We stayed at the Anse Chastanet.

We have not stayed at Sandals Grande St Lucia but have stayed at 4 other Sandals properties (we still have our little brown sandals to prove it).

We stopped going to Sandals simply because the hotels lacked any individuality. - we could have been anywhere in the world but it still looked like the same hotel. Thats not to say we didn't enjoy the holidays but we just has enough of the same looking resorts.

The Anse Chastanet is unique, a one off and I doubt there is anywhere else in the world like it.

It has no air conditioning, it is a steep walk back to the rooms from the beach, the sand is dark volcanic sand, its difficult to get in and out of by road but...

The snorkeling straight off the beech is great, the people are some of the friendliest we have met, nothing was too much trouble for them and the experience of an open sided bedroom with spectacular views of the ocean and the Pitons.... I want to go back just thinking of it.

If you can live without air conditioning (you will not miss it in a hillside room) go to Anse Chastanet. If you are happy with the Sandals formula and cannot live without air conditioning go to the Grande (but you will be missing out on a great experience).

Good luck