Lovely St Lucia
I arrived in style, taking a helicopter transfer to the North of the island before a short road transfer to the BodyHoliday Le Sport, home for the next five days. If budget allows I would highly recommend cutting your journey time with a helicopter transfer. The views are spectacular, the ride's exhilarating and it's the perfect pick me up after an exhausting flight.
The BodyHoliday is a wonderful experience. Based at the North of the Island on a virtually private beach, it combines an all-inclusive resort experience with a Wellness Centre providing a range of spa treatments, all included in the package. I was truly spoilt! My days were mainly spent lazing on the beach and being pampered in the spa, but it wasn't all relaxation. A range of activities is also available to keep the more energetic entertained, of which I sampled the walking and bike riding (which on a mountainous island like St Lucia is definitely not all relaxation!) and yoga.
The restaurants and bars were great - my favourite being the piano and champagne bar - and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food, particularly at TAO restaurant (voted by Condé Nast as one of the top 60 tables in the world). Top tip: pre-book your daily treatments and visits to TAO restaurant as these are popular!
My final two days were to be spent further South at the Jalousie Plantation. I hired a taxi for an afternoon to see a little of the island between resorts and we followed the coast South. The views were simply stunning. Cove after cove of picturesque coastal towns and beaches, backing onto miles of unspoiled rainforest and eventually the majestic Piton Mountains.
The Jalousie Plantation sits between these mountains in the majestic Valley of the Pitons: 192 acres of magnificent rainforest, stretching down to the white sands of Sugar Beach. It's setting is absolutely stunning and I happily spent my days watching the comings and goings from the beach, gazing out to sea and snorkelling amongst the sealife at the foot of the mountains. Perfect!
