Island Bliss: Our review of St Lucia
Island Bliss: Our review of Saint Lucia
Lucy Kane discovers the joys that await on Saint Lucia
In the heart of the Caribbean islands, Saint Lucia offers a delightful mix, from tropical snorkelling to cocoa plantations, so you can combine action packed adventure with some serious rest and relaxation. Saint Lucia has retained much of its Caribbean charm and nowhere expresses this better than Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa where a warm welcome and a cool cocktail greeted us on arrival.
Set in 85 acres, the lush green grounds provide a spacious setting for guests to find their own slice of heaven. Seamlessly sliced into areas, the resort allows families to go wild, there’s serene lounging for adults and honeymooners can luxuriate in privacy.
We stayed in Harmony, the adult-only wing created with extensive R&R in mind. Large bedrooms are designed with a touch of classic colonial style and offer stunning views over the ocean. The spacious grounds mean there’s plenty of room and you can take your pick of sun tracker or cabana loungers to unwind and enjoy the gentle cooling ocean breeze. When you need a little more refreshment, order Dylan’s infamous Big Red cocktail, made with spiced coconut rum, peach daquiri and a whole lot of love. You could be forgiven if you didn’t leave this divine relaxation zone but there is a host of activities on offer including volleyball, yoga classes, and water slides, plus a lazy river to float down.
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More water adventures await further afield. We explored the island on a catamaran boat trip which included outstanding snorkelling. The variety of tropical fish swimming in the corals just off the beaches were too many to count, every colour, shape and size. From the deck we had stunning views of the dramatic Piton mountains before our tour continued by road to the Diamond Waterfalls and a refreshing cold water dip.
Along the route our local guide showed us the impressive range of food growing on the island. His enthusiasm inspired me to investigate the native cocoa plantations further and book a trip to the Hotel Chocolat plantation to discover where some of the finest chocolate in the world comes from. No visit to the island is complete without a trip to the volcanic hot pools. Dip into one of three, ranging from extremely hot to exceptionally hot before being covered in volcanic mud and some creative Caribbean patterns.
After an exciting day touring the island we settled in for dinner at Calabash restaurant and some mouth-watering Creole dishes. The all-inclusive resort is foodie heaven with nine places to dine, from poolside Jerk Treehouse to Eastern inspired dishes infused with Saint Lucian ingredients at Silk restaurant.
The independently owned resort makes an extra special effort to cater for families. The kids’ club offers activities such as a climbing wall or children can learn about the island’s turtle conservation. Plus there’s the added bonus of a baby room so new parents can find a few hours of reassuring relaxation, enjoy the sports on offer or escape to the Sanctuary spa for a very special couples massage in one of the outdoor ocean cabanas – a treat so heavenly it’s not to be missed.
There’s so much to enjoy on Saint Lucia it’s no wonder it holds a special place in the hearts of visitors who keep on coming back for more.
Rates from £527 a night on an all-inclusive basis, based on 2 people sharing, for a Deluxe Garden Splash or a Deluxe Garden Harmony room.
