I am looking for advice on whether or not to go to St.Lucia from people who have recently been there. Also is there any good AI resorts here???

went to ladera in 2000, loved it! not an all inclusive, but i think they may have some kind of food plan.

My husband and I spent a week in St. Lucia the week of May 13, 2002. We stayed at the Papillion just outside Castries. It's an older all inclusive (not one of the fanciest places) but still a nice place....very clean, people very friendly, food was good, beautifly landscaped gounds on a beautiful beach with the an excellent view...and the water was unblievable!! We'd diffenately go back and stay at the same place....you'll love it....

We went to East Winds Inn last year and it was situated on the most beautiful beach area. Cuisine very good--quiet, some entertainment--nice pool, a little more than we normally would pay but it was worth the cost.

Kim,<BR> I stayed at the Windjammer Resort and loved it. The island itself is very beautiful- not great beaches but lush mountainous scenery, rainforest, volcanos,etc. People were friendly. It's very difficult to get around on this island.Driving is a nightmare.You need to arrange side trips to do all the fun things. We enjoyed taking the bus from Castries to the north end of the island. Doesn't run on a tight schedule, but was cheap and colorful!

Went to St. Lucia in 12/01. Stayed at the Jalousie Hilton. Fantastic resort! The island is difficult to get around but is manageable, IMO. We had our most relaxing vaca ever here. Not much nite life, best for relaxing.

It depends on what you are looking for. St. Lucia is a very beautiful, lush, romatic island. If you are looking to relax, unwind, be close to nature, and spend some quality time with your significant other, it cannot be beat. If you are looking for a lot of night life and great shopping, I would say to look elsewhere. I have been to quite a few islands, and for me, none of them can compare to St. Lucia. My husband and I just returned from a week there - we stayed at Ladera, which is in Soufriere, in the southern part of the island. I don't know about the AI's, since I prefer to get out and experience the whole area, not just one resort, but I can tell you that Ladera was absolutely amazing! The view is breathtaking, the food delicious, and the people could not have been more wonderful to us! There is so much to do - snorkel, whale/dolphin watch, fish, hike the rain forest, climb the Pitons, snorkel or scuba, horseback ride on a plantation, tour the gardens, swim in the waterfall, visit the volcano, etc. I know there is a Sandals that is AI, but did not meet anyone who stayed there. Several couples at Ladera stayed elsewhere for a few days, such as the Hilton, and then came there and said they wished they had spent the entire week at Ladera. We spent a day at the Hilton, which was very lovely, and a day at Anse Chastanet, which had a nice beach, but the resort itself appeared to be a bit run down, but I cannot really comment on the other resorts. We ate dinner at The Hummingbird and La Haut Plantation, but didn't get a good look at the premises. I think most of the AI's are in the northern part of the island, which is much more commercialized. Again, it all depends on what you are looking for in a vacation. I hope that helps!

Hi..<BR>We just got back from St Lucia yesterday.We stayed at the Rendezvous just outside Castries and it was fantastic.All Inclusive and even includes branded drinks. Great Watersports a wonderful beach and a little bit of evening entertainment, they have a website www.rendezvous.lc<BR>It is a couples only resort so no kids either. <BR> The only downer of it was it was right next to an airport.........but it only services interisland flights and the odd jet so noise wasn't any problem at all.<BR><BR>The staff were excellent always obliging and polite and nothing was too much.For example we had a problem with our phone, reported it to reception, they came straight up to have a look at it and by 10am the next morning the engineer had been and replaced everything.<BR>Hope this is a help and whatever you decide enjoy yourselves.

Sorry Blue Eyes, but that's not a valid website address.

SORRY <BR><BR>Should read www.rendezvous.com.lc<BR>Damned Jet Lag! I'm still all over the place.<BR>Enjoy the site

I stayed at the Jalousie Hilton. The villas are wonderful with their plunge pools. The beach was nice (pretty good snorkeling) and the location was great.The best accommodations I have stayed in to date. The food was not so good with limited selection. Also I would concur that there is not much nite life at all. I would suggest that you eat at Ladera. The food was wonderful and the view spectacular. If I was to go again, I would probably split my time b/w the two resorts. I was also able to stop by Anse and was not impressed. I would avoid the Sandals resorts. One looked especially run down. I went in July and found that it rained about half the time. The island is beautiful but expensive! We did a hike through the rain forest and had a wonderful time.

My husband and I have been there three<BR>time over the last five years. The<BR>las strip was in March. We combined<BR>Ladera with Sandals St. Lucia Golf and<BR>Spa! It offered the best of both <BR>worlds. Sandals is now offering a <BR>30% off sale and also a 35% off sale<BR>at Sandals Grand St. Lucien with in <BR>opening on August 15th. It was previously a Hyat. It has a wonderful<BR>vacation. Great beach location. It is also next to a historical park. Full <BR>exchange priviledges and complimentary<BR>shuttle are offered between the three<BR>Sandals resorts. Please e-mal me or <BR>call for additiaonl information at <BR>800 800 6332 ex. 232. Sandals Specialist.

We went to St.Lucia in Jan 2002. Stood at the Papillon resort, which is an all inclusive. It is right on the best beach. The food was fresh and a great variety. Becuse the resort wasn't occupied enough they let us use the St Lucian their sister resort.The rooms were clean and the staff were nice. You can walk to the local night clubs from the hotel there was music every night. Have fun.

Check out Windjammer landing as they do a choice of breakfast plan, all-inclusive, somewhere in between! For more activity stay in the north, for more relaxation stay in the south. Windjammer is great outside of the school holidays. Email me if you want further info as I have photos etc.

We stayed 3 days at Anse Chastanet & 3 days at the Hyatt. Both ends of the island are so different. Traveled by water taxi, much easier. AC was a little run down in my opinion, also no air conditioning which you need in June. Took a tour of the rain forest - a must do. Also went to the market in Castries - good photo opts. You will not regret going.

I'm sorry to those who loved it there, but I have been to the entire Caribbean.. and I would skip on st lucia anyday. Unless you are going to do the "couple" thing and stay at a place like Sandels, which is all inclusive... don't waste your time or money. the city isn't safe.<BR><BR>If you are just into sitting poolside and not leaving the resort... this is definitely a great option for you.<BR>

Kimberly,<BR>I do not agree with Jennifer. <BR>I too have been all over the Caribbean (St. Lucia twice) and do not feel it is unsafe.<BR>(Of course, Jennifer does not give any specifics, such as which city - there's more than one - or why she feels it's unsafe.)<BR>The only things I have heard about safety being an issue is that there can be some people asking for money in downtown Soufriere, and the jump up at Gros Islet has people smoking/selling ganja. (But no one approached us when we were there.)<BR>Kimberly, please don't let alarmists with no specific information make up your mind for you about somewhere you want to go...<BR>We were ALL OVER the island with no problems.