CHECKING IN: Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
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Picture this paradise:
You’re being whisked along a winding hilly road that leads you into a lush jungle. Your windows are rolled down and the warm Caribbean breeze whips through your hair as you crane your neck up to look at this massive volcanic mountain jutting, what feels like, straight up from the ground.
The pink, purple and white bougainvillea bushes climb along the walls that lead you past these crisp white gingerbread-like villas. Your driver pulls to a stop in front of a collection of these houses and when you catch a glimpse of the vista before you it finally hits you - you’re literally staying in paradise.
That my friend is EXACTLY how I would describe my arrival to Sugar Beach. And that was just the arrival...
I can’t wait to break down EVERYTHING there is to know about Sugar Beach in this post BUT before we get into the deets, I wanted to remind all my visual learners out there that I have a full hotel tour/review up on my YouTube channel that I will link below in case you’d rather watch than read.
THE RESORT:
As far as St. Lucia luxury resorts go, Sugar Beach is the best of the best (in mine and many other’s opinions). There are two words I’d use to describe this 18th-century plantation turned luxury resort - secluded and sophisticated.
From beachside bungalows to private villas and long-term residences, Sugar Beach offers a plethora of options that can accommodate families, honeymoon couples, or even mother-daughter duos like me and Linda.
The cuisine is innovative and fresh, the activity options are endless and in true Caribbean fashion - the rum punch is FLOWING. I’ll break down all the things you can expect from your stay at Sugar Beach below!
THE HISTORY:
While the resort is currently operated by the Viceroy hotel group, I did want to share a fun little bit of history about the previous owners & visionary behind the Sugar Beach we know and love today. And if I’ve got any fans of the royal family in the house I think you’ll want to keep reading.
Lord Glenconner, a friend of Princess Margaret, was the original visionary behind what is now Sugar Beach. Glenconner was living on St. Lucia when he happened upon a valley with an abandoned sugar plantation situated between the island’s twin pitons and was immediately enchanted.
He eventually bought the land and set about creating his own paradise, even building his own Taj Mahal-inspired home near the property which can still be seen today from the water.
Glenconner didn’t live to see his vision realized but the former resort owner, Roger Myers, credits Glenconner’s eye for the resort’s success.
LOCATION:
You’ll find Sugar Beach is nestled snugly into a valley between St. Lucia’s twin Pitons - a UNESCO world heritage site. The drive from the island’s international airport - Hewanorra International Airport - to Sugar Beach takes about an hour and brings you along a winding, hilly one-lane road that perfectly sets the mood for your Caribbean vacation.
In true luxury resort fashion, Sugar Beach will help arrange your private transportation to and from the airport. When you arrive, you are quite literally taken to the front door of your private villa or bungalow where you will complete your check-in, in the room. Now that’s what I call door-to-door service!
ST. LUCIA COVID-19 INFO:
The information provided below is based on our trip taken in March of 2021 - but for the most accurate and up-to-date safety information head to the hotel’s website here or check out Saint Lucia’s COVID information page.
St. Lucia is open to all international travelers! Here’s what you’ll need to visit
Fill out a Travel Registration Form proving that you are staying at one of their COVID-19 approved accommodations
Have a negative PCR test taken no more than 5 days prior to your arrival (so if your flight is on a Saturday the earliest you could take the test is Tuesday)
Once you have completed the form, the tourism board will email you a confirmation and you will present this at the airport when you check-in for your flight & when you arrive in St. Lucia. You will be denied boarding if you do not have these documents. You absolutely want to have everything printed. (I recommend making copies)
SUGAR BEACH COVID PROTOCOLS:
I truly felt that the resort went above and beyond to prioritize guest safety while on property. Here are a few of the things that stood out to me:
Pre-departure COVID tests can be pre-scheduled and take place on property 2 days before your departure. You’ll find your results conveniently printed and delivered to your room to make your departure process as painless as possible
There are signs EVERYWHERE reminding guests to stay six feet apart and wear masks
To learn more about Sugar Beach’s health and safety practices click here.
SUGAR BEACH ROOMS:
There’s no shortage of options when it comes to the various room categories at Sugar Beach. From entry-level Luxury Sugar Mill Rooms which have a prime location steps away from the lily pond, pool and resort’s main dining area all the way to their four-bedroom beachfront homes, the resort can accommodate any style of traveler.
We stayed in one of the Grand Luxury Villas and grand would be the perfect word to describe this incredibly spacious room. These rooms are perfect for families with children, honeymoon couples or boujee mother-daughter duo’s like us.
The one-bedroom villa comes complete with a plunge pool & patio, a living space with a pull-out & a massive walk-in closet & a bathroom.
You’ll find all the luxury in-room amenities like a Nespresso machine, mini bar, four-poster bed, flat-screen TVs that rise out of this super sneaky box (watch my room tour below to see what I’m talking about) and plenty of space to spread out. The shower is massive and lucky for us so is the closet.
In my opinion what really makes these specific rooms so unique are the unbeatable views of the Caribbean Sea and St. Lucia’s Pitons waiting for you right outside your room. Plus these villas are very secluded so you really feel like you have your own private home nestled into the jungle.
Another INCREDIBLE Sugar Beach amenity is that every guest room comes with access to a team of butlers who can help you with WHATEVER you need during your stay. From arranging dining reservations, scheduling activities, getting you a shuttle to the beach, and making you feel SO welcome, your team of butlers will become your besties.
SUGAR BEACH DINING:
Sugar Beach really covers all its bases when it comes to dining options on property. From the resort’s Bayside restaurant that is literally steps away from the water to more formal fine dining at the Great Room - Sugar Beach’s chef’s craft innovative and delicious dishes that highlight the island's local flavors which are often a combination of creole and Indian flavors.
For example, I had the most incredible Indian spiced crab cakes for lunch one day. Honestly a combo I was not expecting but absolutely drooled over...the plate was licked clean.
BREAKFAST
You’ll have the option to have breakfast in your room or at the resort’s terrace restaurant - I say you switch it up depending on your mood that day.
COCKTAILS & SUSHI
Oh, and you HAVE to try the Cane Bar one night for the freshest and yummiest seafood. Make sure to take a moment to admire the eye-popping colorful artwork on your way to the bar.
BEACHSIDE DINING
Last but not least, one of my favorite places to have lunch each day was on one of the resorts swinging day beds along the beach near the volleyball court. There’s just something about sipping on a cocktail and eating a woodfired pizza on the beach on vacation that screams I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT BECAUSE I’M ON VACATION. You feel me?
ACTIVITIES:
There’s no shortage of activities to keep you FULLY occupied during your stay at Sugar Beach. From kayaking and snorkeling to hiking and sunset boat cruises, you can fill your days with as much or as little as you like.
One of my favorite things we did was the resort’s Superman Waterfall tour which takes you through the lower mountain forest to this 70-foot waterfall, which was featured in the 1980 superman movie - hence the name. You can take a dip and enjoy a natural mud bath before hiking out.
And if you’re adventurous and up for a bit of a sweat, you should absolutely consider their Gros Piton hike. Or for a different perspective, you can catch some incredible views of the pitons from the sea on one of the resort’s boat cruises.
But if your goal is to plop your booty down on the beach and not lift a finger…you can totally do that too.
BOOK YOUR STAY:
I can’t say it enough, Linda and I fell in love with Sugar Beach and have already made plans to return (which honestly says A LOT because we don’t often visit destinations, let alone resorts twice). I am telling all my gals planning honeymoons, friends, and family looking for an escape and honestly the internet at large to consider booking a stay at this magical property.
If you’re looking to test out the waters with international travel but aren’t quite yet ready to get on a long flight (the flight to St. Lucia is just 5 hours from Chicago, direct) St. Lucia & Sugar Beach would be an excellent option. Linda and I really appreciated the extra steps St. Lucia & Sugar Beach took to prioritize our safety, which goes a LONG way these days.
If you’d like help in planning your trip to St. Lucia & Sugar Beach, click here to get in touch with Linda who can customize your perfect Caribbean escape.
SHOP MY SUGAR BEACH LOOKS
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