Anse Chastanet

Pitons, palm trees and pina coladas at St Lucia’s original beach hotel, plus 5 restaurants and a dive centre

Anse Chastanet - one of the first hotels to be built in St Lucia - encapsulates the very essence of all that’s St Lucian. You get beach, you one of the best dive sites in the Windward Isles, you get lush hillsides and you get perfect views of the Pitons. Yet you’re still within walking distance of the fishing town of Soufriere, with its markets and harbour, and just a short drive away from the rainforest in the island’s interior.

The 49 vibrant rooms are in charming gazebos, semi-open to the elements and individually designed by architect owner Nick Troubetzkoy. They range from simple gingerbread cottages with stars on the ceilings, to full-blown tree-houses that blend so well with the exotic gardens that you can’t tell immediately where tree-house ends and forest begins.

Built on a 600-acre tropical estate (which it shares with sister hotel Jade Mountain), there are nature trails and 2 soft, silver-sand beaches to laze on. The first is a sociable place where you’ll soon be chatting to other guests or investing in local art; the second is secluded Anse Mamin, a little way away. Surrounded by virgin coral reefs, if you’re lucky you’ll find it completely deserted, except for you.

Highs

• Gorgeous views: waking up each morning is pure heaven
• A fabulous PADI dive centre (Anse Chastanet Reef is home to over 150 different species of fish) and free sailing, kayaking and windsurfing
• Friendly and professional service
• No air conditioning necessary and no muzak provided - gentle winds and birdsong are all you need
• Relaxing on the beach or jungle biking along the resort’s trails: a holiday at Anse Chastanet is as lazy or as exhilarating as you like
• Our rates are all up inclusive of tax, whereas others may hide this - so you have transparency!

Lows

• There’s no swimming pool, but with the Caribbean Sea below, you won’t miss it
• Not suitable for those with mobility issues as there are 100 steps leading down to the beach (though a shuttle does run around the grounds)
• No WiFi, radios or TVs in rooms - if you need to keep in touch, use one of the PCs at reception
• There’s no getting away from the fact that - though exclusive - Anse Chastanet is a resort, and some may not like the bright textiles
• Some won't like their rooms being semi-open to the elements