Family Resorts in Saint Lucia: Kids' Clubs, Pools and Space

Which resorts in Saint Lucia are best for families?

The best family resorts in Saint Lucia are Coconut Bay, Windjammer Landing, Bay Gardens, Royalton Saint Lucia and The Landings, with Cap Maison suited to bigger parties who want villa space. Each has a different strength, from a water park to a children's club to a kitchen in the suite.

We have checked what each resort says on its own website or on British Airways Holidays about children, and we state ages and clubs only where we found them in writing. Policies and hours change, especially in school holidays, so confirm the details with the resort before you book. If you want a wider look at family stays, our family-friendly resorts guide also covers resorts between the Pitons.

What makes a good family resort here is rarely the size. It is calm water for young swimmers, shade, a club that children want to go back to, a restaurant that serves an early dinner, and enough space that nobody falls out by day four. Saint Lucia's resorts handle that well, and the choice mostly comes down to where you want to be on the island.

Which family resorts are around Rodney Bay?

The north is the easiest base for families, with restaurants, shops, a marina and boat trips near at hand. Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa stands on Reduit Beach and runs the Coral Kidz Club, which its website describes as supervised activities for ages four to twelve, including crab hunts, arts and crafts, nature walks and beach games. Guests of the group also receive passes to Splash Island Water Park, a floating park on the sea steps from the resort, where users must be at least six years old and three and a half feet tall and must wear a life vest.

Windjammer Landing, on Labrelotte Bay, has the Jacquot Fun Club for ages four to twelve, a VIP kids programme, teen activities and a certified nanny service for families with infants and toddlers, along with cribs, highchairs and car seats. Its premium all-inclusive plan includes dining for children aged eleven and under from a children's menu.

Royalton Saint Lucia, at Smugglers Cove, is an all-inclusive resort that British Airways Holidays calls family-friendly, with kids' and teen clubs, a children's pool, a playground and babysitting. The Landings Resort and Spa, on Rodney Bay beside a private marina, has a Kids and Teens Club and large suites with kitchens and living areas, which makes early dinners and snack breaks simple.

A base on Rodney Bay has practical advantages for families. Restaurants, a supermarket run, a pharmacy and a marina are close, so a forgotten bottle of sun cream or a sudden wish for pizza is easy to solve. Pigeon Island National Landmark is within reach for a morning of ruins, a short climb and a swim, and boat trips leave from the marina for a day on the water. If the weather turns, the shops and cafes of Rodney Bay are a comfortable fallback, and the smaller airport near Castries is close if you fly in from another island.

What does Coconut Bay offer in the south?

Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa is the one resort in the south built around family fun. British Airways Holidays describes its Splash area as dedicated to family holidays, with a kids' club and a water park with slides and a lazy river, while Harmony, the adult area, offers a quieter alternative. The resort sits beside a long beach at Vieux Fort, just over a mile from Hewanorra International Airport, and it lists complimentary airport transfers.

That position helps after a long flight with children, because you reach your pool within minutes of landing. The trade-off is distance from the rest of the island. Soufrière and the Pitons are about an hour away by road, and the northern beaches are further, so a stay here suits families who want to settle in and use the resort rather than tour.

Because the plan is all-inclusive, parents can relax about the cost of snacks and drinks across the day. Read our guide to all-inclusive resorts in Saint Lucia to see what the plans cover and how they compare.

Is Cap Maison suitable for families?

Cap Maison is best thought of as a luxury resort that can work for older children and larger parties, rather than a resort designed around young ones. Its own website lists two and three bedroom villas that sleep six or eight guests, with private pools and separate living and dining rooms, and it offers complimentary non-motorised water sports such as kayaks, paddleboards and snorkelling on the house reef.

We could not find a kids' club described on its website, so ask the resort directly about its child policy, children's menus and any age limits before you book. If you want a villa for a family of six or more, compare it with the options in our guide to villas in Saint Lucia.

How do you choose by age?

Toddlers and babies need shade, shallow water, a cool room and short distances. Look for a resort with a nanny or babysitting service, cots and highchairs, and a children's pool. Windjammer Landing says it provides a certified nanny service and essential equipment, and Royalton lists a children's pool and babysitting. The sea can be too lively for the very young at some beaches, so ask where the calmest water is.

Children aged four to twelve are the sweet spot for clubs. Bay Gardens and Windjammer both run clubs for ages four to twelve, and Coconut Bay's Splash area has its own kids' club and water park. Check what the club hours are, because most do not run all day, and ask whether a morning session is included in the rate or charged separately.

Teenagers want independence, sport and a place to meet other teenagers. Royalton lists a teen club, The Landings has a Kids and Teens Club, and Windjammer says its teen programme includes land and sea adventures. If your teenagers are older, a resort with water sports, scuba or a gym may matter more than a club. BodyHoliday, a wellness resort, has a minimum age of sixteen, which its website says drops to twelve at some holiday times, and it hosts WellFit Families in July and August.

Room layout matters as much as the club. Two children of different ages rarely want the same bedtime, so look for a suite with a separate living area, a connecting room or a second bedroom, and ask whether a rollaway bed or cot can be added and at what cost. Larger families should check the maximum occupancy of each room type, because it is often lower than people expect, and a villa or an adjoining pair of rooms can be easier than squeezing five into one.

Keeping children safe and happy

Sun and sea need attention. Apply reef-safe sun cream often, dress young children in rash vests and hats, and keep everyone drinking water. Stay within arm's reach of children in the sea and in pools, choose beaches with calm water, and read our family beaches guide before you go. Most resorts with kids' clubs have staff trained to supervise, but ask about ratios, hours and age ranges, because they differ.

Think about food as well. Resorts with a children's menu and an early dinner sitting make evenings easier. All-inclusive plans suit families because snacks and drinks are covered, but ask about allergies and special diets before you arrive. Bring a small kit of plasters, insect repellent and any medicine your children take, and check our guide to health, insurance and safety before you travel.

Planning a family holiday from the UK

Direct flights from London take about eight and a half hours, and most families land at Hewanorra International Airport in the south. Resorts in the north need a longer transfer by road, so ask your resort to arrange it, and consider a night at your first stop if you arrive late with young children. Our getting here guide explains the airports and transfers.

School holidays are the busiest and most expensive times, so book early for Christmas, February half term and Easter. The drier months from December to May are the most popular, while the summer months bring showers and lower prices, though they fall within the hurricane season. Ask about family offers, such as free places for children or discounts for sharing rooms, which many resorts run at quieter times.

Finally, build a gentle itinerary. A morning at the club, a swim, a nap, an afternoon on the beach and an early dinner suit most families, with one or two day trips to the Sulphur Springs, a waterfall or Pigeon Island for variety. Let the children set the pace and you will all enjoy it more.

On the flight, pack snacks, a change of clothes for each child and any comfort items, and book seats together as early as the airline allows. Saint Lucia is four hours behind the UK in the British winter and five behind in summer, so children usually adjust within a day or two if you get them outside in the morning light. Arrange your transfer before you travel, check that the car has seats if you need them, and keep your first afternoon unplanned.

Choosing between the styles of stay

This is one way into our wider guide to hotels in St Lucia. If you are still undecided, read the pages on luxury hotels in St Lucia, all inclusive 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 St Lucia holidays 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