It's not easy to find a resort that works for everyone. Romantic couples don't want to trip over water wings and sippy cups, or fend off a group of 10-year olds having a cannonball competition in the pool. On the other hand, parents of young children don't want to watch their kids oogling smooching honeymooners.
All-inclusive Coconut Bay resort seems ideally constructed to solve the problem. It has two completely separate wings that function as two entirely different hotels, each catering to its own clientele. The result: This laid-back resort is able to offer disparate guests what they came for. On the adults-only side of the resorts, guests can enjoy the peace and quiet of a sea-side massage. On the family side of the hotel, families can ride the water slide or go all out for a rousing game of paint ball (played a few hundred yards and out-of-earshot away).
Coconut Bay for a Caribbean Wedding or Honeymoon
The adult wing (called "Harmony") features its own swimming pools (one with a swim-up bar), hammocks and private palm-shaded cabana beds, the lovely little Kai-Mer sea-side spa, and a fitness center. Weddings often take place in the gazebo overlooking the ocean. Coconut Bay also boasts the island's largest resort beach, perfect for a long walk. A caution: this is the rough-water side of the island; the water can be choppy.
Rooms all have king or queen beds. The top floor rooms have better views of the sea and some premium comforts like flat screen TVs.
Coconut Bay's Family Resort Includes Waterslide, Waterpark
On the family side (called "Splash"), rooms feature more informal decorations and the opportunity to link adjoining rooms together to make a family suite. Guests traveling with grandparents or small children with strollers should note that the ground floor units have sliders, making access to the grounds easier.
Once outside, families can enjoy a wide range of activities:
- Cocoland is St. Lucia's largest water park, with a waterslide and the so-called "Lazy River," where guests can jump on a raft and while away the day lounging back while the man-made "river" carries them around its course. On certain days of the week, the resort opens its doors to local families.
- The family pool has a gradual entry, ideal for toddlers and small children.
- Parents who want to enjoy the spa or a quiet moment can leave children to enjoy supervised activities at the KidzClub.
- Supervised Paint Ball games are available on arrangement at the activities desk, which also books off-site adventures.
Restaurants and Food Service at All-Inclusive Coconut Bay
As a Caribbean all-inclusive resort, Coconut Bay offers meals in a buffet style cafeteria and two high-end restaurants. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style in the cafeteria, located off the main lobby and in between the adult and family wings. Dinner is also available at the buffet, as well as in the resort's two more formal restaurants, located on the upper level. Children are welcome in the formal restaurants until 8 p.m., after which the restaurants become adults-only enclaves.
- Coconut Walk Buffet is open for three meals a day, and features a wide assortment of food.
- Bellagio features northern Italian cuisine.
- Silk features fusion Asian cuisine.
- Bites Beach Grill offers all-day snacks, burgers, and lighter fare.
- Caribbean Nights is a themed outdoor party that takes place twice a week, complete with entertainment, dancing, and a massive buffet.
Coconut Bay is located in View Fort, on the southern tip of St. Lucia, a convenient five-minute drive from Hewanorra International Airport. (When booking, don't confuse it with George Charles Airport, which is on the other side of the island and an hour's drive away.)
Karen Berger - Karen Berger is the author of 15 books. Please click on her name to read her full bio.
