Sandals Grande St Lucian Spa & Beach Resort

We got married at the Sandals Grande st Lucian and stayed there for two weeks in Nov 2006, when we finally arrived at the hotel we were surprised to be upgrade to a deluxe suite for two nights as we were getting married ( this is the reason they told us).
We were so tired we just wanted to lie down so we didn’t say anything, later realizing that we had to unpack then pack then unpack again after the two nights. Don’t get me wrong the deluxe suite was amazing but it was so unsettling having to move rooms, we just wanted to relax really.
Being in the deluxe room also made our room not feel as special so I am very angry that they did this. The actual reason why they did this was because our room was not ready, as it happened to so many of the other guests that weren’t getting married!
The overall holiday was amazing, food gorgeous, ppl really nice. Just think very over priced, won’t go back again, as other hotels we visited were half price and nearly as good.

Overall the room at the Sandals Grande was disappointing and not as luxurious as expected.
Unlike other hotels we've visited, the bathroom was not supplied with toiletries but instead we were given a welcome pack containing shampoo, conditioner and body lotion which we assume was to last the duration of our holiday.
I had forgotten to take shower gel and was unable to obtain supplies from the small gift shop on site. I found this surprising since there were adequate supplies of everything else from condoms to cream for piles!! The food was very good.
The spa treatments were very expensive compared to London prices. Evening entertainment very poor/almost non-existent. Unless your intention is to take advantage of all water sports, tennis and golf on offer, then I feel that Sandals is not value for money.

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We arrived in St. Lucia and after customs we were met by a rep from Sandals. He greeted us and gave us a welcome package and directed us to the exit where we were told to wait and our transport would be there soon. Within 5 minutes our minibus arrived.
There were 4 of us in the minibus and soon we were on our way. It was nearly dark by this time and then it started raining like we had never imagined rain could fall as heavy as this. The roads in St. Lucia are very bumpy and most of the journey there were no lighting. The rain was so heavy that we could only see a few feet in front of us. It took us one and a half hours to reach our destination. We were so relieved to reach the resort.
It certainly wasn't a journey for the faint hearted! We had previously read about helicopter transfers to the resort but they stop flying around 5pm so we were not able to do them, but speaking to other guests at the resort, I would recommend it if you arrive early enough. I would also recommend booking through the helicopter company themselves (St. Lucia Helicopters)as the price we were quoted from the tour operator was £40 per person more. Now to the resort..... Absolutely beautiful.
We were escorted to our room on the 3rd floor. It was a good size, with a king sized mahogany four poster bed and mahogany furniture with TV,CD player, telephone, iron/board and hairdryer. We also had a fridge filled with soft drinks and fruit juices. We would have had a minibar in our room if we had booked into the category above us as it is in the Concierge level but there were none of these rooms available. Although it did not bother us as we always were within a few metres to one of the many bars.
What made the room special for us was the view from our balcony. It was absolutely breathtaking. On one side we could see Rodney Bay and on the other was Pigeon Island. In between we had views over the manicured grounds, pool and the Caribbean Sea. If anyone is booking a holiday to stay at the resort I would recommend requesting to stay in building 7 and facing the Caribbean. Some rooms face the Atlantic but do not have as nice views. Also request a high floor as rooms on the ground floor can have restricted views from the trees and foliage around the grounds. There is a choice of restaurants.
The Bayside Diner is where we went for our breakfast. It was served buffet style and there was always plenty of choices from fresh fruits and cereals to a full fried breakfast. There was also an omelette station where they were made to your specifications. At night dinner was served there a la carte with a couple of nights they served buffet meals. We did eat there one night at the buffet and there was lots of choice. We did eat a la carte one night but found the service to be very slow. My husband got a steak but did not enjoy it at all.
There is a lovely white glove service restaurant which serves Italian food, but as none of us are keen on Italian food we gave it a miss. We did speak to a couple who had eaten there and they said it was very good. It also gives you a chance to "dress up" in the evening. Barefoot by the sea serves snacks during the day and in the evening it serves seafood and steaks. I would recommend eating here one night, and during the day, I would recommend the ceaser salad and the jerk chicken - very spicy if you like that. It is situated next to the beach and is open air- very romantic in the evening.
Just don't make the mistake I did by wearing high heels as the floor of the restaurant is the actual beach and you just sink into the sand. I just took my shoes off but as it was dark, I was a bit wary of something nipping my toes!! The resort is huge but there are lots of places to go if you want to be alone. The main pool is where all the action is but if you want something quieter there are another two pools with Jacuzzis. The "lovers pool" is in a quieter spot with padded sun loungers and is the ideal place to get away from it all. There are lots of areas just to stroll around and the grounds are beautiful.
Activities like beach volley ball, water aerobics and quizzes are just a few of the daytime activities you can participate in or you can just be lazy and lie and sunbathe. If you feel energetic you can try your hand at waterskiing, hobby cats, snorkelling or scuba diving. All watersports are included in the price of the holiday too. Like all Sandals resorts there is always a wedding taking place which is always nice to see. The one thing I think Sandals loses marks is the evening entertainment (or lack of it).
There is a nightclub but any time we went to it there was only about 4 or 5 couples in so we usually only stayed for a couple of drinks. Most people sat in the reception area and had a drink and chatted. It is really nice there with huge sofas to sit on. Very cosy.
There are lots of bars in the resort and also an English Pub. The food was excellent here and lots of people would go there in the evening for a drink although id did get quite noisy some nights. They did have a talent night but nothing to write home about, apart from the "Sandals" dancers, they were very good. Of course all the food and drinks are included in the price so take advantage and try out some of the cocktails. You have got to try a BBC! - baileys, bananas and coconut rum. It is absolutely gorgeous.
If you are considering doing any of the excursions then I would recommend doing the jeep safari. It takes you in a jeep up into the rainforest with such breathtaking views on the way through banana plantations and a small village. It lasts about half a day. There are lots of excursions to choose from which can be booked at the resort. St. Lucia is such a beautiful island so you should make the effort to leave the resort and check out the island.
There are another 2 sandals resorts and a minibus runs between them all so you can use all the facilities and restaurants at the other resorts. I would say the Grande is the nicest of them all. The staff are very nice at all the resorts and will bend over backwards to help you. They are always smiling and always look genuinely happy at their work. They are not allowed to take tips from the guests but are allowed to accept gifts, so we bought the maid who cleaned our room some t-shirts for her children. She was so grateful to us for them. They only cost a few pounds but you would have thought they cost the earth. She was such a lovely lady.
Sandals resorts may be that bit more expensive but when you include all the food and choice of restaurants and unlimited drinks, top branded drinks I might add, and watersports included, It is well worth the extra money. It is only for couples and it is easy to make new friends. It also caters for all age groups, from newly wed young couples to retired people, so if you think Sandals is not for your age group then you would be wrong.
We had a lovely relaxing holiday, lovely food, breathtaking scenery and brilliant weather. We could not have asked for anything more. OK, maybe I ate and drank too much, but why not, you are allowed to on holiday. Just make sure you take clothes with an elasticated waist for going home in. I actually put on nearly a stone in weight. It is just that there is so much choice and those cocktails are so hard to resist!
If you are considering booking to go, then I would say, go for it, you won't regret it.