I stayed at the Hummingbird Beach Resort on a business trip (I know, it was tough, but someone had to do it), so my experience might be somewhat different than people who stayed for vacation/holiday. However, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Hummingbird for either.
Let's get this out of the way: if an all-inclusive with a sterile, 'don't ever have to leave the resort' flavor appeals to you, this is not your place. The Hummingbird staff (including the owner, Joyce) is NOTHING if not helpful, knowledgeable and friendly, but it's not as packed with amenities and bland, boring continental restaurants as, say, Sandals Grande. If you like the Sandals model - go there. Otherwise, read on!
The Hummingbird is conveniently located right off the main road, about 1 hour (depending on your tolerance for mountain road driving) from Vieux Fort. You will drive through the somewhat narrow streets of Soufriere to get there, but relax - you'll be okay.
The resort itself is a short 5-minute walk from the town center, which includes a 'mall' (pharmacy, Chinese take-out, Digicel to top up your phone in case you're not on a GSM network, sundries and best of all - an Internet cafe), a doctor with flexible hours (sadly, I had to patronise him) and a grocery-type store (the 'UltraMart'). The Caribbean is literally yards away from the resort, and the back of the resort opens to a public beach. Note: all beaches are public in St.Lucia and the one in front of the Hummingbird is heavily used by locals. No worries - they are friendly :)
The Hummingbird does have a small-ish pool (8 feet at the deepest part). I noticed this pool was skimmed on a regular basis and could clearly smell the chlorine. Yes, some leaves and maybe a few bugs will drift into the pool.
Hummingbird rooms are of ample size and nicely furnished in the Creole style with four poster beds and mosquito netting. I stayed in the air-conditioned room, but unless you're a cold fanatic, there is no point. The tradewinds blow cool most of the day, and if you keep your windows/doors open during the day, you will be plenty cool. At night, I would recommend the mosquito netting, especially in the rainy season. If you take proper precautions (such as the mosquito netting), relax and use a fan, it is very comfortable.
Each room has its own bathroom, which is cleaned every day. There are some cosmetic blemishes, but - they are scrupulous about cleanliness. You have the option to keep your towels/sheets instead of getting new ones each day, which is nice if you're environmentally conscious. Bathrooms are stocked with shampoo, shower gel and hand soap on a daily basis. Also, I drank the water right from the tap at the Hummingbird with no problems.
The resort has a restaurant and a delicious breakfast. Fresh fruits, juice, island-grown coffee, AMAZING pancakes and omelettes are just a few choices. I never got a chance to eat dinner there, but the menu looked to have a fair amount of items to choose from. Due to my work schedule, I was an early riser and missed having a sit-down breakfast most of the time I was there, but they were quick to provide me with coffee and fruit to go (although they thought missing breakfast uncivilized, and I very much agree). The bar is open from early morning (around 8-ish) to well past 11 pm (when I usually went to bed) and well stocked. You can purchase bottled water from the bar, which I highly recommend.
The front desk opens at 8, and they will be happy to make calls and arrange excursions. They will launder clothing and provide a transformer for those who need one. As I mentioned above, the staff is VERY friendly and very helpful. One caveat: EVERYONE is on 'island time,' so they may not move at the speed you are used to. My advice is to go with it -it will definitely provide a less stressful experience.
A note about the town: if you are vegetarian, Camilla's on Bridge is very good (Camillas has meat entrees, as well). Also, Gee's Bon Manje, which is a few blocks back past the Leisure Inn is very nice, but a little more expensive.
In summary, I would highly recommend the Hummingbird and definitely look forward to returning (hopefully, on vacation next time!). Enjoy!
