I got home from my St. Lucia vacation last week, and am happy to say my stay at Stonefield Resort was so wonderful, it was probably my most favorite place I’ve ever vacationed at. The resort was very clean, quiet, and we loved the privacy and incredible view from our villa (Manincheel). A reviewer below gave a thorough review that really helped me, so I wanted to do the same:

Staff: The friendliness and hospitality of the staff at Stonefield resort (and really, throughout the entire island) was one of the aspects of my vacation that impressed me the most. The front desk was so helpful; they were always available to help when we needed it, set up reservations and transportation for us, even confirmed an excursion for me which I had booked on my own before I left. Whatever I had heard about “island time” just did not apply at all when it came to service at Stonefield Resort. We felt safe and genuinely welcome, and never felt like they were trying to upsell or get more money from us. It seemed as if the staff truly took pride in their resort, as well as the island of St. Lucia, and that attitude made our trip that much more enjoyable.

Bugs: Bring bug-spray and be vigilant about remembering to put it on, especially if you are outside during dusk or dawn. If you are bug bite prone like me, shower quickly in those outdoor showers – get in and out. I got plenty of bites, but promise that the views, villas, staff, and beauty of the island were absolutely worth it. Also, my husband (who isn’t bug bite prone) got only 2 bites. Not bad at all.

Sugar Beach (the beach the shuttle takes you to): We really enjoyed this beach and spent a lot of time there. The sand isn’t pristine white in St. Lucia, nor is the water bright aqua, but with the mountains in the background, the setting is beautiful. What we really loved about Sugar Beach is the amazing coral reef that was so close to the shore (right side of the beach if you are facing the water) We saw tons of colorful fish, a barracuda, squid, puffer fish, and plenty of pretty coral. You can rent snorkel gear on the beach, but we brought our own – snorkel masks are only $20 on amazon. Later in the trip we did a snorkeling excursion to another location (I think Anse Chochon?) but ended up enjoying the Sugar Beach snorkeling most of all. The left side of the beach (if you are facing the water) is good for swimming, a little pebbly, but soft enough that you can get into the water safely. Another heads up, there are locals at the beach who will offer you boat rides and excursions; if you say no, they are very polite and don’t try to push you. There is also a guy named Blaze who kayaks in each morning with fruit, rum, and a blender. I had one of his drinks and it was tasty and refreshing, also didn’t make me sick or anything if that is a concern 😊.

Malgretoute Beach (walkable distance from Stonefield Resort): This beach sort of grossed me out, it was very rocky and there were cows ties up to some of the trees by the beach, plus horses in the water (watch where you step). We basically walked there and walked right back up, there was no way we were going to swim in that water.

Safety: Stonefield has an entire security team and gated entry. I never once felt unsafe but appreciated that the staff had the security team in place for our protection.

Soufriere: After reading countless of comments and reviews about aggressive panhandlers, we decided not to bother going into town. We did drive through it on our way to another resort, though, and it was very crowded and I understand how it could make a foreigner feel unsafe. Not personally my cup of tea.

Pitons: These amazing mountains are what first attracted me to St. Lucia. To see them in person, it was breathtaking! Like all other things, photos can capture them, but never can compare to seeing them in person. Take in every moment the best you can! I recommend the Tet Paul nature trail – its an easy hike with incredible views. We met a couple who hiked Gros Pitons, said it was exhausting and very challenging, only made it halfway up, and said the views on the Tet Paul hike were better anyway.

Airport Taxi/shuttle: We used Marc’s taxi service to and from the airport based upon many excellent reviews. Our driver, Leroy, was very friendly, pointed out places of interest, and told us a little bit about St. Lucia during the drive. Best of all, he let us stop at the grocery store on our way up, which is crucial if you aren’t doing the all-inclusive option at Stonefield. His prices were lower resort’s airport shuttle.

Breakfast: Breakfast at Mango Tree was a wonderful daily amenity. The food was great, and the server (I rudely forget her name – it began with an A) was so warm and hospitable; we loved being greeted by her each morning.

Dinner: Expect to pay at least $100/night for dinner, because all the restaurants in the area are high-end price point. Dinner at Mango Tree was good enough, didn’t really blow us away, but at least it was slightly lower than other restaurants (prices were $30-$40/plate). When planning where to eat, I’d suggest checking out the taxi prices listed in the book that is in your room beforehand. One night we had an excellent dinner at Bamboo Tree, but didn’t realize when we made the reservation that the shuttle would cost us $46 round trip. Yikes! It was only a 15 minute drive. My favorite restaurant by far was Hotel Chocolate, which we loved so much, we had dinner there two nights in a row (try the scallops and the tuna if you go!)

We also stayed at Sandals which is the place to go if you want a party seen and slightly better access to activities. You will pay much more at Sandals and get a much smaller less secluded room. The resort is large and the Villa's are separated enough where you feel like you are the only one there. We had a very small wedding on the beach and it was absolutely perfect. Valna took care of every detail for the wedding and all the excursions we did for the whole week. We ate in the restaurant almost every day for Breakfast and Dinner. The food was also excellent though a little expensive if you are not on a plan that includes meals. We had the half-board plan and just ate a snack or leftovers for lunch.
The Villa was so private you didn't even need clothes when deciding to take a swim. We will be back for an anniversary in a few years.