If you’re looking at places to stay in St Lucia then you might have come across the Royalton St Lucia and the Hideaway.
But what’s the difference? Are they the same resort?
I actually stayed at the Royalton recently after spending hours researching it beforehand.
Below I’ve listed all the key differences between them including what you’ll get at the Hideaway vs at the Royalton St Lucia.
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Royalton vs Hideaway St Lucia – Summary
The Royalton St Lucia and the Hideaway at Royalton St Lucia are both excellent 5-star all-inclusive resorts in St Lucia that provide guests with a luxurious vacation.
The Royalton and the Hideaway are both part of the same property however the Hideaway is a private section of the property that is only accessible to Hideaway guests.
Hideaway guests have access to the entire property but also have their own accommodation buildings, their own restaurant, their own lobby, their own pool and a private section of the beach.
As the Hideaway is still part of the larger Royalton property, Hideaway guests also have access to all the other amenities on the property which includes 8 restaurants, 2 pools, a spa, a gym and more.
The only area Hideaway guests cannot access is the Diamond Club areas unless you also book to be part of the Diamond Club which comes with a few extras including a private butler.
The Royalton Diamond Club is worth it if you will make use of the extras and you do get some preferential treatment.
When I visited, I ended up staying at the Royalton St Lucia, not the Hideaway.
My reasoning was mainly because I didn’t think I’d end up using any of the additional features that the Hideaway offers.
Book your stay now at the Royalton St Lucia or the Hideaway at Royalton St Lucia.
Difference Between Royalton and Hideaway St Lucia
There are many differences between the Royalton and the Hideaway that you should be aware of.
Here’s the key ones that you should know before booking your stay:
Location
As I mentioned, both the Royalton and the Hideaway in St Lucia are part of the same property.
The Hideaway forms a separate, more exclusive section of the resort.
Take a look at this resort map which shows the entire property:
The Hideaway is essentially a resort within another resort.
The entire property is located within a secluded area of the island close to Rodney Bay, right on the northern tip of St Lucia.
There isn’t much at all within walking distance other than an 18-hole golf course. This was probably the main thing that I didn’t like about staying at the Royalton.
I love being in a walkable area but unfortunately the Royalton just didn’t offer that. Luckily, I was only there for a few nights before I moved to the Sandals Grande St Lucian.
If you want to enjoy the sights, restaurants and shops of Rodney Bay then it’s a 10 minute car ride away.
To see the beautiful views of the Pitons or explore the drive-in volcano of Soufriere then it’s a 90-minute drive south of the Royalton.
Additionally the airport is right at the other end of the island and will take around 90-minutes in the car.
Adults Only
One of the key differences between the Royalton and the Hideaway in St Lucia is that the Hideaway is adults-only.
You’re unable to book a stay at the Hideaway if you have children with you meaning this area of the resort is a kid free zone.
The minimum age for the Hideaway in St Lucia is 18 years old.
This is ideal for anyone on a romantic vacation or a honeymoon as you don’t have to worry about being hit on the head by a beach ball.
It also means that the Hideaway is super peaceful and relaxed. It’s a great place to find some peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the main resort.
The rest of the Royalton property isn’t adults only so if you don’t stay in the Hideaway then there may be a lot of kids around the resort including around the pool and at the beach.
Ultimately, it’s up to you depending on the type of vacation you’re looking for and if lots of kids may bother you.
I was tempted by the adults-only feature of the Hideaway but ultimately decided to go for the Royalton (which isn’t adults only).
To be honest, there weren’t many kids there anyway and the few that were there were very well behaved and definitely weren’t running around screaming so I think I made the right choice.
Private Restaurant & Bar
Hideaway guests have their own private restaurant away from the rest of the resort.
The Royalton has 8 on-site restaurants which are available to all guests at the resort (including the Hideaway) however the Hideaway guests have one additional restaurant which other guests can’t access.
The Dorado restaurant, which is just for Hideaway guests, specializes in grilled seafood but also serves things like salads, smoothies and other treats.
You can also get breakfast at this restaurant every morning. If you get up early enough, you can actually watch the sunrise over the Caribbean Sea each morning from here!
One of the things I love most about Dorado is the glorious view. This restaurant features a terrace that looks out onto the white sandy beach and the glistening ocean.
Additionally, Hideaway guests have access to their own private bar which is located within the Hideaway lobby area.
Separate Pool & Beach Area
Alongside a private restaurant, Hideaway guests also have their own separate pool and private beach area which is away from the other Royalton guests.
You also get the benefit of being able to use the waiter service so you don’t even have to leave your sun lounger to grab a refreshing drink or snack.
The private beach area just for Hideaway guests comes complete with a beach bar, comfy sun loungers and rentable cabanas which are ideally placed on the soft white sand looking out into the ocean.
The Hideaway pool is actually an infinity pool and it has submerged loungers and a swim-up bar so you can grab you and your partner a piña colada without having to leave the pool.
This area also features a whirlpool jacuzzi.
Atmosphere
The Hideaway does have a very upmarket and fancy atmosphere so if you’re looking for a luxurious and exclusive vacation, this could be a great choice.
It’s super peaceful and laidback and despite being a luxury, upscale resort, it still feels super casual.
Access to All Amenities at the Royalton
As well as having your own private Hideaway amenities, Hideaway guests can also use all of the amenities at the main Royalton property.
This includes access to the Royalton’s eight themed restaurants covering a range of different cuisines including Tex-Mex, Asian, Caribbean, Italian, seafood, steak and more.
My favorite thing about the restaurants at the Royalton is that they are reservation-free! Just show up and you’ll get a table.
You can also book a treatment at the hydrotherapy spa or do a workout at the state-of-the-art gym located on-site.
There are several other pools to choose from if you ever get bored of the Hideaway pool and want to try out something different. Remember these pools will be all-ages though!
The Royalton property also features an impressive open-air amphitheater which provides all guests with nightly entertainment. Fun shows and music can be enjoyed every evening.
The main downside to this is that these shared areas are not adults only so if you choose to use them then you’ll find people of all ages there. It really depends on how much this bothers you.
Of course, you’ll also get other standard features like room service, super-fast WiFi and free parking.
Hideaway guests actually get an expanded room service menu compared to the standard Royalton guests so there is more to choose from.
Separate Check-In Lobby
Hideaway guests additionally get their own check-in lobby that is separate to the main lobby in the Royalton.
This makes the whole experience feel just that little bit more exclusive and speeds up the process of check-in as you don’t have to wait in line behind other guests.
Book your stay now at the Royalton St Lucia or the Hideaway at Royalton St Lucia.
Can Royalton Guests Use the Hideaway?
Hideaway guests have access to the entire Royalton property however Royalton guests do not have access to the Hideaway section.
Additionally, the Hideaway in St Lucia is adults-only so anyone under 18 years old cannot book a stay there.
And that’s it!
Thanks for reading this post all about the differences between the Royalton St Lucia vs the Hideaway.
If you’re still looking for a place to stay in St Lucia then another great option is the Sugar Beach Viceroy Resort which is an excellent snorkeling location.
It’s also super close to the Piton mountains which are St Lucia’s most famous sight and something you just have to see if you visit.
Need more help planning your St Lucia vacation?