St. Lucia is an excellent destination for the next getaway you’re planning. Here are 5 ingredients to cook up your perfect St. Lucia getaway!
1. A Picturesque Resort. There are so many resorts to choose from in St. Lucia. We stayed at the Windjammer Landing Resort for a quick 4-day escape from our chaotic lives.
As we drove through the security gate we were immediately taken by the stunning views overlooking the ocean. The resort was tucked away in Labrelotte Bay on the northwestern part of the island. The Windjammer’s beautiful whitewash villas with red tiles roofs, dotted the surrounding hillside amid the palm trees and lush foliage. We stayed in a two-bedroom villa.
Christine stayed on the main floor with a private bed, bathroom, and crow’s nest. I stayed on the lower floor with my own private bed, bathroom and deck! Both of our areas had gorgeous views of the surrounding hillside, ocean, and beach. It was very easy to slip into the peaceful and quiet island life on St. Lucia.
There was a shuttle service from the main resort area to the hillside villas if you didn’t want to make the mostly uphill trek. The shuttles were scheduled at 15-minute intervals, but we never had to wait for more than a few minutes to get a lift up the hill. We opted to walk frequently because our villa was ideally located close to the main resort area, a second pool section, and Papa Don’s Restaurant. During our last day we rode the shuttle all the way to the top of the hill where we were greeted with stunning views of Labrelotte Bay, adjacent resorts, and private residences.
2. A Stunning Beach. The beach was breathtaking! We took tons of pictures from different locations – lounging on the beach, taking a leisurely stroll, or wading out to the gently lapping waves. The beach was not crowded so we had no problems snapping that perfect picture of palm trees, sand, and sun without a stray beachcomber in the shot. No crowds also made it easy to find the perfect set of beach chairs in a shaded spot to enjoy our favorite books or a midday nap. We also did not have to wait to claim an over-the-water hammock. The water was just the right temperature to cool us from the warm Caribbean sun as we swayed in the gentle breeze.
There were planned activities all day. Our favorite activity was water aerobics! We saw several guests playing bocce ball, corn hole, and ping pong. An activity dock at the far end of the resort rented equipment for scuba diving, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and kayaking. There was also water skiing, and jet skiing options. The resort had an onsite tour desk with excursions available to view the island’s main attractions – the Pitons, Soufriere “Drive-In” Volcano, and Pigeon Island.
3. Plenty of Food and Drinks. We were on the all-inclusive plan, so we enjoyed to the fullest all that the four onsite the restaurants had to offer! Breakfast was served at Jammers and Dragonfly. Both venues had breakfast buffets and a station that prepared made-to-order omelets and egg dishes. Dragon Fly featured local cuisine such as plantains and fresh fish. Our favorite dish were the Bakes – a. Lucian breakfast bread with the taste and consistency of a yeast donut. We also tried the local dishes of salt fish and beef bouillon and the many exotic colorful drinks. There was a lobby café that served coffee, espresso drinks, and pastries for those who wish for lighter fare. We had lunch at Embers and Jammers. The later had a barbeque buffet and better menu. My favorites were the fish tacos. We had our first dinner at Jammers and enjoyed the fried calamari and the catch of the day, mahi mahi with pineapple salsa.
Our villa was conveniently located across the street from another pool area and the 4th and best restaurant on property, Papa Don’s. For our last evening in St. Lucia, we had a delicious dinner of champagne shrimp risotto, chicken parmesan, cannoli, and panna cotta. Reservations were required for this venue. We barely got in on the last day, so I recommend making them immediately after checking in.
4. Breathtaking Photo Opportunities. We opted to take the scenic drive back to the airport along the west coast to catch a glimpse of the famed Pitons – two twin volcanic mountains 3 miles apart separated by a beautiful sandy beach. The ride from our resort was well worth the winding roads and 2-hour drive! We drove through the largest banana plantation on the island, passed quaint fishing villages, and enjoyed many breathtaking views of the Pitons. My favorite stop was at Cacao, maker of St. Lucian artisanal chocolate, where we purchased chocolate bars for gift-giving and truffles to snack on the ride back to the airport – yum!
5. Great Deal. Take full advantage of your empty nest status and go when the pricing and crowds are low. Mid-January to late February is an ideal time to plan a vacation to St. Lucia. Hurricane season is over and the holiday rush has come and gone. Plus, there are so many ways to experience St. Lucia – cruise, resort, or vacation rental!
Are you ready to experience the lush tropical vibe with the ocean waves softly lulling you to sleep in your beach chair? Now is the best time for pricing a comprehensive vacation package to the Caribbean including flights, resort, meals, excursions, and airport transfers. Your island paradise getaway to St. Lucia is only an email away! leah@escapethenesttravel.com