Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa

Coconut Bay’s spacious 85 acres are entered via a long manicured driveway, which offers gorgeous glimpses of turquoise ocean dotted with tiny islands in the distance. The Jamaican-owned resort comprises a series of four-story buildings painted pale green. The open-air lobby building contains the front desk, a large room with comfortable wicker lounge seating, and a help-yourself coffee shop. It's clear the resort has undergone some renovations -- particularly the modern lounge with a fire pit on an outdoor terrace -- but overall this is an older property and shows its age in places. 

Rooms are split between the section for adults and the one for families, marked by clear signage. Well-kept grounds offer meandering pathways leading to different pools, the water park, spa, and sections of beach with bright blue sun loungers, umbrellas, and occasional palapas. The beach continues north; the farther one walks, the more peaceful it becomes. Guests will pass a charming beach bar and finally landing at a notable kitesurfing school. The beach is on the Atlantic side of St. Lucia and isn't one of the island's best, but the upside is that the resort lacks neighbors, and feels less touristy than many other all-inclusives in the Caribbean.  

Coconut Bay has a daily schedule of activities to keep guests busy. This is not an intimate resort by any means, and couples should know this. Even though adults have their own section, the presence of families is still very much a part of the big picture, especially during buffet meals at the Marketplace, and weekly themed events like Country Western Night or Caribbean Night, where audience participation is encouraged. However, those seeking a more relaxed atmosphere can head for the a la carte restaurants (a dress code applies). At night, the pools and grounds are lit with a pretty glow, and couples might enjoy hitting up Peter John's Lounge, which has an outdoor terrace with gas fire pits.

The resort is a quick jaunt from the airport, which will be a welcome change to anyone who has ever traveled north along the rugged west coast towards tourist hub Rodney Bay. Coconut’s beautiful grounds are closer to the airport than any other resort in St. Lucia, which makes it convenient for anyone who wants to avoid paying a steep taxi fare to get to their destination. 

Most guests at Coconut Bay choose not to rent a car because of the close proximity to Hewanorra International Airport (Vieux Fort), and because this is an all-inclusive resort so it's not necessary to leave the property. But some do rent a car to take advantage of getting themselves up to St. Lucia’s iconic twin Pitons: Gros Piton and Petit Piton. Other attractions include the Tet-Paul nature trail, the Diamond Falls botanical gardens and waterfall, and La Soufriere Sulphur Springs and volcano. 

Many of these attractions require driving on intimidating with its narrow one-way roads, especially the drive between the south and north sides of the island, which is filled with hairpin turns, massive potholes and serious inclines. Exercises caution if you plan on renting a car. That being said, St. Lucia is a photographer's wonderland and those who have adventurous spirits will love having the freedom to get out and explore. Parking at the resort is free. 

The 250 air-conditioned rooms have either a king-size or two queen-size beds, and are decorated with contemporary, cheerful tropical decor: typically patterned bed runners or skirts, a bright accent wall, and paintings of local village scenes. The bones of the rooms, though, feel older -- the plain tile floors, somewhat basic bathrooms, and occasional maintenance issues preclude an upscale vibe. 

All rooms come with furnished balconies, though they are pretty narrow, and every room faces the grounds, pools, and ocean. An upgrade in category also means an upgrade in floor, with Deluxe Garden View rooms on the first floor, Deluxe Ocean View on the second, Premium Ocean View on the third, and Concierge Ocean View on the fourth. Views on the first and second floors are more obstructed by the grounds and trees. 

Amenities include flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, mini-fridges, and tea and coffeemakers. Bathrooms have hairdryers, toiletries from Sea Kelp, and walk-in showers, which might be difficult for families with small kids. In the family section, the Splash Premium Ocean View and Concierge Premium Ocean View Suites have a king-size bed and two trundle beds, or two queen-size beds and a sofa.  

The Concierge Premium Ocean View Suites in both sections have upgraded extras, including evening turndown service, and mini-fridges stocked with bottled water, soft drinks, local beer. These rooms also have first dibs on reservations at the a la carte restaurants. Those on the Harmony side also come with robes and slippers. 

One of the highlights of the resort is the mile-long stretch of beachfront, with golden sand and palm trees facing the turquoise Atlantic ocean. In the distance lie a few tiny islands that add to the scenic backdrop, and there are also some rugged vistas to the south. One downside of the beach is that seaweed does wash up on shore, which can irritate those looking for pristine beach walks, but staff cleans it regularly. There are plenty of blue sun loungers, shaded palapas, and hammocks, while the adults section has a series of raised wooden sundecks meant for two. Non-motorized water sports such as snorkeling, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding are free (though it can often be too windy for SUPs). On the northern end of the beach is one of the best kitesurfing schools on the island, called Surf Shack, offering equipment rental and instruction. Those seeking less wind and seaweed may prefer the beaches on the more popular Caribbean side. 

The five outdoor pools are spread out around the grounds. The Activity Pool is at the hub of the resort, and acts as a marker between the family and adults sections. This is one of the larger pools and offers music, water volleyball, aqua fitness classes, and a separate whirlpool. In the Splash section is the family-friendly Splash Pool with a separate swim-up bar for adults and children, as well as the water park, with waterslides, a lazy river, and a small plunge pool with loungers. The water park is an especially notable feature and rare in St. Lucia. The Tiki Pool in the adult section has an attached bar for ages 18 and up, as the adult-only Harmony Oasis Pool has a heated whirlpool and waiter service. 

The supervised Kidz Klub is included in the price and has an outdoor splash park, a play structure in the shape of a pirate ship, an air-conditioned indoor play room, and a paintball facility.

The 11,000-square-foot spa has offers eight treatment rooms, three private beach cabanas, two saunas, two steam rooms, a relaxation lounge, an atrium garden, and a salon with hair, nail and waxing services. The spacious fitness center offers modern equipment, as well as yoga and Pilates classes. Active guests can also play tennis on one of four lighted courts, or basketball on four courts. 

Wi-Fi is free in the lobby, but requires a fee everywhere else, and still may be spotty.  

There is a nice selection of restaurants and bars given the resort's 250-room size. The main buffet restaurant, located in the lobby, is called Coconut Walk Marketplace and serves all three meals. This large indoor room has eight independent stations: a bakery, smoothie bar, grill, salad bar, pasta station, and stir-fry station, meat carving station, and dessert station with cold stone ice cream and toppings. The resort also puts on large-scale weekly themed events like Country Western Night and Caribbean night next to the family pool. There are outdoor dining stations and local performers, such as a live steel drum band, and the music often inspires dancing. 

On the second level above the lobby is a modern Asian restaurant called Silk. It has bright red decor and offers Mandarin-inspired dishes. Next door is Calabash, the resort’s Caribbean restaurant offering a menu of Creole and Caribbean cuisine. These restaurants are open for dinner only and a dress code is required. Private romantic dining can also be arranged facing the sea.

Near the activity pool is Capri, which serves pizzas, burgers, hot dogs, salads, and wraps during the day. There's also a stand called the Jerk Hut, which serves lunchtime jerk pork, beef, and chicken barbecue options next to the family pool.

All of the resort's bars serve premium liquors, house wines, and local beer; bartenders also serve up a special cocktail of the day. A unique aspect of the family pool is that it has an adult swim-up bar and a separate kids swim-up bar serving non-alcoholic drinks. There's a charming (and rarely visited) beach bar hut on the northern end of the sand near the kitesurfing school, and another outdoor bar at the Tiki Pool. Peter John's is the late-night bar near the Silk and Calabash, and has a pool table, live entertainment, piano sing-a-longs, and a gas fire pit on the deck. The lobby bar tends to see a steady crowd before and after dinner (there are fire pits here as well). Also in the lobby is a self-serve coffee shop.