January 11, 2013
With its iconic views of the famous Piton Mountains, we can’t get enough of the Anse Chastanet Hotel whenever we visit St Lucia. It’s very different from other resort hotels, opting for the cooling trade winds over air conditioning and set within a remote 600-acre private rainforest estate bordering two soft-sand beaches. Rooms are nestled in amongst the forest, around a hundred steps up from the sands – perfect for nature-lovers, as the sounds of chirping tree frogs are part of the deal here. We love enjoying a tree-house candlelit dinner here, too – perfect for a romantic date or intimate gathering. There are also local touches throughout the rooms, from the furniture made from local wood, as well as being designed and made in the area, to the madras fabric (the national cloth of St Lucia) used to make the cushions and bedspreads. It’s got everything we could ever want or need!
Poolside at Anse Chastanet Hotel © Anse Chastanet Hotel
One of our favourite things to do in St Lucia is take a trip up to Spa Maison at Cap Maison and enjoy the view of clear water, sandy beaches and bird-rich tropical landscaped gardens. Getting a massage underneath a gazebo in the garden is truly the most relaxing and indulgent experiences – we always feel like VIPs afterwards!
Stress-busting massage at Spa Masion © Cap Maison
The nightlife is St Lucia can be quite varied but Piano Piano is one bar that attempts to be all things to everyone – it’s part hip Champagne bar and part fusion diner. Piano Piano has got a dressy atmosphere, so we love making an effort – it makes enjoying the refined Caribbean menu with a glass of bubbly just that bit more special. We recommend booking in advance, as when a hot local jazz talent is in the house the place tends to get full of beautiful people very quickly.
We never leave St Lucia without a visit to The Coal Pot Restaurant in Rodney Bay. It’s not hard to see why it is a winner of the island’s “˜Best Restaurant of the Year’ award, with its tables overlooking the marina and its fresh Caribbean flavours mixed with Chef Xavier’s French expertise. We can highly recommend the much-applauded St Lucian crab-back – locally caught crab sautéed with fresh seasoning and herbs and served with scrumptious garlic butter sauce. We find it hard not to keep coming back to this oh-so-sumptuous dining spot.
Have you been to St Lucia recently? What were your favourite beachside spots?
Katie is an author for the Virgin Atlantic blog. Despite her urban London residency, Katie can often be found exploring far-flung corners of the globe in search of exciting new experiences and stories. A self-confessed night-owl, she makes it her mission to search out the best cocktail bars and live music venues on each and every expedition. Follow Katie @kt_saramanning
