November 20, 2012
If St. Lucia were a movie, its reviews would be the kind that would warrant a full-page ad in the newspaper. Condé Nast Traveler named it one of the Top 10 Islands in the Caribbean and Atlantic. And Travel + Leisure raves about its “staggering variety of landscapes, from jungle-draped peaks and black-sand beaches to tranquil cocoa plantations.”
Find out what all the hype is about with a tropical Escape to Cotton Bay Village, a chic resort that’s gotten plenty of its own buzz―TripAdvisor travelers deemed it one of the Top 25 Relaxation/Spa Hotels in the Caribbean.
Whisk away your leading lady or man for four nights in a one-bedroom Tamarind Villa ($595). Or take the whole crew to either a two-bedroom Calabash Villa ($795) or a three-bedroom Terra Cotta Villa ($959). Each ultra-private villa is decorated in an airy, colorful island style with teak furniture, let-the-breeze-in shutters, and marble bathrooms.
Get the camera rolling with a leisurely complimentary breakfast. Then pull up a chaise to the sprawling, sparkling lagoon-like pool, or hit the beach.
“Cotton Bay Beach is more than a mile long and is so secluded that it’s virtually private,” says Fodor’s review of Cotton Bay Village. “Take lessons in windsurfing or kiteboarding, arrange a horseback trek along the beach, enjoy golf next door, or charter a yacht for a day. You’re living like royalty here, so you might as well go whole hog.”
All the activities make the perfect prelude to an included full-body massage at Cotton Bay’s luxe Casuarina Spa. There are also plenty of perks for those who have child stars in tow. The Hummingbird Club provides a host of fun things for little ones, including hiking trips, sand-castle-building sessions, and water-balloon shot-put games. Parents can even pre-order baby and toddler supplies and have them ready and waiting when they arrive.
Want to scout some locations beyond the resort? A short drive away lies the lush, fragrant Diamond Falls and botanical gardens, part of an estate once owned by Louis XIV, where you’ll find gorgeous blossoms and birds, a shimmering waterfall, and hot mineral springs.
Even Hollywood agrees with St. Lucia: It’s been the backdrop for many a big-name movie. You could, in fact, call it picture perfect—which pretty much describes this Escape.
