Sandals Grande St. Lucian?????
Sep 4th, 2003 | 07:51 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Aug 2003
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Sandals Grande St. Lucian?????
I am getting married later next year; and have pretty much settled on Sandals Grande St. Lucian: it seems to have the best suites, the Swim Up Lagoon Honeymoon Suite is amazing!!! I just want to make sure I am not passing up better resorts. I just want it to be perfect, and unlike a cruise, at a resort on your honeymoon, the room sure does matter. So I am pretty set on the Grande, but just wanted to get other opinions. Thanks!
Sep 4th, 2003 | 08:13 AM
#3
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 178
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Hi EmilyO,
The Sandals Grande, is a decent resort, don't get me wrong here. This could be a great resort for you. I would just suggest if you are looking for the more amazing in romantic/room/location, you look into Ladera and the Jalousie Hilton resorts.
These two resorts won't have the swimup pool bar, party/game playing atmosphere that you will find at the Sandals.
They will have great romantic rooms/cottages at Jalousie/private plunge pools. Privacy, itimate seclusion. Outstanding service, 24hr room service. Stunning, stunning location between the Pitons. Wonderful beach, water sports, scuba diving/snorkel from shore. Nice entertainment most nights, etc.,etc.
Check them out!
Donna
The Sandals Grande, is a decent resort, don't get me wrong here. This could be a great resort for you. I would just suggest if you are looking for the more amazing in romantic/room/location, you look into Ladera and the Jalousie Hilton resorts.
These two resorts won't have the swimup pool bar, party/game playing atmosphere that you will find at the Sandals.
They will have great romantic rooms/cottages at Jalousie/private plunge pools. Privacy, itimate seclusion. Outstanding service, 24hr room service. Stunning, stunning location between the Pitons. Wonderful beach, water sports, scuba diving/snorkel from shore. Nice entertainment most nights, etc.,etc.
Check them out!
Donna
Sep 4th, 2003 | 08:57 AM
#4
Original Poster
Joined: Aug 2003
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Thank you for your reply. I have heard alot about Jalousie, but I have heard it is very very expensive. The Grande is expensive with the deluxe room, so I can only imagine what the honeymoon rooms at Jalouise would be. But I am definitely checking it out. The other appeal to Sandals is the free wedding on the beach and free china. I am still conflicted, but am going to check out Jalousies pricing. Thanks; keep the suggestions and opinions coming!
Sep 4th, 2003 | 10:42 AM
#6
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 69
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Emily,
Just so you know, if you stay in one of the Swim-up rooms there, your only view is of the room block on the other side of the pool, so if you want to see 'real' water, then don't stay in these rooms. Also, I believe that besides the 'swim-up' part & having room service included, the actual rooms themselves aren't any different than other regular rooms. In January, we stayed in a 'Honeymoon Luxury Beachfront Room (2109)' on the 1st floor of bldg 2 and we had an awesome view straight out to Rodney Bay (since we were on the 1st floor, there was no ugly bright blue balcony railing blocking our view!). The rooms on the other side of the hall from us were the Swim-up rooms.
For the 1st week of our honeymoon in Nov 98, we stayed at Sandals St. Lucia in a 'Water's Edge One Bedroom Suite'. And, WOW, out of all 14 of our Caribbean/Mexican vacations we've been on, THAT room was the absolute best !! It was 2 levels and, as the name implies, right on the water's edge, w/ a great view from our balcony & our bedroom !!
We actually, overall, liked Sandals St Lucia better than the Grande (food, room,property, service...).
Like Sailor said, Sandals does have a LOUD, partying kind of atmosphere (unless you hang out at the quiet pools-- both SGSL & SSL have one), w/ the entertainment crew yelling into a microphone for part of the day -- very annoying !! For this and other reasons, we'll never go back to a Sandals property, but we still have great memories of our honeymoon @ SSL.
St. Lucia is a beautiful rainforest island, so be sure to get off of whatever resort you decide on & take a tour.
Good luck w/ your decision!
Jackie
Just so you know, if you stay in one of the Swim-up rooms there, your only view is of the room block on the other side of the pool, so if you want to see 'real' water, then don't stay in these rooms. Also, I believe that besides the 'swim-up' part & having room service included, the actual rooms themselves aren't any different than other regular rooms. In January, we stayed in a 'Honeymoon Luxury Beachfront Room (2109)' on the 1st floor of bldg 2 and we had an awesome view straight out to Rodney Bay (since we were on the 1st floor, there was no ugly bright blue balcony railing blocking our view!). The rooms on the other side of the hall from us were the Swim-up rooms.
For the 1st week of our honeymoon in Nov 98, we stayed at Sandals St. Lucia in a 'Water's Edge One Bedroom Suite'. And, WOW, out of all 14 of our Caribbean/Mexican vacations we've been on, THAT room was the absolute best !! It was 2 levels and, as the name implies, right on the water's edge, w/ a great view from our balcony & our bedroom !!
We actually, overall, liked Sandals St Lucia better than the Grande (food, room,property, service...).
Like Sailor said, Sandals does have a LOUD, partying kind of atmosphere (unless you hang out at the quiet pools-- both SGSL & SSL have one), w/ the entertainment crew yelling into a microphone for part of the day -- very annoying !! For this and other reasons, we'll never go back to a Sandals property, but we still have great memories of our honeymoon @ SSL.
St. Lucia is a beautiful rainforest island, so be sure to get off of whatever resort you decide on & take a tour.
Good luck w/ your decision!
Jackie
Sep 4th, 2003 | 10:44 AM
#7
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,870
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Jalousie offers an AI rate that does make it fairly pricy. However, unless you're prepared to rent a car or take lots of taxi rides, its feel of isolation will more than likely have you eating at the resort for at least lunch and breakfast.
Unlike the Sandals, though, the "basic" cottages which are mountain view, are pretty fabulous. Spacious, private, modern ameneties, AND a private plunge pool. Most people who like Jalousie seem to think that Mountain View villas and villa suites there are a much better deal than the Ocean View ones.
If you're looking for more nightlife and entertainment options, Sandals could be the better choice. If, however, you put a premium on a nice beach, romantic seclusion, and one of the most stunning landscapes on earth, Jalousie is definitely the better choice. (Ladera and Anse Chastenet, also on the southern end of St. Lucia overlooking the Pitons, are also great choices for a hotel that offers more character than a Sandals, as well as unbelievavle settings.)
Whichever you decide, have a wonderful time!
Unlike the Sandals, though, the "basic" cottages which are mountain view, are pretty fabulous. Spacious, private, modern ameneties, AND a private plunge pool. Most people who like Jalousie seem to think that Mountain View villas and villa suites there are a much better deal than the Ocean View ones.
If you're looking for more nightlife and entertainment options, Sandals could be the better choice. If, however, you put a premium on a nice beach, romantic seclusion, and one of the most stunning landscapes on earth, Jalousie is definitely the better choice. (Ladera and Anse Chastenet, also on the southern end of St. Lucia overlooking the Pitons, are also great choices for a hotel that offers more character than a Sandals, as well as unbelievavle settings.)
Whichever you decide, have a wonderful time!
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Sep 4th, 2003 | 04:32 PM
#8
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 9
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EmilyO
My husband and I got married in St. Lucia in July 0f 2001 and stayed at the Jalousie Hilton Resort. Let me tell you that we could not have selected a better place. First of all the people were wonderful and since it was just me and my husband 2 of the hotel employees came to my room the day of the wedding to help me get dressed. The Resort is beautiful, clean, quiet and every room has their own plunge pool. Your reply from sailor describes it best it is stunning. The Jalousie provided someone to take pictures, they had light hordorves and a chocolate cake that was out of this world. I really recommend the Jalousie. Good Luck
My husband and I got married in St. Lucia in July 0f 2001 and stayed at the Jalousie Hilton Resort. Let me tell you that we could not have selected a better place. First of all the people were wonderful and since it was just me and my husband 2 of the hotel employees came to my room the day of the wedding to help me get dressed. The Resort is beautiful, clean, quiet and every room has their own plunge pool. Your reply from sailor describes it best it is stunning. The Jalousie provided someone to take pictures, they had light hordorves and a chocolate cake that was out of this world. I really recommend the Jalousie. Good Luck
Sep 5th, 2003 | 10:15 AM
#10
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Hi Emily,
Just some thoughts when some comment that the Jalousie Hilton is very very expensive. You do hear this often sometimes. I think people can get the wrong impression sometimes when pricing resorts, especially all-inclusives(Sandals in particular what is pricey, for what you are actually paying for. It can be psychologically comforting to some that the trip is priced out and paid for before you go. Then after you arrive you have the feeling that everything is free. I personally think some are paying greatly for this comfort. Some do get great prices though. If you can get a great price @ Sandals, go for it. I guess the question is what would be a great price?
As for the Jalousie if you were to try and compare with the Sandals Grande.
Your "basic" mountain view villa cottage/room with plunge pool @ Jalousie Hilton. These charming cottage/rooms are free standing, very spacious, well appointed. Private covered verandahs with two chaise lounge chairs, table and chairs on patio with plunge pool.
I believe a very substantial upgrade from all first thru fourth floor (motel) rooms at the Grande, maybe minus the very upper categories at the Grande that you may have a separate bedroom and or whirlpool tub in bath. The rooms at the Grande are much nicer then what we had at the Sandals Halcyon, but they are still in my opinion, just motel rooms.
With the price of your mountain view villa at the Jalousie running at $200 a night per room more or less sometimes depending on specials/time of year.
I believe anything over that price, that you will pay per day at the Sandals Grande is your cost for food and beverages, and diving(per day) if you are able to take advantage of the scuba diving that is.
With all cottage/rooms at the Jalousie, included in the basic price per night for the room, for all guests is...
24 hr. room service, mini-frig, bath robes, twice daily maid service (evening turn down)all bath amenities.
All non-moterized water sports, snorkel equipment, sailboards, catamarans, etc. (Scuba is extra.)
Fitness center, putt golf, tennis courts, squash court, spa pool/cold plunge pool, classes (yoga etc.)(Spa treatments extra).
What is above and beyond what is included with Sandals would be food and beverages, scuba diving, water skiing.
They do offer the all-inclusive food and beverage plan @Jalousie, the rack rate runs around $350 per day for two. Sounds high but for what we were to pay at the Sandals Halcyon ($650 a day/room food, diving) For us, if we had the room at the Jalousie plus paid for the all-inclusive food plan we would have saved $100 a day @ Jalousie. Better yet, without the all-inclusive plan @ Jalousie, since we personally only had spent between $160/$200 a day for the two of us on food and beverages, this would have been even more of a savings. This would bring you down to $360 to $400 a day at the Jalousie. This would have been a $250 to $290 savings per day compared to our price for Halcyon. That's a lot of scuba diving, extra island tours, spa treatments, etc., we could have afforded for the day @ Jalousie.
The worst part for us was I can only put a $100 a night max. price on the motel room we had at the Halcyon. We had no view, no room service, no mini-frig or ice bucket, no bottled water was included, no robes, couldn't get a canned pop or anything else for in room without paying for it at the gift shop. Yes, we could get food and a plastic cups of fountain pop to bring back to room from the grille, but this just didn't work for us based on the price we were to paying. Just the food and beverages, and if we were to go scuba diving would have cost us $550 a day @ Halcyon. That to me is very, very expensive.
Bottom line for me, would be to be very careful when pricing. You must really think about what actually you are paying for the FREE Wedding or FREE dishes.
Good Luck to you, the Grande can be a great resort for the right people and the right price.
Donna
Just some thoughts when some comment that the Jalousie Hilton is very very expensive. You do hear this often sometimes. I think people can get the wrong impression sometimes when pricing resorts, especially all-inclusives(Sandals in particular what is pricey, for what you are actually paying for. It can be psychologically comforting to some that the trip is priced out and paid for before you go. Then after you arrive you have the feeling that everything is free. I personally think some are paying greatly for this comfort. Some do get great prices though. If you can get a great price @ Sandals, go for it. I guess the question is what would be a great price?
As for the Jalousie if you were to try and compare with the Sandals Grande.
Your "basic" mountain view villa cottage/room with plunge pool @ Jalousie Hilton. These charming cottage/rooms are free standing, very spacious, well appointed. Private covered verandahs with two chaise lounge chairs, table and chairs on patio with plunge pool.
I believe a very substantial upgrade from all first thru fourth floor (motel) rooms at the Grande, maybe minus the very upper categories at the Grande that you may have a separate bedroom and or whirlpool tub in bath. The rooms at the Grande are much nicer then what we had at the Sandals Halcyon, but they are still in my opinion, just motel rooms.
With the price of your mountain view villa at the Jalousie running at $200 a night per room more or less sometimes depending on specials/time of year.
I believe anything over that price, that you will pay per day at the Sandals Grande is your cost for food and beverages, and diving(per day) if you are able to take advantage of the scuba diving that is.
With all cottage/rooms at the Jalousie, included in the basic price per night for the room, for all guests is...
24 hr. room service, mini-frig, bath robes, twice daily maid service (evening turn down)all bath amenities.
All non-moterized water sports, snorkel equipment, sailboards, catamarans, etc. (Scuba is extra.)
Fitness center, putt golf, tennis courts, squash court, spa pool/cold plunge pool, classes (yoga etc.)(Spa treatments extra).
What is above and beyond what is included with Sandals would be food and beverages, scuba diving, water skiing.
They do offer the all-inclusive food and beverage plan @Jalousie, the rack rate runs around $350 per day for two. Sounds high but for what we were to pay at the Sandals Halcyon ($650 a day/room food, diving) For us, if we had the room at the Jalousie plus paid for the all-inclusive food plan we would have saved $100 a day @ Jalousie. Better yet, without the all-inclusive plan @ Jalousie, since we personally only had spent between $160/$200 a day for the two of us on food and beverages, this would have been even more of a savings. This would bring you down to $360 to $400 a day at the Jalousie. This would have been a $250 to $290 savings per day compared to our price for Halcyon. That's a lot of scuba diving, extra island tours, spa treatments, etc., we could have afforded for the day @ Jalousie.
The worst part for us was I can only put a $100 a night max. price on the motel room we had at the Halcyon. We had no view, no room service, no mini-frig or ice bucket, no bottled water was included, no robes, couldn't get a canned pop or anything else for in room without paying for it at the gift shop. Yes, we could get food and a plastic cups of fountain pop to bring back to room from the grille, but this just didn't work for us based on the price we were to paying. Just the food and beverages, and if we were to go scuba diving would have cost us $550 a day @ Halcyon. That to me is very, very expensive.
Bottom line for me, would be to be very careful when pricing. You must really think about what actually you are paying for the FREE Wedding or FREE dishes.
Good Luck to you, the Grande can be a great resort for the right people and the right price.
Donna
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