cristina60

HI THERE...I AM NEW AT FODORS...OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY IS COMING UP THIS MONTH AND WE HAVE NEVER BEEN TO EITHER ST. LUCIA OR THE MAYAN RIVIERA..THE REASON I BRING UP THESE TWO IS BECAUSE TWE HAVE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THESE 2 PALCES....KEEP IN MIND YOU THAT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ON ALL INCLUSIVE VACATION ANYWHERE...WE ARE 47 &43 BUT VERY YOUNG AT HEART..ANY FEEDBACK WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED...P.S. WE WANT A VERY ROMANTIC HOTEL TOO!

Knowing

We found St. Lucia to not be our cup of tea. During the winter months, the water is very rough in St. Lucia and we discovered that we were unable to ever swim in it. We have not been to the Mayan Riviera yet, but it looks like it has much, much more!

KarenM

Hi Cristina,

Just my opinion you get more bang for your buck in Mexico. We stayed 5 nights out of 10 Christmas 2002 in Playa del Carmen at the Royal Hideaway which is an all inclusive. The Royal Hideaway is about 200 rooms with 4 restaurants, all gourmet. It was nice to just check in and all meals and drinks were included instead of the nickel, dime and dollaring you from sunrise to sunset...but then you pay for it in one gigantic lump sum.

The other 5 nights at the 20 room Villa Rolandi in Isla Mujeres which is an island off the northern end of Cancun. The food at Villa Rolandi was gourmet and included continental breakfast delivered to your room thru a small door in the wall...and dinner in the open air restaurant overlooking the water with the Cancun lights in the distance. Drinks were extra at Villa Rolandi though. We had a twin steam shower and a jacuzzi tub on our patio. We liked Villa Rolandi the best of the two hotels.

We traveled by bus from the airport to the town of Playa del Carmen then took a taxi to the hotel for about $4.00 which worked out fine instead of renting a car which would have been very expensive with the collision damage waiver they make you take.

There are quite a few all inclusive resorts in the Mayan Riviera. I also think you'll find more airfare deals for Mexico than you will for St. Lucia. A lot of posters on the Mexico forum recommend the Adventura Palace which is an all inclusive.

KarenM

Just stumbled upon this offer from Royal Hideaway:

http://www.libertytravel.com/Home/default.asp

Looks like a great deal including air.

KarenM

Here's another very special place. They are offering a Honeymoon/Romance package that does include some meals, not totally inclusive though but it is per room, not per person. You could probably get airfare easily enough elsewhere.

http://www.maroma-mexico.com/honeymoon_rates.htm

KarenM

Forgot to post the Villa Rolandi website:

http://www.differentworld.com/mexico...s/entrance.htm

Thought you might enjoy seeing what that place was all about.

diann

I would choose Mayan Riviera without a doubt. St. Lucia is a pretty island, but the beaches are not very nice.

ejcrowe

I love St. Lucia, but if my priorities for a vacation were to have long, endless stretches of beautiful white sand, or ease in travel, I would probably pick the Mayan Riviera out of your two choices. That said, I think St. Lucia's natural beauty wins out over the MR hands down. The spectacular vista of the two Pitons rising steeply out of the beautiful water over an admittedly small white sand beach at the Hilton Jalousie is simply out of this world. It's a very romantic resort that offers an all-inclusive option. Each room is an individual cottage with a private plunge pool. The facilities are great there, too. I think Jalousie would be perfect for a couple who wanted a romantic escape, but who also wanted to do all-inclusive. If you do choose Jalousie, one recommendation I have is to request a bottle of champagne and take it up to the top of the property where the spa is, and watch the sunset below you while enjoying the hot tub. It is an unbelievable experience.

But no matter which you choose, St. Lucia or Mayan Riviera, know that you'll have a fantastic and romantic time, because it's just as much about what you and your sweetie bring to the vacation as what it brings to you.

mulberry

I agree with last post. St. Lucia is special with active hot springs near Pitons but the beaches are rough at times. Stayed at Mayan Riviera three years ago with family. Very nice beaches, good snorkling and ruins a must see.

Len

jlb

My husband and I stayed at the Sandals St. Lucia. We had a great time.It was all-inclusive. Is that what you are looking for? All-inclusive?
If not, we've stayed many times in Mexico like some of the other posts, and always enjoyed it there. There are some really special places to stay in Mexico.

roliver46

My wife and I stayed at the Jalousie Hilton a couple of years ago and loved it. Agree with comments above. Private pool was wonderful. Only downfall was that the food was just ok. Haven't been to the Mayan Riveria, but our daughter honeymooned at the Royal Hideway last year and raved about it.

toppy

We also have questions about st Lucia. We are booked into Sandals Regency. Is there the beautiful Pitons view you described at the Jalousie?

SSypniewski

I would just like to add for my honeymoon my husband and I went to St. Lucia. We stayed at the Sandals Halcyon (spelling?) and while it was nice I wish we opted to stay closer to the Pitons. WHen I was planning my honeymoon, all of the wedding information websites all were pushing the Sandals resorts as being very romantic - so I fell into that trap as well. However, I do not know how the "new 3rd" sandals resort is on St. Lucia I would consider staying at the Hilton. When we took a day trip to the Pitons, I couldn't believe how beautiful they were and that there was a hotel located right in between them. If I ever get the chance to go back to St. Lucia (right now I am stuck on the USVIs) I would definitely stay at the Jalouise Hilton. Just my 2 cents! - Susan

sailor

Hi Toppy,

Thumbs up for ejcrowes post and I am feeling SSypniewski's pain! LOL

We to had booked at the Sandals Halcyon for our 25th anniversary. We fortunately stayed for our first nights in St.Lucia at Ladera Resort. Located above the Jalousie Hilton and also between the Pitons. At Ladera you shuttle down to use the Jalousie Hilton beach, and on those days we so ... fell in love with this location!!! We still were excited to then see what the Sandals Halcyon was to hold for us as we were paying more then the cost of Ladera or the Jalousie, had to be nice RIGHT? Oh my, when we arrived at the Halcyon, we wished we could have turned right around and left, going back to Ladera or the Hilton!!! Well, after the first night that is what we did! Back to paradise between the Pitons at the Jalousie Hilton.

Now that is not to say that the Halcyon was a bad resort or anything and we did go take a look at the Sandals Regency also. It was for us, that there was no way they could compare in beauty, romance, amenities, beaches, rooms, etc., etc., etc.,

Halcyon, is a cute little lush resort on a very average beach in St.Lucia and not a very appealing one in my opinion, especially comparing it to the Jalousies beach. The rooms are your basic motel room. It made me sick to think that Sandals can get away with the prices that they charge SOME of us for this resort! We had paid $5,800 with air from Chicago for 7 nights. Totally outrageous for the room we had, can only give it a $100 a night value or less, compared to other, places on the island.

The Sandals Regency did not sit well, with us either as the beach there is so, so often closed down and red flagged! No umbrellas or palm trees, etc., on this beach. And again could not compare in location with where we had just been, at the Hilton.

I think it is a shame sometimes when people comment that the beaches are rough, without explaining which beaches they are talking about. It can very greatly in St.Lucia. Some of the beaches are more prone to this then others, as the Regency's Beach is well know for being red flagged many times throughout the year. I have yet to hear in three years of following posts that the beach at the Jalousie Hilton has been close down. It is in such a nice protected cove that I would take some extreme weather conditions to close this one down or even for it to become rough.

Of course Ladera and the Jalousie Hilton are not for everyone as it is in a secluded location (maybe a bit to quite for somes tastes) and there for getting around outside the resort is a bit more difficult and costly. That is if you ever care to leave much.

The Sandals resorts do fit the bill for many as they might be looking for the more social in activities that these resorts offer, swim-up pool bars, etc. For some this may outweigh the locations, and beaches.

What they haven't seen does not affect them.

We did visit the Sandals Grande (Hyatt) when we were there. This resort has a nicer beach then the other two Sandals, and the view of Rodney Bay from this resort is beautiful. Not as lush as the other two, but each of them have there pluses and minus's, in comparing them to each other.

St.Lucia is a wonderful island and you should have a great time where ever you stay!!!

Donna

SSypniewski

To sailor, that's too funny that happened to you! While IMO the Sandals Halcyon was okay I didn't feel it offered its own "uniqueness". And plus for the $$ we paid, and it was our honeymoon (during low season) you would think that they would have upgraded our room at least one level. But nope! I have recently (last Oct.) vacationed at Caneel Bay and just loved it. I guess its more of what you're looking for. If you want a place that offers an AI experience then try the Sandals, but if you want to experience more of the natural beautiful surroundings St. Lucia has to offer, opt for Jalouise Hilton, Ladera or even Anse Chastanet.

toppy

Thanks sailor,
We are booked into the Regency, so what's done is done, and I am sure we will have fun since we always do. We like all inclusives, and we know now that if the beach is red flagged we will try taking their shuttle to the Grande if it is more protected. I have read good things about the Jalousie. Maybe next time.
Toppy