We're trying to use an award ticket for a trip in July. Looks like to get to Canouan (CIW), we'll be stopping over in St. Lucia. If the airline will allow, we may make a few nights in St. Lucia and then 4-5 nights on Canouan @ Raffles.
First off, what I'm most interested in is to hear experiences from Raffles. Did a search, found only a couple topics--the one with the most potential veered off-course into a discussion about locals being displaced, the mega-corp taking over, etc etc. I'm very interested to hear more details about Raffles, so if anyone can share--I'd greatly appreciate it. If you don't want to post here, feel free to email me at: andyran26.2 at gmail dot com.
As far as St Lucia goes, I'm considering a few options. We have a 3nt "certificate" for a stay at any Sandals property (lowest room cat. but upgradeable at our cost, of course). So there's 3-days that would hardly cost us anything (maybe a few hundred $ if we upgrade rooms). Or, if we didn't use that, we'd likely stay a few nights at Ladera or Anse Chastanet. I realize we're talking about totally different types of resorts (I've read a lot of Sandals reviews--I'm not impressed), but 3nights for close to nothing vs. $1,xxx for 3nights......hmmmm.
I think I could swallow a few days at a sub-par Sandals, if I were staying for practically nothing and knowing that a much nicer (hopefully) stay was ahead @ Raffles.
At this point, I'm leery to just book the entire stay at Canouan due to the fact that I just don't know enough about the place.
Any thoughts? Thanks in advance
Two part'er: St. Lucia for a few nights then on to Raffles Canouan -- looking for reviews.
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We loved St. Lucia! We stayed at Sandals and had a great time. Course we were there in the off season. The food was par but the atmosphere was great. We went snorkeling, boating, rode jet skis and took the trip to the rain forest. We stayed at the smallest Sandals Resort -- Halcyon. We thought the other two were more crowded and more like chain hotels with the big high rises and all. The rooms on the cliff over looking the ocean at the Golf Resort looked nice, but we heard complaints that you had to ride a shuttle down the bluff to get anywhere--to the beach, to eat, etc.
Thanks for the feedback, Appling.
Actually, I was focusing my efforts on the Grande, as apparently it's the "nicest" of the 3 St. Lucia properties. However, your mention of Halycon sounds more up our alley--more private.
What room cat did you stay in? Were you able to access snorkeling, boating, and jet skis right there at the resort--or was that from another location/beach? Thanks again.
While I'm certainly aware that the majority of people that post on the forum dislike Sandals very much I have to give my opinion. First, I would never pay full price for any Sandals room. They are not worth that much money IMO. However, if you can get a room practically for free, I would say go for it! We briefly stopped at the Halycon, it is off the main road in Castries and looks a little worn and small. Beach is murky as is the Regency where we stayed. We talked to many couples while there that traveled to the Grand and they liked the beach very much. If the price is right, I think you would be fine at Sandals for a few nights. There is so much to do and see on St Lucia that is off resort as well.
Thanks for the reply, brenandg. Should we decide to do the Sandals thing, I suppose we'll have to weigh the privacy of the smaller two Sandals vs. the nicer/more crowded Grande. You hit it on the head though--I soon realized in reading reviews that there was no way I'm paying full price for mediocrity. But maybe I would stay there for (almost) free.
Thanks.
We actually paid for a Deluxe Room (the cheapest level) but upon arrival we were told that we could upgrade to any level room at any of the resorts. We chose to check-out our assigned room first and we loved it! It was located more in the back of the property in a more secluded location on the bottom floor near the smaller of the two pools in the back. After walking around the property for the 8 days we were there we discovered that even the rooms in the very front of the property looked the exact same as ours except more traffic walked in front of their doors. We enjoyed sitting on our porch and feeling more away from everything. We loved the ammenities at the Regency, but we would never choose to stay there. I would definitely choose the Grande over the Regency. It is located on an inlet and also seems more secluded. But I will definitely go back to Halcyon. The Grande was renovated in 2002 from being a Hilton, so it is pretty up-to-date and deluxe. If you are unsure where to stay between BIG or small, I would go with the Grande. That way you can't go wrong with accomodations and you can still go to the other two for dinners and fun.
Andy TN,
Stayed, at Ladera, the Jalousie Hilton located below Ladera,stayed at Sandals Halcyon, visited the Sandals Regency and visited the Sandals Grande (Hyatt at the time)and spent the day at Anse Chastenet.
You can e-mail me for pictures links, that you may very well be able to answer this question for yourself.
Mllrgail@aol.com
Thanks!
Don't be such a snob Andy..."sub-par" Sandals. Hmmm.
"Don't be such a snob Andy..."sub-par" Sandals. Hmmm. "
LOL, let's keep this thread on track please. Forgive my rush to judgement, as I haven't even been there--but from what I can tell in reading reviews/pictures, you sure don't get what you pay for. You are certainly allowed to feel otherwise though! Thanks!
Well, you have to take the rough with the smooth, Andy TN.
On other boards, you are getting considerable useful info on what goes on INSIDE the Canouan Raffles resort.
As a traveller, I would certainly want to know that, OUTSIDE the resort perimeter, the Canouan locals harbour considerable resentment against the mega-corp that, with the collusion of their government, has resulted in their being displaced them from three quarters of their island home. It's just part of being informed.
BTW, I agree completely with your (and BrenandG's) take on Sandals.
Fair enough, thanks for the reply curiuosx.
You seem to be well-versed in the goings on OUTSIDE of the resort....I think I read another of your posts somewhere else. What's YOUR take on Canouan? I take it you have visited yourself? How long ago? (Or are you a local?)
Somone on another board mentioned hiring a local to 'tour' the rest of the island. How feasible is that, if such resentment exists? Appreciate your comments.
Hi Andy, hope the links worked out ok for you.
Did it help or hinder your progress, LOL?
I can help if you have any questions.
Donna
Andy TN, yes I have been on Canouan within the past several weeks and have been visiting it for over 20 years.
This time I did not go to the Raffles site...too depressing. On my last visit there, under the previous management, I went picnicking with local friends and family at Glossy Bay. Until the resort was built, this had been the traditional Sunday picnic place for the islanders.
This time, we were followed all the way to the beach by a tough-looking security guard who continued to ‘watch us’ the whole time we were there and followed us back out when we left. Nice, particularly given that all beaches in SVG are, by law, public. My friends say that the new management is equally "tolerant".
That said, I do not think you or your fiancee will be under any physical threat should you choose to leave theresort....Vincentians tend to keep their political discussions in the family. If you ask locals not employed by the resort for their honest opinions and experiences, however, you will probably get an earful.
I like your idea of finding a local to walk with - I DO remember a hike around the island I took with a pal ages ago with the benefit of my one-inch Ordnance Survey Map...which we really didn't need because all the trails were circular. However, the area we hiked in is now mostly golf course !
To be clear, I am quite biased against international all-inclusive operations. The arguments have been made in other posts and I won’t go into detail here. Of course there are exceptions, but I haven’t seen too many and, so far, Raffles is not one of them.