | The Jerk Shack |
| Indian | Bombay Club |
| American & grill | The Mariner |
| Pub | Olde London Pub |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Marigot Bay35 min drive · 17 mi
Pigeon Island National Landmark9 min walk · 0.4 mi
Reduit Beach8 min drive · 3.1 mi
Anse La Raye (Friday fish fry)40 min drive · 20 mi
Vigie Beach20 min drive · 7.6 mi
Castries Market20 min drive · 8.3 mi
More things to do (23)
- Marigot Beach · beach35 min drive · 17 mi
- Canaries · town50 min drive · 27 mi
- Rodney Bay Marina · marina5 min drive · 1.8 mi
- Pigeon Island Beach · beach8 min walk · 0.4 mi
- Sandals St. Lucia Golf and Country Club · golf5 min drive · 1.5 mi
- Gros Islet (Friday Night Street Party) · town5 min drive · 1.2 mi
- Catamaran day trip to Soufrière and the Pitons · excursion5 min drive · 1.8 mi
- Sunset cruise from Rodney Bay · excursion5 min drive · 1.8 mi
- Whale and dolphin watching · excursion5 min drive · 1.8 mi
- Deep-sea fishing charter · excursion5 min drive · 1.8 mi
- Cas en Bas Beach · beach9 min drive · 2.9 mi
- Splash Island Water Park · water park9 min drive · 3.4 mi
- Choc Beach · beach20 min drive · 7.1 mi
- Folk Research Centre · museum20 min drive · 8.0 mi
- Derek Walcott Square · historic site20 min drive · 8.6 mi
- Castries · town20 min drive · 8.6 mi
- Morne Fortune and Fort Charlotte · historic site25 min drive · 11 mi
- Rainforest Adventures (aerial tram and zip-line) · adventure park30 min drive · 11 mi
- Anse Cochon Beach · beach50 min drive · 23 mi
- Millet Bird Sanctuary Trail · nature55 min drive · 20 mi
- Mamiku Gardens · nature60 min drive · 29 mi
- Maranatha Gardens · nature60 min drive · 32 mi
- Treetop Adventure Park · adventure park60 min drive · 27 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
St. Lucia gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.5 · 3,304 reviews
“Sandals Grande has very mixed reviews when you Google the resort so I was nervous to go but loved it. Overall, it was the most amazing all inclusive we have been to due to location, food and overall experience. It is romantic and couples focused whic...”
“I wanted to write and commend the people and the Sandals Resort we stayed at. We have never been to a Sandals let alone out of the USA. What a great first experience!!! When we arrived at the resort, we were treated like royalty by everyone from t...”
“Exceptional resort! Just back from a week there traveling with another couple and we had the best time. There’s so much to do, the grounds, the buildings, the room, the beach were immaculate; and the staff are truly engaged and helpful. Even the...”
