Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort

The service and food at Sugar Beach were exceptional, and the views were stunning. Natoria made our elopement and wedding experience feel special and stress-free. Our butlers, Kurnile, Tyran, and Nyamka, were the best. Nyamka even took time from her busy day to find me a special Christmas ornament. Every shuttle driver was thoughtful, efficient, and fun to chat with. We loved our stay and will be back!

The private beach dinner was the worst food we had on the island, though it wasn't terrible. The rest of the food exceeded what we expected in the Caribbean, especially at Saltwood and Cane. The property felt almost empty because it's so big and spread out, and we liked how private everything felt. The gym was clean and new. The breakfast buffet was huge and changed a little each morning. We were pleasantly surprised by an upgrade to grand luxury villa (310). The lobby was beautiful and more luxurious than other resorts around, and the staff were friendly. The resort is huge, so there's plenty of walking or you can use the shuttle cars. We're a fit couple and preferred walking in the perfect weather through the meticulously kept property and its unusual foliage. Our room was a 10/10, with the balcony and pool looking over the beach, both Pitons, and the ocean. The shower was giant, wonderful, and felt very private. The beach was windy and not great for swimming on our first try, but the wind changed another day and the water was crystal clear. We spent another $3,000 on food over four days with little drinking, so it adds up fast. Still, for the service, views, and weather, we felt it was worth it and would return.

The public beach was crammed, with almost no shade, rickety loungers jammed together, and people trying to squeeze towels into spaces that weren't there. We knew about this when booking, so we headed to the hotel. They weren't renting loungers to non-guests because of high occupancy. We asked for the manager, who took pity on us, and for US$300 we got three very good loungers and a large parasol. The hotel bar served good drinks, and the refreshing towels were very pleasant. It wasn't cheap, but we had a great day. You can find equally good options in St. Lucia for much less if you want to avoid the high cost. We'd come to St. Lucia for a day during a cruise and were picked up by speedboat a few minutes' walk from the Mein Schiff 2 dock. The trip to Sugar Beach took a little over an hour, with a few stops and some information along the way. Current law means no one can reserve the beach for themselves, which leaves a small public area. Thanks to the hotel and staff for the great hospitality and a wonderful day in an unforgettable setting.

The location was wonderful and the rooms spectacular, with good service and amenities. The beach beds and chairs were especially good, and thoughtful touches like the SPF 50 sunscreen station were nice. But the beach felt too crowded, with lots of people who weren't staying at the resort and loud music from a boat making mixed drinks. Since anyone can use the beach for free, you're paying for the resort's service and amenities rather than exclusive beach access. At the nightly rate, which was higher than other Viceroy resorts I've stayed at with similar quality, I felt it should have its own beach for resort guests. That's the reason for four stars instead of five.