Overall Impression We arrived in Saint Lucia in the early afternoon excited to be back in the Caribbean and looking forward to a week of rest and relaxation under the tropical sun. As we exited immigration and customs at the airport a young Saint Lucian stood inconspicuously with our names on a sign. Following cursory introductions he led us across the small parking lot to his vehicle. Ninety minutes of cautious driving in his air conditioned minivan, organized by the hotel at our request, found us at Cotton Bay Village, a family friendly secluded and gated 9.6 acre property on the northern end of the island. The beachfront resort, named for the cotton plants that grow within, was built around a mangrove forest.

After passing through security we arrived at Villa 45, which was to be our home away from home for the duration of our stay. August, one of two butlers who looked after guests in Villa 45, showed us around and took care of the check-in formalities in the Villa’s dining room. Before leaving he made sure we had internet connectivity and beach towels. He also organized a rental car for the next day (we were pleased when the rental car company brought the car to our drive way the following morning).

Villa 45 was one of 11 stand alone houses of this type on the property which also offered hotel accommodations. The new looking $1.5 million 2,500 square foot stand alone structure faced north and was four Villas away from the beach. It had three bedrooms, three full en suite bathrooms and two half bathrooms, a walled backyard and garden with lounge chairs and a covered area for shade, a small swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, a gazebo and a fully equipped kitchen. Unfortunately, due to water restrictions when we were there, the pool was not completely filled and the Jacuzzi was not usable.

We enjoyed our stay at the new looking, comfort oriented and spacious villa with high speed WiFi. The villa with self catering facilities allowed us the comforts of a home and the advantages of a secure gated hotel. Other pluses of our stay at Cotton Bay Village included its Villa butler service, the proximity to Rodney Bay, secluded privacy, and hotel facilities (including a deli and two restaurants) and easy access to a beach.

Children There were many children at Cotton Bay Village. Nearly every family or group we encountered during our week long stay included at least one child and often several children. Cotton Bay Village welcomed children of all ages with babysitting and nanny service, a crèche, and the Hummingbird Kids Club for children ages 3 to 12. Teens and tweens were welcome to use the resort computers, games station, and pool table. Some staff were trained in Montessori care.

Class Of Accommodation A luxury rental villa within a secluded hotel complex that was the only member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World association on the island.

Connectivity There was complimentary high speed WiFi in the Villa. The connection was reliable (never dropped during our weeklong stay). We were told there was also complimentary high speed WiFi around the pool and the beach restaurant.

General Manager Michael Mathius

Handicapped Access According to a property representative, “We do not offer any specific features for blind or deaf guests. Some of our rooms are wheelchair accessible, but our fine dining restaurant is not.”

Length Of Stay Seven nights

Location Near the town of Gros Islet on the upper northeastern corner of the island, about ninety minutes by car from the international airport.

Managed Cotton Bay Limited

Owned Cotton Bay Village was owned by World Wide Hospitality Services and Villa 45 was owned John Butt.

Pets Allowed No

Size The hotel had 74 rooms and Villas within a 9.6 acre property with 105 employees. The 2,500 square foot (3,500 square feet including the outer areas) villa with a plunge pool, Jacuzzi and gazebo had three bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, two half bathrooms (indoor and outdoor), a living room, dining room and full kitchen.

Year Opened-Renovated Villa 45 was built in 2005 and became available for guest stays in 2006. According to a company representative “regular maintenance and upkeep work is carried out on an ongoing basis.”

Hotel Lobby And Common Areas Cotton Bay Village, divided into hotel accommodations and stand alone houses, had been built around a mangrove. Parts of the original mangrove remained in the middle section adjoining the beach and to one side of the walled property. On the other side, the one adjoining our Villa wall, there was a public unpaved road used heavily by locals on the weekend. A security guard always seemed to be at the gate while uniformed guards walked through the estate and beach environs. The décor had an eclectic style, blending traditional Caribbean features with modern elements. There were original lithographs of Caribbean musicians at Piano Piano restaurant and there was original artwork in the spa.

Villa Common Areas Our house accommodations were outstanding. The building itself was spacious and attractive with a number of desirable features we greatly appreciated such as a walled yard, private plunge pool (and Jacuzzi), excellent air conditioning in the bedrooms, and excellent WiFi connection. And, it was very convenient to have a kitchen.

A pebbled driveway led a step up to a covered entrance with double wood doors. Inside, a foyer housed a small table. The dining and living rooms were straight in front of the entrance in a single area with a high ceiling,two fans and a chandelier.

Villa 45 had three bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, a half bathroom indoors and a half bathroom outdoors, a walled backyard with a deck, covered area for shade, six wood adjustable (and comfortable) lounge chairs, two additional wood armchairs with foot rests, two tables with chairs, a small swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, a gazebo and flowering plants peppered throughout the garden. A spiral staircase let to a rooftop area that had two additional lounge chairs and a north view to the neighboring field. Although the rooftop also had a view of the bay and part of the beach because of the blistering daytime heat (there was no shade on the rooftop) and the mosquitoes at night we did not make use of the area. We could walk to the beach in a couple of minutes from the front door of our Villa.

The Villa had eggshell color large tile flooring to match its tall walls except in the bedrooms where there was wood flooring and standard ceilings; and the bathrooms which had marble tiles on the floor and part of the walls. Framed artwork including numbered reproductions graced the walls. Artificial flower arrangements were scattered throughout. The three bedrooms had individual and very efficient air conditioning units with digital wall controls which remained on all the time during our stay, providing a constant refuge from the stifling tropical heat whenever needed. The rest of the house had no air conditioning; the temperature was controlled by opening the windows in the kitchen, living area and entrance to allow a cross breeze. In the backyard the shady area was comfortable through the day thanks to a regular easterly breeze.

To lower the hot and steamy temperature we opened the sliding French doors that opened on to the back deck and one of the entrance doors. What we sacrificed in privacy (neighbors passing by within the property could see into the house from the drive) we made up for in comfort. The cooling north south breeze made it possible for us to enjoy the living and dining room and have uninterrupted access to the deck and garden area of the Villa during the day. It was possible to leave the doors open until the early evening when mosquitoes began to arrive. At that time, we closed the doors and retreated to our air conditioned bedrooms.

The dining room had a glass covered round wood table with six armless wood chairs cushioned on the seat and back. The table sat atop a round Persian carpet. In the corner, facing the living room, there was a cabinet that housed an LG flat screen TV, Toshiba DVD player and Sharp sound system with speakers. On the opposite corner of the dining room, there was a small rectangular glass covered table and armless cushioned chair. We used the table, which faced a large round wood framed mirror, for our computer and as a desk. There were several telephones around the house: one on the table, others in the bedrooms and kitchen. A few framed paintings hung on the walls. There were also two small tables set against the wall and one in the far corner of the living area. A large wood giraffe stood, against the wall like a silent sentinel, between the living and dining areas. Three wicker and wood beige sofas, cushioned and comfortable with pillows, were set around a glass covered square wood coffee table in the center of the living area.

The kitchen, to the left of the entrance, perhaps because we initially left the windows closed to keep mosquitoes out, was the warmest room in the house. Although we cooked infrequently, we purchased groceries and took advantage of the kitchen to make snacks and small meals. It was very convenient to have the well equipped kitchen. It had: double door Admiral refrigerator freezer, Neff microwave oven, Siemens washer and dryer, Whirlpool dishwasher (staff hand washed our dirty dishes because of water restrictions), stove and dual (two separate sections) conventional oven, blender, hot water pitcher, coffee maker, pots and pans, silverware, dinnerware, cutlery, and glassware.

Past the kitchen and down a short hallway was one of the bedrooms. It housed two identical closet areas facing each other followed by a sleeping area taken up by a four poster king bed with night tables. A vanity with a chair was across from the bed and an armchair with a footrest took up the corner. Next to it there was a flat screen television in the corner. Sliding glass French doors, identical to those in the living room and second master bedroom, led to the backyard.

Bathroom All three bathrooms had black and white marble tile on the floor and part of the walls. Bathroom One had twin sinks set on green marble below two square framed mirrors, a water closet and an extra large square shower with four wall shower heads and a glass door. Bathroom Two was very similar in size to Bathroom One although the layout varied. Bathroom Three thought slightly smaller was similar to the other two.

Rooms Inside the Villa, there was a split plan. One bedroom was on the left and to the right there was half a bathroom and two other full size bedrooms across the hall from each other. Each bedroom had an en suite bathroom. We were in the two rooms that faced the pool.

My room (Room One) was the length of the house and had wood furniture: a blond wood king bed with matching night tables, a vanity across the bed with a large mirror on the wall above it and a Sharp flat screen 18 inch television on a table next to it.There were two closet spaces across from each other with ample hanging and storage space in each and one electronic safe. On the other side of the room was the bathroom.

My travel partner’s room (Room Two) also had wood furniture: a king bed framed by matching night tables. Across from the bed there was a vanity with a mirror and armless chair. Next and above the vanity there was a Sharp flat screen 18 inch television hanging on the wall and below it to here was a Toshiba DVD player. Across the room a wide opening led to a closet area with sliding shuttered doors painted white. To the left, was the bathroom. French doors in both of our rooms led to the pool area.

A third bedroom had twin beds next to each other and set against a fuchsia accented headboard between matching night tables. A large window faced the front yard, filling the room with light. Across from the bed there was a vanity with an armless chair, a phone and a mirror. To the right of the entrance there was a walk in space with a closet in the rear. To the left of the entrance there was a bathroom.

Food And Restaurants Although sometimes we enjoyed the freedom to eat at our leisure in the Villa we made time to sample meals at the property’s two restaurants, Beach Club 14° 16°, the informal restaurant by the beach, and Piano Piano, the elegant dining restaurant. It had an air conditioned Champagne bar and a formal dining room. The restaurant relied on local organic produce and fresh local seafood in a menu that was a “fusion of Caribbean and Mediterranean flavors” and the bar offered tapas and a Champagne Cocktail menu. Yes, there was a piano although no one played the night we dined there. My travel partner had foie gras with pears (a favorite) for his first course, curry shrimp for a main course and banana dessert; I had Caribbean bisque, Red snapper sauteed and a lovingly made chocolate dessert which was chilled and in the shape of a piano.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner were also served at Beach Club 14° 16°. Breakfast was a combination buffet (sliced fruit, cheese platter, boxed cereals and one granola option, self service toaster with sliced bread and other bread options). Dinner was pleasant thanks for the cooling ocean breeze.

The Bruschetta Deli sold sandwiches, pastries, fresh produce and souvenir items. On more than one occasion we visited the deli in search of a soft drink and snacks.

Amenities There were two bathrobes per suite, facial tissues, bedroom air conditioning with individual thermostat, electronic safes in the Villa bedrooms, complimentary bottled water on arrival, blow dryers, linen including beach/pool towels, and complimentary use of kayaks by the beach. There were also made in China Sea Kelp toiletries in our bathrooms: shower cap, shoe mitt, soap and toiletries in 100 milliliter plastic bottles of shampoo, conditioner, bath gel and body lotion. There were several phones (the ring was muted and if we weren’t next to phone it was hard to hear): one in the living/dining area, one in the kitchen and one each in the bedrooms. The sound system could be heard by the pool thanks to outside speakers.

Beach From our house front door we followed a paved road, a minute’s walk away, onto a wood elevated walkway. It led directly to the beach and continued to the hotel’s beach bar and restaurant. We liked the beach for its local flavor. It was shared by hotel guests and locals. The presence of locals was especially noticeable on the weekends. The area fronting the hotel had two rows of lounge chairs tightly squeezed together. There were lots of striped blue and white towels on two self service racks. A constant breeze and gentle surf rocked the beach which was more murky than clear and frequently peppered with copious quantities of seaweed. Tours of horse riders (a strong horse scent followed) came by twice daily, in the mornings and afternoons, leaving horse manure in their wake. Over the course of the morning a hotel representative cleaned the seaweed and horse manure. We also met islanders who brought their dogs along for a beach walk.

Generally, locals swam to one side, the one with the gentlest surf, and hotel guests remained in front of the hotel area. The drawback at the beach was the limited shade available. There were two small areas with shade. To one side there was a large tent with several cushioned sofas and loveseats. While we were there, this area was commandeered from early morning until sunset by families with small children (apparently because the kiddie pool was out of commission). There was one additional shaded area with space for two loungers. With the exception of one other couple we saw during our week long stay the guests we saw at the beach were all families with small children.

Because of the limited shade on the beach we spent the majority of our time in the shady area of our Villa and went for early morning and early evening beach walks. A two-minute walk from the hotel area there was a beach restaurant and bar. Locals spent time in that part of the beach, especially on the weekend when the sounds of trucks with locals and island music reached our pool area well into the evening.

Facilities Piano Piano Restaurant and Champagne Lounge, Beach Club 14 degrees 61 degrees restaurant and bar, Heaven Spa, Hummingbird Kid’s Club (it seemed closed during our visit), Bruschetta The Deli (open 9 a.m. to 12 and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily), outdoor swimming pool and children’s pool.

Fitness Center And Spa There was a 1,304 square foot work out area with Life Fitness Fit Series Machines: one Multi Press; one Lat and Row; Leg Press and Calf Press; Leg Curl and Extension; Bicep and Triceps; Nautilus: two Treadmills and two Bicycles; Schwinn: one Rowing Machine; Quantum: Power Crunch 1200 – 2000 power crunch machine; Life Fitness: Free weights between 20 pounds and 65 pounds and TKO: Free weights between 3 pounds and 25 pounds. There was a separate 9,690 square foot spa housing four dry and wet treatment rooms, private couples suite with private grotto and pool, two outdoor treatment cabanas, steam room, Rasul, Vichy shower, beauty salon for hair and nails and an indoor saline pool.

Pool In addition to the outdoor and children’s (it was not working during our stay) pools there was a four-foot deep partially filled plunge pool in our Villa. The staff explained that the water level was maintained low because of a drought on the island.

Other The lush green of the islands was muted during our visit. We heard from the hotel staff that the island was in the middle of a drought that had been plaguing it for several months. As a result we were asked to conserve water (instead of running the dishwasher the staff washed the few plates we dirtied); also the Villa plunge pool and Jacuzzi were only partly full.

The number of guests increased significantly on Friday. This was noticeable in the availability of our butlers (where they had checked on us in our Villa daily earlier in the week starting Saturday we barely saw them if we ran into them while walking around the property and once when one of them returned to reply to a question I had asked), the number of guests in the dining room; the amount of traffic on the road adjacent to our Villa (a public dirt road ran next to back wall of our Villa) as well as the music and noise we could hear from the beach area adjacent to our hotel. Although it was noticeable compared to the quiet during the week we still enjoyed time in the backyard.

According to a hotel representative, the property engaged in a number of green practices including promoting and selling local tours and attractions with special recognition of Green tours at the tour desks; inviting local craft vendors to the hotel once per week to display and sell their craft items; Village staff determined suitability of new product before making any purchases and provided full training for staff whenever new chemicals or equipment were purchased for use in the hotel; there were waste disposal practices and procedures in place at the hotel such as recycling of linen and bed spreads, food, office paper, and packages; the property used energy-saving timers on electrical equipment such as Jacuzzi blowers, steam rooms at the spa, outdoor lighting for walkways, and refrigeration equipment in the kitchens; the staff monitored total water use on property (pools, guestrooms, kitchen, dining room and garden areas); and team members participated in workshops and seminars conducted by an environmental committee, local government organizations, and also by non-governmental environmental organizations.

Cotton Bay Village was voted Saint Lucia’s top hotel for spa and relaxation in the Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2010. Cas en Bas, the beach at Cotton Bay Village, was named by British Airways High Life magazine as one of The 50 Best Beaches In The World (April 2010)

Cleanliness Excellent

Date Of Review April 2010

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Service The Villa rental included two butlers, August (pronounced oh-geese) and Surage (sir – ahge). August made sure we had high speed Internet WiFi and a converter (there were only 220 plugs in the Villa) the same afternoon we arrived. He also coordinated a car rental for the following morning. The rental company brought the car directly to our Villa and picked it up from our driveway the day the rental expired. Later he lent us a music CD.

The Villa was cleaned thoroughly every morning. August asked that we not run the dishwasher to conserve water because of the drought restrictions at the hotel. Instead when he was working he would pop in to would wash any dirty dishes we had or if the cleaning lady arrived first she took care of them. We saw a pool maintenance person twice. After we settled in our butlers checked in with us occasionally. In the evenings, a staff person would spray the bedrooms with insect repellent.

Would You Stay There Again? Yes

Overall Impression We arrived at The Jalousie Plantation, a four star family friendly property nestled amid 100 acres of pristine rainforest in the valley between Saint Lucia’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed twin volcanic peaks commonly known as the Pitons, after driving from the northern tip of the island in search of the hotel’s gourmet fare, in the afternoon. After parking our rental car near reception, we boarded one of the property’s shuttle vans which dropped us off at the round point of our cluster of eight villas. From there we walked a short distance slightly down hill to suite 503.

From the comfort of our newly renovated luxury one-bedroom suite we had a front row view of Forbidden Beach, Anse de Pitons bay and its iconic pitons. While we were temped to explore the beach, the lure of the quiet suite and plunge pool was strong. We postponed our beach visit until the following morning and awaited the sunset in the privacy of our deck, relaxing for a while before our much anticipated gourmet dinner.

At 7:20 p.m. we walked to the entrance of our cluster to await a shuttle. After a few minutes we joined another 10 guests in the shuttle on their way down the steep road to the reception building and restaurants. Within the van beads of sweat gathered on the face of several jacket wearing guests in the sweltering Caribbean heat of the early evening. Mercifully after a few minutes we arrived at reception and made a beeline to the Cane Bar, a modern looking and well air conditioned area adjacent to the restaurant, to kill time before dinner (our reservations were for 8 p.m. sharp). Although there was an attractive open terrace we choose to remain indoors as a kind gesture to the men (jackets were required in the open air dining room) in our group and to avoid mosquitoes. We were among the first to arrive and had the bar to ourselves. The barman took our order with alacrity and a few minutes later found us chatting and sipping the bar’s specialty drinks. Soon it was time for the serious business of dinner. Executive Chef Cupertino Ortiz and his staff delivered a delicious, well presented and well prepared tasting menu.

Although sunrise was accompanied by rain, we armed ourselves with an umbrella from our suite and went out in search of transport. After a few minutes wait under the umbrella a shuttle stopped en route to pick up other guests at the top of the hill who, on second thought, decided not to go down to breakfast in the rain. At breakfast, we ran into Chef Ortiz and complimented him on the previous night’s meal, the reason for our visit.

The Jalousie was undergoing a major renovation designed to result in a branding and name change. We enjoyed our overnight stay at The Jalousie Plantation, especially the handsome newly renovated suite with a marvelous view and plunge pool, and meals. We will consider returning when the renovation and rebranding of the estate property are complete.

Children Yes, all ages.

Class Of Accommodation Luxury four star hotel

Concierge Marcus Joseph and Theresa Blaize

Connectivity Although there was supposed to be high speed WiFi in our suite it didn’t work. We asked reception and they sent our butler who checked and determined the signal was too far from the suite. He said someone would get back to us the next day. By the time we checked out no one mentioned the WiFi connectivity. According to a hotel representative, plans were in place for all suites to be hard wired with ADSL connections.

General Manager Andre Boersma

Handicapped Access According to a property representative, “Due to the hilly nature of the site, Jalousie is not recommended for those with physical impediments or who are wheelchair bound.”

Length Of Stay One night

Location A few minute’s drive south of the town of Soufriere.

Managed Viceroy Hotel Group

Owned Roger Myers

Pets No

Size The property had 12 rooms and 100 “villas” within a 100 acre estate. There were 280 staff members employed at the hotel.

Year Opened-Renovated The property, created by Persian Prince-Abolfath Mahvi, opened in 1991 on an estate first “discovered” by Lord Glenconner. Renovations were on-going; a $100 million enhancement project was taking place while we were there in preparation for the rebranding and relaunching of the property as The Tides Sugar Beach in 2011. Our suite, described by one of the staff as one of the most sought after on the property, opened December 23, 2009.

Lobby And Common Areas The decorative style was described as Plantation Elegant featuring works by contemporary artists Carlos Mercado and Neil Moore and local art by Jonathan Gladding. Most of the artwork was hand selected by the owner. The hotel, part of the large estate, was built on the hill facing the bay. Sleeping quarters (ours was called a villa) were set up on clusters starting on the south side of the beach beginning at the bottom, near the beach, and winding up the steep hill. Each cluster had a name: Coconut Grove Trees, Tamarind Turn, Banana Tree Grove, Orange Blossom Hill, Ginger Lily Walk (ours), Star Fruit Way, Papaya Patch, Passion Fruit Hamlet and Coffee Bean Bend.

The lobby, reception, boutique and gift shop, Cane Bar and Late Night Bar, and The Great Room Restaurant were in a central area part way up the hill and across from the Sugar Mill Rooms. The swimming pool, Bayside Restaurant, water sports and scuba diving area and beach were a short shuttle van ride away down the hill. The Rainforest Walk, a hiking trail, was behind the Sugar Mill Rooms. Past the trail and up the hill to the north there was a fitness center, tennis courts and a spa.

Bathroom There were two bathrooms in our suite: One in the living area with a glass door shower and a master bath en suite. The spacious master bathroom had twin sinks, water closet with bidet, a roll-top Victorian bath and a luxuriously large double walk-in shower.

Room We stayed in suite 503, a Grand Luxury Villa Ocean View one bedroom suite, within the Ginger Lily Walk cluster of eight bay facing suites. The white interior was accented by old Caribbean photography on the walls and dark wood flooring. A king four poster bed with mosquito netting drawn over it at night, framed by identical night tables, occupied the center of the room. There was also a small wall facing desk with an armless chair, and a large white cabinet housing a large television. There was a comfortable armchair with foot rest across from the bed next to a large window with a lovely view of the bay.

There was a white convertible sofa in the adjacent living room which housed a second white cabinet with a large television and DVD player. Across the room from the cabinet there was a wet bar with a mini refrigerator and hot beverage service. The bay-facing suite had 1,068 square feet of interior space and an additional 800 square feet of exterior deck and pool area. A hallway on the opposite side of the bedroom from the living area led to an exterior door to the deck area. In the middle of the hallway, on the right, there was a double sided walk through closet with an electronic safe. The deck and pool area could also be reached from the entrance of the suite.

Food And Restaurants The night we arrived we dined at the hotel’s gourmet restaurant, The Great Room, and the following morning we had breakfast at the Bayside Restaurant, the beachfront restaurant. Both meals were well prepared and well served. The Great Room, opened September 2009, had seating for 85 guests within 1,900 square feet of interior space and 976 square feet on the outside terrace where we dined.

Executive Chef Cupertino Ortiz, a quiet and purposeful man, prepared a lovely tasting menu for our table of five. Just before dinner we visited the Cane Bar where I ordered a sampler of three St. Lucia rums, one white and two aged rums (Element 8 Silver, Chairman’s Reserve and Admiral Rodney).

Dinner began with a selection of breads, whole wheat, olive herb and baguette to accompany an olive tapenade. Soon a well chilled non vintage Piper Heidsieck arrived. Next, we had Chilled cucumber and avocado soup, with a fritter of fresh crab and salmon roe paired with a 2007 Australian Rosemont Diamond Sauvignon Blanc; Tuna carpaccio on a bed of avocado; Pan fried Mahi-Mahi served on a puree of creamed cauliflower with roasted cherry tomatoes and a glass of Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon from California; Seared beef tenderloin topped with Roquefort and served on a puree of garlic potatoes and grilled asparagus which was served with a 2003 St. Helena, California Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon; and rounded up the meal with a Traditional Sweet corn tamale with a crème Anglaise sauce and almond praline served with a glass of French Chateau Haut Valentin Cadillac Manon from Bordeaux.

Amenities High thread count Egyptian cotton linens, voile draping, walk through closet, iPod docking station, complimentary internet access, two large flat screen satellite televisions, DVD player, mini refrigerator (could be stocked on request), tea and coffee making facilities which consisted of an espresso machine and kettle for tea (there were no coffee cartridges in our suite), a bottle of water on arrival, an in-room electronic safe, bathroom amenities (made-in-the-U.S. Lady Primrose shower gel, two types of soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion), bathrobes, personalized butler service (the line to the butler rang busy continuously the three or four times we called), oversize private plunge pool and private patio, air-conditioned living room with pull-out sofa bed, and direct dial telephone.

Facilities There were two restaurants, two bars, spa, beach, water sports and dive center.

Fitness Center And Spa There was a Multi-System Gym with cardiovascular equipment in the fitness area. The spa had seven treatment rooms, sauna, Jacuzzi, and relaxation deck. A new spa was under construction.

Pool In addition to our private suite infinity plunge pool with two lounge chairs and an umbrella, there was a common area infinity pool 4.5 feet deep, and 12 feet long by 6 feet wide.

Other There were many mosquitoes in our suite when we arrived. In spite of how we set the air conditioning in the two rooms of the suite the temperature remained between 26 and 28 Celsius. Although the plunge pool level seemed ideal when we arrived, the following morning the water level had dropped about 30 percent. Our butler indicated he thought the timer had switched off. A short while after we mentioned it to him the pool level was back to normal.

The hotel was named Leading Hotel on the island by the 2009 World Travel Awards. At the time of our visit fish was delivered directly to the hotel jetty by fishermen from the nearby villages.

In terms of responsible tourism and social responsibility, the management had policies in place and plans for future updates to the property to stimulate employment and protect the environment. Each of the villa clusters had a water meter which allowed maintenance staff to detect and repair leaks to the lines quickly, before much water loss could occur. The hotel policy was to encourage guests to re-use towels and change their linens every third day, rather than every day, to save water usage in the laundry. In terms of waste management, the hotel was in the process of setting up a large garden where organic waste from the property could be used as compost.

The management attempted to keep plastic and other non-compostable waste to a minimum. The executive staff worked closely with the Piton Management Area, the Soufriere Foundation and the Soufriere Marine Management Area to ensure the land resources and the important reef ecosystems off the hotel beach are protected for future generations. According to a spokesperson, the owner of the hotel is committed to preserving the environmental integrity of the Val des Pitons, and the hotel operating company endeavors to ensure that activities do not have an undue impact.

The management worked with local boat operators to ensure they monitor and control the number of outside guests they bring to Anse des Pitons to prevent damage from over utilization of the delicate coral structures and marine life in the National Marine Reserve.

The primary contribution to the local economy was from the salaries and wages paid to the predominantly local work force, about 95 percent of the staff at the time of our visit were St Lucian. According to a hotel representative, the hotel regularly donates to community concerns, scholarship programs and training initiatives to develop the talent of young people in Soufriere and its environs.

Cleanliness Excellent (although there was a brief yet pungent odor the morning of our departure in the master bathroom)

Date Of Review April 2010

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photographs by Gary Cox

Would You Stay There Again? Yes

Overall Impression Saint Lucia, a mango shaped former British island on the eastern edge of the Caribbean, conjures mixed impressions in my mind. The island itself is lush (although it was rather dry the last time I was there because of a severe months long drought which affected somewhat the quality of our stay. The swimming pool and Jacuzzi at our villa were only partially filled) with an inner core of hills, mountains, and waterfalls and an outer ring of bays and beach coves. The western side where a mild surf washes gently over resort beaches was peppered with quaint fishing villages and a string of hotels of different sizes offering varying degrees of luxury. The eastern side, constantly brushed by harsh Atlantic winds, was simpler than the opposite coast and more rugged.

We were drawn to the island’s ecotourism points of interest like the famous pitons which have become symbols of Saint Lucia, the birding trails to search for the elusive Saint Lucia Parrot and the waterfalls while at the same time longing to enjoy unspoiled beaches and water activities. Although during the course of our stay, between transfers and driving a rental car, we saw almost the entire coastal area and some inland portions of the island, exploring the island proved challenging in part because getting around, and self driving in particular, is for the brave hearted (see more about this under Transportation below).

The country is divided mainly into cloistered resorts with guests who appeared to remain there for most of their stay on the island, local towns and fishing villages. An unfortunate crime spell had hit Saint Lucia prior to our arrival. Wrought iron bars in some homes and security gates and guards in the hotels reminded us to be aware of our surroundings. Fortunately, our visit was blessed with positive experiences and mostly sunny weather.

Although the islanders we met at our hotels were helpful and friendly for the most part, around the island people were guarded or indifferent. Some people might describe them as jaded although wary would be a more accurate word. Because of its natural charms I would consider revisiting the island. I would recommend Saint Lucia to acquaintances with a healthy size wallet interested in a resort centered holiday in the tropics who may enjoy the amenities and facilities of some of the island’s posh properties.

Cost Of Visiting Prices ranged from high to expensive. Hotels, car rentals, taxis, tours and meals at the hotels were expensive. For those in self catering accommodations there were quality groceries available and although they were more expensive than at home because they were imported they provided an alternative from the hotel restaurants when we wanted to eat on our own.

Currency The Eastern Caribbean dollar was the official currency although everyone seemed to accept U.S. Dollars. When we paid we were given change in local currency.

Electrical Current The standard on the island is 220 volts. We made use of a transformer and an adapter (the plugs on the island have three plugs) for our United States electronic items.

Health And Vaccinations Arriving from the United States there were no mandatory vaccinations required for entry. Visitors from countries with yellow fever were required to have proof of yellow fever vaccination. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States recommendations included routine vaccines (influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus, DPT) as well as hepatitis A and typhoid.

How To Get There We flew non stop from Miami International Airport to Saint Lucia. There were also flights via Atlanta, Puerto Rico and the northeastern United States. Canadian, British and other European carriers offered service to the island.

Location It is one of the Windward Islands or Lesser Antilles in the Eastern Caribbean situated 21 miles south of the French island of Martinique and 26 miles north of Saint Vincent.

Measures Saint Lucia used metric and imperial systems.

Money Issues The Eastern Caribbean dollars were pegged to the United States dollar at a ratio of 2.6 to 1. We found ATM (automated teller machines) easily in Rodney Bay and were also able to pay with credit cards and cash in United States dollars..

Technology The island appeared to have a healthy infrastructure with modern amenities in tourist hotels. Electricity, running water, television, in-room WiFi in one of two hotels we stayed at, and our international cell phone worked without a glitch.

Time The island is in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone, one hour ahead of United States Eastern Standard Time and four hours behind Europe (five hours during daylight savings time).

Transportation Excluding water craft, there were three main modes of transportation within the island: taxis and private drivers, self driving a rental car and helicopter transfers. We had thought of a helicopter sightseeing ride but several calls and emails to the company prior to our arrival went unanswered. Driving is on the left on narrow two lane roads for the most part. In the urban areas, and sometimes in between, there was heavy traffic and the roads were filled with impatient aggressive drivers who always seemed to be in a hurry. Signage was poor or non existent, leading us to miss our turn more than once. The taxis we took were clean and efficient (one private driver, referred by our hotel, sent a colleague to pick us up at the conclusion of a water tour because a better paying transfer had come up after he had dropped us earlier that morning). The challenge for us when planning activities was that it took a long time (one or two hours) to get from our hotel to just about anywhere except the nearby town.

Beaches From what we saw beaches on the island came in two main flavors, calm western resort beaches and blistery eastern beaches fit for pretty vistas and no swimming. We stayed at beachfront properties on both sides of the island. The beaches, while very different from each other, were relatively small in relation to the size of the properties and access to them from our accommodations required either a short walk or a shuttle ride. One was manicured and offered the amenities of a large resort. The other had a mixed ambiance with resort guests and islanders sharing space.

Facilities We saw banks, a supermarket, grocery stores, tourist shops, pharmacies and Internet cafes as we drove around the island with the highest concentration in urban areas like Castries and Rodney Bay.

Shopping And Souvenirs It was convenient to find a decent size supermarket with an ample supply of grocery items within a short drive of our hotel and a deli at the hotel.

Tourism Highlights Saint Lucia, 27 miles long and 14 miles wide, is about 238 square miles (616 square kilometers) in size. It is a volcanic island with inland mountains as a dominant feature. Its highest point at Mount Gimie is 3,145 feet above sea level. The pitons, Petit Piton and Gros Piton, two seaside hills with a distinctive profile and within close proximity of each other on the west side of the island, have become the identifiers of the island abroad. The Piton Management Area was a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of the places we visited the fishing villages between Castries and Fort Vieux in the south were our favorites. Although our plans to hike the Gros Piton early one morning were dashed by showers we enjoyed the view of the bay between the Pitons from a hotel on the hill just off the main road.

Other There was also a steady flow of cruise ship tourists who walked around Castries or went on a tour inland. The cruise ship arrivals affected island traffic and the attractions someone explained. We were also warned by several people to steer clear of the tourist attractions in the middle of the day when cruise ship tours arrived to avoid lines and crowded attractions.

Date Of Latest Visit April 2010

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photographs by Gary Cox

Would You Visit This Attraction Again? Yes