A Honeymoon Review from Sandals La Toc & Ladera

(425 Reviews)
99% Recommended

Pam MacIntyre

Maple Grove, MN

Australia & New Zealand Specialist

New Zealand

In all my years as a Travel Professional, I’ve asked countless people, “What’s on your must-see list?” And without fail, New Zealand is always at the top! Honestly, who wouldn’t want to experience this majestic ...

New Zealand

In all my years as a Travel Professional, I’ve asked countless people, “What’s on your must-see list?” And without fail, New Zealand is always at the top! Honestly, who wouldn’t want to experience this majestic part of the world?

I was fortunate enough to visit both the North and South Islands, and what I love about New Zealand is that it offers the perfect blend of laid-back charm and action-packed adventure, all while being nothing short of epic.

The country is home to endless national parks, a rich Maori culture, and unforgettable experiences like sailing through the sounds while dolphins playfully follow your yacht. And let’s not forget the awe-inspiring moment of witnessing a sperm whale off the coast of Kaikoura—talk about jaw-dropping beauty!

Oh, and did I mention wine? If you’re a fan of great wine (and who isn’t?), New Zealand is a must-visit for its world-class Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and more. How do I know? Because I couldn’t resist visiting a winery or two during my travels!

Honestly, I could go on and on about the magic of New Zealand, but if you’re reading this, you already know you want to explore this incredible part of the world. Let’s work together to create your perfect New Zealand adventure!

Australia

Let me start by saying, I’ve wanted to visit Australia since I was a child. Why, you ask? Well, to pet a kangaroo, of course! And yes, I did! Not only did I pet a kangaroo, but I actually fed FOUR at the same time. Childhood dream come true, right? And I can’t wait to go back for round two.

While I was in Sydney, I had the chance to experience the spectacular Vivid Sydney Festival, celebrating its 10th year. It was honestly WOW! Never in my wildest dreams did I think Australia would be so perfect to visit during their winter season. But coming from Minnesota, their “winter” felt more like our fall—absolutely ideal! Seeing the Sydney Opera House light up during the festival was something I’ll never forget.

And then there’s the Blue Mountains region—so lovely to explore on foot. From there, we ventured to Hunter Valley (known to the locals as "The Hunter"), where wine flowed freely, and every glass was more delicious than the last.

Australia’s size is truly hard to grasp until you’ve experienced it firsthand. To put it in perspective: Sydney would be in Florida, Cairns (home of the Great Barrier Reef) would be in Maine, Uluru (Ayers Rock) would be in Kansas, Melbourne would be in New Orleans, and Perth would be in Los Angeles.

Whether you're dreaming of visiting the world’s largest Great Barrier Reef, immersing yourself in Aboriginal culture, swimming with whale sharks, or gazing upon the majestic Uluru, Australia has endless possibilities waiting for you.

Let’s make your dream trip to Australia a reality—one that you’ll remember for the rest of your life!     

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Pam MacIntyre

Can Be Reached At

1-763-231-8893

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Piton Mountains seen from our Ladera Resort stay

Client’s Honeymoon to St. Lucia - January 2022

"I just submitted a 5-star review with a 10/10 recommendation! Thank you again for helping us plan the most relaxing and much-needed trip of our lives. Our honeymoon was absolutely spectacular, and we can’t thank you enough for making it all happen!

We wanted to provide a hopefully helpful breakdown of both resorts to assist other travelers in deciding which one might be the best fit for them—or perhaps inspire a split stay like ours! We absolutely loved both parts of our trip, spending time at Sandals and Ladera. I highly recommend splitting your stay between the two, as it allowed us to experience two very different sides of the island. We’re so glad we made that choice!

Sandals Regency La Toc:

• The easy access to the beach was a huge plus!


• We booked a butler room, and while it wasn’t necessary, it was incredibly convenient.


• The all-inclusive restaurants and room service were definitely worth it.


• Some of the additional activities were pricier than we expected, but we went horseback riding, which was a lot of fun! The staff was timely, accommodating, and patient.


• The massage at the spa was hands down one of the best massages either of us had ever received!


• The resort’s demographic was a bit older and not very diverse, so at times, we felt a little out of place.


• Sandals felt very westernized and corporate, which didn’t really give us that “local” feel. We weren’t huge fans of this, but we can see how others might enjoy it.


• Our room had a private pool, which we were excited about, but unfortunately, it wasn’t heated, so we didn’t get to use it as much as we would have liked.

Ladera Resort:

• AMAZING VIEWS! The overall experience at Ladera was so unique – we loved it. Being surrounded by nature was incredible. From the easy-to-access walking trails and hikes to the birds flying around all the time, the atmosphere was just magical.


• We were a little worried about mosquitoes, but thankfully, the bug spray provided by the resort helped a lot, and the bites weren’t nearly as bad as we feared.


• Parts of the resort were under construction (like the spa), which initially bummed us out, but instead, they offered private massages in our room, which were so relaxing!


• We didn’t do the all-inclusive package at Ladera, and I’m so glad you suggested we skip it. The cost of lunch and dinner was definitely cheaper than going with the all-inclusive option.


• We took full advantage of Ladera’s partnership with Hotel Chocolat, which was a bonus we didn’t expect! It was so close to our resort (funny because we initially thought about booking Hotel Chocolat). We spent an entire day there, and it was fantastic – from the chocolate to the dinner to the beautiful surroundings.


• The demographic at Ladera was much more diverse and younger, and we felt much more comfortable here.


• Our room had a private pool that was heated, which was a huge plus, and we spent a lot of time enjoying it.


• One downside was the drive from Sandals to Ladera – it’s very windy, so future travelers should be prepared for that!

While both resorts were wonderful, we actually preferred Ladera over Sandals Regency La Toc. For us, Ladera was the better fit – mainly because of the nature and views, the younger and more diverse demographic, and the overall unique experience.