Photo Credit: Viceroy Hotel Group
Whether it’s a girls’ getaway, a family vacation, or you just want a romantic escapade with your favorite hautie, Saint Lucia is at your service. This Caribbean jewel might only measure 27 miles north to south but it’s filled with verdant jungles, UNESCO mountain peaks, cocoa plantations, sandy beaches and sublime sunsets. Better still, its hotels are among the best in the Caribbean, with posh accommodations and luxury amenities that make Saint Lucia the perfect place for a pampered island holiday.
Ladera Resort
Photo Credit: Kimberley Lovato
Why stay?: When Ladera opened more than two decades ago, it was the first resort in Saint Lucia to create the open concept with the ‘missing fourth wall’ design. Situated on a lush ridge 1,000 feet above the Caribbean Sea, Ladera sits smack dab in between Saint Lucia’s famous twin peaks, the Pitons, offering arguable the most pinch-me views on the entire island.
What to expect: Seclusion is the hallmark of a stay at Ladera, and rooms equipped with well-stocked mini bars, private plunge pools overlooking the sea, and personal butlers on speed dial mean you barely need to budge from your self-contained cocoon. There are no phones or TVs in the rooms (yes, there is WiFi), and no children under 18 allowed, so the vibe is romantic and quiet, save for the chirping of birds and other rainforest critters. There are 32 open-air suites on the property but the four Paradise Ridge suites are more spacious and isolated from the others, with king sized four poster beds shrouded in mosquito nets, a lounge area by the pool, a mosaic tiled shower fit for two, and a star chart for night sky viewing. Want the ultimate souvenir? Order a custom bed, or any piece of furniture, built onsite by the local craftsmen.
What to do: Leaving the room is the last thing you’ll want to do, but if you must, the hotel arrange anything from a snorkeling excursion to a jungle trek. There is regular shuttle service to Sugar Beach. The onsite restaurant is open air and serves fresh and expertly prepared Caribbean cuisine accompanied by an impressive wine list. There is small spa onsite, too, but for the ultimate massage with a view, book an in-room treatment and enjoy the true meaning of spa and ah.
Capella Marigot Bay
Photo Credit: Kimberley Lovato
Why stay?: Marigot Bay was once described by writer James Michtner as “the most beautiful in the world” and with one gaze from the balcony at the surrounding green hills and turquoise seas, you’ll understand why. Mega yachts from around the world love to sail in here, too. With just 40 slips, the Capella marina staff caters to seafaring guests while others can walk by and admire the gorgeous vessels.
What to expect: All you expect from a resort exists at Capella Marigot Bay where deluxe rooms, and one-bedroom and penthouse suites please couples and families looking for high end and well-equipped digs (TV, WiFi, kitchen) with luxury amenities aplenty just out the front door. A sprawling spool deck and swim up pool bar is perfect for a day in the sun while the world-renowned marina is the launch spot for shuttles to nearby restaurants and Capella’s coconut palm fringed beach. Four hours of babysitting per week are offered to guests with children 12 years of age and under.
What to do: Sign up for a tasting at the Rum Cave, home to a collection of specialty rums and fine cigars. Poke into the shops and restaurants in Marina Village, including the new Heidi Klein boutique for haute swimwear. Named after the constellation whose brightest star is Capella, the Auriga Spa offers fully customized treatments as well as a specialized menu of native Saint Lucian treatments and therapies in private cabanas for singles and couples. The resort’s Personal Assistants are at your service to arrange anything you would like to see or experience in Marigot Bay or beyond.
http://www.capellahotels.com/saintlucia
Cap Maison
Photo Credit: Kimberley Lovato
Why stay?: Located on Saint Lucia’s northwest end, Cap Maison is a small, 49-room boutique hotel with a pervasive stylish home-away-from-home appeal. The carefully appointed clusters of Spanish hacienda-style rooms with shocks of pink bougainvillea, wooden balconies, and sparkling pools and fountains, are more reminiscent of a Mediterranean village than a Caribbean hideout. Cliff at Cap is the hotel’s award-winning restaurant, and a destination in itself for any visitor to the island, with fresh, artfully presented cuisine served high above the sea. For fans of ABC’s “The Bachelor,” the resort was also the scene for two episodes, including the 2014 season finale.
What to expect: Elegant gardens are perfect for reading or quiet chats, and rooms, suites, and villas are so comfortable you might never want to leave. And you don’t have to. A private chef can be arranged to cook dinner in, and pop champagne for you at sunset. Most of the rooms and spacious suites have views and some, such as the Oceanview Villa Suite has a private pool and roof terraces for the ultimate romantic hideaway. Take advantage of the hotel’s concierge ahead of time who can stock your fridge, chill the wine, and indulge any other whim to make your stay memorable.
What to do: Take a waterfront yoga or tai chi class, lounge by the pools, or read in the hotel’s library. Cap Maison also has its own beach for a swim or snorkel and guests have access to a motor yacht, Cap Maison 1, for sunset cruises, day-trips, or private parties. If you’re planning to pop the question or just want the dine at the most romantic table on Saint Lucia, a pier jutting into the turquoise sea can be set up just for you…just ask.
Photo Credit: Kimberley Lovato
http://capmaison.com
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
Photo Credit: Courtesy Viceroy Hotel Group
Why stay?: Location! Location! Location! If it’s good enough for real estate then this is some of Saint Lucia’s best. This was once the Jalousie Plantation but is now the home of this elegant resort that boasts 100 acres of pristine rainforest as its backdrop, and a prime spot between the UNESCO World Heritage Piton peaks. Its stretch of sugary sand beach lined with coconut palms is divine, and just off shore… a National Marine Reserve. Did we mention the location?
What to expect: Top-notch service with toes-in-the-sand luxury hangs over this west coast resort that welcomes honeymooners and families alike looking for a pampered and relaxed Caribbean getaway. Varied accommodations include luxury rooms, beach front bungalows or multi-room villas, each with pristine white décor, private plunge pools and butler service, as well as flat screen TVs, iPod docks, CD and DVD players and WiFi. There are several restaurants and bars on the property, including elegant dining at the Great Room and snacks and cocktails at the Cane Bar, but not to be overlooked is the hotel’s “dine anywhere, anytime” policy, which means with 24-hours notice, guests can have dinner anywhere on the resort.
What to do: What can’t you do here is the better question. Lounge by the pool or on the beach all day, every day, or get certified. A full PADI dive centre is available for scuba, snorkeling and SNUBA (a cross between scuba and snorkeling). Book a tour to a nearby cocoa plantation or, for the truly fit, hop aboard a short boat ride to the base of Gros Piton for a grueling steep hike. Every Wednesday (weather permitting) a large screen is set up on the beach where popcorn and a movie entertain guests.
http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/en/sugarbeach
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