major hotel recap: sugar beach viceroy

We must review a consistent Major Traveler favorite – Sugar Beach Viceroy resort in St. Lucia. This is where I personally honeymooned, so it holds and extra special place on my list of favorites! Planning a wedding came with its own set of stressors and planning my ownhoneymoon came with another set of decision making paralysis. You would think that working on honeymoons day in and day out would make me a pro at my own honeymoon, however, this was not the case.

We started off thinking we wanted something epic, once in a lifetime, as far away as possible. On our short list was Bora Bora, Patagonia, Indonesia, but mostly Fiji and New Zealand. After much thought, consideration and deliberation on what we wanted our days to look like while honeymooning, we landed on a Caribbean resort. Specifically, Sugar Beach Viceroy.  

Why Sugar Beach Viceroy

We first made a priority list. This is one of the most important conversations to have as a couple! The one thing we agreed on most was activity paired with relaxation. We just wanted the option of activities should we get bored. (Spoiler alert, we never got bored and we laid on the beach all day every day). We also wanted to go somewhere that we had both never been before. Voila, we landed on St. Lucia! We were most drawn to the private villa accommodations along with the volcanic landscape and ample activities. If you’re interested in the process we walked through to plan our honeymoon, you can read the blog here! 

The Accommodations

Sugar Beach Viceroy accommodations are situated right in between the Pitons, these two huge mountains that take your breath away at every corner. Most of the villas have beautiful views of both the Pitons and the ocean. The cottages and villas sit on the hillside. Read: there is a hill to get to/from your accommodation.

If you’re traveling with a baby or small kids, it’s worth considering the beachfront bungalows. These sit right on the beach, and while they lack the privacy that the hillside accommodations feature, they are perfect for the convenience factor.

If you’re traveling with the whole family, Sugar Beach has multi-bedroom villas, each with a private pool. You’ll also find babysitting services, kids activities and baby gear available!

We stayed in a Luxury Villa, which featured a bedroom, separate sitting room, outdoor patio, and private plunge pool overlooking the pitons and the ocean. The room is outfitted in all-white-everything with a four poster bed and massive closet. The sitting room features a couch and chair with a small kitchenette equipped with snacks and drinks. Sodas, bottled water and some snacks in your minibar are included! The outdoor patio and plunge pool are nothing but dreamy. I loved spending mornings, rainy afternoons and sunsets on our patio. It holds some of my favorite memories! 

Beachfront bungalows at Sugar Beach Viceroy, St. Lucia

The Food 

If you’re new here, make sure to take my food recommendations lightly. I am not connoisseur or culinary expert. Mind you, I have standards. I am simply a picky eater at heart. My husband on the other hand, has very high standards, so I will always give you both opinions. Sugar Beach has multiple restaurants. While you can leave the resort, Sugar Beach makes it easy so that you do not have to leave the resort.

The Terrace restaurant is in the beautiful European-style main building. The breakfast here is out of this world AND it’s all included as part of your Major Traveler perks (even the mimosas are included!). Our typical breakfast consisted of eggs Benedict, huevos rancheros, or an omelette with a shared French toast or pancake spread. Breakfast is the most important, and my personal favorite, meal of the day. Sugar Beach Viceroy did not let me down! 

After truly filling our tanks on breakfast, we were rarely hungry for lunch. We typically ordered an afternoon snack to split. Make sure to save yourself some lunch appetite and go straight for the Mahi Mahi sammy. It was a trip highlight!

Most nights were spent dining at Bonté, which was a clear, casual favorite. The menu didn’t change much each night, but we changed our selections. I loved the Mahi Mahi and my husband loved the Tuna. Each night we split a side or two with our favorite being the Mac & Cheese (obviously). Saltwood is Sugar Beach’s fine dining restaurant that sits just above the Terrace Restaurant in the main building. The menu features a lineup of carefully curated fish and steak dishes. I personally loved my steak and my glass(es) of red wine served in a beautiful, skinny stemmed glass. Stephen liked the pork chop ok for the price, but like I said, the guy has high standards.

The Cane Bar is a more low key dining option with comfortable seating and a full sushi menu. The Cane Bar has a massive list of sushi rolls, so if you’re a sushi fanatic, this might just be your dream come true. You’ll also find spring rolls, salads, curry, and stir fry dishes as well. This is that perfect spot when you need something casual after one too many rum punches on the beach.  

The Amenities 

Sugar Beach Viceroy is equipped with just about every amenity you could desire. Each guest has access to a personal butler. You’ll have a phone where you can reach your butler at any point in time. They’ll arrange dinner reservations, transportation, activities and more during your stay. It really does add that special touch during a stay!

You’ll also find a large pool, tennis courts, a new gym (built in 2022), and a full water sports center.

Snorkeling and Watersports 

Sugar Beach Viceroy has snorkeling equipment to rent so you can explore the colorful reef just off the beach. We snorkeled up and down the reef to see beautiful schools of fish both big and small. A few guests told tales of sea turtles, but it wasn’t our day to spot one! Water sports are also widely available at Sugar Beach Viceroy. We opted to water ski for half an hour and had a blast! 

The Activities 

We booked St. Lucia with the excitement that there was much to do outside of the resort for when we became bored of relaxing. Side note: post-wedding, all we wanted to do was relax. The spa sits in the midst of the lush, tropical jungle landscape. They hardly play music so that you can listen to the natural sounds of the rainforest during your treatment.

The main activity that I would recommend is a day on the water. You can rent a sailboat or a catamaran, privately or shared, and spend some time cruising up and down the coast line. You’ll have the chance to spot dolphins and whales, if it’s the right season. Your captain will serve up fresh rum punch or prosecco while you bask in the sun and enjoy the scenery. When you come to Anse Beach, or a similar reef, you’ll anchor for some snorkeling time. Turtle sightings are common! The fish and other wildlife you’ll see are stunning, especially on a sunny day. I personally loved so many things about this experience – the scenery, peace and quiet, getting to know our local captains and much more. It was the perfect day! 

Ready to book your stay to St. Lucia? Reach out to your Major Travel Advisor and let’s get your trip planned! W have a special relationship with Sugar Beach and it’s a Major Traveler client favorite.

As always, your preferred Major Traveler perks apply here – daily breakfast, a $100 resort credit, upgrade if available and early check-in/late check-out if available.