Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa

Reduit Beach Ave., Rodney Bay, Gros Islet, St. Lucia
Fodor's Choice
https://www.baygardensresorts.com/

Why We Like It

The beach, pool, and water park are key attributes, but the spacious accommodations are big enough for a family of four or six to comfortably sleep, cook, and play—and the room rates are very convincing.

Fodor's Expert Review

One of three Bay Gardens properties in Rodney Bay Village, this family-friendly resort has a prime location on beautiful Reduit Beach. Six three-story buildings wrap around a large, lagoon-style pool. The Bay Gardens properties are known for their hospitality and service; in fact, this hotel boasts 75% repeat guests. Add a beautiful beach to the equation, and this member of the family is definitely a winner.

Tip The Coral Kidz Club offers supervised crab hunts, arts and crats, nature walks, and beach games for children ages 4-12.

Recommended Fodor’s Video

Room

All suites have living and dining areas, full kitchens, and modern baths. Most have views of the sea from the balcony or terrace; others have a view of the pool or garden. All standard rooms can comfortably accommodate a family of four in two queen beds. Suites have a separate living room and bedroom and an additional half-bath. Also, a room and suite can be combined to make a two-bedroom suite that sleeps six, with full self-catering facilities in the living area and 2½ baths.

You Should Know Rooms are in three-story buildings with no elevator. If that’s an issue, request a ground-floor room.

Bathroom

Bathrooms are large and modern, with tiled floors and walls, granite-topped vanities with a vessel sink (deluxe suites have two sinks), and a glass-enclosed tub/shower combination with a shower tower and large tub. Some rooms have a pedestal sink. Bathrobes and slippers are available for guests to use during their stay, along with a scale in case you need motivation to head to the fitness center!

Lobby

The entrance to the hotel is quite grand. The expansive lobby has high ceilings, elegant furnishings, and impressive artwork. There’s a front desk, a lot of guest seating, and a small shop that sells souvenirs and sundries—and always an enormous arrangement of tropical flowers just inside the front door.

Pool

A lagoon-style swimming pool with an island in the center takes up much of the resort’s central courtyard. There’s a Jacuzzi, too.

Spa

Guests become relaxed, refreshed, and rejuvenated after a treatment at the resort’s beachfront La Mer Spa. Services include massages (full body, back, foot, head and neck, or Mom-to-be), facials (his, her, or teen), body scrubs (seaweed, mud, or aloe vera), and mani/pedi. You can also choose to have your treatment outdoors under the gazebo on the beach.

Gym

The air-conditioned fitness center has a number of cardio and strength machines for guests to use. In addition, fitness and wellness classes and sessions are offered in yoga, Pilates, and aqua aerobics. Or get competitive and join a game of beach volleyball.

Dining

Hi-Tide is a beachside restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner, as well as an all-day lunch menu (sandwiches, muffins, pastries, desserts, and specialty coffees). SeaGrapes Beach Bar & Grill serves salads, rotis, and full entrées all day long and dinner (including a special lobster menu) three nights a week. All-inclusive rates are an option; if that’s what you choose, there’s a dine-around program with other Rodney Bay restaurants.

Tip Monday is East-Meets-West night at Hi-Tide, when the menu features Caribbean Asian Fusion cuisine.

Drinking

Guests hang out at The Sand Bar on Reduit Beach starting at 10 a.m.—but especially at sunset, when it’s happy hour. Pebbles Bar, by the pool, has a flat-screen TV so you won’t miss your favorite sports. Be advised: The TV might be tuned to cricket!

Beach

Reduit Beach, a five-mile stretch of golden sand, is right in front of the hotel. Non-motorized water sports are complimentary: Hobie Cat sailing, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, and paddleboating. For an extra charge, you can go waterskiing, wakeboarding, and water tubing. Most exciting of all, Splash Island Water Park is just offshore—the slide, swing, trampoline, monkey bars, and more are fun for the whole family but especially the kids. (Each family staying at the hotel receives 6 complimentary half-day passes.)

What's Nearby

Getting Around

You can walk to nearby restaurants. It’s a 10-minute hike in pretty hot weather to restaurants, bars, and shops that are farther away in Rodney Bay Village. A rental car is recommended if you want to explore on your own. Driving is not a problem in the north, as the terrain is fairly flat. To visit the iconic sites in Soufrière, however, a boat tour is the most comfortable way to travel—and the boats depart from Rodney Bay. Taxis are always available.

Restaurants

For delicious French Caribbean dining, head for Jacques Waterfront Dining (5-minute walk) in Harmony Suites Hotel—an easy walk. Also nearby, Buzz Seafood and Grill (5-minute walk) specializes in seafood. Farther along on Reduit Beach Avenue, all the way to Baywalk Mall, you’ll find one restaurant after another. For barbecue, for example, head for Delirius; and if you have dinner at Ti Bananne at Coco Palm Hotel, you can stick around for the live music.

Bars

At night, you’re better off driving (in your rental car or a taxi) to the bars and nightspots in Rodney Bay Village. Verve (2-minute drive) is a dance club attracts a fairly young crowd. Or you can try your luck at Treasure Bay Casino (2-minute drive)—St. Lucia’s one and only casino—in Baywalk Mall.

Don’t miss Gros Islet Jump-Up (5-minute drive), the island's largest street party. It’s a Friday-night ritual. Huge speakers set up on the street blast Caribbean music all night long. You can also buy barbecued fish and chicken from villagers who set up grills along the roadside—along with beer and soda. Take a taxi to Gros Islet. The streets get so crowded that you’re unlikely to find a parking spot for a rental car. Your taxi driver will arrange a pickup time.

Quick Facts

HOTEL INFO

Phones: 758-457–8006; 877-620–3200 in U.S.