We sit on the deck overlooking the ocean, palm trees and St Lucia’s most famous site–The Pitons, the two tall lava cones that differentiate this Caribbean island. We’ve stopped at Jalousie Plantation, spread over a 192 acres on what was once a working sugar plantation just outside the town of Soufriere in between Pitons. We are staring right at the mountain—right next to us!
There are 100 villas and 12 sugar mill rooms. The Villa we’re using for the day makes me hate to leave—an airy deck complete with small plunge pool, drop dead view and cozy lounges. There’s a living room (with pull out couch for the kids), giant four poster in the bedroom and bathroom with the biggest shower I’ve ever seen and one outdoors too.
If that’s not enough, there are complimentary kids’ activities, complimentary water sports (including a dive each day) the chance to enjoy dinner on the verandah of the “big house” – The Great Room (want a personal tasting menu?) as if you were the guest of a plantation owner or prepared on your deck by a chef. There is a new specialty rum bar, The Cane Bar, with an expert who can help you choose the right run while you settle into oversized white chairs. Fun! It makes you wonder what life was like back in the days when this was a working plantation—as long as you weren’t working in the fields, as long as you could manage the heat and humidity.
That’s what we’re treated to for lunch—fresh just caught snapper, chicken, local grilled pineapple and pumpkin, cucumbers and tomatoes, the best avocado I’ve ever tasted, mashed potatoes. Do we have room for desert? Absolutely, we eat it poolside– an assortment of cheesecake, chocolate cake and pecan tart.
The best part was we didn’t have to move from our deck. We had the pool, the view and the convenience. And we didn’t have to clean up! Book a luxury villa and you get a butler to cater to your every whim, (look for deals at www.jalousieplantation.com). If I were staying here I might not ever leave—except there’s a lovely beach with thatched sun shelters, lush gardens (have a massage in the new tree houses being built in the rain forest!), fishing, snorkeling on the reef just along the shore and those Pitons—the resort is set between the two jutting lava cones. It might be one of the most spectacular settings I’ve ever seen ideal for a romantic getaway or a girl’s weekend or an interesting place to share with the kids—even easier to get there with nonstop flights on Jet Blue from New York. The resort, incidentally, is only 40 minutes from the airport.
Kids will love the spacious kids club. Teens will like the complimentary wind surfing, kayaks, pool tables, beach volleyball and ping pong. Honestly, this is one beach resort where no one will get bored. And mom and dad might actually find a little time for romance in a memorable locale.
Ready to climb the Piton now?
END of St. Lucia travel diary
