All-Inclusive Resorts in Saint Lucia: What Each Plan Covers

What is an all-inclusive resort in Saint Lucia?

An all-inclusive resort in Saint Lucia sells one price that covers your room, meals, drinks and most activities. The main ones are Sandals, BodyHoliday, Royalton Saint Lucia, Coconut Bay, Serenity at Coconut Bay, Windjammer Landing and East Winds, and several smaller hotels sell all-inclusive rates alongside other plans.

The idea is simple but the details differ, and they matter. Some resorts include premium spirits, scuba diving, golf and airport transfers. Others include food and house drinks, with extras charged on top. A few sell all-inclusive as one option among several, so the price you see first may be for a room only. We have checked each resort's own website for what it says it includes, but plans change, so confirm yours before you pay.

Saint Lucia suits the all-inclusive format because the island is small and winding, and many guests want to spend their time in one place rather than driving for every meal. The best resorts also open up the island by offering tours and excursions, so a plan that begins on the beach does not have to end there.

Which all-inclusive resorts are in the north?

Most of the island's all-inclusive resorts cluster around Rodney Bay, Gros Islet and Castries. Sandals Grand Bay, formerly Sandals Grande St. Lucian, stands in Gros Islet, a short walk from Pigeon Island National Landmark. Its own website lists overwater bungalows, golf green fees at the neighbouring course, scuba for certified divers, water sports, premium liquors, airport transfers and gratuities, all within an adults-only resort.

Sandals La Toc, known for many years as Sandals Regency La Toc, lies on a hillside estate close to Castries, with a crescent beach, cliffside villas with private pools and a nine-hole golf course. A third resort, Sandals Halcyon Beach, offers swim-up rooms near Castries. Guests at any of the three can use the facilities of the other two, which Sandals calls its stay at one, play at all arrangement.

Royalton Saint Lucia stands at Smugglers Cove on Cap Estate, and British Airways Holidays describes it as an all-inclusive resort with many pools, several restaurants, kids' and teen clubs and a spa. Guests can upgrade to its Diamond Club, which has an adult-only pool, a private lounge and a separate beach.

Windjammer Landing, on Labrelotte Bay, sells a premium all-inclusive plan that adds à la carte dining at several restaurants, premium spirits and motorised water sports. East Winds, also on Labrelotte Bay, is a small beachfront resort that British Airways Holidays lists as all-inclusive, with cottages set among gardens and a restaurant beside the sea. BodyHoliday is a wellness resort on a crescent beach whose all-inclusive plan includes a spa treatment on every full day of your stay.

Choosing between them is mostly a question of mood. Sandals is social and polished, with many restaurants and bars, evening shows and a long list of included sports. Royalton and Windjammer Landing are built for families and groups, with space for children to roam. East Winds is calm and small. BodyHoliday is the one to choose if you want to arrive tired and leave rested, because the days are organised around classes, treatments and time outdoors. Each sits within easy reach of Rodney Bay, where you can find restaurants, shops, a marina and the long sweep of Reduit Beach for a change of scene.

And in the south near the airport?

The south has two all-inclusive options within a few minutes of Hewanorra International Airport, which makes arrival easy after a long flight. Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa is a premium all-inclusive resort at Vieux Fort, beside a long beach. British Airways Holidays describes two areas: Harmony, which is for adults, and Splash, which has a kids' club and a water park with slides and a lazy river. It lists complimentary airport transfers.

Serenity at Coconut Bay is its couples-only neighbour. Its own website describes thirty-six plunge pool suites with butler service, gourmet dining and a personalised bar, all within an all-inclusive plan, and it says the resort is only minutes from the airport. It suits couples who want privacy and do not mind staying within a resort for much of the trip.

The south is quieter than the north, with fewer restaurants and shops outside the resort gates, so these two suit guests who plan to stay put. It is also a base for the Pitons and Soufrière, which lie within a drive of about an hour, so you can combine a resort stay with day trips.

What does all-inclusive actually cover?

Read the small print on four things. First, drinks: some plans include premium spirits and wine, others limit top-shelf brands or charge a supplement for them. Second, dining: many resorts include several restaurants, though some require reservations and a few specialty items carry a charge. Third, activities: non-motorised water sports are usually free, while motorised sports, scuba and tours are included at some resorts and charged at others. Fourth, extras: spa treatments, excursions and private dining are often separate, although BodyHoliday includes a daily spa treatment.

Sandals states that its plan includes scuba diving for certified divers, golf green fees, airport transfers, Wi-Fi, taxes and gratuities, and it lists the activities that are not included. Windjammer Landing's premium plan includes children's dining for ages eleven and under from a dedicated menu. Cap Maison, Zoetry Marigot Bay, StolenTime, Calabash Cove and Ti Kaye also sell all-inclusive rates, and each has its own list of inclusions.

Ask what happens if you want to eat elsewhere. Most all-inclusive resorts do not refund meals you skip, so if you plan to try restaurants in Rodney Bay or Soufrière, a plan with breakfast and one or two dinners may suit you better. Each resort's own page and website spells out what its plan includes.

Which are adults only, and which suit families?

Sandals and Serenity are adults-only, couples resorts. BodyHoliday has a minimum age of sixteen, which its website says drops to twelve at Easter, in the summer and at Christmas, and it hosts family programmes in July and August. Coconut Bay divides its grounds, with Harmony for adults and Splash for families. Royalton and Windjammer Landing welcome families and run kids' clubs, with Windjammer's club taking children aged four to twelve.

East Winds is described as having a grown-up feel, so check its child policy before you book. For more on family stays, our guide to family resorts in Saint Lucia compares the properties that offer kids' clubs, water parks and villa space.

Age policies and club hours change, and they often differ between school holidays and the rest of the year, so ask for the current rules in writing. If you are travelling with teenagers, ask what the resort offers for them, because some clubs stop at twelve. If you are travelling as a couple and want a quiet week, ask whether the adult areas stay genuinely child-free during the holidays, because that is when family resorts are fullest. A resort that is adults only all year removes the question altogether.

Who should choose all-inclusive, and who should not?

All-inclusive suits people who want a fixed budget, a simple holiday and a lot of activity or rest without reaching for a wallet. It suits families, because children's meals and activities are often covered, and it suits couples who do not want to plan dinners. It also suits anyone who likes to try water sports or scuba without arranging them separately.

It suits you less if you are curious about local food and want to eat in different places each evening, or if you plan to spend most days away from the resort. Saint Lucia has excellent small restaurants, fish fries and street food, and an all-inclusive plan can discourage you from trying them. A good compromise is to book a plan with some meals included and leave several evenings free.

If you want a smaller, quieter place, our luxury hotels guide covers resorts that sell all-inclusive rates alongside other plans. The best choice is the one that matches the kind of holiday you want rather than the biggest list of inclusions.

Think about the group you travel with too. A multi-generational party often finds all-inclusive easiest, because everyone eats when and where they like, and nobody has to split a bill four ways. Friends travelling together can mix a quiet morning with a busy afternoon without agreeing a plan. Solo travellers should check whether single supplements apply, since many resorts price rooms for two. And if anyone has a food allergy or a special diet, ask how the kitchens handle it before you book, as buffets and set menus differ.

Planning an all-inclusive stay from the UK

Direct flights from London take about eight and a half hours, and most visitors land at Hewanorra International Airport in the south. Resorts in the north require a longer transfer. Calabash Cove, for example, quotes about ninety minutes by road, so check the time with your own resort. Many all-inclusive plans include transfers, but not all, so ask when you book.

The drier months, roughly December to May, are busiest and most expensive, while the wetter months bring showers, a greener landscape and lower prices. Our best time to visit guide explains the seasons.

Book early for Christmas and February, ask about offers for longer stays, and check any minimum age before you confirm. Read the plan's terms, including which restaurants need reservations and what the cancellation rules are, because they vary between resorts.

Pre-book whatever has limited places: specialty restaurants on busy nights, spa treatments, excursions to the Pitons and boat trips. A day out to Soufrière from the north is long but rewarding, and most resorts can arrange a guide, a driver and a packed lunch. Pack light clothing, reef-safe sun cream, a hat and shoes you can walk in, and bring a small bag for wet swimwear on day trips. Wi-Fi, safes and towel service are usually included, but check anyway.

Choosing between the styles of stay

This is one way into our wider guide to St Lucia hotels. If you are still undecided, read the pages on luxury hotels in St Lucia, family resorts in St Lucia and boutique hotels in St Lucia before you commit, because the right area and the right style matter as much as the hotel itself.

Once you have a shortlist, turn it into holidays to St Lucia by checking the best time to visit St Lucia, flights to St Lucia and our St Lucia itineraries. Couples can read about a honeymoon in St Lucia too.

Questions travellers ask