Traveling with kids – especially a baby – can feel more like a chore than a vacation, but not at The Landings Resort and Spa on the beautiful and lush Caribbean island of St. Lucia.
From the minute you land, you realize just how much this island reveres families with young children, welcoming them with open arms, quite literally, which adds to the magic of traveling there. At Hewanorra International Airport’s Customs Arrivals area, the kind airport personnel pulled anyone with a stroller, including us, out of the general line and walked them right up to the window for an expedited experience.
But the real red carpet was rolled out once we arrived at The Landings Resort and Spa, one of St. Lucia’s premiere 5-star resorts.
The Landings offers only villas, each with a full kitchen, an ensuite bathroom for every bedroom and beautiful views of either the property’s private luxury yacht marina or the glistening blue waters of Rodney Bay. Guests can choose from 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-bedroom villas ranging from 950 sq.ft. to 2,300 sq.ft, so families can spread out and accommodate various sleep and nap schedules, in addition to extended guests who join for the vacation like an au pair, nanny or grandparents.
In our case, at bedtime our 3-bedroom villa comfortably allowed our 8-year-old son to stay up late reading “Diary of A Wimpy Kid” in his King Size bed in his own bedroom, while our almost 1-year-old slept peacefully next door in the crib the hotel provided between two twin beds. During the day, the baby napped in her bedroom while we watched her on the baby monitor from our private plunge pool just steps outside our villa’s sliding glass doors. After lunch at our outdoor dining table, we took the monitor a few more steps away to the Marina pool, one of 4 pools to choose from on the property.
The island of St. Lucia is located in the French West Indies and is known for the Pitons, two awe-inspiring mountainous volcanic spires. The topography of the island, which is 70 percent rainforest, is mostly hilly, which adds to the beauty of the natural landscape and breathtaking views. The sharp switchbacks make for a fun yet sometimes harrowing experience while driving around. But The Landings Resort and Spa is flat and easy to navigate with a stroller, which was another plus for families traveling with little ones. The resort is spread out enough so guests have constant privacy, but not so it takes 20 minutes to walk to dinner.
All stays include an impressive hot breakfast spread with picturesque water views at The Beach Club featuring all the American-style breakfast items one would expect – waffle and omelet stations, bacon, yogurt, a bakery selection – but also includes many of the island’s local specialties like the must-try hot bakes. An all-inclusive dining plan is available as an add-on for those desiring to enjoy all their meals on property.
The 800-foot stretch of pristine beach with calm waters at The Landings is perfect for families and swimmers of all levels, and the complimentary non-motorized water sports like kayaks and stand-up paddle boards are a convenient way to spend an afternoon. Lunch at Callaloo, the beach bar and restaurant was the perfect place to refuel and sip on a cocktail, and when we returned to our plush beach chairs, a beach ambassador was right there asking if we wanted another pina colada. Yes, please?!
Also included in each visitor’s stay is the very personalized Kids Club. Unlike larger resorts with massive facilities where I tend to worry nonstop about my child, the Landings Kids Club is a warm, boutique operation. Children ages 4-12 can attend from 9am to 5pm with an hour break for lunch, where they can enjoy plenty of outdoor activities like fishing by the bay, line dancing, a water balloon toss, and tie-dye T-shirt making. For a break from the sun, indoor events are on the schedule as well like a marshmallow eating contest, video game hour and jewelry box making. The resort provides families with a detailed schedule for the week, which my son studied for hours and coordinated with his newfound friends. For children under age 4, the resort babysitting service is available if parents want a break.
But the best part of staying at The Landings Resort and Spa is the Butler service, which is included with many villas or can be added to your reservation for an additional fee. Or should I say the best part of the stay is the 'Butler phone,' a small cell phone guests receive when they arrive, which provides Butler service on demand. Throughout our stay, our butler acted like an additional mind and set of hands to make our stay seamless. We had no need to rush through breakfast in the morning because our 8-year-old son wanted to arrive at the Kids Club at 9am on the dot so he wouldn’t miss a minute of “Twister time.” We simply called the butler phone and he/she showed up at breakfast and walked our son over while we took our time with the baby. Getting hungry by our villa pool one day, we had no need to walk over to the restaurant to order lunch. We just called the butler's phone and lunch arrived. If we wanted a reservation at a restaurant off-property, we called the butler's phone and it was done.
No trip to The Landings is complete without spending a few hours at the 7,000 square foot Soleil Spa, especially for female guests. The spa offers several customized services catering to women and the unique struggles we experience like infertility, menstrual pain, menopause, postpartum and hormonal imbalances. The Women's Health Massage, for example, for menopausal symptoms features sandalwood oil to improve libido, thyme oil to boost progesterone, followed by Ginseng Tea to prevent hot flashes and night sweats. All products used are made with locally-grown ingredients by women for women, and ipads loaded with female empowerment books are available in the relaxation area following your treatment.
The peace, relaxation and sunsets this spectacular property has to offer will have you dreaming of another trip to St. Lucia. Everyone who works at The Landings Resort and Spa seemingly loves their job. They treat guests with kindness and have perma-smiles on their faces, learning your name and the names of your children as quickly as possible, making this stunning resort a true home away from home for families looking to leave the everyday behind and enjoy the island life together in a stress-free environment.
