Windjammer Landing

What is Windjammer Landing in Saint Lucia?

Windjammer Landing Resort and Residences is a hillside beach resort on Labrelotte Bay, on the north west coast of Saint Lucia. Rooms, suites, pool villas and private residences climb the slope above the sand, and guests can choose room only, all-inclusive or a premium all-inclusive package. It suits families, couples and groups who want space.

The resort is open and trading under that name, with a live booking site. Some listings and older reviews still call it Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort, which was its former name, so you may see both. It has recently completed a large renovation of its arrival area, rooms, villas, restaurants and pools, which means photographs from a few years ago may not match what you find today.

Its design is deliberately Mediterranean, with white buildings and terracotta roofs stepping down towards the bay. That gives the resort a village feel that is quite different from the low-rise beachfront blocks elsewhere among the hotels in Saint Lucia. It is also a place where you will walk, and sometimes climb, which matters when you choose a room.

Windjammer Landing at a glance

Windjammer Landing sits on the hillside above Labrelotte Bay, on the north west coast of Saint Lucia, between Castries and Rodney Bay. The nearest towns are Castries to the south and Gros Islet to the north. The nearest airport is George F. L. Charles near Castries, while most long-haul flights land at Hewanorra International in the south, and the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority gives about 1 hour 30 minutes by road from Hewanorra to Gros Islet, which is a fair guide to the journey. The style is a hillside village of rooms, suites, pool villas and residences with a beach below. It suits families, couples and groups who want space and a choice of meal plans. Room only, all-inclusive and premium all-inclusive are all offered, and children aged 11 and under receive complimentary dining on the premium package.

Where is Labrelotte Bay?

Labrelotte Bay lies just north of Castries, on the north west coast, in the stretch of shoreline that runs up towards Rodney Bay. The bay is a sheltered curve of the Caribbean coast, so the water is generally calm, which makes it a good choice for young swimmers and for paddling and kayaking. The sea sits at the foot of the hill, with the resort's beach running along the shore.

The resort's own site lists Heathrow and Gatwick at around eight and a half hours of flying time, which is a fair guide for a direct flight from London. Hewanorra Airport in the far south is where most long-haul flights land, so allow for a long road transfer, while George F. L. Charles Airport near Castries is much closer to the resort and handles regional flights.

What is near Windjammer Landing?

The resort sits between the capital and the main resort strip, so two quite different areas are close. To the south, Castries has the Central Market, a lively place for produce, spices and crafts, and Pointe Seraphine, the duty-free shopping area by the cruise port. To the north, Rodney Bay has the marina, Reduit Beach, Bay Walk Mall and the largest choice of restaurants and bars on the island. Both are a short drive from the gates, and the resort runs a shuttle and arranges airport transfers.

On Reduit Beach, Spinnakers Beach Bar is known for fresh seafood, house cocktails and sunset views over the bay, and Splash Island Water Park, a floating inflatable park with slides and climbing walls, is a hit with children. Close to Gros Islet, Callaloo Beach Bar and Grill serves casual Caribbean lunches by the water, and the village hosts its famous Friday Night Street Party, with sound systems, dancing and grilled seafood in the streets. Our guide to beach bars and sunsets lists more places to watch the sun go down, and our where to eat guide covers the island as a whole.

Further north, Pigeon Island is a national landmark with a quiet beach, a small museum run by the Saint Lucia National Trust, the Two-Gun Battery, military ruins and the climb to Signal Peak, which looks out over Rodney Bay and the coast. Jambe de Bois, a small beachside spot there, is known for simple Caribbean dishes and fresh seafood. For activities, the marina is the starting point for sailing and boat trips and catamaran sunset cruises, and the resort map lists golf, horse riding and an aerial tram among the attractions within reach. To the south, Marigot Bay is a sheltered harbour worth a day out, and the wider area is described in our guide to north Saint Lucia.

That position is the real strength of the location. You can have a villa with a plunge pool above a calm bay and still be able to shop in Castries in the morning, snorkel off a marina boat at midday and dine in Rodney Bay in the evening. Most trips are a short drive rather than a day's expedition, and the Friday street party is easy to fit into a week. Opening hours and seasons vary, so check before you set out.

What are the rooms, villas and residences like?

The accommodation range is wide, and it is the main reason people choose Windjammer Landing over a conventional hotel. At the entry level there are Oasis guestrooms, and Coastline rooms and suites that sit closer to the water. Higher on the hill are the Hilltop options, from a one-bedroom suite up to pool villas with two, three or four bedrooms. These are the resort's best-known units, built for families and groups who want a private plunge pool and a kitchen as well as resort facilities.

A newer tier is the Manor Collection, a set of redesigned estate villas that includes a Presidential Manor and a series of named manors, with butler service as a standard feature. Ocean Point Residences, in two and three bedrooms, look over Labrelotte Bay. The resort site also lists a separate private estate, La Belle Hélène, for very large groups, so ask the reservations team how it relates to your dates if that interests you.

A practical point on the hillside. Distances between your villa, the beach and the restaurants can be considerable, and the resort provides a shuttle service, so check how far your chosen room is from the places you will use most. If you travel with a pushchair, grandparents or anyone who tires on slopes, ask for a room low on the hill. The kitchens in the villas are useful if you want to make breakfast on a lazy morning, and they are well suited to anyone staying longer. If privacy is your priority, our guide to private villas and VIP stays shows how the options compare.

What does all-inclusive cover?

The resort offers several ways to book, and it pays to be clear which you are buying. A standard all-inclusive covers meals, snacks and drinks at the resort's restaurants and bars, and a premium all-inclusive widens that to a la carte dining across the full range of restaurants, premium spirits and house wine by the glass, 24-hour in-room dining with a small tray charge, and motorised water sports as well. Children aged 11 and under are given complimentary dining on the premium package, ordering from the children's menu.

Room only is also available, which suits people who plan to eat out in Rodney Bay or who want to cook in a villa kitchen. Whichever you choose, check what is included at each restaurant and bar, because specialist venues and top-shelf drinks may carry a supplementary charge. Offers change through the year, and the resort advertises seasonal deals, so compare before you commit. Our money and tipping guide explains what to budget for on top of an all-inclusive rate.

What are the restaurants and bars like?

The resort has a good spread of places to eat, from casual to formal. Upper Deck is the steakhouse, newly renovated, with views over the beach at night. Jammers is the beachside spot for daytime meals and relaxed dinners, Embers, Dragonfly and Papa Don's offer other styles, and the recently added Masala serves Indian food. The Perch, a rooftop lounge, is among the newer additions. Bars are dotted around the resort, and private dining, including candlelit dinners on the sand, can be arranged for couples.

Most dietary needs can be accommodated if you tell the resort in advance. Away from the resort table, Saint Lucian cooking is worth seeking out, and our food and rum guide explains what to try. A night out in Rodney Bay is easy to arrange if you choose a booking that leaves some meals free.

Is it good for families, couples and groups?

Families are the resort's core audience. The children's club, called Jacquot Fun Club, is designed for ages 4 to 12, and there is a VIP kids programme and activities for teens. Large villas with several bedrooms make it easy for three generations to share one base, and the bay is calm enough for young swimmers. For other options, see our guide to family friendly resorts and our list of family beaches.

Couples are well served too. There are private candlelit dinners, sunset cruises, in-water hammocks, and a spa called Serene Spa for treatments. Some couples choose Windjammer Landing for a wedding or honeymoon, and we cover the resort in detail on our Windjammer Landing weddings and honeymoons page. Larger parties, from friends sharing a villa to wedding groups, tend to enjoy the way the units cluster across the hill.

If you want a more private, adults-focused stay, the resort may feel busy in school holidays. A wellness-led alternative such as BodyHoliday, or The Landings in Rodney Bay, offers a different pace. For a large all-inclusive with a lively beach, compare Sandals Regency La Toc on the Castries side.

What is there to do, and how do you plan the trip?

On the water, the resort has a water sports centre with complimentary non-motorised options including snorkelling, windsurfing, pedal boats, paddleboards and kayaks. Kneeboarding, water skiing and wakeboarding are charged unless you are on the premium all-inclusive. There is also a dive site with certified instructors, and the wider coast is covered in our water adventures guide. On land there are pools, a fitness centre and organised tours, and the resort sells sea tours and excursions across the island.

Think about when to go. The dry season from December to April is the easiest to plan around, and school holidays fill quickly, so book early if you need a particular villa. Our best time to visit guide explains the seasons. If you are deciding how long to stay, our how many days guide helps, and our getting here guide covers flights and transfers. Rates, inclusions and room names change, so confirm current details with the resort before you pay a deposit.

Planning St Lucia holidays around Windjammer Landing

Windjammer Landing 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