Great hotel
This is a great hotel in a great location. It is in the centre of Rodney bay, but most of the time you would never know as the hotel is set so nicely in gardens. The restaurants and supermarket are a short walk in one way and the beach (down an unmade path) is a short walk the other way. Recommend the sunset on the beach. Pick your room carefully! The swim up rooms have direct access to the pool, but note that these are in the shade all day, and also it means that when you are sitting out on your patio, everyone around the pool is looking at you! Pool facing rooms (even the garden pool facing rooms) tend to be noisier as they are near the bar and also potential street noise (but this is minimal). And again the patios and balconies overlook the pool and everyone on the sun loungers. We had a garden patio room and this was round the other side. By having a "patio" room you are on the ground floor with more space on your terrace. You are looking at pleasant gardens and it is peaceful and private. Also gets the sun all day (as well as shade), so you can sit here and enjoy peace and quiet. The rooms could do with a minor update in some areas- the bed side lights cant be switched off from the bedside, only by a switch by the main door. We raised this at reception and they said "we know". The staff are all very friendly. Information isn't provided as a rule - you will have to ask to find anything out. We had to ask about times for meals and where to get towels and about the wifi (it's free and not locked). There was a Friday night BBQ and a Sunday lunch buffet, which no one told us about or was advertised - you find out when it happens! The food is very good. Breakfast is buffet style with plenty of choice and an egg station. We were lucky to have lunch included as a special upgrade and this was really nice choice and very tasty. Note that the food in St Lucia is on the expensive side compared to UK - one pizza and salad and a drink will easily be £30. A three course meal for two at a nice restaurant will be £100. It is a two hour transfer from the airport - the roads in St Lucia wind across the country - but its all very beautiful. Recommend the Friday night jump up in Gros Islet (the hotel will organise you a taxi there and back at around £30) for the experience. You can walk to Pigeon Island (about an hour) and recommend a day out to do the mud baths, waterfall, rum distillery etc. Overall, a great hotel in a great location.