Sandals Grande St. Lucian is a 5-star, adults-only, all-inclusive resort situated on the scenic Pigeon Island Peninsula in northwest St. Lucia.
It remains home to this tiny island paradise’s only overwater bungalows
Opened in 2017, the resort’s nine overwater bungalows offer the same Sandals premium, overwater experience as in Jamaica, with glass floor panels, tranquility soaking tubs, outdoor decks and dedicated butler service.
They’re not cheap, of course; budget around $4,000 per night in season for the overwater bungalows
Despite the prices, demand for these nine bungalows is very high, so also prepare to make reservations in advance.
If that price sounds too much, Grande St. Lucian also has a range of opulent beachside suites we think are really good alternatives.
Their two-story Oceanfront Butler Suites for example, are at least half the price, and you get at least double the space.
Sandals Grande St. Lucian at a Glance
- Location: Pigeon Island Peninsula, Rodney Bay, St. Lucia
- Accommodation: Nine exclusive overwater bungalows with glass floor panels, soaking tubs, and private butler service
- Best for: Honeymooners and couples seeking a comprehensive, high-end all-inclusive experience in a prime location
- Meals: Unlimited access to twelve on-site restaurants and six bars, plus exchange privileges at two other Sandals resorts
- Activities: Seven pools, Red Lane Spa, extensive water sports (scuba, waterskiing), tennis, and championship golf access
- Getting there: Complimentary shuttle provided from Hewanorra International Airport (approx. 75-minute drive)
Luxury Overwater Accommodation
The overwater bungalows have the usual Sandals’ 5-star sophisticated design with hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, and outside, large sun decks with plunge pools and loungers.
Beyond the novelty of having the ocean beneath your feet, of course, and instant access to it
The overwaters are very popular, get booked up easily, and are pretty expensive of course.
In St. Lucia more than most, we feel some of the other accommodation looks good value in comparison.
We think you can get the same level, or more, of luxury on dry land but at more affordable rates.
Our particular favorites were their two-story Oceanfront Butler Suites with private plunge pools and jacuzzis, which are at least half the price of the overwaters, starting at around $2,000 per night.
Check out all your options on the official Sandals website here.
Food, Facilities & Things to Do
With twelve restaurants and six bars, the culinary variety is as impressive as you’d expect from a Sandals 5 star.
You can also enjoy a mile of gorgeous sand beach, a massive swimming pool, and full access to the facilities at Sandals Regency La Toc and Sandals Halcyon Beach, which includes a full golf course.
Active guests can take advantage of complimentary water sports—including scuba diving and kayaking, or dry-land activities such as tennis and yoga, followed by treatments at their wonderful Red Lane Spa.
Location: The Pigeon Island Peninsula
The resort sits on a thin strip of land overlooking Rodney Bay, near Gros Islet and Rodney Bay Town itself.
From here, excursions like climbing the Pitons or visiting the Soufriere Volcano are easily arranged via the resort.
St. Lucia is a stunning island, and easy to get around; we’d more highly recommend getting out and about here than in most resorts.
Negatives & Trade-offs
Sandals Grande St. Lucian is one of the Caribbean’s best all-inclusive resorts, but there are a few things we’d consider before splashing out on an overwater bungalow:
- Only Nine Bungalows: Grande St. Lucian has just nine overwaters, so availability is naturally limited. They’re in high demand and can book up well ahead of time, particularly during peak periods.
- The Resort Is Not So Isolated: The Pigeon Island Peninsula is beautiful, but this isn’t a fully remote private-island experience. You’re close to Rodney Bay and Gros Islet, and with the resort’s substantial facilities and other guests around you, you never forget you’re in a resort.
- The Overwater Experience Isn’t Necessarily the Best Value: This is an unusual case where we’d happily recommend the resort while questioning whether we’d pay for its signature accommodation. Their beach suites can offer more space and many of the same luxury services and amenities for quite a bit less.
Our Verdict Overall
We like Sandals Grande St. Lucian a lot, for its premium luxury overwater bungalows, its huge variety of activities and facilities, but most of all for being on our favorite Caribbean island; the stunning St. Lucia.
Ultimately, this property is designed for visitors seeking a fairly active, luxury resort environment with top-tier service infrastructure.
Because it offers such a breadth of amenities, including access to two other sister resorts, it’s more suited for couples wanting to maximize their waking hours with water sports, fine dining, drinking and local island excursions rather than those hunting any kind of off grid desert island type experience.
Check here for deals and special offers on Sandals’ official website.
