St. Lucia Sandals Resorts vs. Jade Mountain- Which is Right for Your Vacation?
Booking a stay in St. Lucia is like buying a ticket to paradise. With the warm, tropical climate, beautiful beaches everywhere, and friendly island natives to greet you wherever you go, St. Lucia is a small slice of heaven that is guaranteed to blow your mind.
Resorts are quite popular with Caribbean travelers, and here we will examine St. Lucia’s three Sandals entries as well as the stunning Jade Mountain to help you ensure that you are selecting the resort that will be perfect for you.
- Sandals has three properties in St. Lucia, and booking a stay at one grants access to the amenities at all three
- Sandals Grande St. Lucian is located on Pigeon Island in Gros Islet, about 90 minutes from Hewanorra International Airport (UVF)
- Sandals Regency La Toc is situated in Castries and is minutes from SLU and about an hour from UVF
- Sandals Halcyon Beach is also located in Castries and is about an hour and ten minutes from Hewanorra Airport St. Lucia
- Jade Mountain Resort is located in beautiful, historic Soufriere and is about 45 minutes from Hewanorra/UVF International Airport
Snorkeling Between St. Lucia Pitons
Location, Location, Location- Where Are Sandals and Jade Mountain Relative to What You Want to Do?
While both Sandals and Jade Mountain are packed with onsite amenities, no trip to St. Lucia is complete without exploring the island. Proximity to the airport is great, but what about the daily sights and attractions you want to see and be a part of? What about the views?
- Sandals Grande is located on Pigeon Island, which means easy access to the area’s historic national park as well as Pigeon Island Beach and Rodney Bay. If you’re into yachting or want to enjoy the Friday Night Gros Islet Street Party, you’re definitely in the right spot. Sandals Grande is about an hour and a half from Soufriere and about half an hour from Castries.
- Sandals Regency La Toc and Sandals Halcyon Beach are located in Castries, making them perfect for travelers who want to explore the open air market, visit Derek Walcott Square, or explore Mount Fortune or Vigie Beach. Much like Pigeon Island, there are stunning ocean views to be enjoyed.
- Guests of Jade Mountain will find themselves in historic Soufriere, with views of both the Caribbean and the majestic Piton Mountains. Nearby attractions include Sulphur Springs, with the world’s only known drive-in volcano as well as Sugar and Hummingbird Beaches, Anse Chastanet, the Tet Paul Nature Trail, and Diamond Falls Botanical Garden, to name a few.
Sandals St. Lucia Accommodations and Amenities
All three Sandals St. Lucia locations are all-inclusive and packages entitle you to utilize the amenities of all of the resorts. Like Jade Mountain, Sandals Grande, La Toc, and Halcyon Beach are adults-only. Between the resorts, there are 27 restaurants, 21 bars, 2 golf courses, 11 pools, and 11 whirlpools.
Sandals St. Lucia resorts are popular for weddings and the Sandals name is well known for fun in the sun. Each resort offers easy beach access and beautiful accommodations, many of which are waterfront and offer incredible views.
Sandals Grande St. Lucian even offers bungalows that extend over the water for a true island paradise experience. The Stay at One, Play at 3 privilege is certainly appealing for travelers looking to spend much of their time in St. Lucia at the resorts, whether it’s to play golf, enjoy all-inclusive dining, or to soak in romance and time on the beach.
Sandals St. Lucia resorts are popular for weddings and the Sandals name is well known for fun in the sun. Each resort offers easy beach access and beautiful accommodations, many of which are waterfront and offer incredible views.
Sandals Grande St. Lucian even offers bungalows that extend over the water for a true island paradise experience. The Stay at One, Play at 3 privilege is certainly appealing for travelers looking to spend much of their time in St. Lucia at the resorts, whether it’s to play golf, enjoy all-inclusive dining, or to soak in romance and time on the beach.
Jade Mountain Resort Accommodations and Amenities
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia is an adults-only resort that is stunning in every way. Designed by architect and owner Nick Troubetzkoy, this resort doesn’t offer “rooms”, but rather offers “sanctuaries”. There are different levels of sanctuary that affect ensuite amenities as well as infinity pool size, but each one offers a private infinity pool that is perfect for relaxation and romance away from the crowds.
All-inclusive packages are optional and can be great for those who want to spend the bulk of their time at the resort. The Jade Mountain Club is considered to be some of St. Lucia’s finest dining, while other dining options are also available onsite.
Yoga and fitness are also on offer, but it’s the Kai En Ciel Spa that many travelers gravitate towards. If water sports and activities are your thing, you’ll find that Jade Mountain is quite near Anse Chastanet Beach (Anse Chastanet is a sister resort of Jade Mountain), and that everything from sunbathing to scuba diving and water sports are only steps away.
Jade Mountain is quite popular for St. Lucia weddings, and its beautiful backdrop and focus on luxury and privacy make it clear why.
All-inclusive packages are optional and can be great for those who want to spend the bulk of their time at the resort. The Jade Mountain Club is considered to be some of St. Lucia’s finest dining, while other dining options are also available onsite.
Yoga and fitness are also on offer, but it’s the Kai En Ciel Spa that many travelers gravitate towards. If water sports and activities are your thing, you’ll find that Jade Mountain is quite near Anse Chastanet Beach (Anse Chastanet is a sister resort of Jade Mountain), and that everything from sunbathing to scuba diving and water sports are only steps away.
Jade Mountain is quite popular for St. Lucia weddings, and its beautiful backdrop and focus on luxury and privacy make it clear why.
St. Lucia Resorts vs. The Rise of Airbnb
As a final closing note, we want to take a look at how the big resorts are faring in the wake of Airbnb’s rise to fame. There is no doubt that for some travelers, the convenience of all-inclusive food and beverage packages and access to things like golf are what make a vacation magical.
But for many modern travelers, the chance to rent a luxury home in the very heart of St. Lucia with a private pool and amenities such as on-call private chef service and an on-call chauffeur seem to hold as much, if not greater appeal. Villas such as Saba, Serrana, and Sargas as well as the new Enclave Villa Apartments offer not only all of the comforts and privacy of home, but many of the amenities of popular resorts, while also putting the Pitons practically in your yard.
Better still, they foster our natural instincts to explore our surroundings, as they are in the heart of the very best St. Lucia has to offer. From taking a dip in a drive-in volcano to hiking up Gros Piton for one of the world’s best views, guests of Soufriere Airbnbs are encouraged to explore this magical island and to really make themselves at home.
St. Lucia resorts will always be go-to destinations for travelers from around the globe, but with award-winning Airbnbs on the market, they are no longer the only choice for an absolutely perfect vacation.
But for many modern travelers, the chance to rent a luxury home in the very heart of St. Lucia with a private pool and amenities such as on-call private chef service and an on-call chauffeur seem to hold as much, if not greater appeal. Villas such as Saba, Serrana, and Sargas as well as the new Enclave Villa Apartments offer not only all of the comforts and privacy of home, but many of the amenities of popular resorts, while also putting the Pitons practically in your yard.
Better still, they foster our natural instincts to explore our surroundings, as they are in the heart of the very best St. Lucia has to offer. From taking a dip in a drive-in volcano to hiking up Gros Piton for one of the world’s best views, guests of Soufriere Airbnbs are encouraged to explore this magical island and to really make themselves at home.
St. Lucia resorts will always be go-to destinations for travelers from around the globe, but with award-winning Airbnbs on the market, they are no longer the only choice for an absolutely perfect vacation.
