Choosing a honeymoon spot can be a bit daunting. It’s so much more than a typical vacation, it’s where you start your married life together. Not only that, it’s traditionally right after your wedding which can be an incredibly wonderful, stressful, overwhelming event. We had originally planned to go to Europe, but after doing some research and starting the planning process, we decided to relax after our big day instead of spending time traveling and sightseeing. We were so happy with our choice of Sandals Grande St. Lucian.
After looking around at several Caribbean islands, we landed on St. Lucia. We also decided on an all-inclusive early on in the planning process. We knew it would help us stay within a budget and allow us to plan a few excursions as well. In the past, we had been to a few inexpensive all-inclusive in Mexico and while we enjoyed our experiences, we knew we wanted higher quality and value for our honeymoon.
In our research, we found that Sandals had great reviews, and they had three locations in St. Lucia where you could travel between them and use all of the amenities. The restaurants had great reviews and there were several pools and bars to choose from each day as well as tons of excursion and amenity options.
Sandals Grande St. Lucian Honeymoon Review
Sandals Grand St. Lucian is an adults-only all-inclusive resort in Rodney Bay. We have nothing against kids, but on our honeymoon, it was important to us to have an adult-only experience. Each day we made our way to the beach or pool, sipped on cocktails from the swim-up bar, and enjoyed paradise! We even made some friends who we still keep in touch with on social media!
There are three Sandals locations in St. Lucia: Halcyon Beach, La Toc, and Grand St. Lucian. Sandals Grand St. Lucian was the biggest Sandals location on the island, and they had the most restaurant options. We stayed for 10 days, so dining options were important to us. Of course, we read tons of reviews ahead of time, and true to their word, the food was so good! In our experience with all-inclusive food, you 100% get what you pay for, and Sandals is a much nicer resort with great food and 5-star premium liquor (i.e. you can recognize the brands like Crown Royal, Absolute, Campari, etc).
I can not say enough great things about the service at this Sandals resort. We met the kindest people who truly seemed to love their jobs. They were more than helpful and constantly went above and beyond to make our honeymoon amazing. One very special person, Damilia, our favorite bartender made the most incredible espresso martinis. We would go out of our way to see her on our way to or from dinner each night! We had the best experience at Sandals Grande St. Lucian on our honeymoon and I can’t recommend it enough!
Best Rooms At Sandals Grande St. Lucian
Over-the-Water Honeymoon Butler Bungalow
We had the opportunity to spend some time in the over-the-water bungalow. We did try to book one for a few nights of our stay, but it was booked solid. There are only a few bungalows in the resort so they go quickly. The bungalow comes with white glove service in the form of a Butler Elite Service. There is a beautiful outdoor soaking tub, glass floor panels so you can see the ocean beneath your feet, an extended sundeck, and an outdoor shower.
You can jump straight into the ocean and enjoy a swim off of your bungalow. You can sleep with the doors wide open and enjoy the ocean breeze at night, or soak under the stars.
Suites with Private Lagoon Pools or Soaking Tubs
- Beachfront Grande Rondoval Butler Suite with Private Pool Sanctuary
- President Clinton Oceanfront Penthouse Two-Story Butler Suite
- Grande Rondoval Butler Suite with Private Pool Sanctuary
- Caribbean Beachfront One Bedroom Butler Suite w/ Tranquility Soaking Tub
- Caribbean Honeymoon One Bedroom Butler Suite w/ Tranquility Soaking Tub
Aside from the President Clinton Oceanfront Penthouse, the above suites all have their own pool sanctuary or private soaking tub. Each also comes with a private 24-hour butler service and in-room private dining.
Lover’s Lagoon Honeymoon Premium
This is where we stayed. Our room overlooked the pool and garden area. The pool we overlooked was a quieter pool without a bar nearby, so it was usually only a few people floating or napping and staying quiet at night. The room itself was beautiful including a furnished balcony, king-size bed, seating area, television, and nice bathroom. Our fridge was fully stocked with wine, beer, water, and soda. The bed was super comfy and everything was super clean.
Swim Up Lover’s Lagoon Honeymoon Club Level
This room is very similar to the one we stayed in. The biggest difference is that this one is at the club level and has a swim-up to the pool we overlooked. It’s a tranquil pool and usually quiet, but my personal concern would be that anyone could technically swim up at any time.
Other Sandals Rooms and Suites
- Caribbean Honeymoon Beachview Penthouse Club Level
- Caribbean Beachview Club Level
- Caribbean Oceanview Penthouse Club Level
- Caribbean Beachview Club Level Walkout
- Caribbean Honeymoon Beachview Grande Luxe
- Caribbean Honeymoon Club Level
- Caribbean Honeymoon Walkout
- Caribbean Tropical Premium
- Caribbean Walkout Deluxe
- Caribbean Deluxe
- Caribbean Luxury Oceanview
The above rooms I don’t have personal experience with, but the biggest difference between them is the balcony size, location, and view, as well as the addition of Club Sandals concierge service.
All of the rooms boast a stocked fridge with wine, beer, sodas, and water. Each comes with various view options from the beach, pool, or garden. All rooms have king-size beds and flat-screen TVs.
Sandals Grande St. Lucian Dining Options
All of the restaurants were included at the resort. There was the option to buy different wine bottles, but they had Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks® Wines included. All restaurants were resort casual, but you’ll find that people dressed up more for the reservation-required options.
Bayside Restaurant
We stopped here just about every morning for a breakfast buffet. There were fresh fruits, juices, meats and cheeses, an omelet station, pastries, and your typical bacon and sausage. I’m not a big breakfast person, but everything was always fresh and the service was great to bring coffee and mimosas!
We also stopped by for lunch a couple of times and the theme changes each day. I believe we had the Carribbean and American lunches.
Toscanini’s Fine Italian Restaurant
We ate at Toscanini’s our first night here and had a great meal after a long travel day! We also came back a couple more times and between us, I think we tried just about all of the dishes! I loved the carpaccio, caprese salad, gnocci, and swordfish, and Kale also loved their signature lasagna. Before you head into the restaurant there is a bar area, this is where we met Damilia, our favorite bartender who made the best espresso martinis!
Josephine’s Gourmet Creperie
This is an easy grab-and-go spot by the pool, so it was perfect on the day we came back from an excursion and needed a late snack/lunch when most of the service restaurants were closed! We had most of the savory crepe options and they were perfect afternoon snacks! You need a few for a full lunch. Our favorite crepe was the champignons with wild mushrooms and cheese, but my favorite thing from this spot was the ice cream!
Dino’s Pizzaria Italiana
Dino’s was situated right by the pool next to the creperie. It was one of the only places open between much and dinner for a snack. It wasn’t the best pizza, but it was a good spot for a snack between meals or after an excursion!
Barefoot By the Sea
We loved Barefoot by the Sea, Carribbean cuisine for dinner. This is a more casual place, you’re eating at picnic tables on the sand, and you’re a shell’s throw away. from the beach! All of the seafood was super fresh and the melon and field greens salad was my favorite! The Mahi Mahi was delicious!
The Jerk Shack
By day, Barefoot by the Sea is the Jerk Shack, a casual Jamaican restaurant on the beach with a great location and grab-and-go food, it’s the perfect spot for lunch! There are few options and you do have to love Jamaican flavors to enjoy The Jerk Shack.
The Mariner Seaside Bar and Grill
The Mariner is in the same region as the Jerk Shack right off the beach and near the pool area. They were great for lunch and had a really great variety of foods on the menu. The Nachos were a great snack, and Kal beloved the Pasta Jambalaya. We both enjoyed the Po’ Boy sandwich, though the burger wasn’t great. I also loved the BLT, this was now of the lighter options on the menu for a lunch by the pool if you didn’t want only a salad.
Olde London Pub
We ended several nights in the Olde London Pub for karaoke. We never ate here for dinner, but we did enjoy some french fries and chicken wings on the late-night menu! They had karaoke here twice a week, and we had the best time singing our hearts out to strangers.
Bombay Club: Reservation Required
I’m a big fan of Indian food, so I was really excited about this reservation. What shocked me, is Kale who doesn’t like Indian food, loved this meal! I keep telling him that means he likes Indian food now! This restaurant was beautifully decorated and on-theme. We tried almost everything. on the menu and it was all incredible!
This reservation-required restaurant was tough to get into, be sure to book your reservations as soon as you arrive! The reservation-required restaurants are so worth it!
Gordan’s Pier Restaurant: Reservation Required
This was the most hyped-up restaurant of all on the property, and honestly, I was underwhelmed. I do think part of the issue was there was a storm rolling in, and we were on the pier, so I got wet while the rain blew in. This was the only instance where they pushed the non-included wine list. The crab cake was good, but unfortunately, the swordfish was overcooked. I had a better one at Toscarini’s on our first night. Overall the atmosphere would have been better if it wasn’t storming. I thought the food was fine, but overhyped, but everyone else seemed to love it, so maybe we were there on an off night.
Kimono’s Oriental Cuisine: Reservation Required
This was another amazing meal. We love hibachi in general, and it was such a fun experience to eat here. The chefs really put on a performance and the food is fantastic. It is a very typical hibachi menu with soup, salad, and your choice of beef, chicken, fish, shrimp, veggies, or tofu.
Soy Sushi Bar
If you hang out on my Instagram stories, you’ll notice we get sushi a few times a month. I absolutely love sushi and it would stand to reason that right by the ocean would be a great place to order it! We were right! We went to Soy Sushi Bar at least three times, twice for dinner, and once for an after-dinner snack. There weren’t a ton of options, but what we ate was delicious!
Sandals Grande St. Lucian Activities
Put each activity in subheading FOUR followed by more info. Then talk about each activity, what you like about them, what makes them enjoyable for couples, what to consider before going, when is the best time for each activity, etc.
Beach and Pool Day
Our main goal on our honeymoon was to get a tan and relax. We had the best time sleeping in, finding a spot by the pool or on the beach (this wasn’t usually difficult), and spending the day in the sun. We had the best time meeting other couples, sitting in the floating hammocks in the ocean, and drinking at the swim-up bar.
Red Lane Spa: Couples Massage
A spa day was at the top of our list after a long wedding planning season, and the Red Lane Spa was amazing. We did a couples massage where we each chose our preferred types of massage and had a wonderful and super romantic experience. It is not an inexpensive experience but it is 100% worth it. After your service, you can stay in the sauna or plunge pools as well.
Golf: Cap Estate Golf and Country Club
My husband, Kale, is a big golfer, and it was important to him to golf on our honeymoon. He invited me along so one morning we hopped on the transport to Cap Estate Golf and Country Club. This is the only Sandals 18-hole golf course, there is also La Toc, a 9-hole course. Greens fees are included, but the mandatory cart rental is not. We both rented clubs and I had to buy a shirt because golf attire for women includes covered shoulders if you are actually golfing.
Unfortunately, We didn’t have enough time to finish 18 holes before the transfer was leaving, as there are st drop-off and pick-up times, but we got to about 14. Overall, Kale ahead a great time, I’m not a golfer, so I was hot and got bored, but perked up a lot when I made par on a hole! It was a nice couples’ activity, and it was a really pretty course, but I think next time I’ll stay back at the pool or ride in the cart.
Water Sports
We tried several times to paddle board or do some water sports, but the times we were ready to go, the wind was too strong to let us go. Instead, we walked down the beach and chose to rent jet skis from an unaffiliated group, and we had a blast! We only got one and split the time driving, it was a really cool way to see Rodney Bay.
Sandals Grande St. Lucian Amenities
- Water Sports
- Red Lane Spa
- Scuba Diving
- Snorkeling
- Golf
- Beach and pool volleyball
- Pool tables
- Day and Night Entertainment
- Transfers and amenity access to all 3 resorts
- Fitness Center
- 12 restaurants (27 in total at all resorts)
- 7 bars
- 5 pools
- 3 whirlpools
- Tennis Courts
- Optional Private Dining
- Optional Excursions
- Optional Private Cabanas
Sandals Grande St. Lucian Location
My one and only complaint about Sandals Grand St. Lucian was the location. It is located on Pigeon Island Gros Islet at the north end. of the island, where the airport is located at the completely opposite southern end. When you read the reviews you’ll notice many warnings for those with motion sickness to be wary of the travel from the airport. You have three options: the transport van, ferry, and a helicopter ride in increasing the cost per ride. We took the van to the resort and the ferry on the way home, and as someone with motion sickness, there is absolutely no good option, but the ferry was really bad.
The van travels on the main road of the island which is covered in hills and mountains and you sit in the back while the van twists up and down the narrow roads. I survived the van ride, but we did have to stop for an older lady in our group who was not feeling well. The ferry, I thought may be better with fresh air, and it was supposed to be a shorter journey. Unfortunately due to a storm rolling in, and where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean the waves were horrible and the boat was rocking badly. I was very sick and it was not an enjoyable end to our trip.
Ultimately, there is nothing Sandals can do about their location, and totally not their fault. It’s just a warning for those with motion sickness problems to be prepared!
