Saint Lucia
Rendezvous is a couple’s only, all-inclusive hotel situated on a two-mile stretch of Malabar beach. The atmosphere here is laid back and friendly, and the rooms are luxurious and spacious. It’s worth paying to upgrade to a newly renovated Verandah Suite - the comfy daybeds on the terrace and wow factor interior complete with standalone bath and rain shower is very special.
My favourite part of this hotel was the ‘lazy river’ which is a hidden gem. Set amongst dense foliage, you’d be forgiven for not even noticing it’s there! It winds its way around the hotel site and has private seating areas and day beds that are offer privacy and seclusion, along with the opportunity to take a dip in the river when it gets too hot. Waiters will bring drinks to your spot on the river and the service is so attentive that they’ll keep bringing your favourite tipple, ice-cold, until you ask them to stop! The beach front pool features a swim up bar with great cocktail options (try the Rendezvous Paradise - it’s the best!) and a further spa pool gives you plenty of options for poolside relaxation.
The food options here are excellent. There’s a fresh delicious buffet option or if you prefer to dine à la carte this is included, as many times as you like. The Malabar Beach restaurant, a new addition to the hotel, offers barefoot, feet-in-the-sand dining and focuses on locally sourced, fresh Caribbean style meals. Nearby there’s a jungle adventure centre where you can zip line through the canopy and take a sky tram up into the jungle to a great lookout point. Weddings at the hotel are free with stays of seven nights or more, and it’s truly ideal for celebrating wedding anniversaries and honeymoons.
The Body Holiday Hotel has a unique concept - “Give us your body for a week, and we’ll give you back your mind”. This is an all-inclusive wellness holiday with a difference. I was a little concerned I’d be marched off to exercise at every opportunity, but the reality is very different. Yes, there are an abundance of activities you can take part in from tennis, yoga, spinning, walking, water sports, water polo, biathlons, tai chi… the list goes on, but they are all entirely optional, and you can do as little or as much as you want. Every guest at the hotel gets a daily spa treatment included, choosing from a list of 12 options. I went for the lime and ginger body scrub and a hand and foot massage - both were divine. I also enjoyed a yoga class in the air-conditioned studio, kayaking in the bay, ‘tubing’ and scuba diving - all of which were included at no extra cost.
There are healthy food options to choose from, and some not so healthy - again, the choice is yours. If you have any food allergies or intolerances, this is very well catered for. Buffet and à la carte options are included, so there’s a good choice of places to eat, and the standard is very high. Guests here must be 16 years plus, except for in July and August, when the minimum age is lowered to 12. This makes it a popular choice for families with teenage children who want a wealth of activities to keep the whole family happy. The Body Holiday is also very popular amongst solo travellers - there is even a week in September dedicated to solos. My recently renovated Grand Luxury Ocean Front Room was on the ground floor overlooking the sea and had a large decking area - I left my doors open and drifted to sleep listening to the waves, which was heavenly.
The highlight of my visit to Saint Lucia was the Viceroy Sugar Beach. The hotel has rightfully been given numerous awards and accolades, is notoriously popular amongst celebrities, and is undoubtedly one of the very best hotels in the Caribbean. Words and photos really don’t do the property justice, and it has to be seen to be believed. The hotel is nestled amongst pristine rainforest between the two iconic, dramatic Piton mountains and the various rooms, cottages and residences are dotted over the large 300-acre estate, leading down to a white sand beach and pure turquoise waters. The Pitons are a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site and the snorkelling is incredible as the waters off Sugar Beach are part of the National Marine Reserve.
My room, the Beachfront cottage, was located directly on the beach with a private garden and outdoor Jacuzzi and shower area. The room décor is chic and smart with a large four-poster bed, freestanding bath and walk in wardrobe area complete with Nespresso machine and fridge. A seating area and hammock overlook the pristine white sand beach. All rooms here come complete with butler service 24/7, and you’re provided with phones to call the butler when you need assistance. This hotel takes Caribbean luxury to an entirely new level. The hotel’s ambience, divine smell (lavender and lemongrass I’m told), discreet and friendly service, food and drink, accommodation options and backdrop of natural beauty all combine to make this an unrivalled luxury experience. The resort also offers one and two-bedroom villas, and two, three, four and even five-bedroom residences which are perfect for larger families and groups. Children are welcome at the hotel and there are kid’s clubs to suit. The dining is as you'd expect from a hotel of this standard and I enjoyed the Asian-inspired menu in the funky Cane Bar as much as the five-course taster menu, wood fired pizza from the Beachside Bay Bar or freshly cooked breakfast on the terrace. The location of Sugar Beach and the constant backdrop of the Piton Mountains is stunning, and the hotel is a real five-star delight.
I really must debunk the myth that the Caribbean is too rainy to visit in our summer months (May-September). This is the second time I've been in the Caribbean during the 'low' season, and on both occasions the weather has been great. There is the occasional rain shower, but it quickly passes and is followed by glorious sunshine. It also rained heavily overnight, but I loved being inside with the balcony doors flung open, listening to the sound of the rain and tree frogs - part of the music of the Caribbean! Saint Lucia can be visited 365 days of the year and if you are looking for an affordable Caribbean break then the summer months offer fantastic value for money.