Best Value Hotels in St. Lucia

This upscale Mediterranean-style hillside beach resort on St. Lucia’s northern west coast is brimming with amenities: six pools, five restaurants, three bars, tennis, tons of water sports, a spa, and more than 1,500 feet of beachfront. Rooms sometimes are available at steep discounts (around $150 a night), and even when they're not discounted, the broad variety of room types means there's an option to fit a range of budgets. It's a good pick for families, as villas have up to four bedrooms and there is both a kids club and a teen center on the property. Although the 60-acre grounds special are steep and sprawling, free 24-hour shuttles chauffeur guests wishing to forgo the arduous walks around the property.

Ti Kaye, which means "little house" in Creole, is an intimate rustic-luxe resort with 33 private cottages built into a hillsideoverlooking the Caribbean. The resort's way-off-the-beaten track location, accessed via a precariously steep and bumpy road, means it’s a hassle to leave once you check in. Yet the difficult location is also one of the reasons guests come to Ti Kaye -- they come to relax, unplug, re-connect, and lounge in quiet isolation all the while enjoying gourmet cuisine and wines from St. Lucia's largest cellar.

Coco Palm is an 83-room budget-oriented boutique hotel with style and service you'd expect at higher priced, beachfront hotels. It features a huge free-form pool, French Caribbean style decor, and the option to book with or without an all-inclusive plan. Rooms are cheerful and tropical, and some have terraces with pool access. While not on the ocean, it is a short walk to Reduit Beach and close to the amenities of Rodney Bay Village, St. Lucia's entertainment district.

With just 11 freestanding cottages on 130 acres, this eco-minded resort is intensely lush, filled with coconut groves, fruit-bearing trees, and a working cocoa plantation. Amenities are surprisingly plenty for a property with so few beds, including a small spa, a small bi-level pool, two organic restaurants, and two bars. The rustic experience won't appeal to everyone, as TV, Wi-Fi, and A/C absent in the rooms, but adventurous travelers on a budget will surely appreciate the authentic and gorgeous surroundings, and affordable rates.

Apartment Espoir is a budget inn -- basically a simple apartment complex with 11 minimal studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, each featuring its own private balcony and full kitchen. A small pool, a laundry room, and a barbecue grill are the only amenities available; however, no other property on St. Lucia even comes close to matching these low rates. And guests can walk about five minutes to get to larger nearby resorts, like Windjammer Landing, to take advantage of the amenities there. For self-sufficient, undemanding travelers with tight purse strings, nothing compares.

Opened in December 2007 as St. Lucia's first private residential yacht community, The Landings is one of the island's most luxurious boutique resorts. Upon entry, it’s obvious that the developer spared no expense in the construction of the pavilionlobby, which boasts towering ceilings, polished marble floors, and a carefully curated decor that’s understated and elegant. Most of the owners of the development’s 72 residences choose to place them in the rental program. The spacious one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas cater to families and traveling couples, offering a homey atmosphere that is quieter and more personal than nearby mega-resorts -- just don't expect a huge list of activities.

This unique luxury resort in St. Lucia is made up of 32 one- and two-bedroom villas, each carefully carved into the surrounding hillside overlooking the island’s iconic twin Pitons. The villas -- which have missing fourth walls, and in most cases, private plunge pools -- are a main draw, as are the spectacular views and lush grounds. The resort also features some fabulous amenities, such as an infinity lagoon pool, a gorgeous open-air restaurant and bar, a (tiny) open-air fitness center, and a lovely spa with black water soaking baths. All of this comes at a price, but Ladera is still significantly cheaper than the ultra-glam Jade Mountain (rates are often around half as much). Ladera is within close range of several of the island’s best tourist destinations -- notable cocoa plantations are within walking distance, the pristine white sands of Jalousie beach are a short drive away, and tourist hot spots like the volcano and Tet-Paul nature trails are both nearby.

Opened in 2009, this upscale 26-room boutique resort rests on a gently sloping hill above Bonaire Bay, providing stunning Caribbean Sea views from virtually everywhere -- whether at the stunning infinity pool, the open-air restaurant and spa, the cozy library, or on the private beach. Three very distinct room types create varying experiences for guests, though all feature elegant furnishings and private balconies. However, like many St. Lucia resorts, a secluded location means guests must rely on pricey taxis or rental cars to do anything outside of the resort.

Bay Gardens Beach Resort is one of few amenity-rich resorts in Rodney Bay, featuring a spa, fitness center, water sports pavilion, several restaurants and bars, and a lovely beachfront. It was opened in 2007, and the grounds have a fresh -- if almost fabricated –- quality, and the rooms are light years beyond those at Bay Gardens’ sister properties, Bay Gardens Inn and Bay Gardens Hotel. Of course, rates are slightly higher than at these other options, but considering the added features, it’s worth every penny.

Stonefield Estate Villa is a rustic, upscale resort with 18 plantation-style villas set on 26 acres of gorgeous rainforest. Amenities include an exceptional spa, a cliff-top pool, and an open-air restaurant and bar. The property is deliberately unplugged -- meaning villas lack TVs and telephones -- but the stunning atmosphere, and the villas themselves, are worth it for those who can go technology free for a while. The villas are quite spacious, with separate living areas, dining spaces, bedrooms, andkitchens or kitchenettes. And the bathrooms feature an outdoor/indoor shower. The best part, though, may be the private terrace connected to each villa, with a private pool -- and can't-be-beat views of Petit Piton. The only potential drawback for some may be the lack of beach access, but the hotel provides free shuttle to and from a couple of nearby beaches.