Best of St Lucia

Best of St. Lucia is the forum for news, events and promotions for sister resorts  Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain and their resort facilities  Scuba St. Lucia, Bike St. Lucia, Kayak St Lucia . Best of St Lucia also is the forum for Elope to Paradise Weddings. Tranquility, Romance, Adventure : What were Caribbean hotels like when you sat watching the sunset instead of cable TV? You can still find that Classic Caribbean at Anse Chastanet on St. Lucia’s quiet southwestern coast where two magical peaks, the Pitons, leap from the sea and the mountains are covered with luminous greenery. Architect owner Nick Troubetzkoy believes passionately in nature. So he created a hotel that makes the foliage and the flowers, the perfumes and the peaks, the sea and the bird song an integral part of your vacation experience. The estate encompasses 600 lush tropical acres bordering two soft sand beaches. The resort’s two crystal-clear bays are part of a designated marine reserve protecting miles of colorful coral reefs teeming with tropical fish. With such a unique setting as his canvas, Nick Troubetzkoy was inspired to design a one -of-a-kind resort. A dozen rooms are tucked in behind the coconut palms that line the beach and the remainder tip toe up a flower decked hillside, taking advantage of the captivating scenery all around. Anse Chastanet’s ever growing art collection provides a visual feast of its own. There are impressive wooden sculptures and plaques, earthy burlap compositions, painted “sky ceilings” and vibrant acrylic paintings invoking memories of Matisse and Picasso. And while the sensuous seclusion of the rooms provides some guests with the perfect excuse for lolling away the day on the balcony, others head out to partake in the many activities on offer; yoga, snorkeling, scuba diving, tennis, sunset sailing, sea kayaking or jungle biking, hiking and bird-watching among the ruins of an 18th century colonial plantation. The less actively inclined simply do nothing, lie on the beach or get pampered in the resort’s spa, Kai Belté. Culinary experiences abound. Rising majestically above the 600 acre beach front resort of Anse Chastanet, Jade Mountain is a cornucopia of organic architecture celebrating St Lucia’s stunning scenic beauty. Architect owner Nick Troubetzkoy has expanded upon his philosophyof building in harmony with Caribbean nature in his creation of Jade Mountain.The bold architectural design – individual bridges leading to exceptional infinity poolsanctuaries and rugged stoned-faced columns reaching towards the sky – makes Jade Mountain one of the Caribbean’s most mesmerizing resort experiences. Expect grand sweeping spaces where bedroom, living area and an extravagantprivate infinity pool glide into one another to form extraordinary platforms floatingout into nature. With the fourth wall entirely absent, Jade Mountain’s sanctuaries arestage-like settings from which to embrace the full glory of St Lucia’s Pitons World Heritage Site, and of course, the eternal Caribbean Sea. Wrapped around an infinity pool with a dazzling kaleidoscope of colors, the Jade Mountain Club caters exclusively to resident guests, celebrating James Beard Awardwinner Chef Allen Susser’s “Jade Cuisine.” Hovering in space above the Jade Mountain Club is the Celestial Terrace, perfect for sunset cocktails or star-gazing. A wide range of spa services can be enjoyed in the privacy of the Jade Mountain sanctuaries or at Kai en Ciel, Jade Mountain’s boutique spa and fitness studio. Enjoy the exclusivity and privacy of Jade Mountain plus all of Anse Chastanet’srestaurants, bars, boutiques, art gallery, spa, scuba, bike and watersports facilities aswell Reservations : 1-800-223-1108 or 758-459 6100 e-mail : ansechastanet@candw.lc and jademountain@ansechastanet.com