Overview
Planning that trip to Canouan and still haven’t found the perfect hotel? We’re here to help you.
The Canouan Island (pronounced “can-ah-wan”) is a part of St. Vincent and Grenadines country in the Caribbean.
It’s one of the country’s 32 islands and boasts sandy beaches, calm waters, and overlooking hills.
If you’re on your way to Canouan Island, you’ve got several options for your beach resort.
One of them is the Mandarin Oriental, Canouan beach resort.
The Mandarin Oriental, Canouan is a 5-star beach resort northeast of the island.
It’s right in front of Godahl Beach and has an overlooking view of the lagoon.
They have 26 suites and 13 villas, with several high-quality restaurants, an 18-hole golf course, spa, and a kid’s club.
The cost is a little on the expensive side, but many previous guests say it’s definitely worth it.
Many fall in love with its serene atmosphere, top-notch service, and excellent amenities.
The price also includes lots of perks for you and your family, from airport transfers and shuttles, use of non-motorized water sports, and access to their many facilities.
In 2020, it got TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice award and was crowned as the best hotel spa in the Caribbean by the World Spa Awards.
Here’s your guide to the Mandarin Orienta, Canouan hotel.
When is the best time to visit?
January to April is your best time to go with the height of summer.
The dry season lasts from December to April, while the wet season is from May to November.
It’s also best to avoid September and October, as they’re the most humid and wettest months on the island.
How to get to Mandarin Oriental, Canouan?
You can use a plane or a yacht to get to the Mandarin Oriental, Canouan.
By plane:
The nearest airport is Canouan Airport (CIW), just 10 minutes from the resort.
Inter-island air transfers are available from Canouan, Barbados, St. Vincent, and Grenada.
The flight from Barbados lasts for 45 minutes. If that’s not your style, the hotel also offers a non-stop round trip service in their six-seat resort jet.
You can book or share it with other guests. The flight takes about 25 minutes.
Tourists often fly from Barbados, but you can come from other nearby islands like St. Lucia, Grenada, Martinique, and St. Vincent.
By yacht:
If you’re coming via yacht, the best way is from the Sandy Lane Yacht Club.
It’s 10 minutes from the resort, and the Mandarin Oriental, Canouan has complimentary round trip transfers available.
What to do in Canouan
Canouan is a relatively small island, but it’s packed full of water adventures and experiences that are just a stone’s throw away from Mandarin Oriental.
The beach resort constantly reminds you of the beauty of Godahl beach, with a view of the ocean and the lagoon at many points in the resort.
Some things you shouldn’t miss are deep sea fishing, visiting Tobago Cays (where they shot parts of the Pirates of the Caribbean), or trekking Mount Royal, the highest point of the island. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the tortoises.
The island is full of them, and they’re often seen wandering about the island.
Rooms and Prices
Let the Mandarin Oriental, Canouan welcome you into this lush getaway with a smile and a welcome refreshment.
The resort gives you 26 luxury suites and 13 villas to choose from for your stay in the Caribbean.
These rooms are fully furnished and stock full with amenities and complimentary services.
Each room has an en-suite bathroom with a separate bath and shower and a walk-in closet. You have a bar, TV, and a balcony to see that ocean view.
You can control the room temperature, request room service, and other services the hotel offers through a tablet that comes with the room.
Other complimentary amenities as a guest includes:
- a butler service
- daily housekeeping
- one-time access to the honor bar
- access to the “Beach of the Day” program and the Pirates of Canouan, the kid’s club
- access to non-motorized water sports, tennis facilities, and fitness facilities
- wireless Internet access
Check-in time is at 3:00 pm, and check-out time is 12 noon.
Suites:
The suites offer overlooking views of the ocean from its balconies.
If you prefer a room right on the beach, the beachfront suite is for you!
One-bedroom beachfront suite: Rates start from $1,500 per night.
One-bedroom oceanview suite: Rates start from $1,300 per night.
Two-bedroom oceanview suite: Rates start from $2,350 per night.
Penthouse:
Their one-bedroom oceanview penthouse comes with a full-length balcony.
You won’t just see the ocean, but also the lagoon and the surrounding bay, giving you that complete serene view of the water.
Rates start from $2,000 per night.
Villas:
Go all out for your vacation with one of these amazing villas!
Two-bedroom patio villa with studio: In addition to all the complimentary amenities that come with a standard room, this villa also gives you your own private courtyard.
What’s more, you won’t need to go outside for a dip in the pool.
Here, you have a private pool deck, complete with an infinity pool and jacuzzi.
It doesn’t stop there! You have an additional butler’s pantry and staff studio.
The villa is made all the more perfect with its hillside location, giving you a view of the resort and ocean.
Rates start from $4,500 per night.
Three bedroom patio villa with studio: This patio villa has a three-bedroom option with rates that start from $5,000 per night.
Four bedroom lagoon villa: If you’re staying in the Caribbean, why not aim for the best?
And the Mandarin Oriental, Canouan’s best is the four-bedroom lagoon villa.
It’s a complete 3 story package with the best hillside spot, overlooking the lagoon and ocean.
You’ll also have balcony seating on the first and second floor for all those stunning views.
Enter the villa through the first floor, where the main lounge greets you.
The main lounge has a drop-down TV screen, a guest bedroom, and a bathroom.
Over here, you can also show your kitchen chops with a full-service kitchen and a pantry.
Get to the other floors with an elevator or a set of stairs.
If you down the ground floor, you’ll find two bedrooms, a lounge, and a sofa den that can double as another bedroom.
The ground floor also gives you access to an infinity pool, your main patio area, and a path to the hotel.
Up the highest floor, you have the master bedroom, en-suite bathroom, and a dressing room.
The story is completed with a lounge, desk, a bar, and a vanity section.
It also has all the storage space you need.
To top it off, you got free use of two golf carts and a maid’s quarters.
Rates start from $6,000 per night.
Other Canouan hotels by the beach include Canouan Estate Resort & Villas and Tamarind Beach Hotel & Yacht Club.
Facilities
The Mandarin Oriental, Canouan has a lot to offer when it comes to its facilities.
You can do a number of fun little activities without even leaving the resort.
You can use their provided golf carts to explore the area; from the top of the line restaurants to their 18-hole golf course, your stay in Canouan will surely not disappoint.
Restaurants:
After your fill of the ocean, grab a bite in one of the dining options in the Mandarin Oriental, Canouan.
The resort provides free breakfast, free wifi, and delicious food.
Asianne: On the beach resort’s ground floor, Asianne welcomes you to an open kitchen concept with pan-Asian style cuisine.
The restaurant has a laid-back atmosphere that keeps you comfortable while you watch your food made right before you.
TIDES Bar & grill: Taste the ocean with the fresh produce and ingredients straight from the sea in TIDES Bar & Grill.
The catch of the day is delivered to your table in traditional dishes with a Caribbean twist.
They also have a great selection of wine and cocktails. All this you can enjoy on the upper terrace and a stunning view of the lagoon.
Lagoon cafe: If you’re feeling hungry right after a swim, this beach house style bar might be just what you need.
It’s got an elegant air about the place as it sits across the Atlantic ocean.
The Lagoon Cafe is here to serve you Mediterranean and seafood dishes, pizza, tapas, and of course, a variety of alcohol.
Pool bar: Right by the pool and with a view of the ocean, the pool bar is for light meals.
Their dishes center on healthy Peruvian Nikkei inspired cuisine.
They also serve very colorful cocktails, perfect for that summer vacation vibe you’ve got going.
Turtles: A lounge bar that, as always, overlooks the beach.
Sit back and relax as you look out the still waters and enjoy performances from local musicians.
Castaway: This extremely innovative restaurant has been described as a “restaurant without walls.”
What that means is this restaurant literally does not have walls. You can choose where you want to eat, even if it’s on a secluded part of the beach.
You can also decide what to eat from their prepared sample menu or go crazy and create your own menu for the night.
It’s definitely worth going to if only for the experience, but the atmosphere and food will surely win you over too.
Grenadines Estate Golf course:
A destination on its own, this 18-hole golf course is a championship course designed by Jim Fazio.
The front nine holes give you an epic view of the ocean and the coral reefs famous in Canouan.
While the next nine goes through the hillside for views of Canouan and the surrounding islands.
The Grenadines Estate Golf Course has been rated as one of the best the Caribbean has to offer.
The 13th hole is something you can’t miss as it has a remarkable view of the sunset.
For guests, the rate is $250 per person. Golf rounds come at $600 for 3 rounds, $900 for 5 rounds, and $1,100 for 7 rounds.
Spa
A vacation is a time to relax, and what better way to do that by going to the spa.
Or if you’re still keeping to your fitness routine, the fitness center is also here.
For the most peaceful atmosphere, the spa’s seven treatment suites are located on the hillside with the sound of the ocean below to keep you company.
The spa is a full treatment for your mind and body wellness.
Their treatment packages range from $290 to $480, and signature therapies from $350 to $525.
Other services they offer include massages, scrubs and wraps, and holistic and advanced skincare.
They also have standard salon services, with unique treatments for teenagers.
Aside from taking care of the body, they also do yoga and meditation.
Pirates of Canouan, Kids’ and Teenagers’ Club
Traveling with kids can be challenging, but there’s something for them too.
Your little ones can still have as much fun as the rest of the family with the Mandarin Oriental’s kid’s club.
It’s a complimentary amenity for those 3 years old and above.
It’s open from 8 am to 8 pm during the high season and 8 am to 5 pm during the low season.
The club’s activities include a cooking class, youth yoga, and beach expeditions targeted to kids and teenagers.
If needed, you can also request a baby cot for your room or babysitting services.
Other resort facilities include an infinity pool on the terrace, a tennis center, and a watersports center.
