I was a bit nervous about this destination after some of the reviews I read, especially as I was going to St Lucia to get married and bringing 14 friends and family members with me! I needn't have worried, from the beginning everything was dealt with by the hotel's wedding co-ordinator and the day was absolutely perfect. The hotel was not the height of luxury, but it was clean and the breakfast was very good. At the beginning of the stay there was a problem with the hot water and it didn't come on first thing in the morning although we were able to have at least one hot shower a day. On the 4th day it was fixed. No one else in our group had any problem. We stayed B&B only and I would totally recommend that as there are so many great restaurants nearby (on the same road). Buzz got the best reviews from our group, Spinnakers the worst although the cocktails were good. There is also a supermarket a few minutes away where you can buy snacks and bottled water if you want it. I was really worried there would be loads of bugs and spiders but I only saw one mosquito in the room in 10 days. We hardly saw any actually but its worth using repellent as the bites are so annoying! St Lucia is a beautiful place and the Rex was a great place to stay. Go soon though whilst its still relatively quiet - they appear to be building a lot of new resorts.

28th November - 16th December - same dates as the previous complaining reviewer and ohh so different. I truly believe if you treat the staff of any hotel with respect you get it back. Marylyn, Felix, Allison, Tamir and Jasmin were simply fabulous and couldn't have made my wedding and honeymoon period with my 13 family and guests better if they had tried.

So the pool shuts at 6pm - its dark at 6 so no wonder. Whoever wants to walk a mile to the sea on the beach should go to the maldives. St Lucia is a volcanic island - it doesnt take Einstein to work out beached are narrow but perhaps it does for some. The beach was wonderful and not only did we have the gentle waves but on occassion we also had some real stromy waves - ideal for body surfing.

Yes the hotel needs some work but a lick of paint, some cement for the cracks and its almost there - the showers do need some work but that was our only gripe.

We also had members of our party turned away from dinner for wearing cut off trousers and they changed - again its in the brochure that you need to be covered but you can still be casual and cool. To be honest the ones that complained - remember I was there at the same time - I'm glad they were made to cover up. I'd rather enjoy my food than having to look at varied overweight bodies in states of undress!!

The food was buffet style - it does telly you that in the brochure (perhaps the aformentioned non-einstein cant read?) although if all inclusive you also get the additional menu for hot stuff from the grill - ask for Felix to do his specialities for you! It was good, hot fayre and we certainky didn't want for anything.

Overall its our second time there and it was ideal to take our families to for a wedding and honeymoon. If you want 5* then pay 5* prices and go elsewhere - The Rex is a nice, friendly 3*-4* but its what you make of your time there that can make it special.

HOT TIP - if you really want to moan about a place got to Club St Lucia by Splash. We went the year before and got ourselves moved to the Rex it was so awful.

We have just returned from 10 days in St Lucia over the Christmas period. Prior to our visit we read all the reviews and must admit we did embark on our holiday with a certain amount of trepidation. OK! so the hotel is not perfect and it does need a lick of paint, but we found the accomodation adequate. The food was very good - although at times repetative. The staff were always polite (I would like to thank Marilyn, Nichola and especially Yasmin who took all the teenagers under his wing and kept everybody entertained with his ad lib jests) It is not a five star hotel and yes there are better on the island but what do people expect for their money? I have travelled all over the world and stayed in some of the finest accomodation and I would not dismiss this hotel. It is great for families and offers various entertainment to appeal to all ages.

Okay so my review is a little old. We stayed there for our Honeymoon in 1991. Our Honeymoon was ruined because of this stay. No exaggeration.
We arrived at the hotel having already paid for 2 nights with the option of staying another 5 at the same rate. The rooms were okay but had no face cloths and wouldn't bring you any. We weren't part of the all-inclusive package so we had to order our food from the restaurants.
The service was extremely slow and the staff actually rolled their eyes and huffed if we asked for salt and pepper. The beach had lots of shells and rocks and not very nice to swim in. Be careful of hidden charges. We used some of the water gear and returned it, but if you don't immediately show them the tag when you check out they will automatically charge you! They don't ask for the tag so make sure you show it. When we went to check out they charged us an extra $20 US per night for the 5 nights. When we argued about it they just told us that was the rate and too bad. We tried to find the receptionist that told us we could stay for the same rate when we arrived but of course she wasn't there and no one knew who we were talking about. Then they stated that they hadn't received payment for the first two nights we had already paid for and turned around and charged us for that too.
There's nothing you can do, they have your credit card and you have a plane to catch. All in all I will never go back to St. Lucia never mind this hotel. STAY AWAY!!! I have been to Barbados, Cancun, Playa Carmen, Akumal and Cuba. They all were fabulous.

We stayed at the resort from 11-30-03 to 12-07-03. The resort to me was between 2 and 3 stars, who thought they were a 5 star facility and resturaunt. It seems absurd to me that on a tropical beach you need slacks to eat supper. If you didn't have them you weren't permitted in the resturaunt and there was no other eating option. The food was marginal at best. It seems that the only thing they new how to cook was chicken, fish and pork. They serve it twice a day. They're selection of salads and deserts were just as small. I've been to numerous resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico that was all inclusive which had a considerably better buffet. They had a few good servers, but most had atttitude problems. As far as the hotel and grounds, as I said they were barely 3 stars. The pool had a large crack in the tiles on one side. It also closed at 6pm, in a tropical climate again rediculous. The jacuzzi had cold water in it. Numerous ceement planter about 3 foot high were cracked all the way down like they just went through an earthquake and the place wasn't kept up very well. The reception staff was of no help. I asked for a fax sheet, they said that there wasn't one behind the desk and wouldn't do anything to find one. There was hardly any beach. You could get 1 beach chair on it before you were in the water. You also had to pay for umbrellas and chairs. In closing, if you're going to spend your hard earned money on a vacation, go to a different Caribbean island or Mexico. Also, if nobody told you the resort is about 1 1/2 hours from the airport accross horrible roads.

To say I'm baffled by some of the reviews written here is an understatement. I stayed in the Rex St Lucian for 9 nights from 7th November 2003 with my partner. We had a standard room and went room only tariff, and I would thoroughly recommend the hotel to anyone intending to go to St Lucia.

The hotel staff were really friendly and welcoming. Every person from the hotel manager to the maintenance staff greeted you with a broad smile and warm welcome, and I have no reservation in saying that the hotel was the friendliest I have ever stayed in - in fact you wouldn't get a hospitable welcome vaguely close to the Rex's in a top London hotel. Secondly, the hotel is immaculate. You could eat your breakfast off the floor tiles. Ok, the rooms aren't brilliant, the bath enamel was faded and we didn't always get clean towels (although we did upon request), but we paid df £575 for a nine night holiday. If you're paying mega bucks then you'll be disappointed. The Rex is not Caribbean luxury. It is a clean, functional hotel on one of the best strips of beach in the Caribbean - I think a lot of people pay far too much through extortionate travel agents, go all inclusive and find they haven't had value for money. Don't go All Inclusive. The menu is adequate but repetitive - but more importantly you'd be missing out on all the great restaurants nearby - Spinnakers, excellent; Cafe Claude, excellent, Castaway - steer well clear, very unfriendly service. The entertainment in the hotel is very good as well. Steel drum bands etc

As for the staff being rude - you only have to stand behind the reception desk listening to travellers from the 'louder' nations to see exactly why they put their back up and switch off.

All in all I'd highly recommend the hotel. It was excellent value for money (subsidised water sports) and in a great location - just set your expectations at the right level and don't pay too much.

One final thing, one night in a roadside restaurant we witnessed a middle aged woman be pushed over and mugged in the road. The attacker disappeared into the undergrowth before you could blink, leaving her husband helplessly chasing after her, laden with heavy bags. I would advise that you don't take anything expensive out at night, and use a hidden money belt if possible. This isn't characteristic of St Lucia by any means, but its worth being cautious.

Time of stay was from 10-09-2003 to 10-20-2003.RESORT: From the time we arrived to nearly the time we left, almost everything was a struggle.
We were confirmed for a superior room and they told us we would be put in a standard room until the next day (even though the resort was nearly empty). When friends of ours arrived, they tried to pull a fast one on them. We finally wound up in a "superior room" which, believe me, is anything but. We had to beg for enough towels, a remote control for the TV, working air conditioning, pillows, etc. We've never had to do this ever and we have travelled to many areas of the world. It became a joke amongst all of our friends that a firstborn child basically had to be promised before you would receive any service.
Bathroom was filthy and room was run down. View and ocean were just beautiful. I must say the food was excellent!! Wonderful variety and deliciously prepared. Meat and potatoes are definitely their specialty.
Service was horrible!! With the exception of a couple of servers (Alison, Tamar, and Yasmin are the tops!), everyone else was average to below average. We even had one server throw our food on the table. The Oriental Restaurant is fantastic!! Wonderful food and atmosphere - that was our best night! Pool closed early (6 pm) which is a ridiculous time for a pool to close at a resort. But the main pool was very clean. The jacuzzi had ice cold water! Complaining to the front desk solved absolutely nothing. I've never been treated so rudely in all my life at a reception desk and, believe me, my husband and I were as nice as we could be. We had an all-inclusive package (tax and gratuities included) and they still tried to charge us 18% on top of that. We had to threaten in order for them to stick to the original agreement - showing them one of their brochures. All-inclusive is a joke. They charge for nearly everything! You even had to pay extra for beach umbrellas. Some beach people will often try and sell you things you don't want or need so be prepared to be disturbed from a relaxing nap on the beach. The locals in town are really very nice and very friendly. Use Taxis to go out and about instead of renting a car. Most taxi services are good and reliable. We took a bus tour to Soufrier - a little long but we ended the day nicely on a catamaran back to the resort. The beach is absolutely fabulous. That was the best part of the trip!! Clean and beautiful!!!! I hate to sound negative, but the whole resort experience really put a damper on our entire vacation. If they offered me a free week there, I would turn in down!! Be smart - stay anywhere else! The St. Lucian Royal is a good alternative.

I have been to St Lucia Many times, However as we stay in a guest house, it was lovely to be able to wander in to THE REX HOTEL, i FOUND THIS HOTEL REALLY LOVELY AND IT REMINDED ME OF ONE OF THE TOP HOTELS IN LONDON. The entertainment each night in the bar was great, the bands were really good and I feel this hotel attracted more couples and older people as opposed to famalies. The food in the resturants was great, we ate in the main resturant most nights, it was open air and it was lovely to hear the waves on the beach. This hotel has a lovely , large swimming pool and the grounds are so beautiful. Having stayed at Club St Lucia and having visited some of the other all inclusive hotel, If you are looking for a meal plan hotel or room only then I would strongly advise you to stay here. It is also very clean and the staff are so friendly.

Time of stay was from 10-09-2003 to 10-21-2003.

RESORT: On the positive side, they had my room ready for occupation.
The air conditioning worked and the room was clean. The gounds are well maintained and were beautiful. Room size is adequate for 1-2 vacationers. Some reviews I read, said the food was terrible. I was pleased with most of the food (all inclusive package) with the exceptions listed in the negative comments below. They typically have fish, chicken and another dish of either beef or pork, with a variety of fruits, salads and delightful deserts. Pools where clean. There are a variety of activities at, near or by scheduled transportation that allow for most entertainment needs such as jet skiing, sailing, boat rides, snorkeling, S C U B A diving, paddle boats and shopping etc.
Restaurants are open so you get nice breezes from the sea. Beware of the "pirates" that abound (birds) that will gladly come over and begin to eat or drink from your plate or drinking glass when left unguarded.
Another potential present (gift) could be bird droppings onto you or your food. My friend had that almost happen to her food when a doo doo plopped next to her plate. hahahahaha. Funny to hear about, but could really happen. I personally like the open restaurant atmosphere. They do have a small exercise room that is open from 5AM til 9PM. Hot water available.

Negative: My room did not have a TV. I did obtain one later that night.
Refrigerators I believe are not typically provided and from comments of other visitors many did not work and one person who needed one for medication did not receive one- he needed to use ice to keep his meds cool. My shower activator knob was stripped and pulled off, but I could still use it by pulling the shaft. Water was hot- in fact scorching hot! Need to be careful when taking a shower or washing hands. Pools would be closed at 6PM. They would even "kick" people out of the pool area. I thought this was totally rediculous closing so early, but that is when they choose to add chemicals. People are hot and cannot enjoy evenings cooling off in the pools. Jacuzzis where not heated, only sunshine heated with pumps for agitaion. If you are sore or need thermal therapy- forget it! Complaining to the front desk solved nothing. Food was good except for breakfast- the scrambled eggs were too runny from too much milk and the pancakes seemed like a cheap box mix. Nightly entertainment was limited to certain days. Hawaii was much better in this regards. All inclusive package was lacking in that it is not entirely all inclusive. Motorized water sports equipment were at additional charges as well as when one would take snorkeling equipment out on a PAID trip nearby. Their claim is that if it is not used at the hotels beachfront they charge for it's use. So it truely was not all inclusive in some regards- beware. You even had to pay extra for beach umbrellas. Some beach people will often try and sell you things you don't want or need so be ready for some hassels.

TAXIS: Taxis are readily available for use. I recommend them over renting a car since roads are not well marked. They drive on the oppisite side of the street than here in America. They also have some narrow and winding roads to content with where some drivers do not use common sense, which can make for an interesting ride experience when you see a car coming right at you almot hitting you or the vehicle they are passing. It takes about 1.5 hours to drive from the airport on the south end of the island to the north and costed me US $65.00

CURRENCY: I found that the locals prefer American currency over the EC.
Exchange rates where US $1.00 to EC $2.65 This might seem like a bargain to Americans, but they do compensate for the difference so you typically do not save paying in American currency. If you use Travlers checks they will give you the currency in EC and typically charge a very small service fee for the transaction.

ACTIVITIES: I recommend snorkeling around Pigeon Island at a small beach front or at the snorkeling area by the La Sport Hotel. The drive through volcano was a disappointment in that I expected to go through a lava tube, but all you really did was drive atop a sulphere spring. The botanical gardens was nice, and is like Kauai Hawaii in that it is lush and green, but lacks abundant flowers and varied landscapes like the big island of Hawaii. The beach is the best I have been on. Very sandy, long and even extends into deeper depths so you do not have to worry about stones or muck. I recommend a drive along the coast and through the center of the island if time permits- pretty rainforest and views.
The markets near the port where cruise ships dock can have some nice bargains. Don't accept the asking price. They will often bargain. Some sellers approch you on the streets. Don't let them put anything in your hand or you will be in for hard pressed sales- especially those by the criuse ship ports. They will NOT easily take it back if you hold something they hand to you. Then two or three wil "gang" up on you and try to intimidate or pressure you into buying something. The St. Lucian people are friendly, but it might be an experience that makes you feel uncomfortable and buy something you don't want or need.

AIR TRAVEL: I was very impressed with Air Jamacia. Flights were on time and they even had meals included. On the longer flight, even the movie was included!

i spent 10 days at the rex st.lucian last april and i would say it was one of the best holidays i had ever been on. the hotel is situated on one of the best beaches on the island. very clear water and golden sand. there are loads of water sports to choose from. the rooms were basic but very comfy and we had no problem with hot water or other comforts. whats the point in coming to a beautiful island and staying in anyway?if you want a superior room then check into the hilton. the rex st lucian is not the place for you if 24 hour room service and silk sheets make you happy!the breakfast buffet was great, with loads of choice between cereal,cooked breakfast pancakes and tons of fresh fruit. the staff were very helpful and overall i thought it was a lovely place ot stay. the jump up is a must on fri nights and if you re brave enough, like we were, go mix with the locals at the night clubs!excursions to the pitons, reefs and rainforest make it extra special.