Sandals Regency La Toc

What is Sandals Regency La Toc?

Sandals Regency La Toc is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort at La Toc, on Saint Lucia's west coast just outside Castries. It is built on a large hillside estate above a half-mile crescent beach, and the room price covers meals, drinks, water sports and entertainment for couples.

The resort sits in a secluded bay beside the capital, on land that once carried coastal defences, as the nearby La Toc Battery of 1888 shows. That position gives it two practical advantages over the resorts in the far north and far south. The nearest airport, George F. L. Charles in Castries, is only a few kilometres away, and the shops, markets and harbour of Castries are a short taxi ride. Our separate page on weddings and honeymoons at Sandals Regency La Toc covers ceremonies and packages in detail.

It has also traded under longer names, including Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort and Spa, so you may see either form when comparing prices.

Sandals Regency La Toc at a glance

Sandals Regency La Toc stands on a hillside estate above a crescent beach at La Toc, in the Castries district on Saint Lucia's west coast. The nearest town is Castries, a short drive away, and George F. L. Charles Airport is only a few kilometres from the resort. UK flights land at Hewanorra International Airport, about 70 km away, and the transfer takes roughly an hour. The style of stay is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort with a large range of rooms, suites and bluff-top villas. It suits couples, honeymooners and anyone who wants an all-inclusive stay with plenty to do. The price typically covers meals, premium drinks, snacks, water sports and entertainment.

What is the setting like?

The estate covers about 220 acres and is laid out on a slope, so the buildings step down towards the water. Views are one of the selling points. From the higher rooms and villas you look across the bay and out over the Caribbean Sea, and the beach is a deep crescent framed by low cliffs rather than a long open strand.

The slope has a consequence you should plan for. The resort has many steps and gradients, and it is not suited to guests who use a wheelchair or who find stairs difficult. Ask which room categories sit closest to the main areas, and consider whether a ground-floor or beachfront room is worth the extra cost.

The beach is lovely but modest in length, and some guests find it smaller than they expected. If a vast sweep of sand is your top priority, our guide to the best beaches in Saint Lucia will help you decide whether this resort or another is the better match.

What do the rooms and villas offer?

The resort has more than 300 rooms and suites in a long list of categories, and all are designed for two adults. They range from luxury rooms with garden or pool views through oceanfront rooms to honeymoon rooms and the Club Level rooms that open to the beach, with higher categories adding perks such as butler service and priority access.

At the top of the range, the bluff-top villas have private pools and wide views. Sandals has described these as a resort within a resort, with butler service and a more private feel than the main buildings. If you want a special-occasion stay, look at the villas first and then work down the categories to the price you are happy with.

Sandals has also announced a village of Rondoval suites beside the golf course, with golf buggies and butler service. Because plans of this kind change, ask the resort or your travel agent whether the suites you see in brochures are open for your dates.

What can you eat, drink and do?

Nine restaurants are listed at the resort, covering international buffet dining, French, Italian, Saint Lucian and Caribbean, Japanese teppanyaki, sushi, Mediterranean, pizza and a British pub. Premium drinks, wines and snacks are included, though a few dishes and drinks may carry extra charges. If you would like to try Saint Lucian cooking beyond the resort, our food and rum guide explains the dishes to look for.

The Stay at One, Play at Three programme lets guests use the facilities at the other Sandals resorts on the island, with transport between them. The most obvious neighbour for UK travellers is Sandals Grande St. Lucian in the north, and it is worth reading before you decide which of the two is your base.

Water sports are included, and typically cover paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkelling, sailing, windsurfing and hobie cats, with scuba diving available to certified divers. Our water adventures guide shows what else is on offer around the island. The Red Lane Spa offers treatments at an extra cost.

What about golf?

Golf has long been part of the Sandals offer in Saint Lucia. Guests can play at the Sandals Golf and Country Club at Cap Estate, in the north, with green fees and transfers included. Listings differ on whether the resort's own nine-hole course at La Toc is currently in play, with one UK agent describing it as permanently closed, so confirm this with Sandals if golf is your reason for choosing the resort.

For a wider look at courses and courts, see our golf and tennis guide.

What is near Sandals Regency La Toc?

The resort's closest landmark is the La Toc Battery, an old coastal gun position above the bay that shows how important this headland once was in guarding Castries Harbour. The area is known for walking trails through local vegetation, and the viewpoint rewards the climb. To the north, the capital has the sights most visitors want. Castries Central Market, which dates from 1891, sells produce, crafts and clothing, and Derek Walcott Square, named after the Nobel Prize-winning poet, sits beside the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Our guide to historic forts and ruins covers Fort Charlotte on Morne Fortune, the hill above town, which has cannons, island views and a small museum and art gallery.

Vigie Beach, just north of the centre, is a calmer spot for a swim, and Pointe Seraphine, beside the cruise port, is where visitors go for duty-free shopping. If you want to understand how the capital works, our guide to districts and towns explains how the island is divided. For snacks and local dishes beyond the resort, see where to eat in Saint Lucia.

North of Castries, the Rodney Bay area is the island's main resort district. Reduit Beach is a long sandy beach with calm water, a floating inflatable water park called Splash Island sits just off it, and Rodney Bay Marina has waterfront restaurants and sailing excursions. Beyond it, Pigeon Island National Landmark has forts, trails and views, and it is covered in our Pigeon Island guide. In the village of Gros Islet, a Friday night street party fills the streets with grilled fish, barbecue and music, and Irie Grill is one place visitors buy jerk chicken there. See our Rodney Bay guide for more. To the south, the harbour village of Marigot Bay is a short drive away, and it has its own beach club, dive centre and a seafood restaurant called Doolittle's.

The resort is a strong base because the capital, the airport and the best-known north and west coast sights are all within a short drive, so you can combine a full all-inclusive stay with day trips without long transfers. If you want to see the Pitons, plan a separate full day, since they lie far to the south. For a sense of what is on the whole west coast, see the west coast guide.

Who is it for?

Sandals Regency La Toc suits couples who want an all-inclusive holiday with plenty to do, close to the airport at Castries and the capital. It works well for a honeymoon or anniversary, and for couples who like the idea of using several resorts under one booking.

It is not designed for children, and it is not the right choice if you want a remote hideaway or a long, empty beach. If you want a quieter, boutique atmosphere, with an elegant marina and suites rather than a large all-inclusive estate, compare it with Zoëtry Marigot Bay, which lies a short way south along the same coast.

How do you get there, and when should you go?

Most UK flights land at Hewanorra International Airport in the south, roughly 70 km away, and the road transfer takes about an hour. Because the resort is so close to the capital, it can also suit passengers arriving on regional flights or by sea, and cruise passengers should read our cruise arrival guide. For the full picture of airports and transfers, see getting here.

The drier months from December to May are the most popular, while the wetter season brings short showers and usually better prices. Our best time to visit guide explains the seasons. Before you book, confirm what is included, particularly transfers, premium drinks, and whether you want a specific room category rather than the entry price.

• Ask about room position relative to the steps and the beach.
• Check whether golf is part of the stay you are booking.
• Combine the stay with a morning at Fort Charlotte on Morne Fortune above Castries.

Planning St Lucia holidays around Sandals Regency La Toc

Sandals Regency La Toc is one of the St Lucia hotels 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 holidays to 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