Not the Best
- August 14, 2009
- Rated 2 of 5 by
Chip Hunnicutt from leland, North Carolina
We enjoyed our time in St. Lucia and the management of Sandals Halcyon was very good to us during the trip. As frequent Sandals customers, I do have what I hope will be taken as constructive criticism of the resort....
• During the trip from the airport to the resort, we learned of the political climate of St. Lucia and the resulting unrest among the working class. The general staff of the resort were not as "happy" as those of other Sandals resorts (Turks & Caicos, Ocho Rios) and we believe it was due to the social issues of the island. We were there to have fun and when the staff is unhappy, it is felt.
• Sandals Halcyon is advertised as a "3-in-1 resort" with the Grande and Regency. However, there is no information available at all onsite regarding the dining or entertainment options at those resorts. It was as if they didn't exist, other than the shuttle schedule.
• Our 7:40 a.m. "Cycling Adventure" excursion on Saturday was canceled with no notice. Waking up at 6 a.m. while on vacation is hard enough, then to have that disappointment..... The concierge did not show up until 8:30 and was able to find out for us what happened. We were offered the trip at 9:30 but declined on principle, opting for snorkeling. More on that below.
• We had no idea snorkeling had to be scheduled 24 hours in advance. We had one day, Friday, available for this but didn't not have a reservation because we didn't know we needed one so missed out. On Saturday, we had to urge the concierge to get us on a trip (they were not proactive at all) due to an excursion canceled by the vendor. We made the 1:20 p.m. snorkeling trip and being a Sandals offering, we were disappointed in the quality of the trip itself. We were taken to a spot right outside the bay, told we had 30 minutes, then taken back to the dock. Again, in our experience this is not typical of snorkeling options at other Sandals resorts.
• I would be remiss if I did not address the photo shoot. We were not notified by Sandals of this prior to our trip nor upon arrival. We found out about it from other guests and when we did ask the front desk (we did not have a notice in our room as they suggested), we were made aware that the beach and pool would essentially be shut down. Thankfully we ran into you and you clarified this for us, that it wouldn't be "shut down", but had we been made aware, we could have adjusted our excursions accordingly.
• Lastly, my wife was of the understanding that we would have a refrigerator in our room. I don't know the policy for Sandals Halcyon, but we did see drinks being taken into other rooms and other Sandals resorts had this as a standard option. Also, there was no umbrella. This is great touch especially in the rainy season, but imagine our surprise as we darted from the room in the rain and seeing other guests strolling beneath their Sandals umbrellas.
As a Sandals Select member and Sandals / Beaches VISA cardholder, we love the resorts and intend to continue vacationing with the company. We were disappointed with this Sandals experience.
Hidden, Soothing, and Tranquil Cottage in the Caribbean Sun
We just returned from our first vacation at Sandals Halcyon Beach St. Lucia and thought the entire experience was fabulous. The food is delicious, the service is great, and the staff always friendly and smiling. The upgraded concierge level room added to the experience with special check-in, unforgeable in-room bar service, and easily arranged dinner reservations and spa treatments. We've already booked our next vacation at Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island and cannot wait for the continued pampering and luxury that Sandals offers.
Sandals Halcyon
- January 13, 2006
- Rated 4 of 5 by
mcdana22 from Davison, Michigan
My husband and I were looking for a quiet romantic getaway that catered to our every whim...and we found it at Sandals Halcyon. Our room was ocean view, and we had a spectacular view of both the gardens and the ocean. The active pool was where we spent most of our time, but we also snuck away to the quiet area pool for some alone time. The food was wonderful at the buffet and also at the Pier restaurant. Dining at the other nearby Sandals resort was very convenient and just a short 5 minute shuttle ride away. Snorkeling was gorgeous, with such clear water and beautiful reefs. Scuba diving was simple to learn, with great instructors. There was always an activity to participate in and keep thing exciting with the outgoing activities coordinators (form pool side bingo, volleyball, couples games, etc.). The weather was wonderfully warm. We had the opportunity to take an island tour on a catamaran, visit the beautiful botanical gardens, climb up to a volcano, shop in the local villiage, and eat traditional West Indies foods. My husband and I can't wait to return!
From journal Honeymoon in St. Lucia