Which Sandals Resort is better, St Lucia or Antigua?

Question

We are planning a small destination wedding and have narrowed our choices down to the Sandals St Lucia and Antigua resorts. I was hoping I could get some input on which resort is better, and any other information that could help in making this decision. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I have been to Antigua and it is a lovely island with its 365 beaches! Sandals Antigua is currently undergoing major renovations and a huge addition to the resort next door with more rooms. When I was there I thought the resort was on the most beautiful stretch of beach I had seen, however there were several things I just didn't like about it. In all honesty I have received a few complaints to where until this renovation is complete and I will then go back to see it I will not feel confident in selling this property.

Funny thing is when we were there it was a very full resort and it is by Sandals considered "The most Romantic of the Sandals".

Now in St. Lucia I do several Honeymoons and Weddings here. Sandals have 3 resorts including Sandals Regency St. Lucia, Sandals Grande St. Lucian and Sandals Halcyon.

Price wise from highest to lowest (usually) it goes Sandals Grande St. Lucian, Sandals Regency St. Lucia and then Sandals Halcyon.

Sandals Grande is actually the old Hyatt Regency so you already pretty much know the structure is quite nice. The Hyatt didn't do so well because they had a major flaw for a Caribbean Resort. Sometime SO simple as having carpet in the rooms. Big no no in the warm destination resorts. This resort is at the very end of the island and is just overall a great location with it not having a resort on the end there. This resort has some lagoon swim-up rooms. Sandals of course is known for there variety of room categories over other chains. This hotel was built in the style of a British Palace. Since it has been opened as Sandals Grande I haven't had one complaint at this resort to date. This is the highest rating of the 3 being at a 5 star resort.

Sandals Regency is a unique property. There 4 top room categories sit up on a bluff 50 feet above the ocean giving you amazing full ocean views! These categories do tend to get pretty expensive and they do sell first because there is limited availability. Or you could stay down on the beach area there in one of the other many room categories to choose from. This is where the golf course is located with green fees included, but not the clubs, caddy and cart which is additional. This is a low 5 star property.

Sandals Halcyon is a very intimate smaller hotel with only 5 room categories to choose from. This is the type of property that the staff will get to know you by name and remember your drink a lot of the times. Unless of course if you are like me and tend to change it up all the time =) Even then though, some just might! This property is a 4 star resort.

Because there are 3 property choices and they all have exchange privileges with one another this makes for a great choice for a Destination Wedding over Antigua in my opinion. Then for those who would like more upscale they could go to the Grande or just a bit more affordable at the Halcyon. The wedding can only be held at the property the couple getting married is staying at though. Of course Sandals includes a basic wedding package with extras to add including private parties for you and your guests.

St. Lucia is considering the "Hawaii of the Caribbean" with its lush tropical setting, mountains, waterfalls, rain forest, black sand beaches, volcano, etc. The people of St. Lucia to are just very friendly people as to where you will find in most Caribbean Islands.

For the ones that are possibly going for your Wedding are they planning on going for 7 nights? The reason I ask this is I do a lot of weddings and I always ask the couple about there guests. See if you have several invited there might be some who want a shorter 3 or 4 night stay for cost reasons or even unable to get that much time off from work. Because St. Lucia is a long flight, but again depends where you are flying from on how long. From Minneapolis here you leave at say 7am and you arrive after 2 change of planes via O'Hare and San Juan at about 8pm at night. If you are from the East coast it is much easier and if you are from the West coast a lot of times you can get an over-night flight.

Some weddings the couple knows if all of the potential guests are going to stay 7 nights so then this isn't as big of a deal.

I hope this helps you in making a decision. Now I wanted to say I would strongly advice you to work with a Travel Agent. That way if you find a good agent that can work with your group and knows how to do weddings then we can keep you all with one another so they know you are traveling together. See if one books say online, other through there agent and another direct then you can't be put together to where the hotel knows you are together because the hotels don't get confirmation right away in there computers of your stay except for the space is blocked of course for you, just no names in yet.

St. Lucia has two different airports you can fly into, either Vigie Fields or Hewanorra which I can speak with you more about if I do end up talking to you. I think it would be easier than typing here only because the better airport would really depend to on your departure city.

Nice thing with Sandals is there rates are all the same no matter where you book them even in looking online. What we search for then afterwards is the best flight prices we can get for your dates.

If you have a travel agent you and your group have a specific contact person for all your questions, concerns or needs. I even set up your wedding date, time and pre-book extras (which most need to be booked in advance). Wedding dates must be in 45 days prior to departure date. The sooner the better though to get your preferred date and time as space is limited.

Even if you decide not through me, I strongly urge you to go through someone who specializes in Destination Weddings as not all agents do. This is something we earn as a title.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Which Sandals Resort is better, St Lucia or Antigua?
We are planning a small destination wedding and have narrowed our choices down to the Sandals St Lucia and Antigua resorts. I was hoping I could get some input on which resort is better, and any other information that could help in making this decision. Thanks in advance.

Answer 3

Newest Sandals Resort

Answer 4

I actually asked a similar question regarding Sandals Resorts. I am currently leaning towards St Lucia mainly because after receiving a dvd from Sandals and brochure I loved the "golf" location in St Lucia it has great rooms with private pools. Also I have family that got married there and said it was amazing. Good Luck

Answer 5

hi, my wife and i got married at Sandals regency in St Lucia , and then returned for our one year anniversary to the Grande St lucian Sandals. Unless your staying for more than a week , and your on the west cost of USA.....st Lucia all the way!!! I can attest , Sandals is nice. You dont have to worry about additional expenses while on the resort and the food is good , drinks etc. I have nothing bad to say about the people in St Lucia at sandals or otherwise. Take the helicopter ride from the airport to the resort. Its only 125.00 per person 1 way ....but real worth the 250.00 because they fly past the "piton Mts" ,,,,awesome !!!!

Answer 6

Antigua is currently undergoing loads of building work and infrastructure work because of tax breaks that can be had if work is ready for occupation by the time the World Cup cricket starts (april 07 if my memory serves me correctly). If you're planning on going there before then, I expect there'll be the same complaints re sandals antigua... when i was last there - earlier in the year - there was a lot of work going on alongside sandals. If you're going later in the year, i think you'll find that the upgrades are probably completed, but you may not want to go at the same time as the cricket is on - the island won't be a romantic getaway so much as a mass of cricket lovers!