St. Lucia: 3 Resorts That Impressed Me (and 3 That Didn’t)

Have you ever considered visiting the Caribbean island of St. Lucia? First of all, I absolutely recommend the island as a whole. I have had the pleasure of visiting twice in the past 4 years, and within those visits, I have been able to stay at 3 resorts, and visit 10 others. Seeing these places in person is one of my favorite parts of the job, but also one of the most important! Photos online can tell you a lot, but there are some things you really don’t understand until you’ve actually walked through the property.

During my visits, I was able to see some of the rooms, try some of the food/drinks, and meet some of the staff to really get a full picture of what staying at the properties would be like. Some resorts were exactly what I expected, while others completely surprised me (for better or worse).

Seeing that many resorts in person also reminded me how different the experience can be from one property to another, and allowed me to envision which type of traveler belonged in each resort. It also really demonstrated how the most expensive resort isn't always "the best" resort.

Here are three resorts that impressed me, three that didn’t, and one honorable mention that deserves some attention too!

3 Resorts That Impressed Me

Zoëtry Marigot Bay St. Lucia

Zoëtry Marigot Bay surprised me because it offers something completely different from the typical Caribbean beachfront resort.

The property sits along a boat marina rather than directly on a traditional beach, and it’s built into a hillside with beautiful views overlooking the still water. The whole resort felt incredibly quiet and peaceful, which is exactly the kind of atmosphere I would want if I were coming here to truly relax, and experience a different kind of view and vibe.

But, don't worry beach-lovers, there was still beach access! They actually have a very tiny beach that guests can access by boat, and even that felt secluded and tucked away. This made the resort a great option for those wanting to avoid crowds.

Overall, Zoëtry lived up to its branding for a serene, wellness-focused experience. If you want somewhere peaceful and unique with beautiful views and a more secluded atmosphere, this property does that incredibly well!

Ladera Resort

There are a few resorts on the island that are known for their open-air concept rooms, meaning there is no 4th wall. Of all the open-air concept resorts I toured in St. Lucia, Ladera was easily my favorite!

The resort felt tropical and islandy while still feeling luxe and elevated. I loved the dining, the main pool, and the overall atmosphere of the property. It had its own welcoming personality that I really just vibed with.

The hospitality at Ladera was incredible too! Everyone we interacted with was incredibly nice and welcoming, and the service added a lot to my impression of the resort.

One random thing I saw there that I loved was their hot tub! It was in this really unique space that felt like you were in a hot spring of sorts!

Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa

Coconut Bay was probably my biggest surprise for families because there was SO much to do! Between the lazy river, waterslides, activities, and different food options, I felt like a family could spend several days here without getting bored.

The biggest tradeoff for me was the beach. Coconut Bay sits on the Atlantic side of St. Lucia, so the water is rougher and wavier than the calm, clear Caribbean water you’ll find on the other side of the island. They do have a nicer beach area, but it requires a bit of a walk to get there.

If your family cares more about pools, activities, food, and keeping everyone entertained than having that picture-perfect Caribbean beach right outside your room, I think Coconut Bay has a LOT going for it!

Coconut Bay is also super close to the airport, making it a great option for families who want to get off the plane and start their vacation without spending a couple of hours driving along St. Lucia’s long, winding roads first.

Now for my adults-only travelers, if you like what Coconut Bay has to offer but want a more kid-free experience, Serenity at Coconut Bay is right next door and is an adults-only oasis, with access to Coconut Bay! Serenity felt much quieter, intimate, and secluded, but you’re still close to the additional food and entertainment at Coconut Bay when you want it.

Honorable Mention: BodyHoliday

I couldn’t leave BodyHoliday off this list because its wellness-focused concept offers something I haven’t seen at many other all-inclusive resorts!

One of the coolest things about staying at BodyHoliday is that you get a spa treatment included for each day of your stay. They also offer DOZENS of activities and sports throughout the day, including different fitness classes, so you can make the trip as active or relaxing as you want it to be.

I also really enjoyed the farm-to-table dining concept, and everything I tried while I was there was delicious!

The star of BodyHoliday to me, though, was the beach. There are so many impressive resorts on St. Lucia, but many of them lack a good clear-water Caribbean beach. Here, the water was calm and clear, with an amazing reef right offshore for snorkeling.

If you’re someone who loves wellness and fitness but still wants the food, beach, and relaxation of a Caribbean vacation, BodyHoliday gives you a really unique combination of all of it.

3 Resorts That Didn’t Impress Me

Before I start naming names, I want to make one thing VERY clear: a resort not impressing me does NOT automatically make it a bad resort!

There are properties on this list that I would still consider for the right traveler because the things that bothered me may not matter at all to someone with different priorities. Seeing these resorts in person simply showed me some drawbacks that I hadn’t fully appreciated from their photos and marketing online.

With that being said, one of these REALLY surprised me.

Jade Mountain

Jade Mountain was one of the resorts I was MOST excited to see in person because it has a reputation for being one of St. Lucia’s most luxurious properties. Those massive open-air rooms with the incredible views are all over the internet, and I will absolutely give them this: the rooms really are INSANE!

Unfortunately, that was where most of my excitement stopped... Once I left the rooms, I found the rest of the property surprisingly stark and lacking the ambiance I expected from such a high-end Caribbean resort. I’m just going to say it...parts of the resort reminded me of a jail. Don't come for me. 😬

I was also surprised by how inconvenient it felt to get around and access different dining options. There was essentially one main restaurant at Jade Mountain during my visit, with additional restaurants available at its sister resort, Anse Chastanet. Since both properties are built into a massive hill, going somewhere else to eat can mean navigating steep paths or relying on transportation around the resorts.

If I were spending that much money on a hotel, I personally wouldn’t want going to dinner to feel like an event in itself.

Even getting to Jade Mountain was an experience because the road to the resort was genuinely the scariest road I have ever been on! I’m not exaggerating when I say I would reserve this one for the unlimited-budget traveler who can just helicopter directly to the property. 😂

Despite all of that, I can still see exactly who Jade Mountain could be incredible for. If you have the budget to make the room itself the destination, want tons of privacy, and plan to spend a lot of your vacation enjoying that insane view from your open-air room, I completely understand the appeal.

For me, the overall resort experience just didn’t live up to how incredible the rooms were.

Anse Chastanet

Anse Chastanet is Jade Mountain’s sister resort, and unfortunately, I had some of the same issues with this property.

The entire resort is built along very steep terrain, which made getting around feel inconvenient to me. The overall atmosphere was also much sleepier than some of the other resorts I visited, and the rooms didn’t have the same WOW factor as Jade Mountain’s rooms to make me more willing to overlook those inconveniences.

Someone looking for a quiet, laid-back resort who doesn’t mind the hills may feel completely differently about Anse Chastanet, but there were other resorts in St. Lucia that I was much more excited about after seeing them in person.

Royalton Saint Lucia

Royalton didn’t impress me for completely different reasons than Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet.

My biggest issue was how BIG and exposed the resort felt, with a lot of concrete and not nearly enough shade for St. Lucia’s hot, humid weather. Walking between the rooms, the pools, and the restaurants during the heat of the day was brutal!

Some of the rooms also felt dated and a little musty, which brought down my overall impression of the property. I did prefer the adults-only side over the family-friendly side here, but neither side stood out to me compared with some of the other resorts I visited around the island.

However, I would NOT completely write Royalton off! If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option and LOVE a big, lively pool scene, this could still be a good fit. The pools were huge and hoppin’, so someone planning to spend most of their vacation hanging out by the pool may care a whole lot less about the things that bothered me.

Finding the Right Resort Is About More Than Picking the “Best” One

If you've been reading my content for a while, you know I'm gonna say: I don’t think there is ONE property I could point to and call “the best.”

I loved Zoëtry for its peaceful atmosphere, Coconut Bay for families, and Ladera for its open-air concept. But, none of those resorts would be my first choice for every traveler.

Seeing these differences in person helps me look beyond the prettiest photos, biggest names, and highest price tags to understand what staying at each resort is actually like.

The best resort for your trip is the one that fits what YOU actually want from your vacation.

Ready to Plan Your Trip to St. Lucia?

If St. Lucia is calling your name and you're ready to start planning your trip, schedule a Discovery Call with me here!