just got back from st lucia. hotel only a 3 star, and does not do all inclusive. we went knowing that we wanted to sample the local food there, and some of the food was lovely.

the hotel, our room was a classic suite - so the basic room, which we think should be a 2 star not 3 star. lovely view over the bay but we were not on the bay front as that was a different room, but it was a lilttle shabby, but hotel staff or very friendly. the cleaner did an average job.

this is not on the beach, but there is a pool, with 8 sunbeds. only a little pool. none of the sunbeds had any umbrellas to shade under, and no trees to hide under either around the pool. we were fortunate and not many people there at the time, but everyone who sat around the pool all headed for the two nearest the hedge, so you could get some shade. not idea, esp if you are sick of getting sand all over you on the beach.

the restaurant on the grounds is fantastic, well worth it and very very posh, high class dining, high class food, seems expensive but not that bad!

st lucia itself, lovely. shame we had to walk about 7 mins to the beach through rex hotel and down to the beach. you have to rent a sunbed, dont know how much Rex hotel charge, but if you speak to sunbed guy outside spinakers pub on the beach you can rent two beds and a umbrella for 30 ec dollars (about £3.50 each and a exc rate of 4 ec dollars to our £).

you do get a little harrased by hawkers both on the beach and when walking around the streets. trick is to say you have already seen them, and DONT accept anything off anybody, they will harrass you for money, and ask you where you are staying as well! they are not supposed to harrass you if you are sitting in a put or hotel grounds. occasionally they will do but didnt see it that often.

someone else on trip adviser said he saw rats and the area was smelly. he was right a littel bit. it is smelly in once palce that we noticed, because the water in the land to the side of the pavement, was stagnent, that is only one place. there are rats however, pretty much everywhere, but you dont always see them.

i found the streets were littered as well, i dont think the council look after it very well, considering they charge a fortune to stay there, being an exotic location. there was litter in the plant pots, bins not always full either.

restaurants to recommend - Spinakers on the beach - lovely great food, and beer and coctials on happy hour - what a bargain! you get two for price of one, but if two of you order a coctail each, you get two cocktails each instead of giving one cocktail to one and one to the other. works the same everywhere in St Lucia that we went to.

The buzz - recently re opened while we were there, lovely food, try the pepperpot - wonderful local traditional food, and not too pricy. Thai restuarant Ku de Ta, beautiful food.

wine seems expensive out there.

there are two supermarkets about 15 mins from Harmony suites, these are a lot cheaper than the mini market next to the hotel.

not much shopping, shopping is duty free as long as you take passport. only shopped in one place, but clothes seemed very reasonable.

you must take a visit to Pigeon island. you can do this by sea ferry that will come and pick you up if you wave it down from the side of your hotel, this doesnt run on a saturday, i belive it is 25 ec dollars each, but not sure. we took a taxi 9recommned to use the taxi's with blue or red number plate as they keep to set rates) rates are in side the lobby in rex hotel, and can also get taxi from there also) for 30 ec dollars. went into the fort and had a look around and rented a sunbed. lovely place, nice a chilled with 3 little beaches. there is also a restaurant there, and considering the captive audience, is cheaper than around the hotels, and beautful food. worth a visit just for a drink so see the chairs and tables from bit of old driftwood. try the Roti's they are divine and filling!

we did a few sigseeing, to Suffrier, - exc by catamaran, to the Rainforest, ex again, can do ziplining for the not so faint harted, or a trip in a tram way above the forest, and not that scary even if you dont like heights. they offer you a 10 min walk through the rainforest after, FOC, and that is gr8 too.

then also did day trip to Martinique - ex duty free there - cheaper than i have ever seen it before, so save your pennies and get your booze and jewellry from there. not a lot of choice for jewellry and perfume thought. a good day out, a good laugh on the wave rider high speed cat, gr8 food on board, and all drinks all in!

on our last day our taxi to the airport was not until 3.30 pm, and we had to be out of the room by 12, so we didnt know what to do. ended up goiing to the pub, but that isnt for everyone. with no shade or umbrellas by the pool side, being the hottest part of the day you are not left with a lot of choice.

we noticed that the youngster and their cars like to hang out blasting their music our of their loud cd players, they do love their music. this can be off putting, but they dont harrasss you. they dont really have much else to do from what i noticed.
well, i think i have told you all i can think off. whoever goes, have a fab time.

Forget the big impersonal sand-blown hotels on the beach - turn right from the main drag to the quiet waters of the marina and this gem of a small hotel. Worth paying for the luxury waterfront suite upgrade - large apartment opening onto the marina decking, with PADI diving and the best restaurant in Rodney Bay right next door. And if you do want the beach, it's just across the road. Can't wait to go back.

This hotel is definitely TOP VALUE, its location, price, amenities, clean rooms are great. You can't beat its location in Rodney Bay. It's 5-10 min walk into town with restaurants, stores and banking. Across the street from the beach, just utilize the adjacent hotel's lobby to make your way onto the beach. The price can't be beat for where you are located and what you get per room. There are multiple amenities on the property, if sought after. Otherwise, the hotel may seem as a come and go as you please hotel, with you pulling the reins and personally planning your vacation. Previous complaints about the hotel seem overly exaggerated such as night clubs being heard throughout the night. The sound of music can be heard if out on the patio in the middle of the night, although it is a faint rhythm blending in with the noise of nature. Complaints of the rooms being to cold seems ridiculous when an adjustable temperature control remote is at hand in the room. And complaints of the hotel activating your room's phone to make local and long distance calls seems like a bizarre complaint. Simply don't use the phone if you don't want to pay per phone use, charged by the provider not the hotel. And FYI, if you have Verizon Wireless your phone can't grab a signal to make calls on the island.

Ours was a bit of a last-minute booking and we were concerned that we had made the right choice of accommodation, but we need not have worried, Harmony Suites was all we could have wanted. Our Premium Suite was large, with all the amenities we could need, and it was kept spotlessly clean all the time we were there. Our suite overlooked the pool and the very pretty garden, which is right on the water's edge. We felt the the hotel was ideally situated - the beautiful harbour on one side and, a very short walk over the road and through the Rex Hotel on to Reduit beach. We only used the Edge restaurant once, it is lovely, in a stunning position, but we prefer the simpler, local restuarants, There was a lot of choice within strolling distance and all provided good food and, we found, friendly service. We particularly liked Red Snapper, Buzz and Chez Claude. Service can be a bit slow and nowhere is cheap, but this is the Caribbean!
One or two things could be improved - our shower cubicle needed some TLC, the pool (very small but quite adequate) would be improved by the addition of some umbrellas.
There was some noise from the local night club but the bed was so comfortable and the air-conditioning so effecient that we went off to sleep without being bothered at all.
All in all, we had a lovely holiday.