Coconut Bay Beach Resort

What is Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa?

Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa is a premium all-inclusive resort in Vieux Fort, at the southern tip of Saint Lucia, about five minutes from Hewanorra International Airport. It has two wings: Splash, a family wing with the resort's water park and children's club, and Harmony, an adults-only wing for guests aged 18 and over.

Coconut Bay at a glance

Coconut Bay sits on the shore at Vieux Fort, in the Vieux Fort district at the southern tip of Saint Lucia, on a large beachfront site with about a mile of sand. The nearest town is Vieux Fort itself, the working centre of the south. The nearest airport is Hewanorra International Airport, about five minutes away. The style of stay is a premium all-inclusive resort in two wings, with a family wing called Splash and an adults-only wing called Harmony. It suits families with children, multigenerational groups, and couples or friends who want an easy, active week. Rates cover meals, drinks, entertainment, water sports and airport transfers, with a few specialty venues charged extra.

Is it still Coconut Bay, and is anything changing?

Yes, the resort trades as Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa and markets itself as a premium all-inclusive. It has not been rebranded. What has changed is the building: the resort has announced a large renovation programme across both wings, including reimagined junior suites, so older photographs may not match what you find.

One naming point catches people out. Serenity at Coconut Bay is a separate, couples-only luxury suite resort with its own booking pages, covered in our guide to Serenity at Coconut Bay. A booking at Coconut Bay does not give you a suite at Serenity. Check the current room descriptions and any building work with your tour operator when you book.

What is there for children and families?

Splash is the heart of the resort for families. The water park, which the resort describes as the largest on the island, has a large activity pool, a lazy river and water slides, and access is included. Riders on the slides need to meet a minimum height and be able to swim, or ride with a parent, and staff monitor the slides. The lazy river is the favourite with younger children, and parents can float along with them.

The supervised children's club, CocoLand Kidz Klub, takes children from babies up to age twelve, with indoor and outdoor play areas and staff trained in childcare and first aid. Babysitting is available for a modest hourly fee and needs booking ahead. Because the club is a separate space from the water park, you can plan the day in blocks.

Food is a plus for fussy eaters. The resort has around nine restaurants and seven bars, a vegetarian restaurant, vegan and vegetarian choices at every restaurant and gluten-free items throughout, and the kitchens will deal with most allergies if told in advance. Our family trip planning guide and family friendly resorts guide compare this kind of stay with villa-style options such as The Landings.

What about couples and the Harmony wing?

Harmony is for guests aged 18 and over, and it has its own pools, including one with a whirlpool. Two of the resort's five pools are adults-only. You are still part of one resort, so you can eat in the same restaurants, visit the spa and use the beach, and Harmony guests can use the lazy river and slides if they want. That suits a group of couples and a family sharing one site.

The Sanctuary Spa is an eight-room spa with ocean-view treatment rooms, outdoor showers and organic therapies, a good half day for a couple. Our honeymoon inspiration guide shows what a longer trip can include, and our Coconut Bay weddings and honeymoons page explains the packages. For a quieter stay for two with a butler and a plunge pool, look at the sister resort, Serenity.

What is near Coconut Bay?

The first neighbour is the town of Vieux Fort, a short drive away, with its market, banks, shops and a handful of restaurants serving local food. Hewanorra International Airport is five minutes from the gates, which is why this is the easiest resort on the island to reach. Just offshore lie the Maria Islands, a protected nature reserve known for rare reptiles and seabirds, seen from the beach and described in our offshore islands guide. Visits are by guided boat trip arranged in advance, and our birdwatching guide explains where else to look for birds.

Along the shore, Anse des Sables is a long, wide Atlantic beach near the airport and the south's favourite spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing, where schools offer lessons and the kites make a show even for those watching. Moule a Chique, the headland at the island's southern tip, has a lighthouse with wide views and a short road up, and our south Saint Lucia guide describes it together with the sheltered beaches and quiet fishing villages of the coast. To the west, the fishing village of Laborie has a dark sand beach and a gentle waterfront, a pleasant drive for a lunch and a walk.

For the big sights, head north-west. Soufrière, the Pitons and the Sulphur Springs are about an hour away by road, which makes a full day out with a driver or guide, and our land tours guide explains the choices. Resorts further up the coast, such as Sugar Beach and Ladera, give a sense of the other half of the island.

The location is a strong base for a relaxed holiday and a good launch pad for a few days out. You land, transfer in minutes and spend the first afternoon on the beach, then use the south as a quiet counterpoint to the busier north.

What is included, how to get there and when to go

The all-inclusive covers meals, drinks including premium spirits, entertainment, water sports and airport transfers, with complimentary standard wifi. Specialty restaurants need a reservation, which you can make after you arrive, and a couple of them, including one at Serenity, carry an additional charge. Smart evening clothes are required in three specialty restaurants for guests aged 12 and over, and gym shorts, swimwear, flip-flops and baseball caps are not allowed there. Taxes and gratuities are included in the room rate, and a small tourism levy is collected on arrival. Our money and tipping guide explains the currency.

Fly to Hewanorra, clear customs and look for the resort's kiosk, where a complimentary transfer takes you to the hotel. Our getting here guide covers flights and entry. The dry months from roughly December to May are the busiest, and UK school holidays bring the families. Our best time to visit guide explains the seasons.

Book the wing first and the room second: Splash if you have children, Harmony if you do not. Then ask which block your room is in and how far it is from the beach and the water park.

Planning St Lucia holidays around Coconut Bay Beach Resort

Coconut Bay Beach Resort is one of the hotels in St Lucia we cover in detail, and the right choice depends on the kind of stay you want. Our guides to luxury hotels in St Lucia, all inclusive resorts in St Lucia and family resorts in St Lucia help you compare it fairly.

To build the rest of your St Lucia holidays, check 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 or weddings in St Lucia as well.

Families comparing options can also read about family resorts in St Lucia and the best family beaches. Celebrations are covered in our guide to weddings at Coconut Bay. Decide how long to stay with our guide to how many days to spend in St Lucia.

Questions travellers ask