East Winds

East Winds at a glance

East Winds is at La Brelotte Bay, in the district of Gros Islet, on Saint Lucia's northwest coast. The nearest towns are Gros Islet and the resort village of Rodney Bay to the north, with the capital, Castries, a short drive south. The nearest airport is George F. L. Charles, near Castries, a short drive away, while Hewanorra International in the south of the island is a road journey of an hour or more. The style of stay is a small all-inclusive resort of garden cottages in about twelve acres, beside a west-facing beach. It suits couples and adults who want a calm, intimate holiday rather than a large resort. The rate typically includes meals, drinks and a range of land and water activities, with airport transfers arranged separately.

What is East Winds?

East Winds is a small all-inclusive resort at La Brelotte Bay, in Gros Islet on Saint Lucia's northwest coast. Around thirty cottage-style rooms sit in twelve acres of tropical garden beside a west-facing beach, with meals, drinks and many activities included. It suits couples and adults who want calm over scale.

The resort goes back to the 1960s, when American expatriates Richard and Margaret Egerer built it among gardens on the bay. That makes it one of the longer-running resorts on the island, and you can feel the age in a good way. It has the proportions of a country house hotel rather than a holiday complex, with low buildings, paths through planting and a sense that the garden came first.

More recently the resort has had a thorough redesign led by Anthologist, a design studio, which restored a large share of the existing furniture rather than replacing it and brought in local artists, craftspeople and suppliers. The result keeps the older character but looks fresher, with rattan, bamboo, bold fabrics and mid-century touches. If you want a modern glass-and-marble resort, this is not it. If you like a place with a past and a point of view, it may be exactly right.

The setting is the northwest of the island, a short drive from the busy resort strip of Rodney Bay and the fishing town of Gros Islet, and about the same distance from the capital in the other direction. That gives you quiet at the resort and plenty of choice within easy reach when you want it.

What are the rooms like?

Most accommodation is in standalone garden cottages, each set among the planting with a private terrace or patio. Cottage types differ. The Deluxe Cottages are tucked into the garden and are often favoured by guests who return. The Superior Cottages are larger and have sea views. A few oceanfront rooms and an oceanfront suite sit closest to the water, with sunset views across the bay.

Rooms have air conditioning and a ceiling fan, a private bathroom with a separate shower, a minibar and a refrigerator that is restocked with soft drinks and beer. Tea and coffee facilities are provided. Following the redesign, the Superior and Deluxe rooms were fully refreshed with painted walls, locally made lighting and murals by a Saint Lucian artist, and bathrooms with slate tiles and walk-in showers. The oceanfront rooms were due to follow, so ask which category has been refreshed when you book.

Because the cottages are separate buildings, there are paths and in places a few steps between your room, the restaurant and the beach. If anyone in your party finds that difficult, say so before you book and ask which cottage will suit best. Some cottages are designed for guests who need step-free access, and the resort can advise.

A practical point on choosing: sea-facing rooms give you the sunset, but garden cottages give you privacy and the sound of the trees. For a first visit, many couples prefer the garden, because the beach is only a short walk and a room set among the planting feels more like the resort's own character.

What does all-inclusive cover, and what is the food like?

East Winds is all-inclusive, and that includes meals, drinks and a good range of land and water activities. Transfers between the airport and the resort are not part of the price and are arranged separately, which is worth remembering when you compare packages.

The main restaurant is called Bird of Paradise and sits by the water. Breakfast and lunch are relaxed and casual. Dinner is more of an occasion, with an evening dress code, so pack long trousers for men and something a little smarter than beachwear for everyone. Menus mix international dishes with Saint Lucian cooking, and fish and seafood feature strongly. If you want to understand what the island eats, our food and rum guide explains the dishes and drinks to look for, from green fig and saltfish to local rum.

Drinks are served at the Sunset Bar, the Bamboo Bar and the pool, where there is a swim-up bar. The Sunset Bar has live Caribbean music at weekends in season. A weekly cocktail reception and a beach barbecue are part of the social rhythm. Private dining on the beach can be arranged, and it is a lovely thing to book for an anniversary.

If you want to eat out one evening, the resort is a short drive from the restaurants of Rodney Bay and the Friday street party in Gros Islet. Most restaurants there can be reached by a short taxi ride, so an evening out does not need a hire car. Ask the front desk to book a driver for the return journey, because taxis are easiest to arrange in advance after dark. If you would like to try local street food as well, the Friday gathering is the place, and it is best visited with an appetite and small change in your pocket.

What is there to do at the resort and nearby?

The beach is the centre of the day. It is a sandy, sheltered bay facing west, so you get afternoon light and sunsets that people plan their evenings around. The water sports centre offers kayaks, paddleboards and Hobie Cat sailing, all included, and there is gentle snorkelling when conditions allow. For more serious underwater time, see our guide to diving and snorkelling in Saint Lucia.

On land, the Garden Spa works with treatments set among the foliage, using local oils and natural ingredients. A yoga and pilates pavilion runs classes, and there is a keep-fit trail and a weekly garden tour that is worth doing for the plants alone. The morning sessions suit early risers, because the garden is cool and quiet before breakfast, and the pavilion is a pleasant place to sit even if you skip the class. Guests who like a slower pace can combine a spa afternoon with a long lunch and a swim, and that is a perfectly respectable day here.

When you want to go out, the north is the best-served part of the island. Pigeon Island National Landmark, joined to the mainland by a causeway, is a short drive away and mixes history, walking and views. Our guide to Pigeon Island explains what to expect. A sunset sail is another natural fit, and our page on catamaran sunset cruises covers the options along this coast.

The resort can arrange excursions, such as ziplining, boat trips and a visit to the market in Castries. Remember that the south and the Pitons are a long day out from the north, so plan them as an early start rather than an afternoon, and consider whether a guided tour with a driver suits you better than hiring a car. Roads are winding, driving is on the left, and a local driver takes the strain out of a long day.

Who is East Winds right for?

East Winds is best for couples, especially those marking a honeymoon or anniversary, and for adults who value quiet, good service and a place that feels looked after. Its size is the point. With only around thirty rooms, you will recognise staff and other guests within a day or two. If you are planning a wedding or honeymoon, see our guide to a honeymoon in Saint Lucia, which explains the legal steps and the choices of venue.

It is less suited to people who want a big resort with a kids' club, a long list of restaurants and nightly shows. Children have been accepted from a minimum age, but the atmosphere leans firmly towards adults, so check the current policy with the resort before booking if you are travelling with family. Families will usually be happier at a resort with a children's programme and more space for play.

Compare it with its neighbours too. StolenTime, on Malabar Beach near Castries, is also adults only and all-inclusive but is larger and more programme-led, with a strong wellness focus. Cap Maison, further north at Smugglers Cove, is a more polished boutique stay with its own dining. Each gives a different answer to the question of how much activity you want.

If you want the full view of the choices on the island, our page on hotels in Saint Lucia sets out how the areas and styles compare.

What is near East Winds?

Most of what visitors come to the north to see is a short drive from the resort gate. A short drive north is Rodney Bay, the main resort village of the north, with a marina, shops, restaurants and a run of bars. Beyond it lies the fishing town of Gros Islet, and at the northern end of the bay is Pigeon Island National Landmark. For the wider picture, our guide to north Saint Lucia shows how the pieces fit together. A short drive south, in the other direction, is Castries, the capital, where Fort Charlotte stands at the top of Morne Fortune, Derek Walcott Square sits in the town centre, and Castries Market sells produce, spices and crafts. Our guide to Castries covers the town, and our page on artisan markets and crafts explains what to look for.

History and walking are close at hand. Pigeon Island has the ruins of barracks, batteries and a small, well-preserved fortress, Fort Rodney, on the hill, with old cannons still in place. A path beyond the ridge battery climbs to Signal Peak, about twenty minutes on foot, and the views over the bay repay the effort. The barracks there date from 1808. Our guide to historic forts and ruins lists others around the island, including Fort Charlotte above Castries. Jambe de Bois, a casual café on Pigeon Island, serves rotis, curries and fish with rice and peas at picnic tables with a beach view, and is known for live jazz on some weekend evenings.

For an evening out, the Gros Islet Friday street party runs every Friday from sunset, with street barbecues, Piton beer and DJs, and it is the best-known night out in the north. Rodney Bay has restaurants of many kinds, from barbecue and steak to Mexican, Chinese and Indian, and bars that host karaoke and live music on some nights. Our guide to bars and nightlife in Saint Lucia gives more detail. A longer drive south along the west coast, the Anse La Raye Fish Fry takes place on Friday evenings, with seafood cooked on coal pots along the beachfront, and our page on Anse La Raye explains what to expect. Back at the resort, Bird of Paradise is the place for a quiet dinner by the water.

On the water, boat trips and sailing leave from the marina at Rodney Bay, and our guide to sailing and boat trips sets out the choices. Golfers and tennis players have options in the north, covered in our page on golf and tennis, and for sand beyond the resort, our guide to the best beaches in Saint Lucia helps you choose a day out. That is why East Winds works well as a base. You have a quiet garden resort to return to, two airports within reach, the capital and the nightlife of the north both close, and a day out to Pigeon Island, the forts or the water without a long drive.

How do you get there and when should you go?

Direct flights from London reach Hewanorra International Airport in the south of the island, and many UK visitors use it. From there the road journey to the northwest takes an hour or more, depending on traffic. Flights from some regional routes and within the Caribbean arrive at George F. L. Charles Airport near Castries, which is much closer to East Winds. Transfers are not included in the all-inclusive price, so book one in advance. Our getting here guide explains the two airports and how to move between them.

The dry season, from roughly December to April, brings the most settled weather and is the busiest and most expensive time. The wetter months have quieter beaches and lower prices, but it is also hurricane season, so build in flexibility. The resort has been known to close for part of the autumn, so confirm opening dates before you plan. Our best time to visit page gives the full month-by-month picture.

A few practical notes. Pack reef-safe sun cream, a light waterproof, mosquito repellent and something for the evening dress code. Check current entry rules and your passport validity before you go. Tipping policies, room rates and facilities change from season to season, so confirm the details with the resort before you book rather than relying on any one summary, including this one.

Planning St Lucia holidays around East Winds

East Winds is one of the places to stay 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 a holiday in St Lucia, 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.

Questions travellers ask