Located in Smugglers Cove on the Cap Estate on the northern coast of Saint Lucia is the Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa. The sprawling contemporary beachfront all-inclusive resort has 453 rooms and a staff of over 1000 employees. Royalton Saint Lucia, which opened in February 2017, is laid out in a series of eight towering white buildings overlooking the pristine waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa: First Impressions
After arriving in Saint Lucia via Hewanorra International Airport, I connected with Island Taxi Tours for the 90-minute journey to Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa. The airport and hotel are at opposite ends of the island, roughly 25 miles apart. George F.L. Charles Airport is closer at just 6 miles from the resort, but most international flights arrive via Hewanorra.
After a scenic journey winding through the mountainous landscape with my driver regaling me with stories about Saint Lucia, we turned on the long driveway into Smugglers Cove, where Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa is located. I was immediately greeted and escorted to the Diamond Club Lobby, where I could choose from a range of beverages and finger food while I waited to be registered. This happened rather quickly, and before you knew it, I was checked in with a cold beverage in hand, watching a couple get married as the sunset.
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Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa: Room 8401
My room at the Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa was a luxury junior open-plan one-bedroom suite with a balcony ocean view. As this was in the Diamond Club building, it was premium level and provided access to butler service though I must admit I’m almost always at a loss as to how to use them wisely. Beyond the butler, the Diamond Club level provided access to a private bar, pool, and a section of the beach.
As for the room, I found the many modern contemporary touches rather grand and luxurious. I particularly loved the open concept with a large king-size bed and signature whirlpool tub, which has pride of place in the center of the junior suite. There was also a welcome fresh fruit platter, and the minibar was continually stocked with water and a range of beverages. Finally, there is also a large TV mounted to the wall, though I must admit I didn’t really use it while I was at the hotel — was too busy out and about enjoying the resort and the rest of Saint Lucia.
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The 453 rooms at Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa are similarly designed and divided into three different all-inclusive levels. So beyond the Diamond level where I stayed, there is also the General and Hideaway levels. The Hideaway section with 104 rooms is adults only and also has its own private pool with a restaurant and bar. Overall the rooms categories include:
- Luxury Family Suite Ocean View Diamond Club™️
- Luxury Junior Suite Ocean View Diamond Club™️
- Luxury Junior Suite Swim Out Diamond Club™️
- Luxury Junior Suite
- Luxury Junior Suite Ocean View
- Luxury Junior Suite Swim Out
- Luxury Family Suite
Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa: Food & Dining Options
Each morning, I started the day with a leisurely breakfast at Gourmet Marche, which has an international buffet with a Caribbean food section, my favorite! And when not out and about exploring the island, I’d choose a different restaurant for lunch and dinner.
Really, depending on the length of your stay, you could eat lunch or dinner at a different restaurant each night and not repeat. In total, there are eleven restaurants plus a café and food truck. Reservations are required for most restaurants in the evening. Beyond the restaurants, there are also 13 bars dotted around the resort, many of which serve food.
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List of restaurants at Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa
| Restaurant | Food Type | Service | Dress Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gourmet Marche | International Buffet | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Resort Casual |
| Zen Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar | Japanese | Dinner | Evening Casual |
| Hunter Steakhouse | Steakhouse | Dinner | Evening Casual |
| Grazie Italian Trattoria | Italian | Lunch, Dinner | Resort + Evening Casual |
| Armadillo | Tex-Mex | Dinner | Evening Casual |
| Grazie Italian Trattoria | Italian | Lunch, Dinner | Resort + Evening Casual |
| Calypso | Caribbean | Dinner | Evening Casual |
| Dorado | Seafood | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Resort + Evening Casual |
| C/X Culinary Experience | Chef’s Table so varies | Dinner | Evening Elegant |
| Diamond Club Grill | Grill | Lunch | Resort Casual |
| Hideaway Grill | Grill | Lunch | Resort Casual |
| Caffe Lounge & Scoops Gelato | Specialty Coffee & Ice Cream Parlour | All Day | Casual Resort |
| Nibbles Food Truck | Snacks – Smoothies, Sweets, etc. | Lunch | Resort Casual |
Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa: Pools & Beach
All beaches in Saint Lucia are public, but based on the location of Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa in Smuggler Cove, guests of the resort are the primary users of the white-sand beach. Beyond this, there are also three main pools, including Royalton Pool 1 with a swim-up bar, Splash Pad for children with a play area, and Royalton Pool 2. These were quite busy during the day, with many sun loungers enjoying the scenery with a drink in hand.
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Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa: Activities & Amenities
Beyond the beautiful beach and pools, Royalton Saint Lucia has a Nexus Tours office directly on the beach, offering a range of water sports activities. On land, there is also a range of activities and amenities, including the swanky Royal Spa, Fitness Center (with Bootcamp, Aqua Dance, Sunrise Yoga ), Kids Clubhouse, Beauty Salon, and Medical Center. In the evening, there is also entertainment in the bandstand area. Free Wifi is available throughout the resort.
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Nearby, is Rodney Bay for a mix of bars, restaurants, and shops. Also, Castries, which is the capital of Saint Lucia ideal for picking up some authentic souvenirs at the Castries Central Market. Two other fun activities nearby include spending the day at Pigeon Island National Landmark, which has several historical military sites, hiking trails, beautiful beaches, and restaurants.
On Friday nights, you should also consider attending the legendary Gros Islet Street Party, one of the top things to do in St Lucia. You can take a taxi or the shuttle service to the Gros Islet Street Party, which is a lot of fun and not to be missed!
Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa: The Verdict
The Royalton Saint Lucia is vast, and it is clearly designed to attract a wide range of vacationers with its different categories of rooms, bars, restaurants, and amenities. As such, it is perfect for couples and families looking for an upscale all-inclusive option. Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa will also appeal to those organizing major events, including weddings, family reunions, or even just a large group of friends on vacation.
There truly is something for everyone! The only negative is that it is far away from many of the top things to do in Saint Lucia, including the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Pitons that come to mind when you think of Saint Lucia. They are a 90-minute drive away! Of course, day excursions to explore Soufriere, the original capital of Saint Lucia, to check out the Pitons along with other attractions like Sulphur Springs Park and Diamond Botanical Gardens with waterfalls, can easily be arranged through Nexus Tours which also have a large office near the main reception lobby.
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Note: This is but one of several all-inclusive Royalton Luxury Resorts in the Caribbean. This includes:
- Royalton Antigua Resort & Spa
- Royalton Hicacos and Royalton Cayo Santa Maria in Cuba
- Royalton Punta Cana and Royalton Bavaro in the Dominican Republic
- Royalton Blue Waters Montego Bay, Royalton Negril, and Royalton White Sands Montego Bay in jamaica
- Royalton Grenada Resort & Spa
You can read the reviews and compare rates for these Royalton Luxury Resorts via Expedia.com.
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