where is the best area to stay in st lucia?

Where is the best area to stay in St Lucia?

By Keysha Pierre. August 23, 2024

St. Lucia is the epitome of beauty and her nickname, Helen of the West, (named after Helen of Troy), reflects that. With coastlines that kiss both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and mountains that graze the clouds, the island is an ideal location for any vacationer.

At the northern end of the island is Gros-Islet, a popular town and a great location for couples, families, or anyone who enjoys vibrant nightlife. Cap Estate, a community in Gros-Islet, offers tranquil and luxurious spa hotels as well as a world-class golf course. Just 20 minutes from Gros-Islet on the country’s west coast is St. Lucia’s capital, Castries. Chosen as the metropolis in 1979 because of its ideal location, visitors can discover the country’s history, take a ferry, or catch a flight to islands around the region.

Also on the western coast is Marigot Bay, a picturesque cove with crystal-clear water that is a haven for artists and yacht enthusiasts. Then there’s Soufriere, a town to the south of the island and the country’s original capital. It is a honeymooners’ and nature-lovers’ paradise with amazing views of the famous Pitons.If you are interested in where to stay in St Lucia, you may also be interested in where to stay in Guadeloupe, where to stay in Antigua and where to stay in St Maarten.

Best places to stay in St Lucia

Soufriere

Best area to stay in St Lucia for couples and honeymooners

Approximately 1 hour north of the Hewanorra International Airport and 42 kilometres south of Castries is the town of Soufriere. When people first see pictures of St. Lucia, it is often of this town. With the majestic Pitons in the background, Soufriere is one of the main reasons why St. Lucia makes it on Condé Nast’s and Travel + Leisure’s top honeymoon destination list every year.

Defined by the lush vegetation of the mountains and surrounding forests, and the crystal clear waters below, Soufriere seems like the set of a romantic film and is the best place to spend some quality time with your significant other. There are several types of accommodations, but the town is known for having the most luxurious hotels on the island. When you’re not relaxing at your hotel, you can spend your days trekking through the rainforest or even up one of the mountains. Soufriere is also known for the Sulphur Spring mineral bath, which is said to have restorative properties.

Hotels in Soufriere

Recommended hotels in Soufriere

Ladera Resort:

Ladera Retreat stands on a volcanic ridge 300 metres above the sea and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area near Soufrière was once a cocoa plantation.

Ladera Resort is luxurious and exclusive and the perfect hideaway for couples. The unforgettable views from Ladera Resort is of the Pitons twin peaks and is stunning. There are just 37 eco-luxury rooms and suites constructed from local hardwood, stone and tiles. There is a shuttle bus to Sugar Beach, in room massages and cookery demonstrations. The wine cellar is the perfect setting for private dining and wine tasting.

Jade Mountain Resort:

Nestling on a hillside in Soufrière with a bold architectural design that harmonizes with its surroundings, Jade is the perfect place for couples as it offers total romance. Jade overlooks the Caribbean with stunning views of the Pitons. This gorgeous boutique Resort has sky bridges leading to each of the 24 sanctuary suites, which feature an open wall to maximize the breathtaking view and 24-hour butler service.

There are two beaches, water sports and spa, plus an excellent restaurant with a seasonal menu. The Celestial Terrace is perfect for lovers to enjoy the sunset and stargazing.

Sugar Beach Hotel: Along Soufriere’s coast is one of the most beautiful resorts on the island. Sugar Beach is both the name of the resort and the beach the property sits on. Located between the island’s famous Piton Mountains, the Viceroy resort is a 5-star luxury resort frequented by honeymooners and young families and is a favourite of celebrities like Matt Damon who rented out the entire hotel to renew his vows.

Access to the resort includes a harrowing shuttle ride down a steep hill, but once you get there, you’ll discover why it’s named Sugar Beach.

Gros Islet

Best area to stay in St Lucia for nightlife and beaches

Gros-Islet is the largest town in the north of the island and has a bit of everything. With a great nightlife scene and a beach for every day of the week, anyone choosing to stay here has a number of options for activities from shopping to spending the afternoon at a waterpark. Like Cap Estate, Gros-Islet has numerous food options that would satisfy any traveler, but what the area is known for is its street party that takes place every Friday night.

Gros-Islet, which is a 1.5 - 2 hour drive from Gros-Islet from Hewanorra International Airport and 15 -20 minutes from the regional George F.L. Charles Airport is also popular with yachtsmen and seafarers because of its marina and a great place to catch a cricket match. The area has accommodations for everyone, from AirBnBs and villas to 3-5 star hotels. It’s a great place to catch a cricket match.

Hotels in Gros Islet

Recommended hotels in Gros Islet

Bay Gardens Beach Resort:

Situated overlooking the beach in Rodney Bay, this gorgeous hotel with its colonial styled architecture offers families a beautiful island stay. Its bedrooms are large and airy with tiled floors and soft furnishings mirroring the colour of the ocean. It is so easy to relax with an inviting petal-shaped pool and La Mer Spa for pampering.

Water sports and a well-equipped gym are available. Enjoy dinner in the Trois Caribbean Fusion Restaurant which overlooks the sea, or walk a short distance to other restaurants and the only casino on the island.

St. James’s Club Morgan Bay Resort:

Vibrant, colourful, with a hint of luxury, St James’s Club is an all-inclusive resort and the perfect place for romantic couples to stay. With a beachfront setting that is relaxing and romantic, there is complimentary water skiing, snorkelling and sailing or you can relax in one of four pools or the Tranquillity Spa.

The comfortable guest rooms are filled with Caribbean colour. There are various eating options in the five restaurants. As the sun sinks in the sky, the only place to be is the hilltop adults-only pool - it’s spectacular.

Castries

Best area to stay in St Lucia for history lovers

Located on the western coast of the island is St. Lucia’s capital city - Castries. Home to over one-third of the country’s population, the city is the ideal destination for those wanting to get deeper into St. Lucia’s culture and history.

While there aren’t many hotels in the city, there are several apartments and guest houses that allow you easy access to several squares, parks, and cathedrals as well as historic buildings and ruins and the largest market on the island. The harbour, where cargo ships, cruise liners, and regional ferries come and go, was originally a volcanic crater that sank when one of its walls collapsed. The city can get very busy, but if you time your trip correctly, there won’t be many interruptions.

Hotels in Castries

Recommended hotels in Castries

Bel Jou Adults Only:

Overlooking Castries and the Caribbean, Bel Jou Adults Only is all-inclusive and perfect for adults seeking the ultimate relaxing holiday. The hotel is surrounded by lush greenery that attracts many exotic birds. The guest rooms and bungalows are decorated in Caribbean style and are ideal for lazy moments.

There are two pools and one is a year-round pool. There is also a gym, spa and fitness centre plus Wi-Fi throughout. The rooftop bar is an amazing place to enjoy cocktails and rooftop dining in.

Villa Beach Cottages:

These unique beachfront villas stand among palm trees on Choc Beach at Castries. Offering privacy and seclusion, they are perfect for couples to stay and there is a honeymoon villa with four-poster bed. The small group of villas is built in colonial style with interiors that pay tribute to the island’s heritage with locally-made wooden furniture and architectural details including cathedral ceilings, intricate fretwork and wooden shutters.

Each villa has a luxurious island feel. There is a fully-equipped kitchen and dining room. Each villa has a private veranda overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean.

Cap Estate

Best area to stay in St Lucia to relax

At the northernmost tip of Gros-Islet is Cap Estate, a peaceful community perfect for a relaxing vacation. Located just 10 minutes north of several nightlife hot spots, Cap Estate offers the calmness necessary for unwinding, as well as the proximity to “action” for those wanting a change of pace. The community has some of the island’s premier spas with treatments not offered anywhere else around the world. There’s also an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course that offers stunning views while you compete with friends.

The area is known for its many restaurants with a variety of options from Japanese to Italian. Once you’re done sampling the local cuisine, feel free to head to Plantation Beach for kitesurfing or hike up to the forts at nearby Pigeon Point to learn the history of the area.

Hotels in Cap Estate

Recommended hotel in Cap Estate

Cap Maison Resort & Spa:

This boutique Retreat stands in a private setting with a private beach on Cap Estate - not far from Pigeon Island. Cap Maison is a great place for couples to stay, with elegant villa suites - each with beautifully hand-painted tiles. The Spa is perfect for relaxing and there are water sports for the energetic.

Keen golfers are delighted that the golf club is just next door! The Resort is well known for the excellent French West Indian cuisine served in its two restaurants- The Cliff and the Naked Fisherman- which are among the best on the island.

Marigot Bay

Best area to stay in St Lucia for couples and solo travelers

Marigot Bay was given the title “the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean” by American novelist, James A. Mihener. The scenic horseshoe-shaped bay is as peaceful as it gets, making it perfect for couples and solo travelers. Surrounded by hills laden with forests on three sides and the Caribbean Sea on the fourth, the area feels like an escape from the capital city, just 14 kilometres away. The area feels very private but not secluded and has been a favorite of writers.

There are several restaurants along the water’s edge where you can watch yachts as they sail in and out of the harbor and when it comes to accommodations, Marigot Bay has a wide variety, from boutique hotels to luxury villas.

Hotels in Marigot Bay

Recommended hotel in Marigot Bay

Oasis Marigot Bay:

Oasis Marigot Bay are 12 secluded sea houses perched on a hillside overlooking Marigot Bay, near Castries. The bay is one of the best in the Caribbean, surrounded by palm trees and exotic vegetation. Oasis Marigot Bay is the perfect setting for couples seeking a leisurely holiday.

The smart one-bedroomed houses have canopied beds and well-equipped kitchens, ideal for self-catering. Each has a balcony for relaxing and watching the boats in the bay. There is a communal swimming pool and the pretty sandy beach is just a short walk away with water sports available there.