Group Pricing Estimate: July 19-26, 2025
Your Group Configuration
| Room | Occupants | Room Type Needed |
|---|
| Room 1 | Adult + Adult | Standard Double |
| Room 2 | Adult + Teen (16) | Standard Double |
| Room 3 | Adult + Teen (16) + Child (12) | Family Suite / Triple |
| Room 4 | Adult + Teen (17) | Standard Double |
Totals: 5 Adults + 3 Teens (17, 16, 16) + 1 Child (12) = 9 people, 4 rooms
Departing: St. Louis (STL)
Flight Estimates from St. Louis (Round Trip)
| Destination | Airport | Est. Per Person | Est. 9 People | Notes |
|---|
| Costa Rica | LIR | $350-450 | $3,150-4,050 | Best prices, 1 stop via DFW/MIA |
| Aruba | AUA | $450-550 | $4,050-4,950 | Good availability, 1 stop |
| St. Lucia | UVF | $550-700 | $4,950-6,300 | 1-2 stops typical |
| Antigua | ANU | $550-750 | $4,950-6,750 | Limited options, 1-2 stops |
| Grenada | GND | $600-800 | $5,400-7,200 | Fewer flights, higher cost |
July = peak family travel. Book early for best rates.
Resort Details, Ratings & Pricing
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Rooms | 1,041 (recently renovated 2025) |
| Restaurants | 7 restaurants + 8 bars |
| Dining Options | Asian, Mexican, Italian, Steakhouse, 2 buffets with live cooking, Tiki Taco stations, Pepe's Food snacks, Candy ice cream parlor |
| Kid Features | Splash Water World water park, RIULand kids club |
| Reviews | ⭐ 3.5/5 TripAdvisor | 7.7/10 Booking.com |
| Review Summary | Mixed reviews. Praised for renovations and beach. Some complaints about food quality and service inconsistency. |
| Cost Breakdown | Amount |
|---|
| Resort (9 people, 7 nights) | ~$10,600 |
| Flights (9 × $400 avg) | ~$3,600 |
| TOTAL | ~$14,200 |
| Per Person | ~$1,580 |
✅ Best overall value | Largest resort, most dining options, cheapest flights
⚠️ Note: Lower rating but just completed major 2025 renovation - recent reviews improving
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Rooms | 236 (Tamarijn) + Divi access |
| Restaurants | 11 restaurants + 8 bars (across both properties) |
| Dining Options | Italian (Paparazzi), Mediterranean (Club Margot), Live cooking stations, Asian fusion, Argentinian steakhouse |
| Kid Features | Sea Turtles Club (ages 4-12), 5 pools, mile-long beach |
| Reviews | ⭐ 4.0/5 TripAdvisor | 8.2/10 Booking.com | 9.0/10 US News |
| Review Summary | Praised for beach, value, access to both properties. Some note dated rooms and slow service. |
| Cost Breakdown | Amount |
|---|
| Resort (9 people, 7 nights) | ~$12,800 |
| Flights (9 × $500 avg) | ~$4,500 |
| TOTAL | ~$17,300 |
| Per Person | ~$1,920 |
✅ Under budget | Guaranteed sun, calm waters, access to 2 resort properties, solid reviews
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Rooms | 269 |
| Restaurants | 4 restaurants + 4 bars |
| Dining Options | French, Italian, Indian, International buffet, 24-hr room service via app |
| Kid Features | Splash park, kids buffet area, 2 beaches |
| Reviews | ⭐ 4.0/5 TripAdvisor | 7.7/10 Booking.com |
| Review Summary | Beautiful beachfront, friendly staff. Some note limited dining options and occasional service issues. |
| Cost Breakdown | Amount |
|---|
| Resort (9 people, 7 nights) | ~$11,800 |
| Flights (9 × $700 avg) | ~$6,300 |
| TOTAL | ~$18,100 |
| Per Person | ~$2,010 |
⚠️ At budget | Great resort value, fewer restaurant options, pricier flights from STL
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Rooms | 290 (+ 166 in adults-only Hideaway section) |
| Restaurants | 9 restaurants + 11 bars |
| Dining Options | Tex-Mex (Armadillo), Italian (Grazie), Steakhouse (Hunter), Caribbean (Calypso), Japanese, Indian, Chef's Table 7-course experience, Gelato café |
| Kid Features | Kids buffet area, family suites, splash pool |
| Reviews | ⭐ 4.0/5 TripAdvisor | 7.5/10 Booking.com |
| Review Summary | Beautiful location, spacious rooms, great views. Some maintenance/cleanliness concerns. Diamond Club upgrade recommended. |
| Cost Breakdown | Amount |
|---|
| Resort (9 people, 7 nights) | ~$12,600 |
| Flights (9 × $625 avg) | ~$5,625 |
| TOTAL | ~$18,225 |
| Per Person | ~$2,025 |
⚠️ At budget | Most restaurants of Royalton properties, beautiful Pitons views
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Rooms | 250 (+ 36 luxury Serenity suites) |
| Restaurants | 9 restaurants + 7 bars |
| Dining Options | Japanese/Thai/Indian (Silk), Caribbean-Latin (Calabash), Italian (Trattoria), Jerk Tree House, Beach Grill, Fine dining (Greathouse - surcharge) |
| Kid Features | Largest water park in St. Lucia, CocoLand kids zone, Kidz Klub (3-12), paintball for teens, pirate ship playground |
| Reviews | ⭐ 4.0/5 TripAdvisor | 8.9/10 US News |
| Review Summary | Clean, spacious, great value. Water park is huge draw. WiFi is poor. Near airport (convenient but occasional noise). |
| Cost Breakdown | Amount |
|---|
| Resort (9 people, 7 nights) | ~$13,800 |
| Flights (9 × $625 avg) | ~$5,625 |
| TOTAL | ~$19,425 |
| Per Person | ~$2,160 |
⚠️ Slightly over budget | Best for families with kids/teens, most activities, good reviews
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Rooms | 294 |
| Restaurants | 7-8 restaurants + 5 bars |
| Dining Options | Italian (Grazie), Steakhouse (Hunter), Caribbean, Sports Bar with microbrewery (SCORE), Beach Grill, Coffee lounge |
| Kid Features | Kids buffet area, beach activities, pools |
| Reviews | ⭐ 3.0/5 TripAdvisor | 6.5/10 Booking.com |
| Review Summary | Beautiful protected cove beach, great entertainment. Service inconsistent, some maintenance issues, doesn't match 5-star marketing. |
| Cost Breakdown | Amount |
|---|
| Resort (9 people, 7 nights) | ~$12,400 |
| Flights (9 × $650 avg) | ~$5,850 |
| TOTAL | ~$18,250 |
| Per Person | ~$2,030 |
⚠️ At budget | Beautiful beach, on-site microbrewery - but lowest-rated option
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Rooms | 406 (including 102 adults-only Westin Club) |
| Restaurants | 7 fine dining + 3 casual restaurants + 5 bars |
| Dining Options | Asian (Bamboo), Italian/Pizza (Spirula), Seafood (Manglar), French (Cauri), Mediterranean (Mediterra), Latino (Las Candelas), International buffet (Mitra) |
| Kid Features | Westin Kids Club (included), largest pool in Central America, golf course |
| Reviews | ⭐ 4.0/5 TripAdvisor | 8.6/10 Booking.com |
| Review Summary | Great service, beautiful property, excellent food variety. Some note dated rooms and long walks on property. Westin Club upgrade recommended. |
| Cost Breakdown | Amount |
|---|
| Resort (9 people, 7 nights) | ~$16,200 |
| Flights (9 × $400 avg) | ~$3,600 |
| TOTAL | ~$19,800 |
| Per Person | ~$2,200 |
⚠️ Over budget | Premium experience, 10 restaurants, highest-rated Costa Rica option
Summary Comparison with Ratings
| Resort | Rooms | Restaurants | TripAdvisor | Booking | Per Person | Total | Value |
|---|
| Riu Guanacaste | 1,041 | 7 | ⭐ 3.5 | 7.7 | $1,580 | $14,200 | 💰💰💰 |
| Divi/Tamarijn Aruba | 236+ | 11 | ⭐ 4.0 | 8.2 | $1,920 | $17,300 | 💰💰 |
| Royalton Grenada | 269 | 4 | ⭐ 4.0 | 7.7 | $2,010 | $18,100 | 💰 |
| Royalton Saint Lucia | 290 | 9 | ⭐ 4.0 | 7.5 | $2,025 | $18,225 | 💰 |
| Royalton Antigua | 294 | 7-8 | ⭐ 3.0 | 6.5 | $2,030 | $18,250 | ⚠️ |
| Coconut Bay St. Lucia | 250 | 9 | ⭐ 4.0 | 8.9 US News | $2,160 | $19,425 | 💰 |
| Westin Conchal | 406 | 10 | ⭐ 4.0 | 8.6 | $2,200 | $19,800 | 💰 |
Legend: 💰💰💰 = Excellent value | 💰💰 = Good value | 💰 = Fair value | ⚠️ = Concerns
Rating Analysis
Best Reviewed (TripAdvisor 4.0+):
- Divi/Tamarijn Aruba - Solid 4.0, US News 9.0/10
- Coconut Bay St. Lucia - 4.0, US News 8.9/10
- Westin Reserva Conchal - 4.0, Booking.com 8.6/10
- Royalton Saint Lucia - 4.0, good views
- Royalton Grenada - 4.0, Booking.com 7.7/10
Lower Rated (Proceed with caution):
- Royalton Antigua - 3.0 (service concerns)
- Riu Guanacaste - 3.0 (but 2025 renovations may improve)
Revised Recommendation Based on Ratings
Best Value + Good Reviews:
→ Divi/Tamarijn Aruba (~$1,920/person)
- ⭐ 4.0/5 TripAdvisor, 9.0/10 US News
- 11 restaurants across both properties
- Guaranteed sun, calm waters for kids
- Under budget with decent flights
Best for Families + Good Reviews:
→ Coconut Bay, St. Lucia (~$2,160/person)
- ⭐ 4.0/5 TripAdvisor, 8.9/10 US News
- Largest water park in St. Lucia
- Paintball for teens, Kidz Klub
- Slightly over budget but worth it
Best Premium Experience:
→ Westin Reserva Conchal (~$2,200/person)
- ⭐ 4.0/5 TripAdvisor, 8.6/10 Booking.com
- 10 restaurants - most variety
- Cheap flights offset higher resort cost
- Use Marriott points to reduce
Best Budget Option:
→ Riu Guanacaste (~$1,580/person)
- ⭐ 3.0/5 (but recently renovated 2025)
- 1,041 rooms, 7 restaurants
- Cheapest total cost
- $400/person under budget for excursions
Flight Booking Tips
- Book flights first - prices change faster than resort rates
- Check Southwest - bags fly free (huge savings for 9 people!)
- Compare connections - DFW, MIA, ATL, CLT are common hubs
- Set price alerts on Google Flights or KAYAK
- Consider separate bookings - sometimes cheaper than packages
Next Steps
- Check Google Flights for STL → LIR (Costa Rica) or AUA (Aruba) July 19-26
- Get resort quotes with exact traveler ages
- Compare Southwest vs. American (baggage costs for 9!)
- Ask about group rates (4 rooms may qualify)
- Read recent TripAdvisor reviews for final picks
Estimates based on January 2025 research. Actual prices vary by availability and promotions. Flight prices are especially volatile - book early!