Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa review: St Lucia's answer to stress-free all-inclusive holidaying

Dreaming of a holiday to St. Lucia? I have just the place for you.

There’s nowhere quite like the Caribbean, and as I stared out at the ocean from the entrance lobby, cool towel and freshly cut coconut in hand, I knew that Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa was about to tick a lot of boxes for me.

An all-inclusive St. Lucia resort, despite its decadence (and this place really is luxurious), it felt like a true home away from home, just one with daily morning yoga classes, multiple dining options, and, of course, an on-resort water park. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg of what’s on offer at Coconut Bay.

W&H's Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa Review

The best time to go to St Lucia is between December and May, which is considered the island’s peak season. Plumping for the middle of this period, I jetted off in March, and was pleasantly surprised by the St Lucia weather. Every day was between the high 20s and low 30s, but thanks to that Caribbean breeze, it was remarkably comfortable to be in and enjoy.

And when it comes to hotels in St Lucia, Coconut Bay Beach Resort has stolen my heart, and with so many wonderful experiences and little pockets to discover I’ve broken down my review so, no matter what your priorities are when booking your dream holiday, you'll have all the information to ensure this is the place for you. Spoiler alert: it most definitely will be.

Location

This trip was stress-free as soon as we stepped foot into the sweet, warm Caribbean air. With a dedicated desk at the airport, you’ll be whisked off to your shuttle in a jiffy, ready to enjoy the resort, which is only a short drive away.

Despite not being far from the airport, I didn’t notice a peep from either air or land traffic. With its very own mile stretch of maintained beach, Coconut Bay was far enough from any potential noise, making it all too easy to fall asleep on the beachside loungers without any disruptions.

St. Lucia is only around 27 miles long and 14 miles wide, with the Atlantic Ocean to its east and the Caribbean Sea to its west. This not only means that you’ll experience a relaxing island, free from busy tourist traps, but you’ll also find it’s easy to explore St. Lucia’s beauty no matter the length of your trip. Each excursion we enjoyed was no more than a 20/30 minute drive away.

If you really want that quiet island feel, then you might want to visit Coconut Bay towards the end of their peak season, which is typically December through April. However, even when I visited in mid-March, the resort itself was comfortably buzzing, but still had ample pool and lounge space.

Facilities and Service

The main grounds of Coconut Bay resort are split into two sides, Harmony, which is adults only and Splash, the family-friendly wing. There's also a sister resort, Serenity, that's designed specifically for couples, but more on that later!

Whichever wing of Coconut Bay Resort you book into, you'll have all your needs met. Every member of staff, from housekeeping to the breakfast chefs, is more than happy to help and wants to make sure you're having the best time possible.

Should you be lucky enough to sneak away with no kids in tow, then Harmony will be a slice of paradise for you. With two relaxing pools, a poolside bar, and swaying palm trees, there’s everything you’d want for a couples getaway. Make sure to pitch up to the beachside chaises, which you can turn 360° to follow the sunshine all day, a sunworshipper's dream. Feeling relaxed? Harmony is also home to the resort’s Beachfront spa, yes, I did say beachfront (more of this beauty later).

Splash, on the other hand, is filled with fun. It has St. Lucia's largest waterpark with slides, waterfalls and of course a wonderful lazy river. Aside from that, there is a fantastic kids' club which has an air-conditioned playroom for children aged 6 months to 12 years. Should you fancy yourself a one-on-one date night, you can send the kids to enjoy dinner with the kids' club, too. With a daily roster of activities, between 10 am to 7 pm, you’ll get a free local cellphone so you can check in on the little ones at any time for added peace of mind, whilst you grab some alone time

Spa facilities

I've had my fair share of massages over the years, but I've always struggled to relax and immerse myself in them. There's always a door slamming or a reception desk too nearby, ruining the mood. The full-body Tranquillity massage at Coconut Bay, however, changed that.

The spa has 6 indoor treatment rooms and 6 private outdoor cabanas located on the beachfront, which are particularly special. There are also two saunas, two steam rooms and a complete salon, so if you’re looking to come back feeling fully rejuvenated, Coconut Bay’s spa has you covered. Treatments start at around £50 and can be customised if you want to have them alongside your partner.

My full-body massage in the outdoor cabana can only be described as an out-of-body experience. The sound of the waves, the smell of the essential oils and the skill from the massage therapists was utter heaven. I’m not sure any treatment will ever come close to this again, and I would happily fly back out just to experience that level of relaxation.

Extras and Entertainment

Like many all-inclusive resorts, St Lucia’s Coconut Bay has a brilliant selection of daily activities for all ages. Over in the adults-only, Harmony wing, you can enjoy recreational activities like beach and pool volleyball, dance classes, bingo and water polo.

Beyond Harmony, there are fitness-led activities including aqua aerobics, pilates, power walks, and gym classes. The resort also has courts for tennis, basketball and even pickleball, which is extremely fun even if you’re a beginner to the sport.

And while your days might be a mixture of downtime, activities and off-resort excursions, as the sun goes down, there is only one place to be, and that’s enjoying the jam-packed schedule of nighttime entertainment. Every week, there's a Country & Western night, a Caribbean night, and of course, the iconic karaoke night, which is for all guests on either side of the resort. While both sides of Coconut Bay enjoy scheduled evenings, there are also some adults-only events at Harmony with poolside drinks and parties.

We were lucky enough to catch the Caribbean night on our first evening at the resort. There was a never-ending Caribbean buffet (heaven), live music, a steel drum band, fire breathers, stilt-walkers and dancers.

Excursions

Whilst you could happily spend your entire stay in Coconut Bay and not feel bored for a minute, St.Lucia is simply too beautiful not to explore. And while I am usually a self-confessed sloth on holiday, the excursions offered were too good to pass up.

With options to suit all budgets and tastes. We managed to fit in horseback riding, the Catamaran land and sea tour, ATV tours, and the sulphur springs, which are volcanic mud baths - fantastic for the skin and incredibly fun.

I'd never been horse riding in my life before my trip, and I was very nervous. However, the stable staff were amazing, very calming. Just make sure you put plenty of sun cream on as the locations you walk through are beautiful, but mostly out of the shade...Oh, and be ready for the inner thigh burn.

My favourite, though, was the catamaran land and sea tour around the Piton mountains. This includes snorkelling, visiting the volcano and sulfur springs, as well as a traditional Caribbean lunch served up in the hills of St. Lucia with a view. This entire day was a clear standout of the trip. So if you’re only planning on going off resort once and want an unforgettable day, then this is it.

Other excursions on offer include diving, fishing trips, exploring a working plantation, botanical gardens, mineral baths, waterfall expeditions, biking, hiking and more.

You can book various excursions and tours to the famous island attractions at the Adventures St.Lucia desk in the lobby.

Serenity at Coconut Bay

If you’re looking to max out on the luxury, then step into Serenity. Located a short walk or golf cart drive from the main resort, Serenity functions as a somewhat independent resort but is linked to Coconut Bay. And here’s where it gets a little complicated. Serenity guests can enjoy both the Harmony and Splash amenities; however, only those 18+ from Splash or Harmony have the opportunity to dine at Serenity’s Greathouse. This must be booked in advance and is not included in your all-inclusive stay.

Serenity is St. Lucia's top-rated all-inclusive, couples-only, luxury resort. Home to 36 plunge pool butler suites, all with 24-hour room service and every special touch you could possibly need, if you’re after the ultimate level of romance and decadence, Serenity is an exceptional choice for honeymooners, anniversary getaways, or those simply looking for St Lucia’s most exclusive resort.

The Greathouse offers fine global cuisine, with an extensive wine list and some of the best cocktails I've ever tasted. We dined in the restaurant's decadent private dining room and had a delicious lunch on the terrace, both equally divine and unforgettable.

Aside from the stunning rooms, which come in three different options for differing budgets and needs, the resort also has a 1,000 square foot pool with in-pool loungers. There are pool cabanas, aqua day beds, poolside cocktail and Hors d'oeuvres service as well as a full-to-the-brim Serenity pool bar. As you might expect, this resplendence comes with a substantial price tag, with the plunge pool butler suite starting at £1,976 per night, per room based on double occupancy.

Pools

The first thing I noticed about all the pool areas in Coconut Bay is that none of them were overcrowded. Not even in the family wing, and considering we visited towards the end of peak season, this was pretty impressive.

Harmony has two adult-only pools, one with a built-in jacuzzi (pictured above) and the other perfectly situated right next to the pool bar. Although it was smaller, I loved this specific pool the best. You could so easily float from your beachside chaise and cool off in the pool, then wander to the bar for a mimosa for the road.

In the Splash wing, there's the water park, fountain and a lovely shaded swim-up pool bar. This bar also peers out over the sea and has some fun cocktails and kid-friendly mocktails to try out.

Rooms

There are 250 rooms spread across the Harmony and Splash wings, separated into six different categories, each with slightly differing amenities, views and space.

The Splash wing has three exclusive room types. All hold four people and up, and all offer slightly varied views and are situated on all floors, but they each contain everything you'll need during your stay. Nightly room rates in Splash start at £686 for a single Deluxe Gardenview and end at upwards of £1,552 for a BR Family Premium Oceanview.

The Harmony wing has four different rooms to choose from, with a single or double option. I stayed in the Harmony premium Ocean view, and let me tell you, watching a sunrise or having your coffee from the balcony with the waves in earshot is nothing short of spectacular. Nightly room rates in the Harmony wing start at £686 for a single Deluxe Gardenview and end at upwards of £1,120 for a double Concierge Jr. Suite Oceanview.

The bathrooms are modern and perfectly sized for a couple to share without getting in each other's way. The beds themselves are extremely comfortable; you'll either have two queens or one king and a sofa. For a complete list of amenities, visit the Coconut Bay website. You'll find that anything you could possibly need when on holiday will be listed there, and if you do require something specific, the staff will be more than happy to help.

During our stay in March, they were renovating some of the Harmony rooms, soon to start on the Splash wing, but don't let that put you off booking. They don't let anyone book rooms that are surrounding the spaces being renovated, and we didn’t hear any work going on during our stay.

Restaurants

The breakfast, lunch and dinners we enjoyed whilst at Coconut Bay were some of the very best resort dining I’ve ever had.

Out of the nine dining locations on the resort, we visited six, and it's hard to pick a favourite. Even the all-inclusive buffet Coconut Walk Marketplace consistently wowed us with both the extensive choice of dishes and the high quality of the food itself. All meals are cooked with fresh local produce, whether that's from the on-resort bakery, the freshly caught fish or the fruit and vegetables grown on the island.

The Asian restaurant Silk would have to take the top spot for me, the ribs that you can see pictured above still cross my mind daily. I also opted for the salmon for my main, and the fish was incredibly fresh and flavourful. You have to book a table for this restaurant as well as a few of the others, but it’s worth planning a little ahead of time and doing this anyway, so you can work out what to eat and when to ensure you try as many of the dining options available.

Another favourite of mine and most of the staff on the resort was the less formal Jerk Tree House. It's a casual eatery that serves lunch and snacks, but the food is exceptional. The jerk sausage with plantain and rice is some of the best Caribbean food I've tasted, and my mouth waters just thinking about it.

I’d also recommend booking at The Greathouse (mentioned above) if your budget allows for it. It's completely worth the splurge, as the food is phenomenal and an experience in itself. They serve creatively reimagined classics and have some of the tastiest top-shelf cocktails on offer. You'll leave The Greathouse extremely full and satisfied, and maybe a little tipsy too.

Coconut Bay Beach resort and spa: Final Verdict

Coconut Bay's tagline is "Casually Caribbean", and that couldn't be more true. From the ease of the resort-wide all-inclusivity to the welcoming, helpful staff, it was genuinely blissful from the moment we stepped into the lobby.

If you're looking for something that can cater to any possible need or wish you have for your Caribbean adventure, then Coconut Bay has it all. Whether you're wanting to explore, keep active, try new things or simply lie absolutely still for a week or two, this resort will make that happen.

And although Coconut Bay is a haven, I couldn't recommend getting out of the resort more. Visiting the sulphur springs and sailing around the Piton mountains, even driving around the island, seeing different fruit trees and villages, was fascinating. I would also like to recommend that you eat and try everything you can get your hands on. Caribbean food was already one of my favourite cuisines, but eating it fresh, cooked authentically by locals, was out of this world.

Once our trip had ended, I understood why the resort has many returning guests. We even met one couple that has stayed a Coconut Bay 17 times and counting. Which is no surprise as Coconut Bay offers a loyalty programme for repeat guests. This provides points that can go towards free nights, resort credits and even exclusive discounts on future stays. You can see all the advantages of their Preferred Club here.

Although my time at Coconut Bay sadly had to come to an end, I hope my experience in St Lucia can inspire you to take the plunge, get on that transatlantic flight and enjoy the beauty of the island for yourself.

Coconut Bay Beach resort and spa: Prices & How to book

The best way to book you and your loved ones for a stay at Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa is to either call or email them directly. That way, you can speak to the team at Coconut Bay, who are best equipped to explain all your options and which airlines can fly you over at the time that suits you. And of course, visit their website, https://cbayresort.com/, for any other information or images you want to peruse!

What's included at Coconut Bay, St. Lucia?

The entire resort is all-inclusive, which means your meals, drinks (even the top-shelf liquor) and activities are included in your room rate. There are some extras you might want to pay for, like dinner at The Greathouse, off-resort excursions and the spa. You can see a complete list of all inclusions here on their site.

Is the beach swimmable at Coconut Bay?

It is! We swam in the sea a few times, and it was refreshingly cool after an hour or two of sunbathing. The island does have a buildup of seaweed on the shoreline; however, it's well maintained at the resort with regular seaweed collection.

When is the best time to visit St. Lucia?

If you want to experience the island to its fullest, then it's best to visit when the weather is just right. The dry season is generally between December and May, so you're most likely to have all the sun and very little rainfall. However, even during the rainy season, you'll be plenty warm, and showers are often short-lived.

Flight Info: British Airways flies direct, year-round from London Gatwick Airport, and they're the only airline to offer direct flights to St Lucia from the UK. They fly six times a week until the end of October (excluding Tuesdays) and revert to daily flights through the winter until the end of March.

For UK/Europe customers:

Phone: 01582 792 260

Email: coconutbay@group-promotions.com

For North American customers:

Phone: 877-252-0304

Email: reservations@cbayna.com