0, St Lucia, Saint Lucia | (937) 315-4602
On a private beach with loungers, palapas, and calm waters
Seven pools, including two for adults only
Kids' Club and activities for kids and teens, including a pool with a water slide
Four restaurants and several bars, including a late-night pub
Nightly entertainment that includes music, dancing, and theater
Spacious lobby with vaulted ceilings and comfortable sofas
All rooms have terraces; a few have ocean views
Affordable all-inclusive rates
Free Wi-Fi in the Piton Lounge
Wi-Fi access is unreliable, and comes with a fee
Guests must wear neon-colored wristbands
Some of the rooms show visible signs of wear and tear, dirt, and peeling paint
The busiest, main pool shows signs of dirt in the water
Flies buzzing around the food in the buffet
Some rooms do not have electrical outlets in the bathrooms
Guests may need to have rooms fumigated for mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and ants
Piton Bar area smells like stale beer and can become crowded
Tennis courts are not well maintained
Located on the northern part of St. Lucia on a private cove with brown-sugar sand, Smuggler's Cove is an all-inclusive budget-oriented resort in need of renovation. About 350 single-story attached rooms and suites are spread across the sprawling 45-acre property, offering glimpses of the ocean and gardens from outdoor terraces. Seven pools (two just for adults) keep families and couples occupied, while the crescent-shaped beach, crowded with worn lounge chairs, offers calm waters for water sports and swimming.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Busy all-inclusive resort with seven pools, four restaurants, and a crescent-shaped beach
With seven pools and a long stretch of beach, there is plenty of room to spread out at Smuggler's Cove. Couples can find solace and a swim-up bar at the two adults-only pools elevated above the beach and the main pool, adjacent to the hotel lobby and spa. Families with active kids tend to congregate at the very busy, sometimes chaotic, oceanfront pool, which provides easy access to the beach, the buffet, and the Piton Bar where buzzing blenders continually churn out fruity frozen drinks.
Quieter spots at the resort include a pool near the fitness center, the spacious and stylish lobby with its comfortable sofas and brightly colored pillows, and the Namaste Spa, which offers Caribbean-inspired treatments in richly colored (red and chocolate brown) rooms.
The Piton Lounge is a hub for guests as it is the only place at the resort that offers free Wi-Fi (there's also a bar). In the evenings, the stage in the Piton Lounge comes alive with a variety of entertainment from local island music to floor shows with costumed dancers performing Broadway show tunes.
Location
At St. Lucia's northern tip, close to the island's only 18-hole golf course and Rodney Bay Village
Smuggler's Cove is tucked into a nook-like cove on the western side of the northern tip of St. Lucia. Its entrance is across the street from St. Lucia's only 18-hole golf course, an amenity that Smuggler's Cove guests are available to book at a reduced rate. While somewhat secluded, the resort is just a 10-minute drive to the many restaurants, bars, and shops of Rodney Bay Village.
Rooms
A village-style collection of rooms and one-bedroom suites, most overlooking greenery and a few with ocean views
The resort, which was acquired by Blue Diamond Resorts in 2014, holds 350 bungalow-style rooms spread out over a hillside in village style. Exteriors can be yellow, blue, or pink, and most interiors have understated tropical style in soothing creams, browns, and greens; some rooms have white wood ceilings. However, while some of the beachfront rooms feature more updated bedding and furnishings, the majority of the rooms are drab and in need of renovation. Sofa beds and chairs are faded from the sun. Front doors are wobbly when closed, and bathrooms showed cracked tiles, water stained tubs, and grimy caulking. No outlets in some of the bathrooms make if difficult to use the hairdryer.
Families tend to book the one-bedroom suites, which come equipped with a separate living area with a sofa bed that can be closed off from the main bedroom by shutting the French doors. Smaller, Standard Rooms vary slightly in style, the Deluxe Rooms enjoying vaulted ceilings, and the Superior Deluxe Rooms offer either a beachfront location or a quieter spot away from the bustle of the restaurants and beach. All accommodations have either king-sized or two double beds, air-conditioning, terraces, Wi-Fi access (for a fee), satellite television, safes, mini-refrigerators, and coffeemakers.
In the evenings, guests are encouraged to have their rooms fumigated while they are away to dinner to stave off bugs -- ants, mosquitoes, and no-see-ums.
Features
Seven pools, a kids' club, a crescent-shaped beach, four restaurants, and nightly entertainment
Everyone seems to find their own space within the confines of this 45-acre resort. Couples gather around the twin adults-only pools with swim up bar. Families head to the beachfront pool for its convenient location close to the beach and the buffet. A daily calendar of activities ranging from tai chi to water sports keeps guests moving. When it's time to relax, Namaste Spa is ready to serve with Caribbean-inspired treatments. Evenings feature entertainment on the stage at the Piton Lounge.
For breakfast, the Cove Buffet can hold the crowds but the airy Waterside Creole Grill, which jets out over the water, is a better choice for those seeking a less hectic atmosphere. The waterfront restaurant is also open for dinner, along with an Asian restaurant, an Italian Trattoria, and the buffet.
The beach has soft sand, blue loungers (that could use an upgrade), palapas, and trees for additional shade. An area is roped off for swimming, and the protected cove makes for gentle waves suitable for children. Some gazebos with tables for those who'd like to eat while enjoying the view are also on offer. A volleyball net is also located here.
All-Inclusive / Food
Fours restaurants, several bars, and lots of activities for kids
Guests must wear a neon wristband to prove access to the all-inclusive resort that includes:
