Holiday heaven: a review of The Landings, Rodney Bay, St Lucia

At Simply Caribbean we try to give all our clients a completely personalised service, including our unbiased, honest reviews of the accommodation and destinations on offer. Here’s a straight-from-the-horse’s-mouth review of The Landings, St Lucia, written by a regular client who took his family there.

I travelled to St Lucia with my wife and four (yes, four!) daughters aged 5, 9, 12 and 14, having chosen to stay at The Landings in Rodney Bay. After a tough and tiring eight hours on the plane we transferred to the hotel in a private minivan while enjoying a very welcome cold beer and wet towel. Bliss! We selected The Landings because the accommodation sounded perfect for our large brood. We had booked a three-bedroom beachfront suite with stunning views over Pigeon Island and glorious sunsets and it certainly ticked all the boxes. With the luxurious addition of a Jacuzzi on the balcony it was just like home but better. They have similar suites with one or two bedrooms as well, so they cater for normal sized-families too! The hotel itself is set around their own private marina (displaying some beautiful yachts) and has been built and finished to a very high standard, befitting its five-star status. Early mornings began with breakfast at the Beach Club where the sumptuous buffet really set you up for the day. Pancakes seemed to be the kids’ favourite, with fruit salad for me (of course) and a full fry up for those with a bigger appetite (not mentioning any names!). The adjoining long stretch of golden sand is kept in a pristine state and is perfectly safe for the youngest of children with calm, clear water which is bath-tub warm; our five-year-old absolutely loved running in and out of the sea all day. A full range of water sports is readily available and all non-motorised options are free. There are plenty of liloes to drift around on or, for the more active members of the family, there are Hobies to sail.  The snorkelling is fantastic too: I found about six conch shells only 50-60 feet from the shore and some really beautiful, big star fish. After a morning on the sand the Beach Club was the perfect place for lunch. The menu caters for all tastes with freshly-prepared, well-cooked food which is very good value. The kids’ menu went down a treat and the staff were very attentive and friendly. With three pools to choose from as well as a poolside Jacuzzi, we weren’t short of places for a refreshing afternoon dip. And if a siesta was on the cards, the sun loungers were plentiful and comfortable. My wife made good use of the excellent spa facilities too and the girls had their nails done as a holiday treat (even I was tempted…!). It’s safe to say that you will never be short of fun in the sun at The Landings, with a number of activities completely complimentary as part of your stay.  There are two tennis courts, a well-equipped gym, three swimming pools, two hot tubs, and a dedicated children’s club open daily, offering a great schedule of supervised activities, arts and crafts, games and sports for the kids to enjoy in a safe and relaxed environment. Also nearby is the excellent St Lucia Golf and Country Club, as part of the exclusive Cap Estate, where you can tee off and try your hand at one of the most scenic courses in the Caribbean, nestled between numerous luxury villas, verdant hills and trees just to the east. The beauty of staying in a spacious suite – which had a fully-fitted kitchen – was having the option to eat in if we chose. It was very well-equipped with a dedicated dining area too, as well as a table and chairs on the balcony, so we really were spoilt for choice. There’s a free shuttle to nearby shops in Rodney Bay (including a decent supermarket) so it was very easy to stock up on snacks and meals to suit all the family. All of our bedrooms had beautiful en-suite bathrooms finished in marble, spacious bedrooms with lots of storage and fantastically comfortable beds. With air conditioning throughout, the suite was a relaxing haven of cool after a hot day on the beach. Our daily routine soon settled in to a familiar rhythm, with a sundowner cocktail at the Beach Club, during happy hour (5-6pm). The terrace is dotted with lovely seating areas and sandy feet are welcome! Often this was followed on by an evening meal as it was such a relaxing spot to unwind and chat to friends. As with breakfast and lunch, the dinner menu was varied and delicious, often accompanied by live music. Friday night at The Landings is Jazz night and we were so impressed with the quality of the entertainment. A great local singer called Rob ‘Zii’ Taylor really got the toes tapping, creating a truly memorable evening.  For a more formal meal and a good excuse to dress up, The Landings also has a fantastic fine dining restaurant called The Palms (maybe one to go to without the kids!). If you want to venture further afield then take the eight-minute taxi ride to Rodney Bay to try out the many excellent restaurants and bars. We had some great meals in the town with the Fire Grill getting a big thumbs up from all the family (particularly the lobster).  A bit pricier, but serving some of the best steak we’ve ever had, was Big Chef. A fantastic ice cream parlour just along the street, serving a mind-boggling array of flavours, provided the perfect setting for dessert. All in all we had a fantastic holiday at The Landings. The children loved it, making made loads of friends and really enjoying the independence of being able to roam the resort in safety.  The whole experience was brilliant and the staff even remembered all our children’s names!  Rest assured that you will thoroughly enjoy your stay and leave with a heavy heart. If you like the sound of this review of The Landings, St Lucia, we have a number of offers available for stays throughout the year, including free nights, complimentary activities for kids and free babysitting, and even discounts for wedding and honeymooners.  Please call 01732 810372 for the latest prices and offers for your travel dates.