T+L Readers Have Ranked This Caribbean All-inclusive As One of many Finest within the World for Extra Than a Decade

Set on a cliff overlooking St. Lucia’s iconic twin volcanoes, the Pitons, and the Caribbean Sea, Jade Mountain Resort boasts some of the spectacular views on earth.

Earlier than visiting, I spent years swooning over photographs of the well-known Infinity Pool Sanctuaries, which deliberately have simply three partitions to encourage interplay between visitors and nature. But it surely wasn’t till I stayed right here myself that I really understood why the property has been named among the best resorts within the Caribbean by Journey + Leisure readers for greater than 10 consecutive years.

After a flight and an hour’s drive to the island’s southwestern coast, my husband and I arrived on the resort simply in time for sundown. The fully open-air idea means each facet of the standard resort expertise has been reimagined. Hallways have been changed with private suspended “sky bridges” that lead visitors on to their sanctuary, the place the check-in course of is accomplished together with your Main Domo, or butler.

It’s no shock the resort is a success amongst {couples}. Regardless of being fully open to the weather, the dearth of growth in entrance of the property ensures visitors have full privateness, even whereas skinny dipping, sipping Champagne, and bird-watching within the large infinity swimming pools. In keeping with the resort, the longest a pair has stayed of their sanctuary with out leaving is 5 days. As our non-public butler defined all of the totally different in-suite companies — from multicourse dinners to massages — that could possibly be organized, luxuriating eternally appeared a nice chance.

Earlier than Jade Mountain Resort grew to become a actuality in 2006, proprietor Nick Troubetzkoy spent 25 years dreaming up an natural architectural marvel that showcased St. Lucia’s pure magnificence. Because the story goes, he got here to the island in 1970 to work with a Canadian architectural agency and by no means left. His first resort was Anse Chastanet, Jade Mountain’s beachside sister property, which debuted in 2000 with a collection of open-air bungalows that rapidly grew to become a profitable proof of idea for Troubetzkoy’s barrier-breaking designs.

The expertise is taken to a brand new degree at Jade Mountain Resort, which sits on the higher portion of the 600 acres and caters to adults searching for utter tranquility. (Kids beneath age 16 usually are not permitted.) The mountainside advanced is an engineering feat: its free-form construction was created nearly fully from supplies discovered on-site. Every room has a person structure and design, and all of the water used to fill the swimming pools comes from a system of reservoirs that flows into an on-site water therapy plant. Sustainability has been vital to the property since day one. Right now, it weaves that ethos into all the things from meals and beverage programming to on-site actions.

“Many experiences at Jade draw from our Emerald Property regenerative farm, from bean-to-bar cacao harvesting excursions and chocolate making to vegan and Creole historical past cooking workshops,” says Karolin Troubetzkoy, Jade Mountain Resort’s co-owner and govt director.

After we weren’t in our sanctuary, we relaxed on the property’s two seashores, snorkeled amongst turtles and colourful fish, and indulged in farm-to-table delicacies (together with nightly truffles made on the on-site chocolate lab).

Right here, my assessment of Jade Mountain Resort covers all the things it’s essential to know in regards to the rooms, actions, spa, and extra. 

The Rooms

Among the many 29 sweeping suites are two dozen Infinity Pool Sanctuaries that really feel extra like floating artistic endeavors than conventional rooms. These areas vary from 1,400 to 2,000 sq. ft, with the Galaxy Sanctuaries on the property’s southwest nook providing essentially the most spacious layouts, panoramic vistas, and the biggest swimming pools at round 900 sq. ft. Surfaced with iridescent glass tiles, every pool has its personal coloration scheme, which extends to the remainder of the interiors, together with the platformed rest room, full with a mounted chromotherapy whirlpool for 2. At night time, the swimming pools are illuminated with colourful lights — visitors can choose the shade or choose to have the system mechanically cycle by a spectrum of hues.

On the decrease degree, 5 Sky Whirlpool Suites characteristic deep-soaking tubs for 2 however no infinity swimming pools. One in every of these suites has air-con (which may be requested), whereas the remainder of the rooms have a number of massive ceiling followers. Because of the 15-foot ceilings and absent fourth wall, it often feels fairly breezy. With a mixture of sustainably sourced tropical woods, native stone, pink blush-colored coral plaster from Barbados, and {custom} wooden furnishings, the suites have a heat and eclectic really feel that enhances the pure surroundings.

Meals and Drink

With its personal natural farm and an on-site chocolate lab, it’s secure to say Jade Mountain Resort takes its culinary programming severely. The Jade Mountain Membership provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the higher degree by an infinity pool overlooking the Pitons.

Catering solely to Jade Mountain visitors, the hilltop eating room has a tranquil and refined ambiance, with reside music on choose evenings and an incredible wine checklist. It’s simple to spend hours right here — partly as a result of the tropical-inspired “Jade Delicacies,” created by James Beard award-winning chef Allen Susser, is simply that good. Whereas the day by day altering menus make it tempting to dine right here every night time, don’t miss the opposite eating places at sister resort Anse Chastanet. Midway down the mountain, Treehouse Restaurant serves Caribbean delicacies and provides a separate vegan menu for dinner. You’ll discover a restaurant on the principal seashore serving Creole specialties for lunch and Saint Lucia-East Indian fusion for dinner. One other standout spot for lunch is the Jungle Bar and Grill on the second seashore of Anse Mamin, the place we ate burgers, ceviche, and rum cocktails beneath a palapa.

These searching for a extra intimate meal can go for the multi-course “Six in Your Sanctuary” room service expertise. Personal dinners may also be organized on the seashore at Anse Chastanet or on the rooftop Celestial Terrace above the Jade Mountain Membership. Each resorts supply a calendar of specialty culinary occasions, from weekly Lionfish Seashore Dinners that intention to assist management the invasive species to programming round seasonal occasions like Creole Heritage and Chocolate Month in October and mango season in June.

Actions and Experiences

St. Lucia is an unsung journey paradise with climbing trails, coral reefs, volcanoes, waterfalls, and dirt baths to discover. Jade Mountain Resort is inside simple attain of lots of the island’s pure and cultural highlights, because of its place on the southwest coast. The property has an on-site scuba heart with PADI-certified guides that can assist you attain dive and snorkel websites, together with some reefs instantly off the shore. A variety of complimentary actions are provided, together with Creole historical past lessons, cocktail receptions, chocolate sensory tastings, and guided day by day walks. We particularly loved the Plantation Tour with veteran information and herbalist Meno, who covers the historical past of the property’s colonial-era plantation ruins and the island’s conventional medicinal vegetation. Adrenaline seekers will love the custom-designed jungle and mountain biking trails. And people impressed to hike up Gros Piton can organize to do the arduous climb with a information.

In case your keep falls on a Thursday, don’t miss the Jazzy Sundown Cruise aboard the resort’s 60-foot, double-decker catamaran, Miss Babsie. Whereas crusing previous the Pitons and listening to a reside saxophonist, we had been greeted by dozens of pilot whales. Company may also organize to go to the Emerald Property natural farm, which provides cooking lessons, tree-to-bar chocolate excursions, and beer tastings on the on-site microbrewery.

The Spa

Company can select from varied spa therapies of their sanctuary or one of many property’s two air-conditioned spas. Kai en Kiel (which implies “home in heaven” in Patois/Creole has two therapy rooms at Jade Mountain Resort, whereas the beachside Kai Belté (which means “home of magnificence”) provides three therapy rooms and a nail and hair salon. There’s additionally a seaside cabana for these trying to pair their therapeutic massage with the sounds of the ocean. The property’s in-sanctuary rituals are a standout and vary from chocolate-infused physique therapies to Ayurvedic chakra-balancing massages. Different highlights embrace the facials utilizing Voya’s merchandise, that are made out of hand-harvested seaweed and aromatherapy therapies.

As a part of its spa choices, the resort has a strong yoga programming, with complimentary dawn and sundown lessons led by resident instructors. It’s value waking up early to catch the category at 7 a.m. on the Celestial Terrace earlier than the warmth of the day, however non-public periods may also be requested.

Accessibility and Sustainability

As the primary resort within the Caribbean to obtain the LEED Gold certification standing in 2016, Jade Mountain Resort has lengthy been a pacesetter in environmentally acutely aware practices. Amongst its largest feats is its water administration, which harvests and purifies greater than 12,000 gallons day by day, lowering the burden in town of Soufriere’s water provide. The property additionally helps the neighborhood by office well being clinics, internships, work expertise applications, and charitable applications. Ocean stewardship is a rising concern, so the property provides visitor experiences comparable to coral reef restoration dives and PADI Dive In opposition to Particles applications.

With its many stairs and steep slopes, Jade Mountain Resort will not be totally ADA-compliant or really helpful to those that use wheelchairs.

Location

The 600-acre property sits on St. Lucia’s south-western Caribbean shoreline, about an hour’s drive from the Hewanorra Worldwide Airport (UVF) and a 75-minute drive from the inter-island airport, George Charles Airport (SLU.) The resort can organize a switch from the airport to the property by automotive or helicopter (sure, the property has its personal helipad) for an ultra-scenic and speedy arrival.

The placement provides visitors quick access to a few of the island’s finest climbing trails, reefs, and geological wonders, together with the world’s solely drive-in volcano, Sulphur Springs. The closest city, Soufriere, is a 10-minute drive away, the place you’ll discover brightly painted buildings, a bustling market, and several other native eating places.

The island is heat year-round, although bouts of rain may be anticipated between June and November. Since St. Lucia is located within the southeastern a part of the Caribbean basin, simply south of the area’s principal “hurricane belt,” climate methods are typically weak. Nonetheless, it’s a good suggestion to verify the forecast earlier than your keep if you happen to’re visiting in the summertime or fall.

Tips on how to Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

The resort provides a spread of room charges, together with an all-inclusive meal plan, which about 70 % of visitors select, says Troubetzkoy. These reserving with an American Categorical Platinum Card can rating some additional perks like early check-in and a room improve (when out there), day by day breakfast for 2, a spa credit score, and late check-out. Packages catering to honeymooners, scuba divers, and journey lovers are provided year-round, which may result in further financial savings on actions or the choice to get the fourth or fifth night time free. Belief us, you’ll need to keep longer than a weekend.