La Brellotte Bay, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
Private cottages with outdoor terraces overlooking the grounds
Gold-sand beach with snorkeling right off the shore
Self-service swim-up pool bar
Vegetables are organically grown and the fish is delivered daily by local fisherman
Water sports equipment such as snorkels and kayaks covered by all-inclusive rates
All meals, included four-course dinner and Friday lobster grill, included
Lushly landscaped garden setting with self-guided tour of local plants and trees
Mini-fridges stocked with Piton beer and cold beverages
Free Wi-Fi
No spa or gym
Some of the cottages are very dark
Bathrooms are not air-conditioned
Barking dogs from neighboring residences are annoying
The beach is not private and can be noisy on weekends
No beverage service at the pool
Fitness trail was overgrown with grass
Land crabs are prevalent all over the property, but impossible to catch
Kids under three not allowed; kids three to 12 only allowed during certain times (pro for some)
Not all rooms have TVs (pro for some)
East Winds Inn doesn't try to compete with the mega all-inclusive resorts on St. Lucia. Instead, the intimate, 30-room, upper-middle-range all-inclusive caters to guests who want to relax in a quiet location without constant attention. It lacks amenities such as a gym and spa but offers a laid-back vibe among lushly landscaped gardens. Guests hide out in air-conditioned, cottage-style rooms, snorkel the reefs from the lovely gold-sand beach, and lounge at the pool, where they can also mix their their own cocktails at the swim-up bar.
Scene
Intimate boutique-style all-inclusive with a laid-back, cuisine-driven vibe
As one of St. Lucia's most established properties, East Winds Inn exhibits an old-fashioned vibe, and that's part of its charm. Guests, mostly couples and honeymooners, come to relax and be left alone. Dining, wandering the self-guided botanical gardens, and lounging poolside with a self-prepared cocktail and a book are popular pursuits. The property doesn't have a gym, spa, or busy agenda of activities. Instead, the focus lies in carefully prepared meals that include organic vegetables and a daily catch delivered by local fisherman. A busy crew keeps the lush grounds neatly coiffed and ripe with blooming flowers while sprawling local trees form a cooling canopy. Cocktail hour at the smart, colonial Caribbean-style Sunset Bar is a precursor to the evening. Guests dress for pre-dinner cocktails in the Bamboo Lounge before settling in to a table in the low-slung Flamboyant Restaurant for a four-course dinner in earshot of the waves washing ashore.
Location
On 12 acres of lushly landscaped grounds along the shoreline of La Brelotte Bay, on the northeast side of St. Lucia.
East Winds sits on the southern shore of La Brelotte Bay, a sheltered nook of shoreline along the northeast side of St. Lucia. At the northernmost end of the bay is the massive Windjammer Resort, and its distinct white villas set in the hills can be seen from East Winds. Follow the rough paved road from the entry to East Winds to meet Gros Islet Highway. Turn left, and it's about a eight-minute drive to the shops, restaurants, and bars of Rodney Bay Village. Turn right and it's 10 to 15 minutes to the bustling capital of Castries and the George F. L. Charles Airport. Hewanorra International Airport, which handles most major carriers, is about a 90-minute drive.
Rooms
Gingerbread cottage style mixed with colorful Caribbean nuances and stocked minibars.
East Winds' 30 rooms consist of 13 individual duplex cottages (Deluxe and Superior Rooms) painted a soft lime-green with bright white gingerbread trim; three Ocean View Rooms; and a Mini Suite.
Deluxe Rooms are arranged in pairs within standalone cottages and scattered throughout the property's gardens. They feature front-facing terraces with open-air bars, each equipped with a sink, coffeemaker, and mini-fridge stocked with local Piton beer and assorted beverages. The Superior Rooms, set closer to the restaurant and yoga pavilion, are rondavels -- hexagonal shaped accommodations with shared patios and similar amenities. Three, smaller, Ocean View Rooms as well as a Mini Suite with a separate sitting room and private deck are located close to the beach. Not all rooms have televisions.
The rooms are finished in traditional Caribbean colonial style with dark mahogany or white-washed furniture, red terra-cotta tile floors, shuttered windows, and vaulted ceilings with ceiling fans. East Winds adds colorful nuances such as throw pillows emblazoned with butterflies, vases arranged with ginger and bird-of-paradise, and framed prints of local birds and flowers. King-sized and twin beds are finished with white Italian linens and plenty of pillows. Some of the bathrooms (not air-conditioned) feature double vanities and oversized sunken showers with exposed stone walls and open windows, which almost creates an illusion of showering outdoors.
Features
A laid-back, cuisine-focused all-inclusive resort with lush botanical gardens, a beachfront location, and a pool with a self-serve swim-up bar
Fitness buffs, health nuts, and those who can't sit still may have a difficult time adjusting to the pace of East Winds Inn. The all-inclusive resort can't compete with the mega all-inclusive resorts found on the island, and it doesn't try. East Winds doesn't have a fancy spa or modern gym. Wander around the property and you'll discover an open-air fitness pavilion with an old stationary bike, an empty yoga pavilion, and a fitness path overgrown with grass. East Winds is about relaxing, reflecting, and dining. Guests find their rhythm, relaxing poolside, snorkeling the reef off the beach, and enjoying cocktails at the beautiful sunset bar. The cuisine features locally sourced and organic ingredients prepared for a barrage of meals including breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and a four-course dinner.
All-Inclusive / Food
Four food presentations daily and a curated selection of wines with dinner
The all-inclusive rates include: