By Bob Curley
CJ Contributor
There’s a reason Saint Lucia is one of the hottest destinations in the Caribbean right now: a hard-to-match blend of romance, scenery, culinary sophistication and good, plain-old adventure. And the best way to experience the island is in one of its marvelous collection of resorts, each unique, each perfect for the Saint Lucia vacation you’re looking for. Here are seven ways to visit Saint Lucia right now.
Sugar Beach.
Saint Lucia for Scenery Junkies and Rum Lovers: Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
The brilliant white villas and bungalows at Sugar Beach offer minimal distractions to the resort’s closeup views of the St. Lucia coastline and the Pitons, providing perpetual eye candy whether you’re lounging at the hotel pool or splashing in the surf. The Rainforest Spa is one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean, with waterfalls tinkling around treehouse-style treatment rooms, and an Amerindian steam dome is a rare nod to indigenous wellness practices alongside the typical massages, facials, and other services. Among the resort’s dining and drinking options is the Cane Bar, perhaps the world’s most elegant rum bar, with a on-staff “rummelier” to help pair the Caribbean’s homegrown spirit with a selection of sushi, sashimi, and Asian-inspired small plates.
Saint Lucia for Sea Lovers: Marigot Bay Resort
Marigot Bay is one of the most beautiful parts of a beautiful island: sailing into the narrow, protected bay on the west coast of St. Lucia truly feels like arriving in paradise. Standing at the mouth of its namesake is the five-star Marigot Bay Resort, with a palm-studded peninsular beach and Saint Lucia’s largest marina, which can accommodate all manner of boats up to and including superyachts. Marina guests have access to all of the resort’s amenities, while landside guests can book a wide variety of on-water experiences, including dive charters, sunset cruises, river kayaking, deep sea fishing, boating classes, and even an immersive, five-day crew course that including comprehensive sailing and safety training. And at the end of the day, you can retire to the Rum Cave.
Saint Lucia for Peaceful Pampering: Jade Mountain
If there was ever a Caribbean beach resort where you’d be tempted never to make it to the beach, this is it. They say the record for checking into one of Jade Mountain’s eye-popping, open-air Sanctuaries and never leaving is at least three days, and we believe it. The size of a respectable apartment, each room revels in its unobstructed, hillside views of Saint Lucia’s magnificent Pitons, which you’ll drink in during every room service meal, from beneath the gossamer netting surrounding your bed, and of course while luxuriating in your in-suite, infinity edge pool. You can almost take laps in the latter, which will give most contemporary “plunge pools” a serious inferiority complex. About that beach: you will want to get there, despite the temptation to plotz in your room. Downhill from Jade is the sister Anse Chastanet resort, where you’ll have full run of the restaurants, bars, beach, pool, and other amenities. A short walk or free water taxi ride around a rocky point will bring you to Anse Mamin, a paradisiacal beach backed by lush former plantation grounds, now reserved for hiking and biking for resort guests.
Guests have easy access to sister property Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Splash Island Water Park on Reduit Beach via a 5 minute shuttle drive that runs hourly.
Saint Lucia for the Budget Conscious: The Bay Gardens Hotel
I stayed at this hotel while attending the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival at nearby Pigeon Island and came away impressed with its weekly cultural programs as well as the location. The sand and surf are just a short stroll away via a quiet path, and being in town means you also can walk to a number of local restaurants and bars, nightclubs and shops. All-inclusive rates cover food, drinks, activities, entertainment, daily spa treatments, and access to the Splash Island Water Park.
Saint Lucia for Lovers: Rendezvous
Arguably any Saint Lucia resort could qualify for a romantic getaway — this island is that beautiful. What sets Rendezvous apart is its sharp focus on couples (no kids allowed), making it a great destination for a wedding, honeymoon, vow renewals, or simply finding your own “place of stolen time” for two. A recent renovation added a new beach bar and The Spa in the Water Garden, and all-inclusive amenities include unlimited tennis and instruction by on-staff pros.
Saint Lucia for Active Relaxing: The BodyHoliday
There are spa retreats and then there is the BodyHoliday, a truly immersive experience for body, mind and spirit that melds a world-class hilltop spa in the guise of an Indian palace with a broad menu of daily wellness and fitness activities, all set on a picture-perfect Caribbean beach. The climb to the Wellness Centre is a mini workout in itself, but you’ll be tempted to linger among the fountains and courtyards whether you’re getting the daily spa services included in the price of your stay, opting for additional Ayurvedic programs, hitting the gym, or taking a class. The list of daily activities reads like a Chinese menu with dozens of options that include archery and sailing lessons, Zumba, personal training, and football and volleyball games on the beach. Dining choices are tailored to support your health goals, but you won’t be denied a good drink, either: the resort’s award-winning wine salon includes daily tastings paired with cheese and fruit.
Saint Lucia for People Who Prefer Rainforests to Beaches: Fond Doux Plantation Resort
This family run eco-resort in the St. Lucia rainforest is a world away from the typical beach resort, putting the emphasis on local heritage tours (the resort is built on a historic plantation), Creole cooking classes using ingredients from the on-site organic farm, hiking nearby nature trails, and generally just chilling out in and around a cluster of brightly painted guest cottages. Kids and chickens roam the grounds, making it seem like you’ve checked into your own private Caribbean village for a few days. Nearby is the town of Soufriere, home of St. Lucia’s famous “drive through volcano,” and when the time comes to venture down out of the forest, the resort runs a shuttle to Sugar Beach.