Mandarin Oriental, Canouan

Mandarin Canouan is paradise. Extremely private hotel on a large, mostly natural resort. Great for hiking. Three beaches to choose from. At times, we were the only people on the beaches. The Caribbean side has flat, turquoise blue water perfect for snorkeling & paddle boarding. The Atlantic side has the most beautiful sunrise, while the restaurant on the Caribbean side has dramatic sunsets. We’ve been all over the Caribbean and this is hands down our favorite destination. We will be back!

The Mandarin Oriental Canouan is the best kept secret in the Caribbean for luxury travelers. The resort reopened only a few weeks ago after recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Beryl. The island is friendly and accommodating to tourists. The 1,200-acre Canouan Estate property is mostly a nature preserve with two private beaches in addition to the main beach at the resort. Shell Beach is still under repair. It is a vigorous 2.5-mi walk from the hotel, and offers a calmer Atlantic-side beach for swimming and water sports. L’Ance Guyac Beach, a short van ride to the Caribbean side of the island, features a quiet, protected cove for snorkeling as well as an open air French-inspired restaurant. The Mandarin staff will arrange excursions pretty much anywhere you wish to explore on the island. There is also an 18-hole golf course on the estate, but we did not play during this trip. We were delighted to be assigned a butler upon check-in. Our butler, Rayshorn, was incredibly helpful, and it’s clear that the Mandarin prioritizes customer service training for all of its associates. Our suite had a stunning ocean view with the ability to open the massive terrace doors to the enjoy the tropical breeze. We enjoyed a relaxing couples massage at the spa overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. While the property and amenities are 5-star, it’s really the people that make the place truly special. We will be back again and again.

My boyfriend and I visited Lagoon Café at the Mandarin Oriental Canouan for what was meant to be a really special evening — a rare treat for us, and something we were really looking forward to. While the staff were warm and welcoming when we arrived for our 8pm reservation, the overall experience sadly left us feeling disappointed. We were one of only two tables there when we arrived, and although the service started off well, by the time our main courses arrived (around 9:30pm), it became clear that the staff were ready to close up. The other table had already left, and as we were still eating — with full plates in front of us — we were asked twice if we were finished. It made us feel incredibly rushed and uncomfortable, so much so that we decided to take our $50 dessert to go. To add to the awkwardness, the bill included an extra $80 for water we never ordered or received. I had to ask for it to be removed, which felt uncomfortable and a bit frustrating given the setting and price point. In total, we spent nearly £300 on two small glasses of wine, a starter each, a main each, and one dessert. The food was good, but not remarkable — and certainly not enough to justify the cost, especially given the service experience. What was meant to be a memorable and romantic evening left us feeling sad and let down.

The resort was helpful in making island airplane transfers from Barbados. The rooms are nice a large with great porches and views. They greet you by name and remember your preferences. I want to give a shout out to so many great staff like Landy, Feiona, and Jada who did so many thoughtful things. I know I’m forgetting lots of others. We are both vegetarians and the chef at Lagoon created special meals for us that were not on the menu that were AMAZING. The service at all the restaurants was outstanding. Also several managers stopped by to touch base. The main beach at the hotel was battling the seaweed coming in which is becoming a common problem all over the Caribbean. We were able to get a few days of good beach weather and clear water. We did the hike up Mount Royal with Erasto. He is so full of energy and made the hike fun safe and enjoyable. He was always checking on us at the pool and beach frequently to see if we needed more towels or drinks. Above and beyond. The only thing I think I that needs improvement was the room cleaning. It was kind of inconsistent in the quality. The toilet was dirty upon arrival and few other things I found not clean . The turn down service did a great job. The resort itself is very clean. I love that they do not use plastic bottles. I had minimum contact with the butler. I would at least expect a a daily check in by text see if I needed anything. We often just ended up making our own arrangements with front desk staff or to find out info about the resort. It was the easier option. We also took the Island tour with Gideon. So informative. The greatest thing about this hotel is that it is staffed mostly by the local community.

Defiantly the best service and hotel I have ever stayed in, from the moment the plane touched down to the time we left, the Island and people stand out in all of the Caribbean Island we have visited as kind and generous and giving. A most peaceful and stress free environment and beautiful scenery you could not wish for. we will be back as soon as we can.

My Husband & I have just come back from Mandarin Oriental with friends. What a wonderful experience from the transfer from Barbados to the Hotel. All the staff from management to housekeeping, waiting staff & both our butlers were exceptional. Attention to detail in all areas was exceptional also. We loved our tour of the village & our little boat trip over to shell beach. Thank you to all involved. We will be back as soon as we can. Dawn & Bryan