Hello everyone. My husband and I are going to be traveling to St. lucia at the end of July. We will be staying at the Grande. (it seems to be one of the nicest out of the 3) We opted for a premium lagoon room, because we aren't really going to be in it most of the time. I was just wondering if anyone has been there recently or during Jul/Aug and has any suggestions or opinions. I have been reading reviews on other websites and I just want this vacation to be perfect.. ..it is our honeymoon.. ..and a lot of money. Any comments would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Hello,

We are going to the Grande in November for our Honeymoon. I can't wait. I think this resort looks and sound amazing. We are planning on doing the Jeep Safari. Please let me know how your vacation was and any recomendations you have!
Thanks,
Erin

One more question anyone. How is the food at the grande? ( we love 2 eat) Also the desserts as well. I have heard that they are not the greatest. Any imput would be great.. .. .

hey guys. just replying to you because i know no one else will. for some reason, the st. lucia resorts don't get responded to much on these boards.. ..everyone just says they're going, then don't report once they get home. i haven't been myself, just to Dunn's River on jamaica, but hear me when i say that it was the greatest vacation of my life. i consider myself a traveler, i love to do it and i love planning trips. it's out of my character to go sit somewhere for 5 or 6 days. i'd much rather be hopping the sites and seeing new and interesting things. but Sandals knows how to take care of you. just show up and never get out your wallot again. haven't eaten at the Grande obviously, would like to some day when the price is right, but the food at SDR was awesome. some people say it's ok and some people hate it. i personally think that's just rich prudes who are used to eating $50 plates everywhere they go and are upset when they eat real food. but honestly, we loved it and opted out of traveling to another resort to eat at their restaurant so that we could eat at the Windies restaurant twice, we liked it so much. enjoy and have a good time. i'd be glad to answer any Sandals-esque questions or tell you what i know about the Grande. i do know that it's probably THE most expensive Sandals resort of all of them and you'd probably be more savy to book the Halcyon and take some day trips over there. from what i hear, Halcyon sits between the Regency and Grande, so it's not hard to get to either from there. and it's the least expensive on the island. someone put a bad report about the Halcyon on here the other day but it's the first bad report i've ever heard about it and that's over a year's worth of watching this board. enjoir!

Thanks drperfect. That was nice of you to respond, at least someone did. I can see no one really wrote about st. lucia. (although tripadvisor has some reviews) I guess its not one of the popular spots. I wanted to hear the most I could about it before we go. Guess I'll just have to wait and see. I am excited and I will be one of the few posting a review when I get back. Thank you!

We are returning to Sandals for our third visit later this year. We are going to the Grande having previously stayed at Halcyon in St lucia and Antigua.
My favorite was St Lucia, the people were wonderful friendly and helpful and seemed genuinely happy to working at the resort. We were very happy with our choice of the Halycon being the quietier resort and having the option to take the bus to the Golf resort which was much bigger and busier. The Pier restaurant is fabulous and the food overall is excellent just remember that if you dont like something you can ask for something else. The cocktails are great Banana Lady my favorite, the beds are the most comfortable I've ever slept in in a hotel. The entertainment is a bit amatuer but you dont have to watch if you dont want to. My only critism is that at Antigus the wine list was very limited but good quality nonetheless. Overall I have not been disapppointed thats why we are going back for a third time.

[quote="Swindon England"]We are returning to Sandals for our third visit later this year. We are going to the Grande having previously stayed at Halcyon in St lucia and Antigua.
My favorite was St Lucia, the people were wonderful friendly and helpful and seemed genuinely happy to working at the resort. We were very happy with our choice of the Halycon being the quietier resort and having the option to take the bus to the Golf resort which was much bigger and busier. The Pier restaurant is fabulous and the food overall is excellent just remember that if you dont like something you can ask for something else. The cocktails are great Banana Lady my favorite, the beds are the most comfortable I've ever slept in in a hotel. The entertainment is a bit amatuer but you dont have to watch if you dont want to. My only critisim is that at Antigus the wine list was very limited but good quality nonetheless. Overall I have not been disapppointed thats why we are going back for a third time If you need anymore information please let me know

wow . . Its seems great. Thank you for your response. We are leaving for the Grande in a couple weeks. I am assuming that you liked the Grande bacause thats were you are going to be staying, however you didn't really mention anything about it in you post. Only the Halcyon and golf resort. What did you think of the Grande? Was it the nicest? Thanks for sharing.

Oh and one more question please.. .. ..when did you travel to St. lucia? I hope the wether is nice when we go.. .. .. .

I'm booked at the Grande for December 26th
Which airport are you flying in to? If you fly into the southern one (Hewanorra) you take about a 2 hour taxi-bus ride from there to the resort.

OR

You can call Sandals and have them arrange a helicopter transfer for about $110 (US) per person (one-way). . Takes about 15 minutes then instead of 2 hours. Your airplane carry-on goes with you on the helicopter. The rest of your bags arrive on the taxi-bus. Must have a minimum of 4 people to land directly at the Grande. Otherwise you could arrange transfer to the northern airport and take the taxi-bus from there only about 15-20 minutes.

cheers

Before now have always taken cruises (RCCL). . On one cruise we elected to visit the Sandals Grande in St. Lucia to spend the day. Over the afternoon that we spent there, we were convinced this was the better choice for our future vacations. We have seen the negative trends in cruising.. ..additional costs (sodas, exercise classes, milkshakes etc.etc.etc.). . Ships being controlled by children and the decline of entertainment as well as the reduction in late night dining options not to mention a slight decline in food quality. I understand that the entertainment may not be the same quality as on a cruise.. ..but not have to worry about tips, the price of drinks and every other little thing they are charging for now will be worth it. We did eat lunch at the Grande durring our afternoon visit and was very impressed. We are not huge drinkers but not having to pay $5 to $6 a drink will be a relief.. ..including the $2 to $3 sodas and bottled water every time you are thirsty. We will be visiting the Grande the last week of July 2004.

We really did not have a choice this year of when we are vacationing.. ..so we are a little worried about the weather at the end of July, hope we will not be disappointed we are planning to get married during our visit.
SLM

I am sure the weather will be ok. We are going there for the first time the 1st week of Aug. My TA said if it rains it is only for a few min. and then t clears up. Hopefully it will be alright . . Weather is so unpredictable anywhere even in the non rainy season, so I wouldn't worry. Have fun! And thanks for sharing your lunch experience and how much you enjoyed it there. We are really looking forward to going!

My husband and I have decided to take the helicopter from the airport to the Grande. I am just wondering has anyone on this board ever taken it? Is it worth the money? Should I go through my TA or sandals? We will take the shuttle back to the airport when we leave but we want to get there as fast as possible, plus it seems cool. My husband works in aviation and loves helicopters. Ok any input would be awesome. Thanks!!

My Fiancee and I are flying into the smaller airport and it's only about a 15 minute bus ride. I have read other reveiws that say the Helicopper ride is definately worth it. Not only do you get to the resort faster but you get to see the most amazing views on the way.

Please post a review when you return from St. Lucia for everyone who is going to the Grande at the end of the month or the beginning of August. I would love to hear you opinions and suggestions.
Thanks!

Thanks.. ..there weren't that many reviews on the helicopter. I read very, very few. However we can't wait.. .. .. . I am sure the view is worth every penny. We'll see!

I cant wait to hear the reviews!! My wife and I want to go to Grande in '06 ( going to whitehouse in '05). .. .. . Have a great time and congrats!!

2 weeks to go until we leave !!! Any last minute advice on anything? Thanks!

2 weeks? ADVICE: HAVE FUN!!!

I have 23 weeks before I leave for the Grande.

Regarding the helicopter. I booked it through my TA (and my TA contacted Sandals in St Lucia and set it all up with St Lucia Helicopters, etc). . We will fly both ways by helicopter. You need a minimum of 4 people to have them land directly at the Grande. At least that's how it was when we booked. It costs about $110 US per person each way. Sound like a lot? Book a helicopter tour anywhere you go and it'll be at least that much. Anyways.. .. . doing it this way STILL saves me over $200 per person in airfare by flying into the larger southern airport rather than the smaller northern one AND it saves me about 7 HOURS of travel time. ( 6 hours travel time total going into southern airport from here.. .. .. . 13 hours if I fly into the northern airport )

PLAN YOUR LUGGAGE if you're taking the helicopter. You get to take on the helicopter whatever your airplane carry-on is. The rest of your luggage goes on the taxi-bus and will arrive at the resort about an hour and a half AFTER you arrive. So plan on having what you will want to wear in your carry-on if you feel you'll be wanting to change clothes for dinner or something.

oh and by the way.. .. .. . HAVE FUN!

Thanks for the info about the helicopter! I hear that if there is not 4 people riding in it you will have to pay for the other two seats. I hope that is not the case! We have decided last minute to defenitely take the helicopter and I have to arrange it in the beginning of next week. I hope it is not too short of a notice Did your TA tell you if you have to book it in way advance? Mine is away now so I'll have to see. Hopefully it will work out. Well once again thanks for all the info.

not many things are guarantees, but here's one you can count on: if Yardbird makes a post you can be absolutely for certain that he will be talking about the helicopter ride to the Grande. dude, i hope you like the resort once you get there.

I am going to Grande in October. This is the third time that we have vistited a sandals resort. Once to Halcyon and once to Antigua. Preferred St Lucia. People friendly, service great and food very good. You can order whatever you like off the menu so if you get something that you dont like just order something else. It does rain but its over quickly and as soon as the sun comes out its dry and lovely again. I too loved the Banana Lady cocktails and most of the others as well and boy did I try a lot. Ther wine selction was much better in St Lucia than Antigua. The bus ride from the airport takes about 1 and a half hours and not as horrific as Ive read on some of the reviews. Try driving in LOndon or any other major city and it will not seem as hairy. The People carriers however are old and not that comfortable but at least they are air conditioned. The champagne and warm flannel waiting for you when you swing into the resort make it worthwhile. From my experience you dont need to upgrade unless you can afford to all the rooms are basically the same except slightly different views and the conceirge rooms have a bar but we didnt use it only for water as you drink on the the resort and dont spend much time in your room. Overall loved it and looking forward to spending a relaxing romantic time away from the usual dailr ratrace.

Thank you for shaaring your experience. It is great to know that you enjoyed St. Lucia so much that you are returning again. We leave in 10 days and can hardly wait

My husband and I are also going to the Grande for the first time, in October.. .. .. .. ..we cannot wait!. .. ..we are also booked to take the helicopter.. ..can't wait to hear more on that.. .. .. .. .. ..Have a great time!

drperfect,

I just think the . .. .. . *tries not to use the "h" word* . .. .. . ride is vastly under-advertised (if that's even a word) and for some (especially old codgers like me) it's a very convenient ammenity.

And thanks for the well wishes. I am excited like crazy. My wife and I never got to travel much, never took a real honeymoon, and.. .. . well in 2001 I got killed in a car accident. Dead for 15 minutes and came back spontaneiously (they didn't revive me, they were working on getting the other guy out of his car.. ..let's face it.. .. . I was dead! ). .

Since then we decided we should do more "stuff". . And have more fun.

And I just made it through a whole post with saying "helicopter"!

DOH!