Sandals Regency La Toc: An Incredible Ocean View Butler Suite
by cjg1
My wife and I stayed at Sandals La Toc during our trip October 2011 for my wife’s Birthday. This was our first time trying the Sandals brand; we have always stayed at their family resorts Beaches in the past. We had wanted an all-inclusive resort and thought that an adult only atmosphere is something to try since we are not people who like screaming kids. I decided that I wanted to try the whole “Butler” experience and it was a special occasion; so I booked us a two level oceanfront Butler suite.
When we arrived at SLU we were met by a Sandals representative who checked our names off his list and took our baggage. We were travelling with friends so we waited about five minutes for them to catch up to us before we were off to the resort. The drive to the resort took us through the town of Castries and past the harbor; which made for a nice little tour.
A short ten minute drive and we were pulling into the resort’s main house. We exited the van and were greeted by another Sandals staff member with cold towels; nice touch and much needed for my face. Our names were checked off and our friends were ushered into the main lobby for check in. Since we were Butler Suite guests we were then driven to the Butler’s lounge high in the bluffs of the resort. Butler & Concierge level guests get a different check in from the regular room guests.
We arrived at the butler lounge which is a large house structure. Inside is a grand looking living room with couches, chairs tables, TV and reception desk. Our luggage was handled for us and we were seated at one of the couches. One of the butlers offered us a drink and we gladly ordered some Rum Punch. Wow, they were so good that we each had three each before we left the lounge. There were freshly baked and still warm peanut butter cookies on the table that were amazing (I was starving and this hit the spot). Check in was a breeze and we were given a Nokia cell phone in order to reach or be reached by our Butlers. One of our Butlers; Donovan (Garvey was our other butler) arrived and greeted us. He loaded our luggage and us into a golf cart and whisked us away to our suite. Our suite (Room 45) was an Ocean View two- level located in the center of the property in a series of blue colored houses.
We walked up a flight of stairs and onto our porch. There were two large lounge chairs a table for two and huge sliding glass doors. We walked though the door into the first floor which was the living area. Here was a coach and two chairs, Flat screen TV, stocked bar and fridge, table and two chairs. Up the staircase was our bedroom with four poster bed, dresser, chair, large walk in closet (room safe in the closet) and the bathroom. The bathroom had a separate sink area from the toilet/bathtub/shower. The bathtub was quite large; I was surprised at the size.
We loved this suite. The layout was perfect for our needs and it was located centrally in the resort. It was a quiet section of the property being away from the two popular pools; which provided a nice sleep at night and in the morning when we slept in. The room was very clean and our housekeeper Fedora was meticulous. Just a tip: If you want quieter book the bluffs or the two level suites. If you want to be in the center of the entertainment and music go for the main house.
Our Butler Donovan made sure that we had everything we wanted stocked in the bar and the fridge. The bar had whiskey, rum, vodka, gin, red wine, white wine, champagne and the appropriate mixers, juices and sodas. They even went out of there way to provide me with the Whiskey of my preference; Johnnie Walker. Our fridge was stocked with extra of water, Piton Lager, Sprite and Guava Pineapple Juice (my wife loves this stuff) per our request.
There are many perks to having a butler. They cater to your every request from: unpacking your luggage, pressing your clothes, making your dinner reservations, arranging tours and spa treatments, room service orders, securing pool chairs/beach chairs and supplies a coolers of drinks to the pool/beach. The reservations were great; and much needed at this resort. Our butler went out of his way to make arrangements for our friends as well; even though he wasn’t require doing so. We always had perfect seats reserved at the pool of our choice with plenty of shade, an umbrella and towel animals.
Every day we arrived back at the room to a new towel animal on the bed along with flowers, snacks in the living room and a bottle of champagne. On my wife’s Birthday, Donovan brought us breakfast on the terrace and sang her Happy Birthday. Later that day we came back to Happy 36th Birthday spelled out in flowers and leaves on the bed with a towel animal. After we had her Birthday dinner we returned to the suite to fine chocolate dipped strawberries on a plate with Happy Birthday written in chocolate on the bed along with two champagne flutes and a bucket with chilled champagne…Incredible! Butler service is definitely worth it in my opinion.
As for the resort itself; it is very well kept and a beautiful property. The beach is very nice but the water can be a little rough in the mornings. The pools are very nice especially the Sunset Pool in the bluffs with the incredible views. We loved hanging out at the Main Pool; enjoying the music and activities. When we wanted a more quiet time we went to the Piton pool or the Sunset Pool where there are no activities other than lounging, swimming and drinking at the pool bar.
The food is okay as a whole. Some places were incredible: Armando’s, La Toc, Piton and Cricketer’s; the rest was okay to blah. Dress code for most restaurants are resort casual. You must have closed shoes if you are male for most of the restaurants so don’t wear flips. Staff for the most part are happy and friendly except for a rude bartender at the Sunset Pool Bar (who threw a straw at me and seemed annoyed she had to mix drinks). The Spa is incredible and we loved our couples massage. The Resort shops are a little pricey but you’re a captive audience.
For an all-inclusive resort; I think it is quite good but I still think it’s a tad overpriced (even with unlimited food, alcohol and water sports).