Hi,

I posted this on the St.Lucia forum as well...

I was supposed to be leaving for the Windjammer Landing in St.Lucia next week and getting married at the resort in two weeks (from today). The Windjammer emailed me two days ago to tell me they are closing for a couple of months due to excessive water damage from all the rain and that we can no longer stay there (they told us this a week and a half before we were due to leave).

Like I said, we were due to leave next week (Dec 3) and get married Dec 8. We also have 30 guests coming along with us(none of whom know about this yet) I am stuck!

Our travel agent is trying to get the Royal by Rex (definitely not our top five choices)... I'm just wondering if anyone knows anything about this place and if it's worth it? It is obviously nothing like the villa with plunge pool we had at the Windjammer... should we just cancel the whole thing? or take our chances looking at another island this late? or just go along with this resort?

Thanks so much for any advice on this resort you can provide!

cmw

Wow, sorry you're going through this. Check tripadvisor.com on Royal by Rex. But what about Ti Kaye? I've heard nothing but good things about it and I think it's in the same price range as Windjammer.

Hi Christine,
Oh my gosh! I am feeling so badly for you - what a predicament. We had friends who stayed at the Royal and loved it and I know it has had good reviews on Trip Advisor too. It is different from Windjammer but still very nice. I thought the least Windjammer could do is try and find alternative accommodation for you - doing something like this does not bode well for them in the future as far as recommendations go. You no doubt already have your airfare to St. Lucia so I would concentrate on trying to find something there. I don't know what your other choices were but sincerely hope you can find someplace that will make your trip a happy memory. Let us know how you make out. Hang in there!

Oh my gosh,

That's just horrible. How could they leave it till the week before to do this to you. I mean you are getting married and having like 30 guests. How completely inconsiderate this hotel is. An telling you by email. My god do these places think that money grows on trees and that they can just disrupt lives like this. I'll never stay at this place and we were looking at St. Lucia for next year. Guess I'll be crossing that one off the list.
I really hope things work out for you and you have a great wedding and happy life together. take care

Luisa

Although I feel very sorry about your wedding plans in all fairness it has been raining for months in St Lucia and I am sure the hotel would prefer not to have to cancel vacations. It is not in their best interests to be closed. Can you not make your own mind up about where you would like to stay. How about asking a travel agent.

I'm really sorry about the predictament that you've found yourself in. Why don't you try to phone some other resorts in St. Lucia, e.g., Ladera, Jalouise, Ti Kaye Village, and perhaps they can help you out.

I really don't think you should cancel-I know it may seem hopeless but try making a couple of phone calls and things will work out. Good luck!

Geesh--I am so sorry for cmw, but they had a mudslide for heaven's sake, so I don't think it is right or helpful to disparage the hotel.

cmw, good luck; Royal by Rex has great reviews on tripadvisor.

Mary

cmw,
I'm really sorry too that you had such an unfortunate incident happen! I hope that your TA and or the Windjammer was able to work with you. For sure, the Windjammer cannot be blamed for Mother Nature, but hopefully you will be accomodated.

margaretno1
"Can you not make up your own mind where you want to stay"? That comment is a little "cool" considering it is a very short time from her wedding and she also has 30 guests to consider.

I hope it works out the best it can be for you. If you can all stay at Royal by Rex, it might be your best bet on short notice although I don't personally know much about that resort. If you are with your husband, family and friends, hopefully it will be allright. There is much to do on St Lucia beside hanging out at your resort. Nonetheless, I'm sure it was a major monkey wrench and a disappointment. I hope you will post and let us know what happened.

CMW-

Sorry to hear your news...N E further news as of now?? Good Luck!

Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for your wonderful replies. You are all so kind!
The Windjammer didn't do much to help us to tell you the truth however the tour operators (Elite Island Resorts) were kind enough to transfer us all to Tortola in the BVI. I'm praying that everything works out. It's been a very stressful week and could really use the vacation.
I'm going to post a message under the BVI forum and see if I can get any info. on there.
I do love St.Lucia and am very sad we won't be going there. I was very excited for my family and friends to see the island as it is gorgeous!! I'm hoping Tortola is just as nice!! I'm probably wishful thinking though...

Mary,
I don't hold it against the resort. It was completely out of their hands, and I'm sure they are now worst off then me (probably don't have jobs to go too for the next little while). I am just upset at how the resort handled it. Very unprofessional. I (and my agent) had to do everything. Even my travel agents were upset with them. They didn't have any alternative plans. Oh well, it was a natural disaster and these things happen. What can you do...

so you're going to long bay in tortola? i've heard great things about that place and tortola in general. Sugar Mill is supposed to be a great restaurant.

Have an excellent time. I'm glad you got everthing straigtened out, even if Windjammer didn't help you very much (and you had every reason to be frustraed w/their lack of communication, especially considering you had other people flying from the us to see you get married).

sorry cmw, my comment wasn't directed at you, but I am so glad that everything worked out and that they were able to find you an alternate.

Happy Wedding!

Mary

cmw, congratulations and good luck with your new plan. the bvi's are beautiful and i think you will enjoy your stay. the diving and snorkeling are wonderful. you could visit the baths on virgin gorda or perhaps your group could charter a boat and go to one of the swim IN bars - soggy dollar {birthplace of the painkiller} or foxy's on jost van dyke. the beaches will be much nicer than st. lucia but tortolla is not as lush.
on the really bright side think of the story you will get to tell about your wedding for the next 50+ years...

cmw - I do hope this works out for you, It must have been a shock to have to find alternative accomodations for you and your wedding party.

Then you ask for advice and Margaretno1 posts for the first time on Fodors and is not helpful in the slightest. I am annoyed by her post.

This is a nice forum and while I post on the other board that other disenchanted ex-Fodors have formed, It's this forum that keeps me here on Fodors. We are a nice, polite, helpful crowd and Margaretno1's post is not what we need!!!!

cmw: was horrified to read about your predicament, but I can tell you the Tortola will not be disapointing in anyway in comparison to St. Lucia. The Virgin Islands are so beautiful and you will be able to travel to many islands with relative ease. Tortola is mountainous and much of it is lush. You'll have a great time. I just got back from the Virgin Islands a week ago and the weather was outstanding.

Tuxedocat

now that's a helpful post, We're looking at visiting the BVI next year.

If I post on the US board about restaurants near Darien CT (I know you live in CT) could you help???

cmw, I am quite relieved that you've found suitable accommodations for everybody and that your wedding can go on as planned, albeit in a different location.

The beach at Long Bay is simply gorgeous, and I think most people would consider it much prettier than the beaches on St. Lucia. Tortola is gorgeous, and while it is neither as lush nor as dramatic in its landscape as St. Lucia, it is much easier to get around on one's own. I think you and your guests will be quite satisfied. I'm very glad to read that Elite Island Resorts worked so hard to relocate your entire party to a nice location.

alya, what is the other forum that Fodorites formed? is it by invitation only, or can anyone drop by?

Hi Christine,
Just wanted to say how great it was to hear that you have a place to go and from what I gather, a beautiful place. Thanks for keeping us all posted (I guess you could tell from the responses that we were all following this post very closely!) I do blame the resort in that, although they have no control over Mother Nature, they have alot of control over making other suggestions/arrangements for you. At the very least they could have given you some other options. Very negligent on their part and disappointing to hear. But, thankfully the tour operator came through for you. So, hopefully you can put this all behind you now and enjoy a wonderful trip and a very special occasion. I guess it goes without saying we would love a trip report when you return!