Sandals Grand Bay

An all-inclusive for couples

Sandals Grand Bay, formerly Sandals Grande St. Lucian, is in the north of the island, on the coast near Pigeon Island. It is an adults-only all-inclusive resort, which means meals, drinks and many activities are covered in one price. For travellers who like to know the cost up front and to relax without a bill at each meal, that format is the attraction.

The resort has 12 restaurants and seven bars, including a swim-up bar, and rooms that run from Overwater Bungalows to two-storey oceanfront Butler Suites. It has five pools, three whirlpools and a scuba pool, and green fees at a nearby golf course are included. Under the Stay at 1, Play at 3 programme, guests can also use the amenities and dining at two other nearby Sandals resorts.

What is around it

Because the resort is near Rodney Bay, guests can step out for a different kind of evening, with the restaurants and bars of the main resort strip close at hand. Pigeon Island National Landmark is the closest major sight, with a fort, trails and views across the water.

Many all-inclusive guests still choose to leave the resort for a day, to see the volcano and the Pitons in the south or to take a boat trip. Our things to do guide lists the best day excursions, and the sailing and boat trips page covers the coast.

Weddings and honeymoons

Couples-only resorts of this type are a popular choice for weddings and honeymoons. Our weddings and honeymoons guide explains the practical steps, such as how long you need to be on the island before you marry.

• Good for couples who want an easy, planned holiday.
• Compare with the boutique stays of the southwest, such as Sugar Beach.
• Check the policy on guests and ages directly with the resort.

Getting there

The resort is in the north, so the transfer from Hewanorra can be longer than for the north-western hotels near Castries. The domestic airport at Castries is closer for regional flights. Our getting here guide sets out both options.

How all-inclusive works here

An all-inclusive stay means your accommodation, meals, drinks and many activities are covered in one price. For couples who want to switch off, that removes the small decisions and payments that can interrupt a holiday. You arrive, settle in and spend your days on the beach, in the pool or at the table.

The things to check before booking are what the price actually includes. Ask about premium drinks, specialty restaurants, spa treatments, excursions and watersports, since inclusions differ by room category and by season. A clear list from the resort or your adviser avoids surprises.

Getting out and about

Even on an all-inclusive, a day or two away adds a great deal. The nearest highlights are Pigeon Island and the restaurants and bars of Rodney Bay. A catamaran trip along the coast, described in our boat trips guide, is a popular excursion.

For the big sights of the southwest, such as the Pitons and the Sulphur Springs, book a guided day tour, since the drive is long and the roads are winding. Many all-inclusive guests find that one well-planned day out is the highlight of the week.

• Check what is included in the price, especially drinks and excursions.
• Book popular restaurants early in your stay.
• Consider a short stay in the southwest to balance the trip.

What is included in an all inclusive stay at Sandals Grand Bay?

A stay at Sandals St. Lucia Grand Bay, formerly Sandals Grande St. Lucian, includes meals at its specialty restaurants, drinks at its bars, and a long list of activities, so most days need no wallet. The resort is adults only, on its own peninsula beside Rodney Bay in the north of Saint Lucia. Its twelve restaurants and seven bars include swim-up bars, and premium spirits and a selection of California wines are part of the price, which removes the small decisions that can interrupt a holiday.

Activities fill much of the day. Snorkelling, kayaks, paddleboards, small sailing boats, waterskiing and wakeboarding are included, there are five pools, three whirlpools and a scuba pool for lessons, and certified divers can dive as part of the package. Golf green fees at a nearby course are covered, and our guide to golf and tennis describes the sports scene around the north of the island. Evenings bring live entertainment, and the resort leans towards a sociable, social atmosphere.

What is usually extra is worth asking about before you pay. Spa treatments, off-site excursions and certain extras may carry a charge, and inclusions can differ by room category and season. A clear written list from the resort or your travel adviser avoids any surprises, and it is wise to confirm whether airport transfers are part of the price when you book your St Lucia holidays.

Which rooms are best at Sandals Grand Bay: overwater bungalow or beachfront suite?

Choose an overwater bungalow at Sandals Grand Bay for a private deck above the water and a honeymoon feel, or a beachfront Rondoval suite if you prefer to step straight onto the sand and want more space. Both sit on the calm Rodney Bay side of the island, where the water is gentle for swimming. Ask which category suits your plans, since the position in the resort changes how far you walk to restaurants, pools and the beach.

Couples marking a special occasion often favour the bungalows, which have an unmistakable romance, with the sea beneath the boards and the sky above. Those who want to spend time in company, with the pool bar and the evening shows a short walk away, may find a beachfront room better suited. Light sleepers should ask about proximity to entertainment areas, because a lively resort can be noisy near its stage.

The adults-only rule shapes the mood. There are no children to consider, which suits couples and groups of friends who want a calm, grown-up holiday. Families looking for a similar format should read our guide to family friendly resorts instead, since this resort is not the right place for children.

What is there to do near Sandals Grand Bay when you leave the resort?

Near Sandals Grand Bay you can walk or drive to Pigeon Island National Landmark, join the weekly street party in Gros Islet, or take a boat along the coast, and a day tour to the Pitons shows the volcanic south. These outings suit all-inclusive guests who want one or two days away from the pool. The causeway beside the resort leads towards the fort and trails of Pigeon Island, a lovely early morning walk before the sun is high.

On a Friday evening, the fishing town of Gros Islet holds its street party, a chance to try grilled fish and local snacks, as described in our guide to street food. Ask the resort about transport and go with a driver, so that you can relax and enjoy the music. For the sea, the guide to catamaran sunset cruises explains how a trip along the coast works.

For the wider island, book a guided day to the south rather than driving yourself, and consider our pages on land tours for what to expect. Couples planning a ceremony here should read about weddings at Sandals Grande St. Lucian, and those wanting to compare the options may find the north Saint Lucia guide a helpful companion.

Looking beyond the resort gates

All-inclusive stays are easy, but a day out adds a great deal. Use the districts and towns guide to choose where to go, and culture and traditions to understand what you will see once you get there.

If an evening of local sound appeals, music and dance covers the island's performance traditions, and languages and Kweyol gives you a few ideas for greeting people in the way they like.

Booking an all-inclusive holiday at Sandals Grande

Sandals Grande is the page to start with if you are searching for an all inclusive hotel in St Lucia. Compare it with boutique stays such as Cap Maison, Sugar Beach and Anse Chastanet, and read the wider guide to hotels in St Lucia to see how all-inclusive resorts differ from villa and boutique stays.

Couples can read our Sandals Grande wedding page, the wedding and honeymoon planner and honeymoon ideas. To plan the whole holiday in St Lucia, check the best time to visit, how to get here and family friendly resorts if children are coming too.

Sandals Grand Bay at a glance

Sandals St. Lucia Grand Bay is on the Pigeon Island Causeway in Gros Islet, on the north coast of Saint Lucia beside Rodney Bay. The nearest town is Gros Islet. It is about 41 miles (66 km) by road from Hewanorra International Airport, and George F. L. Charles Airport at Castries is the closer option for regional flights. The style is an adults-only all-inclusive resort, with 12 specialty restaurants and seven bars, including a swim-up bar. It suits couples, honeymooners and anyone who wants meals and drinks covered in one price. A typical stay includes golf at Cap Estate, with green fees and shuttles included, and a day or two away from the resort.

What is near Sandals Grand Bay?

The closest sight is on the doorstep. Pigeon Island National Landmark, linked to the mainland by the causeway, has a fort, walking trails and views to Martinique, and it hosts the main stage of the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival, covered in our guide to festivals and events. Gros Islet village is the nearest community, and its Friday night street party is the island's best known, with grilled meat and fish, bars along the street and a DJ. See Friday night street parties for how to enjoy it safely. The Cap Estate Golf and Country Club, an 18-hole course, is covered by the resort's package, and the golf and tennis guide explains the options.

Rodney Bay is a short ride away, with the marina, Reduit Beach and the Baywalk and JQ Charles malls. Buzz is known for seafood and steaks, Big Chef Steakhouse for thick cuts, Elena's for gelato and Jacques Waterfront Dining for marina views and Caribbean dishes with a French twist. Further north, the clifftop tables at Cap Maison include The Cliff at Cap, known for its views and wine list. Neighbouring resorts include The Landings, while the Royalton Saint Lucia and Sandals Regency La Toc are also on the island for comparison. Under the Stay at 1, Play at 3 programme, guests can visit two other Sandals resorts.

Day trips widen the stay. The resort lists Island Routes' Soufrière Adventure Cruise, which takes in the Pitons and the Sulphur Springs mud baths, and our sailing and boat trips guide covers other ways to see the coast. Inland, jungle ziplining and the rainforest aerial tram show the forested interior, and the diving and snorkelling guide covers the island's reefs. For beaches beyond the resort, the best beaches guide describes Reduit and the quieter bays. History lovers will find the local story in our page on French and British rule, since the British built a naval base on Gros Islet Bay after capturing the island in 1778, and historic forts and ruins lists more sites. Cricket fans can see the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground at Beausejour, covered in cricket culture. The resort also lists birdwatching and dune buggy tours, which need booking in advance, and couples planning a ceremony can read about weddings at Sandals Grande St. Lucian. Ask the resort which excursions it can book for you and how far ahead to reserve them, because the popular ones fill in the busy months.

The location makes a strong base for couples who like an all-inclusive but do not want to be cut off. Pigeon Island, the village party and the marina restaurants are close, so nights out cost little effort, and the island's headline sights in the south are reachable on a day trip. That balance between ease and choice is the main strength of the address.

Questions travellers ask