We had a lovely week's stay in the Coco Palm in January this year. Just before we went, I read the up-to-date reviews and was slightly concerned about a few reports but needn't have worried! It is true though, that this and most of the other hotels are on the north-east of the island - a 90 minute mini-bus ride from the International airport - a great way to see some of the island but the roads are a bit winding, and some of the driving leaves a bit to be desired!

WEATHER: We knew that St Lucia is one of the rainiest Caribbean islands, but that January to March is the recommended time to go. It did still rain every day but anything from just a 3 minute shower one day, to a day with showers on-and-off all day. In the main it was 28 - 30 degrees C, sunny with blue skies and a mixture of cloud - bliss compared with Britain in January!

HOTEL IN GENERAL: Lovely, only about 3 years old, with lots of really nice friendly staff. All areas clean and welcoming. Well kept gardens (watch for the humming birds!) around the pool area. Nice bar with happy hour between 5 and 6pm. Large pool (pool towels supplied) with plenty of loungers round it - we didn't have any problem getting a couple any afternoon. There is also a big shallow "shelf" within the pool, which was handy to sit and cool off or for parents playing with toddlers in the water. They have live bands playing some really good music in the evenings, but this finishes at 10pm (11 on a Sat), so no real threat to your sleep - you can sometimes hear the noise from the bars down on the main road though!

ROOM: Somehow or other, we were upgraded from a room to a suite! There are just 88 rooms in the hotel, with 12 suites on the top floor. Ours had a large bedroom with king-size bed, TV, DVD player and fridge, reception area with sofa and chairs, Tea / Coffee making facilities, and then two bathrooms with full facilities! (Don't bother taking your hairdryer from home like I did - the hotel's one is very adequate!) All was very clean, and we had no problems with mildew as previously reported.

HOTEL RESTAURANT FOOD: We had breakfast at Ti Banane every day bar one, mostly just enjoying the freshly cut melon, pineapple, banana bread & coconut bread - although a couple of days we ordered something hot from the menu & all was lovely. We also ate dinner here on two occasions, which was convenient and very nice, but I would recommend you book B&B only as there are a number of restaurants within walking distance to try.

OTHER RESTAURANTS: If you walk down the path and steps between the bar and the "bandstand", you come to the "main road" through the resort of Rodney Bay, and hence to a number of restaurants / bars to the right or left. We tried a number - anything from Domino's Pizza (£20 for 2) at one end of the scale to The Edge (£100 for 2 - lovely setting, gorgeous food) at the other! We also tried Ku De Ta, Cafe Claude and Red Snapper - all were fine - no "dodgey" stomachs experienced. Service ranged from good to excellent - none of the surly stuff previously reported!

ISLAND TOUR: We had a lovely tour (organised through Virgin) with Albert. We visited a couple of very poor fishing villages (buy some banana ketchup from the locals! - what's a couple of dollars to help their local economy?) We were also taken to a Banana plantation, the Volcano with the Sulphur springs, the Botanical gardens (give the bath a miss!), Marigot Bay, and had lunch overlooking the Pitons - very picturesque. Loads of views to die for, and heaps of photo opportunities.

THE SURROUNDING AREA: Every morning we went for a walk - sometimes along the beach (turn left along the main road, and you can access it by a few ways - 1. down the path to the left of the Rex resorts (not exactly beautiful - but we didn't encounter anybody hanging about or have any problem, as per some reports) or 2. through the actual Rex reception itself, or 3. walk past the Rex resorts and then through the car park beside Spinnakers bar (nice for an end of day cocktail!) We were never hassled and never felt any threat to our security anywhere. We came across one beggar the whole time we were there - but that happens at home too! If you turn right along the main road, follow it round maybe 200 yds and you come to a big supermarket (Super J's) on the left - great for stocking up on water etc. If you then continue round the bay, walking along the road-side, you come to the marina after about 40 minutes - Cafe Ole is popular and nice for a cool drink or snack. You can also walk further or catch a local bus to take you to Pigeon Point for a day's sun-bathing / snorkelling.

ALL IN ALL: Probably a 3.5 to 4* Hotel but I would question whether you would be happier anywhere else on the island - good standards, excellent staff and nice to be able to walk round the local area, rather than be tucked away in an all-inclusive reort where you're stranded from the outside world - the choice is yours!

This was our second visit to Coco Palm and it's hard to believe that it was even better than the first. All the staff , new and old, greeted us as if we were returning members of a family and that was what it was like.
The Hotel was spotless, the pool was perfect and those smiles just brightened everything.
The hotel entertainment together with the choice of local restaurants provided plenty of variation.
Yes we are going back again, this time with friends who have also been there before.
Anne & Brian Hotten ,
Kent , England

If you are looking for a great place to stay in St Lucia, then this is it. I travel extensively both for business and for pleasure,and this hotel is up there with the best. There are many superlatives I could use to describe every element of the set-up at Coco Palm but for me, the thing that made it stand out from all the hotels I have stayed in was the staff. Without exception, they made the holiday memorable. They were genuinely friendly, always smiling and at hand to offer advice whenever it was needed. In respect of the quality of food, the entertainment and the disposition of the rooms, I would echo the sentiments of all those on Trip Advisor who were staying there at the same time as I.

As for St Lucia, I would recommend that you go there sooner rather than later. It is in great danger of being spoilt by over-development. That said, as long as the nature of the native populace doesn't change, I suspect that you will always feel welcome there.

My wife and i stayed at the coco palm for christmas and new year 14 nights in total and had a great time.We arrived on xmas day flying with xl air i booked the helicopter transfer with st lucia helicopters which got us off to a great start with in 30 mins of leaving the airport we were at our hotel avoiding the 90 min cross country drive this was a wonderful way to see the island from a different perspective and it was our first time in a helicopter we were a bit scared but once you are up its wonderful.On arriving at coco palm we were shown our room 102 which was on the ground floor with a small garden with table and chairs and only 17 steps to the bar.The room was large had good tea coffee machine and a fridge with cable tv every thing in our room worked fine and we had fresh towels everyday the only drawback was that we were by the lift lobby area so all night you could hear phones ringing in reception people in heels going up and down the stairs and flip flops in the morning.If you want a sun bed get up early as unfortunately people put towels out then go missing for half a day.we ate breakfast most mornings in ti bannane ordering from the menu try the croissants they are lovely and the full english is good too .everything is on your doorstep banks bars resturaunts beaches the whole lot our favourites were ku da ta v good memories of hong kong was good as well the indians ok but overpriced for steaks and sea food head to the charterhouse or the buzz redsnapper was another good place as well as dummys if you like w indian food head to the triangle where a local lunch curry lamb goat etc is about 2 quid the resturaunts on offer range from £40 up to £100 for 2 with drinks so there is something for everyone.After reading other reviews dont be put off by the shortcut to the beach its just a little track with a lovely little beach frequented by locals we came here most days and everything was cool making freinds with st lucians and having a beer etc we went to jump up stayed out clubbing at rumours shores bar the lime most nights and never felt worried intimadated or anything go st lucia get out there meet people have a good time dont be worried its a great place ok its not st tropez its the carrabean things are different there.we ahd a great time at coco palm and 12 of us are going back next xmas for another great holiday.if you want a sprawling hotel this is not for you if you want somerewhere nice to use as a base and get out there this is for you we loved the staff cyril anthony ash patricia everyone .overall we had a good time with good service good food and wonderful people.