East Winds Saint Lucia

I looked for the best place to stay in St Lucia by doing lots of homework on Tripadvisor, as I always do.
The reviews led me to East Winds and it sounded so good and boutique we decided this was where we wanted to be.
All the reviews say how lovely the staff are. It's so true- you are all amazing!
The whole buzz of the place is because of how well the staff get on with each other; the happy vibe they give out- It cannot fail to rub off on you and make your stay perfect. Everyone is good fun, and just to give an example of how far they go to give you the best time, one chap who was staying there had to use a mobility scooter to get around because his legs didn't work well. He used the same sun bed every day, and, just to make life a bit easier for him, EW actually sent two guys to extended the paved walkway by about 5 feet just so he could park the scooter right next to the sun bed, and reduce the amount he had to walk. That's how much they care. Absolutely first class.
Although it's unfair really to single out any particular member of staff, because they are all amazing, I must give a special mention to Windel. He was completely on our wavelength and made us laugh so much with his infectious personality. You could hear him laughing a long way off, and it makes you smile.
The restaurant, the service, the food, all first class. We had a Superior Cottage, and it was absolutely perfect- nothing else required. Watching the hummingbirds on the feeder from our terrace was a joy.
The views from the sun beds are so beautiful. Everything about EW is. The fit walk is good too, just to stretch your legs.
We had several excursions arranged for us by Simeon (another first class chap), in Good Vibes- we can definitely recommend the Sunset cruise, Fort Rodney, and the horse riding on the beach- all amazing.
Our fellow guests were first class also- thank you all for being so nice.
The Friday Evening Beach party was really good, and hilarious! The icing on the cake of an amazing week.
EW has a lot of repeat visitors. It's so easy to see why, and they have just got another two. We already know when we're going back- we both agreed it is the most beautiful place we've ever been to.
Thank you all so much!

We spent a very long time considering options for our holiday in St Lucia. We’d looked at the usual alternatives (Ladera, Anse Chastanet, Cap Maison etc) and chose East Winds because (i) it is truly all-inclusive with no extra charges; and (ii) the number of reviews from returning guests seemed a good sign. We’d booked for 10 nights but ended up leaving after 7.

Positives

The food is good - a bit dated in terms of the menu - think meat and two veg rather than haute cuisine - but the ingredients are top drawer and it shows. The two meals cooked on the enormous BBQ were the best; amazing fish, lobster and steak. Breakfast is good - all the usual options catered for. Lunch is fine - and to be honest you probably won’t be that hungry. Something more enlightened like poké bowls or similar would show the resort moving with the times but it really is stuck in a 1990s version of good food.

The wine list is excellent at dinner (we saw the wines offered cost about $50-70 in other restaurants on the island). The wine list at lunch and the rest of the day was more limited but good - a nice Provence rosé as well as champagne was always available but dinner is a step up.

The staff are fantastic and cannot do enough to help. They make good conversation and seem to enjoy their jobs; the staff made staying there really enjoyable.

The live music entertainment at lunch and dinner is great; fun and unobtrusive.

The grounds are well-established and very pretty - a morning walk around them was enjoyable.

Negatives

The rooms are quite small and whilst recently refurbished are showing their age. The air conditioning in ours was noisy (ticking intermittently all the time).

The natural beach no longer exists - the captain on our day trip boat explained that since the hotel was built, sea levels have risen meaning the sand in front of the hotel has all but disappeared. At high tide the waves smash into a sea wall built along the front of the hotel. The hotel has therefore put sand (quite gritty) on the lower parts of the grounds to create an artificial beach. This is ok, but quite small. The sea wqs cloudy with the sand meaning snorkelling was pointless as it was like being in a (warm) UK gravel pit.

Staff told me that when the tides are high, the hotel uses a generator driven water pump to remove seawater from the hotel grounds so it doesn’t flood bedrooms and the restaurant. Imagine a noisy generator a few feet from your bedroom window and you get the idea.

The water pump was located almost immediately outside our room and was extremely loud when operating. The fact the hotel has permanently installed a pump for this specific purpose shows it’s not an exceptional circumstance to have to use it. The pump started at around 06:00 on two mornings and ran until about 12:00. This not only woke us up very early but also was extremely disruptive for one morning relaxing on the beach. There were no other sun loungers free in the sun and so we could not move to an area further away from the noise (it is a small hotel). I’m unsure when it stopped on the second day as we left the hotel early to join a boat trip. On neither day were we able to get back to sleep after the pump started.

I reported the problems with the water pump to reception before leaving on a hotel-organised boat trip for the day. I explained options were a) do nothing which is obviously not acceptable; b) move rooms with partial refund which defeats the point of having specifically booked a beach view room (or we would have booked a different hotel); c) leave the hotel and receive a refund for remaining 3 nights. The receptionist wrote this all down. I was told the manager was not in but would be available to discuss options when we got back from the boat trip.

On returning from the boat trip, I went to reception expecting to speak to someone with the authority to solve the problem because that is what I had been told to expect. Instead, I was told that everyone in management had gone home already and nothing could be done. This is despite knowing precisely when we would be back as the boat trip was organised by the hotel and one member of hotel staff was on board. Reception called the manger who said she was back at 08:00 the following day. I said I’d probably have been up for 2 hours by then which at least amused the staff.

I called BA Holidays, who we’d booked through, and explained all of the above. BA Holidays phoned the hotel, explained the problem and asked if we could move rooms and were told that even that was not possible until the morning because everyone had gone home.

We left and got a taxi to Stonefield Villas for the last 3 nights of our trip. This was the right decision; in the end, we were happy nobody from the hotel was available to help. East Winds quickly refunded us for these 3 nights which was good of them but to be honest expected in the circumstances.

Minor points; somebody came round the very small beach only once a day (the hotel only has 30 rooms) to ask if we wanted a drink. In such a small, well-staffed, high-end hotel it is not unreasonable to expect regular beach service, perhaps via a call bell or something similar which I’ve seen at a number of hotels in the Mediterranean. The hotel gym was closed with no indication when it will re-open. The bollards which support hammocks in various places around the hotel grounds were left in place but no hammocks were available.

The feeling we are left with is a hotel well past its best and trading on return business garnered long ago.

Having spoken to other people staying elsewhere, I think the food and wine at East Winds is better than probably anywhere else. But we wouldn’t return because of the risk of noise from the seawater pump and the fact the beach is very small and the snorkelling non-existent.

We have just returned from a weeks holiday at East Winds, St Lucia.

This is a delightful place to stay. All aspects of East Winds are first class. Guests do not stay in rooms but instead are accommodated in single storey cottages set in beautiful tropical landscaped gardens or facing the sandy beach.

The cottages are well furnished with a luxury bathroom, air conditioning, ceiling fans, a large bed, a well stocked mini bar fridge, tea/coffee making machines and a TV. Each cottage also has a private outside area for sitting under some shade. The rooms were cleaned each day to a high standard.

Our cottage was beach facing and we also had a covered lounge area which was shared with the other three beach cottages. This lounge had its own coffee/tea making facilities, lounge chairs, tables, board games, a TV and an extensive library of paperback books.

East Winds is an all inclusive resort with breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. In addition all drinks including wines, beers, cocktails and premier spirits are available. At lunch and dinner there is relaxed musical entertainment. There is also a bar at the swimming pool.

The staff are all friendly, helpful and efficient. Tips are not expected at point of service but a gratuity can be made when you settle your finial bill.

Trips and activities can be arranged. Some water activities are included such as snorkelling, canoeing and sailing on the small catamarans they have on site. The beach is sandy and swimming in the warm Caribbean was a pleasure.

We opted for a number of additional trips and activities which are an extra. We went on a Sunset Cruise, a shopping trip and an all day cruise down the coast to see the Grand Pitons and Soufriere. All these trips were organised by East Winds with staff accompanying us.

The success of the holiday was in much part due to the staff of East Winds. They have a relaxed and friendly attitude but are very efficient at the same time.

I have nothing bad to say about East Winds. This is by far the best holiday hotel that we have stayed in. Whilst there, we learned from other guests that they return year after year. I can quite understand why. I recommend East Winds to anyone wishing to visit a Caribbean island.

East winds hotel is 2nd to none to any hotel I have been to in my very extensive journey around the world.
The service from every staff member is 6 star especially Titus who looked after us in the restaurant from day one at breakfast through to dinner. And Silvanus who gave us the most amazing tour of the extensive gardens and his knowledge of all the plants and their medicinal benefits is fantastic.
But all the staff are by far the best I have EVER Come across. Thank you to everyone

We hadn’t been since 2016 but this was our 7th visit to east winds and it did not disappoint. The decor had been upgraded and had more of a Caribbean vibe to it which was beautiful and the robes in the rooms were amazing.
It was lovely to see so many of the staff still there and as happy as they have always been, even nicer that some of them remembered us too.
The food standard had certainly raised its level for us and Ivana is doing an amazing job.
If I had to pick one fault it would be the lowering of the dress code for the evening meal, we always like to make an effort and dress for dinner so to have people sitting beside us in shorts and flip flops was a little disappointing but everyone to their own.
The staff clearly enjoy their work and always have a smile for everyone.
We want to tell everyone about this wonderful place but also keep it to ourselves so it never gets too busy 😁

What a beautiful Caribbean Paradise id East Winds. First time we stayed in St Lucia and East Winds did not disappoint. The resort is small but perfectly formed. The food, was really good, prepared fresh and locally sourced. All the staff was so attentive and friendly that we felt immediately at home. Miriam, Selma, Robert, Brianna a nd so many more staff that made our stay so special. Davon and Joe at the sport centre were really nice and immensely enjoyed the boat trips . We found quite a few guests who were repeat visitors and we understand why. Special thanks to Nikita and Katherine, Pilates and Yoga instructors, both very professional but also extremely good in assessing the guest needs, really enjoyed both activities . The garden are so well tended and Sylvus guided tours a must.Thank you also to the resort Manager, Natasha, who dealt extremely well with the checkout day. Thank you very much East Winds for a Wonderfull 15 days, we will be back. David & Clara

Having read Adam B’s review I can’t really add much more, he covered all elements, mentioned all relevant names and by the looks of it stayed in the same room we stayed in probably the week before us as we have only just returned. It was our second time too, the first time was in May this year which was so charmingly blissful and beautiful that after 40 years of travelling to the Caribbean and never staying in the same place twice couldn’t wait to return so immediately booked again for October being just four months later (this time though we were able to enjoy the wonderful lobsters). There are not enough superlatives to accurately describe this amazing place, it is so very special and communicates old time Caribbean vibes with modern day technologies and luxuries not to mention the beautiful food, named wines and champagne. I could enthuse all day about my new found Caribbean home but it’s all been said before so I will just finish this review with the words “l’ll be back”

Well what can I say. This was my 18 visit to the beautiful Eastwinds in 27 years which I now consider my second home. The staff are just amazing and some I have known since my first visit. Thank you for always making my visits memorable and fun. I cannot recommend this amazing destination enough. Until next time. Judy

My partner and i have just returned from our second visit to the absolutely stunning East Winds and just had to leave another review after yet again had the most amazing, relaxing time. We returned to East Winds firstly because its such a small boutique hotel, perfect location set in gorgeous botanical gardens and so relaxing and the perfect escape from from our busy lives

Being our second visit we knew what to expect from our first visit but the welcome we received from all the staff, welcoming us back really made us feel at home straight away. We were even given the same room we had on our previous visit which was a lovely surprise and again perfect. The grounds are immaculately maintained and all credit to the knowledgeable Sylvanus and his team who work tirelessly keeping everything looking so good

As with our first visit the staff are amazing. The moment you step back in the restaurant and are greeted by the smiling Miriam and Selma as well as Robert, Kirby and Septima. The food once again was amazing, always a wonderful choice for breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. A huge credit to Ivana and her team. Once again the service we received was faultless.

It was great to see the smiling Simeon again who looks after the trips/activities even though this year we decided not to take any trips and to spent the 10 days just relaxing on the beach, taking in the breathtaking views an drinking cocktails perfectly prepared once again by Sylvia.

What more can i say but a huge shout out to all the other staff not mentioned above who make East Winds such a wonderful place to be. We cannot recommend East Winds enough and will definitely be returning for our third visit to paradise

Thankyou East Winds see you again soon

We recently returned from a 11 night stay at East Winds and it was amazing, if I could give more than 5 stars I would. Everything about this resort helps to make it a truly relaxing and enjoyable holiday experience.

All the staff on site, be it restaurant, bar, water sports, housekeeping, spa or gardens, were so friendly and attentive and nothing was too much trouble. The managers were often walking around and always stopped for a chat to make sure we were happy with everything. The food was plentiful and of a very high standard and, after speaking to the head chef at the managers cocktail party, it's clear that they have a passion for delivering the best for the guests.

We stayed in a superior cottage which had a really pretty secluded outside seating area, it was nice and close to the pool and it was kept spotless by the hardworking housekeeping team. The interior was beautiful with some lovely little touches such as a pile of books and mosquito repellent along with tea and coffee making facilities and a complimentary mini bar that was re-stocked every day .

We joined in with the Yoga & Pilates which were a great start to the day and Nikita, who took the Pilates class is next level, we really wish we could have brought her home as her knowledge, skill and ability to assess us and help us get the most out of the sessions were second to none. I also had a lovely facial at the spa with Jennifer which was a real treat.

To sum it up we wanted for nothing and would highly recommend this resort. It's not a big party place but it is perfect of you're looking for an authentic, relaxing, quiet hotel set in beautiful gardens where you really can leave your troubles behind. We will definitely return and hopefully in the not too distant future.

I recently stayed at East Winds with my wife and her parents to celebrate her 30th birthday. The hotel was exceptional and I would highly recommend it.

First, the garden and grounds in the hotel are wonderful and create an authentic Caribbean experience. The beach is spacious and feels very natural and there was plenty of room to choose and relax on a comfortable sunbed. The restaurant has a lovely view of the sea and to enjoy beautiful food with the sound of the waves was very tranquil.

The food options were varied and always felt healthy and fresh. The four course meal each night did not feel stuffy or too much and the excellent waiters went above and beyond to cater for us. From sampling the home made ice cream of the day to fresh mango and beach BBQs, it was all fantastic. I looked forward to breakfast every morning, especially when the chef Germaine would cook up fresh pancakes for me. The drinks menu was extremely varied as well. I haven’t listed the wait staff in this review, because they were all absolutely amazing and friendly.

In relation to activities, the programme was interesting and made the most of the grounds but were truly brought to life by the passionate and enthusiastic staff. The head gardener, Sylvanus, was extremely knowledgable and my in-laws really enjoyed the garden tour. The Pilates classes were fantastic; Nikita provided tailored sessions to help out each member of the group and that ensured it was challenging for the variety of levels in the class but very enjoyable. The paid day trip boat tour was also a highlight. It was great value and allowed us to see and explore one side of the island and the glorious Pitons. The watersports guys were also great. Joe and Devon were always ready to take us out on a hobbycat or kit us out with a kayak and it felt very safe and efficiently run.

Our rooms, deluxe cottages, were spacious and extremely well kitted out. An extremely comfortable super king bed and interesting interiors made it a great place to chill out. The patio area was a great place to relax and watch hummingbirds thrum around as well.

Our suggestions for improvement are minor (and would only elevate an already fantastic hotel to an even more wonderful property) and are as follows. First, a more substantial gym would really elevate the hotel. Even if it’s just a treadmill and bike and some more weights in the yoga area. Also, a mosquito net above the beds in the room would provide an option to help keep bugs out. The hotel does provide sprays and candles but some extra protection would be welcome. Additionally, it would be nice to have a more elevated brand for tea bags than Twinnings, as the rest of the hotel is so sophisticated. Finally, a price list in the boutique for clarity would also be helpful.

Overall, East Winds is an elegant and peaceful hotel that creates extremely relaxing ‘good vibes’. This isn’t a ‘party’ resort but has a lovely atmosphere with fantastic live music (including a steel pan band). The friendly staff made us feel welcome from the start and they went above and beyond to make our stay special. The hotel grounds and beach are stunning and it was a fantastic place for a celebration. I would highly recommend!

Nice resort but not a good beach Service good but sporadic

East Winds

Another lovely stay. Room
30 was in top condition and housekeeping was good. The large bottles of Molton Brown toiletries very welcome. Lively white towels and large fluffy beach towels that wrapped around the body like a comfort blanket.

The resort itself had turned a vibrant pink with green and orange accents. At first I was a bit taken aback. But I got used to it quickly albeit with the help of dark glasses ;/)

All serving staff were good and shout out to Tajh who looked after us in the Cabanas come rain or shine. I enjoyed my chats with her re local life and hot peppers and spices.

The food
To be honest we did have an initial issue with this. The resort is serving a la carte food at lunchtimes with mixed results. On two occasions it was obvious the food was batch cooked and fine for people tho like to eat at 12:00 but not for those who like to eat from 1pm. After a while we had a meeting with Mary and Chef Ivana and things really improved after that. .

We felt our concerns had been listened to and acted upon.

Some of the food was standout and the quality of the meat is much better including the delicious steaks. Also good was the pork pepperpot .

Evening menu pretty good although I missed the sushi. Sometimes I would skip the main course and have three starters, sometimes I would ask for a half portion of the main.

Desserts were good and the homemade icecream amazing and well worth asking for. Cocktails were variable and very much depended on the people making them. I had some great Martinus and some mediocre ones. More consistency would have been good. The champagne was. Very good for an AI.

Shoutout to the guys in Watersports. I had a great hobiecat sail across the bay with my friends with Joe in a separate Cat acting as the safety boat and guide.

We had a cracking sail in good winds across the bay and back. I l love sailing and Joe and Devin and MacG helped build my confidence. I noticed they were interacting with guests on the beach too and encouraging people to try out the sports.

Entertainment was good and I enjoyed Dien, Tommy and Erland on the sax.

The Friday night bbq and party was fun and the guests were up and dancing. Good DJ who chose appropriate stuff for us to dance to A lot depends on the clientele of the weekend and we were lucky to have people who wanted to enjoy themselves.

I was sad that both the shak shak band and the Babbaneau Steel
Pan orchestras no longer made an appearance at lunchtimes. I understand that it is the low season however.

They were bought in in our last Saturday by a regular guest abd 6 of us were crying at their excellent rendition of “Mission Impossible”
As we faced up to the fact that we were leaving!

Mary, the new GM, was very kind, eagle eyed and interactive with the guests. She also listens to concerns and acts on them. I will be interested to see how the resort develops as she has a lot of experience managing high end hotels in Jamaica.

Finally the dressing robes were wonderful and I bought one back as a souvenir from the little gift boutique.

Would I return - probably yes if the food concerns are addressed. But it will depend on pricing too as there is more competition at that price point now. However the ambience, style and little beach is hard to beat.

Just got back from an amazing holiday at East Winds. This is without a doubt the best all inclusive holiday we have ever been on. The rooms were beautiful with everything you could possibly need. The restaurant had a breathtaking view and food to die for. With a perfect beach with comfortable loungers and parasols each with a table for the all important cocktail and an amazing view, what more could you possibly wish for. The pool had a help yourself cocktail bar with an equally spectacular view. Mary was so lovely and always around to check everything was to your liking. Her staff at East Winds are more like a family and you feel you can't wait to visit again to catch up with them all. We have never felt so pampered before and would like to thank everyone there for making it a truly special holiday for us.

A serene and peaceful resort, this is one of the most relaxing holidays we’ve ever had.
AI food is excellent. A daily changing breakfast smoothie and buffet with a la carte lunch and dinner. Refined but plentiful choice even for our fussy teenage daughter. If she wanted fries on occasion they didn’t hesitate to provide. Miriam’s accompanying wine choices were delicious.
The real stars here though are GM Mary and her team. After only a week we felt we’d made real friends and were sad to leave.
Late check out was a lovely touch. It gave us a final day to properly enjoy it with no stress and was indicative of East Winds to put their guests first.
Beach is beautiful but mind the sea urchins around the rocky areas. Snorkelling ok, but go out with Mack on a hobie for better places nearby. Boat trip with Captain Nico fab.
Our room was well quipped if fairly dark. Any niggles were addressed immediately so not worth mentioning here.
There’s plenty to do, but this isn’t the place if you like a buzzier scene.

I regret to say my Husband and I agree almost entirely with Suzanne M’s comments both the good and the bad. I should start by saying we do like the East Winds resort very much and staff and visited previously 3 times many years ago when we enjoyed fantastic a la carte dining. It was like going out for a special dinner every night. We visited again in October last year and as I don’t eat meat or fish the menu choices for me on our recent visit were woeful. Particularly lunch, dinner and barbecues. I had a meeting with the chef to discuss the lack of vegetarian food after I was forced to eat the cheese board as my main course on a couple of occasions. It’s so hot in the Caribbean yet the dinner menus were full of vegetable stews or bakes, not at all light or creative. This is something I would never choose to eat in the UK and certainly something I wouldn’t get dressed up to eat. I was forced to have second courses like risotto as my main, these didn’t always come out as a dinner size portion. The amuse bouche starter was also generally meat or fish with no vegetarian option. Lunch was also hit and miss, I ended up eating salads or side dishes. The chef was fully aware that I would eat grilled shrimp yet surprisingly these were not always available. There seemed to be no communication with the kitchen over my dietary requirements so I dreaded mealtimes. When you’re paying this much for a holiday you don’t expect to be fretting over food and in this day and age you expect the hotel to cater for vegetarians and vegans at all mealtimes.

My Husband, who does eat meat also struggled with the heavy meals.

We also agree with Suzanne M’s comments on the music as the piano music, while professional is dour and doesn’t create a lively atmosphere. Why aren’t there more reggae bands, that would seem more appropriate for the Caribbean.

I should add that our average age is 60+ and we like boutique hotels but it does need a bit more life and atmosphere.

We had planned to return this year for our Wedding Anniversary however due to our experience last year we have now booked elsewhere.

The purpose of this review is to be constructive and we would like to return in the future but not in its present form.

We had a wonderful vacation at East Winds. The staff are warm, happy to assist with anything, and after one day remember each guest’s likes and any special requests. We would highly recommend East Winds if you are looking for a quiet and restful vacation

The setting and buildings are wonderful, and the individual rooms are beautifully designed, with magnificent bathrobes (I even bought the PJ's they sell there). Also the staff are amazing.
Sadly, what lets it down is the restaurant. It felt like the chef bought a cook book in the 1980's, and hasn't changed anything since then. Food like beef burginon and lamb shank are not the sort of meals you expect on a Caribbean island, (give us more authenic food!) and the cocktail menu was woeful (didn't realise til it was too late that you could actually order your choice of modern cocktails as well). It all needs updating asap!!
At 57 we were one of the youngest guests, and it did have a retirement home vibe, made worse by the dreadful musical entertainment which reminded me of Richard Clayderman.
Could so easily been made into a wonderful experience by updating the food offering to bring it into the 21st century!

We had a wonderful week at the East Winds. Everything about this place, especially this service was top notch. The beaches are amazing. There are always enough chairs, they really get to know you as a staff. Miriam, Michel, and Nickey were awesome as well as many others. My husband did the garden tour and enjoyed it much more than either of thought (as a 52 yo man who has no garden). The food is fresh, and even though there's only one restaurant, they have a new menu everyday. I especially enjoyed the grill lunch with shrimp and fish. So perfect. Drinks are great. I hope we'll be back. thanks to all.

I’ve found my home. After 45 years of travelling to the Caribbean and never going to the same place twice I’m now happy to stop searching for that perfect special hotel. East Winds ticks 99% of all my boxes of which I have many, my compromise is the lovely beach not being long or wide enough but it’s such a small issue it’s not worth worrying about as by the end of the week I learnt to love it. This beautiful little boutique hotel epitomises the authentic Caribbean which has become rather elusive over recent years with the American fondness for polished marble, mirrors and brass, making a poor attempt of something they think the Caribbean stands for. The nearest of true Caribbean vibe you will ever come across is at East Winds with laid back luxury thrown in, fabulous food, beautiful dining areas, quality wines and Champagne, exquisite personal room touches, the friendliest staff with a passion to please, beautiful lovingly tendered gardens, clean and tidy palm fringed beach and really lovely guests that are soon your friends, it’s like a private club and I can’t wait to return.

Thank you Mary and your team, with a special mention for Sylvanus as I personally really appreciated the beautiful gardens, thank you for a beautiful holiday.