Sandals Regency La Toc

I have just returned from 10 nights in St Lucia.. the first 7 nights spent at a different (wonderful) resort on the west coast & then the last 3 nights at Sandals Regency La Toc. We were extremely disappointed with pretty much everything about the Sandals experience. We envisaged a romantic stay, however it was actually like a low grade, Butlins weekender / spring break. Positives: Modern, but fairly small room, with a nice view, in the main tower. The welcome & good bye songs are a nice touch - shame about the service in between. Bella Pizza restaurant & the Ice cream station Negatives: Service With the rare exception, most staff didn't seem to care. Some were rude & there seemed to be an overall arrogance of we don't need to try as we are Sandals. Our dinner was literally thrown at us on the first night at the Italian restaurant, after we were told to place our order for all 3 courses immediately, because we arrived at 8.50pm & was told our dessert would be left on the side for us, as they were going home at 9.30pm. – The only reason we arrived to the restaurant this late, is because we had arrived that evening and as we had not received a resort map, or info on the resort on arrival, we didn’t know that we had to get a shuttle to the Italian restaurant. We stood where we were told to stand to get the shuttle & 3 golf carts came along, dropped people off & ignored us, when we asked them if they were the shuttle… turns out these are butlers, who only speak to/ help their paid for clients. We then approached a 4x4 with sandals written on the side, to ask if they were the shuttle, they again ignored us & drove off. – a great first experience of the hotel! So we would have been at the restaurant 15 mins earlier, if we hadn’t experienced such unhelpful staff to start with. Restaurant reservations – quite frankly a joke! Literally. We arrived at 5.15pm & were told despite the lady still being at the reservation desk, we couldn’t make a reservation as they had closed. When I then tried to make a reservation, first thing the next morning, for any bookable restaurant for the remaining 2 nights, I was asked when I was leaving, when I told her, I was laughed at & told not a chance – charming service! When I checked back later each day (with a different man on the desk) to see if there had been any cancellations, I was told they would contact me if anything came up and carried on looking at their computer, without looking up, without asking for my room number. I asked how they would contact me & was told they would phone my room… they still didn’t have my name or room number. I asked if I could then leave my details & was told they have them down already & pointed to a scrap piece of paper with about 30 different scribbles of numbers on. – still without making eye contact with me & knowing who I was or what room I was in. – the booking “system” is a joke & are staffed by rude staff, who just don’t seem to care. Breakfast Long queues to get a table. Then when sat at the table, its like all staff have been trained to not make eye contact with you, so they don’t have to serve you – again a severe lack of any kind of service. I asked 3 times for tea & then had to ask another 3 times for some hot water for the tea bag they had delivered & then, the same again for milk. The food quality at breakfast especially, just felt low grade over all. Sunbed Wars Like all the other comments, the sunbed system is a joke. It rained heavily for most of 1 morning we were there & yet every lounger was taken by towels that had been allowed to be put down & not a spare bed in sight. We managed to get a bed in the so called quiet section, however it seems like the last 2 beds available. The main pool entertainment…. If you are looking for a loud afternoon, of playing name that tune, with country & western music blaring and very loud, drunk people screaming out the answers & cheering on volley ball games & racing across the pool in kayaks, whilst getting drinks from a bar that absolutely stinks, like the copious amounts of spilt cocktails, vomit & cheesy feet, then this is the place for you. If I wanted a party like this I would go to a vegas pool party, or Magaluf, its not what I was expecting from a resort marketed as being a “romantic resort” We chose to sit in the quiet section, which isn’t quiet at all, as even before the “entertainment” starts, all I could hear was the guys from the beach harassing every person that walks parallel to them (on the hotel grounds) trying to sell them day trips. They were friendly, but relentless in harassing everyone that walked passed, which is not relaxing at all. I understand the beach is public & they need to earn a living, however being allowed to harass people within the hotel grounds, from the beach all day long, is too much. Food Over all, the food was 3 star at best. Really small choice in each non bookable restaurant & the Italian & Mediterranean restaurants felt very samey. Returning Sandals clients / Butler service It feels like unless you are a returning client, or have a butler, they just don’t care. – which is ironic, as why would anyone return when they are ignored, laughed and given bad service to, however its how you are made to feel. For anyone looking for a romantic resort, with good St Lucian service – don’t consider this resort – it is far from it!

The food is great. Excellent actually. Really worth the trip just based on the many unique culinary experiences. For example, Kimono's, a Japanese restaurant, was all that you'd hoped for with not only good gastronomy but a great show while food is being prepared. It wasn't only the food that made all the dollars spent on the trip not a waste, but the quality moments I was able to spend with my partner at this couple's retreat we used as a week long escape.

Jean- Claude was amazing. Funny guy who cooked great food. He was the best part of the restaurant. Amazing food and great atmosphere.

Kimodo’s Hibachi Cheff Jean Claude is awesome. He made our dinner night experience amazing. Give the man a raise!!!!!!

Charles, Kalan and Gasper were our butlers and it was an amazing experience! Amazing service!! We stayed in the Rondoval Suite, and can’t wait to come back!!