After our honeymoon in Bora Bora, our expectations for tropical vacations were, admittedly, a little unreasonable. We had already seen that level of beauty, so when we booked St. Lucia, we thought it would be amazing…but maybe not Bora Bora amazing.
We were wrong.
St. Lucia completely surprised us in the best way. It is stunning, lush, dramatic, romantic, fun, and somehow felt both relaxing and adventurous at the same time. Honestly, we were shocked by how much we loved it.
Travel Day: From 5 a.m. to Paradise
Our trip started with a 5 a.m. flight, connecting through Miami before heading off to Saint Lucia. By the time we landed, we were very much in that travel-day state of mind where you’re equal parts excited, tired, and just hoping your luggage makes the same life choices you did.
✈️🧳 One small victory before the trip even started: I managed to pack for our entire 5-night vacation in a carry-on.
Bryan was impressed. Airport baggage claim was not missed!
Instead of a basic transfer to the resort, we were whisked away to a ferry ride that turned out to be its own excursion. We cruised along the coastline, passed by the Pitons, listened to music, sipped Piton beers, and took in some of the most beautiful scenery we had ever seen. The boat ride lasted about an hour and a half, and honestly, it set the tone for the whole trip.
Even getting to the resort felt magical.
When we arrived at the hotel, we were shown to our room: a club-level walkout beach view room. It was absolutely perfect. After a long day of travel, we kept things simple. We unpacked, had dinner at Barefoot by the Sea, and called it an early night so we’d be ready for our first full day in paradise.
✈️ Travel Tip:
If you’re flying somewhere warm, packing in a carry-on is easier than you think. Lightweight clothes, swimsuits, and sandals take up surprisingly little space.
Day 1: Pigeon Island, Pool Games, and a Very Good Decision
The next morning, we put on our tennis shoes, grabbed bottles of water, and headed to hike Pigeon Island, which is only about a 10-minute walk from Sandals Grande St. Lucian — close enough that there was really no excuse not to go.
At about the halfway point, we hit that classic vacation hike moment where you start asking yourself important questions like:
“Is this view good enough?”
“Do we really need to see the top?”
“Would turning around technically count as self-care?”
We seriously considered quitting.
But we decided we’d regret not going more than we’d regret continuing—and I’m so glad we pushed on. The views from the top were beautiful and absolutely worth the effort.
Once we made it back to the resort, we rewarded ourselves the proper way: pool time.
🌴 Island Trivia:
Pigeon Island its name, Pigeon Island isn’t actually an island anymore. In the 1970s, a causeway was built connecting it to the mainland, making it easy to visit today.
The area is now part of Pigeon Island National Landmark, where you can still see the ruins of military buildings from the 1700s when the British and French battled for control of St. Lucia.
Today, it’s one of the best spots on the island for hiking and panoramic views of the Caribbean.
We joined a game with other guests called How Well Do You Know Each Other, and I’m proud to report that we came in second place. Which is honestly impressive and mildly offensive at the same time, because I feel like we deserved first.
Later that evening, we enjoyed the club-level sunset wine and cheese tasting, then had a romantic dinner at Gordon’s Pier Restaurant, which felt every bit as dreamy as it sounds.
Day 2: The Knotty Girl Excursion and New Friends
The next day, we did an excursion with Knotty Girl—and yes, that is spelled K-N-O-T-T-Y Girl, though I definitely did a double take the first time I heard it.
This excursion was incredible.
We hopped on a jet boat and spent the day seeing some of the island’s most iconic spots, including:
- Sugar Beach for snorkeling
- The Pitons
- Sulfur Springs
- The volcano
- Mud baths
- Rainforest waterfalls
🌴 Island Trivia
The famous peaks behind us are Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the iconic volcanic mountains that make St. Lucia one of the most recognizable islands in the Caribbean and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not far from there is the natural rock arch known as Bat Cave, which gained fame after appearing in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. And of course, no trip to St. Lucia is complete without visiting the Sulphur Springs Mud Baths, located at the world’s only drive-in volcano. Visitors cover themselves in mineral-rich volcanic mud said to detox the skin… and judging by Bryan’s expression, also temporarily turn you into a swamp creature.
It was one of those days where every stop somehow got better than the last.
Even better, we met Kristi and Randy on the excursion and ended up hanging out with them for the rest of the trip. They are from Austin, such a fun couple, and one of those vacation friendships where you immediately think, “Yep, we’d travel with them again.”
💡 Travel Tip:
Booking Excursions booked our boat excursion on The Knotty Girl through a gentleman named Charlie who walks the beach near the resort.
He gave us a great deal, and the trip included everything we wanted to see — the Pitons, mud baths, snorkeling, and more. Many of the excursions offered through the resort left out one stop or another.
Bryan also did an excellent job bartering… which apparently is a skill I married into.
That night, the four of us had dinner at the Italian restaurant, Toscanini’s, then ended the evening with karaoke and dancing.
And in one of my favorite memories from the trip, Bryan grabbed the mic and sang with the piano man. Truly the kind of vacation energy I support.
Day 3: Poolside Priorities and Island Time
The next morning, Bryan woke up early for what can only be described as a sacred resort tradition: morning chair duty.
Armed with our ridiculous and effective chair-holder hats, he secured us a great poolside spot. A man on a mission.
We had breakfast at Toscanini’s, and while the food was great, let me just say this: they are not in a hurry. At all. It was our first full reminder that St. Lucia operates on island time, and you either learn to embrace it or sit there wondering where your coffee is for 30 minutes.
That evening, there was a fire show and dancing, which made for another fun night and another reminder that Sandals really does know how to create a vibe.
Our Final Full Day: Cabana Life
For our last full day, we decided to go all in and rent a private cabana with a personal butler.
And honestly? Excellent decision.
We had Dino’s pizza delivered, played sand volleyball, relaxed by the beach, and spent more time hanging out with Kristi and Randy. It was the perfect mix of lazy and fun—basically everything you want your last full vacation day to be.
That evening, we had dinner at Kimono’s, the hibachi restaurant, which was the perfect final dinner before heading home the next morning.
The Ride Back: Fast, Scenic, and Slightly Terrifying
The next morning, it was time to go home—but not before one last adventure.
We took a helicopter tour back to the airport.
Now, I’ll be honest: “tour” sounds more relaxing than it felt to me. It was a little scary. But I’m still glad we did it. The views were incredible, and since it was only about a 12-minute ride, it was just enough time for me to be nervous and amazed at the same time.
💡 Travel Tip: Getting to and from the Resort:
If you’re staying in the northern part of St. Lucia, we recommend avoiding the traditional car transfer from the airport. The drive takes about 90 minutes on very winding mountain roads.Instead, consider doing the ferry one way and the helicopter the other. Not only does it save time, but both are experiences in themselves with incredible views of the island.
We booked our helicopter through Island Routes and our ferry through Fun to See Island Ferry Service, and both were fantastic.
Your stomach will thank you.
Final Thoughts: Why We Loved St. Lucia So Much
St. Lucia completely exceeded our expectations.
It had the romance and beauty we were hoping for, but it also had so much more personality than we expected—adventure, fun excursions, dramatic scenery, great resort moments, and even new friendships we never saw coming.
Some trips are beautiful.
Some trips are fun.
Some trips are relaxing.
St. Lucia somehow managed to be all of it.
And for a destination we booked after Bora Bora, that is saying a lot.
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