How to Honeymoon in St. Lucia

With all the stress of planning a wedding, a memorable and relaxing honeymoon is certainly in order. A popular honeymoon spot is St. Lucia, located between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean. With its sparkling waters and pristine, white sandy beaches, it's the perfect spot to create wonderful honeymoon memories.

My husband and I chose to go the all-inclusive route. This eliminates hassling questions like, "where do we stay," and "what is there to do?" All-inclusive resorts offer everything you could possibly want, need, or desire in a honeymoon - in one, easy, and carefree package. There are a handful of all-inclusive resorts on the island of St. Lucia, but the most economical choice for us was the Rendezvous. This resort is located in the island's capital of Castries, and allowed us to maximize our time on the island while still offering budget-friendly choices.

However, there are good and bad points to be considered when discussing a honeymoon at Rendezvous. If you are contemplating staying there, hopefully this article will address any questions and concerns you may have, as well as offer some friendly advice to keep in mind.

Let's begin with the airport at St. Lucia. Immediately after landing, my husband and I were approached by several islanders working at the airport, offering to carry our luggage (we only had two suitcases and one carry-on bag) to the taxi. We let them do it, as it seemed like it was a courtesy offered by the airport. Once we got to the taxi, the workers informed us there was a $5 charge per suitcase that they carried over. (We later discovered most of the locals practiced this bait-and-switch technique.) We paid it, but could have saved ourselves $15 by carrying the luggage ourselves.

Rendezvous is the nearest resort to the airport, but we still endured an hour and a half ride in our taxi. The roads of St. Lucia are merely goat trails, and there are no traffic laws. Our driver helped minimize the discomfort of the bumpy trails by engaging everyone in games and telling jokes. Once we arrived at Rendezvous, we were greeted by the resort staff with a Mai Tai and icy-cold washcloths (the weather there was around 90 degrees Fahrenheit). We had no trouble locating our room - an inviting, beachside suite with marble floors and crystal chandeliers. Our bed was covered in rose petals and a chilled bottle of champagne waited for us across the room. We listened to the gentle sounds of waves as we fell asleep each night. There are no televisions available at the resort, but most honeymooners don't have time to watch TV anyway!

Unlike some all-inclusive resorts, Rendezvous allows its guests to customize their stay. We had no set schedule, but were given a list of daily activities the resort had to offer. We could choose to attend them or simply lay out at the beach - the choice was completely ours. We took advantage of activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and group fitness classes, such as morning yoga by the beach. We also took in some sun as we lounged by the beach, enjoying the never-ending drinks brought to us by the friendly staff. At Rendezvous, you never have to get up for a drink - simply place your flag (given to you by resort staff) in the sand, and a staff member will bring you any drink of your choice. We enjoyed wonderful beverages like pina coladas, amaretto sours, and the resort's signature drink, "cherry coolers". Since the resort is all-inclusive, you never have to pay for a drink, and there is no limit.

Rendezvous offers "a la carte" indulgences for an additional fee. We received a couple's beachside massage for $40. Other services offered by the spa include manicures, pedicures, facials, and body polish.

Dining at the resort is simply second to none. Snacks and beverages are offered all day (I highly recommend the banana fritters). For breakfast and lunch, you can choose to either order from a menu or eat off the buffet, both of which are included in your total price. However, be cautious when drinking the milk in St. Lucia. It is very heavy, almost like coffee creamer, and often warm. St. Lucians don't typically use ice in their beverages, so you will have to ask for it. For dinner, you could choose to eat at the Terrace Restaurant or dine at their on-site restaurant, The Trysting Place. Here, you and your spouse can enjoy fine cuisine, with entrees such as Salmon Timbale, Steak au Poivre, and Red Snapper Filet. Live music is played and your dinner is served by candlelight. Don't forget to try the Lime Tarte or Chocolate Fondant for dessert - they're amazing! Our last night at the resort, we attended the luau, which served barbecue with all the trimmings. While you won't see a whole roasted pig, the barbecue was delicious and the entertainment was great!

However, there are a couple of downfalls you should be aware of if you're planning to honeymoon in St. Lucia. First, never leave your resort or hotel unless you're in a big group or with a native tour guide. My husband and I made this mistake and it nearly ruined our whole experience. With souvenirs being so expensive at our resort, we decided to take a taxi out into town to see what we could find. Within minutes, natives trying to push us into purchasing their goods, crafts, or services flogged us. If you refuse to buy anything from them, they become angry or even violent. We were approached by a drug-addicted native who tried to tell our fortune, and then demanded $100. When we refused, he lunged towards my husband, but was luckily stopped by another native. We quickly caught the first taxi back to the resort.

Second, the sunrays in St. Lucia are much stronger than what we were used to in the United States. Even with sunscreen, I still received severe sunburns on my legs and spent our last night soaking them in cold water. Bring lots of sunscreen and reapply often!

All in all, our honeymoon in St. Lucia was romantic and beautiful, and the Rendezvous staff made every effort to ensure our stay was pleasurable. With gorgeous rooms, excellent dining, and an activity for everyone, this resort offers everything you need to create a memorable honeymoon.