For romantics
ST LUCIA
They say: Karolin Troubetzkoy, president of the St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, says, ‘St Lucia has been my home for more than 35 years and its beauty – the majestic Pitons, the lush, mountainous, verdant terrain – still captivates me. It also creates a perfect setting for romance. The island is known as the honeymoon capital of the Caribbean. Plantation hotels like Fond Doux and Stonefield have secluded cottages in gorgeous tropical grounds, while Anse Chastanet, Jade Mountain and Ladera have suites with missing fourth walls through which you and your partner can bask in mesmerising views of the Pitons.
We say: The dating show Love Island is filmed on Mallorca, but St Lucia would be a much more suitable location – and it's been used for the American version, The Bachelor. The scenery delivers an incredibly seductive backdrop, especially in the south-west where the twin green volcanic cones of the Pitons thrust out of the ocean and fecund jungle is all around. In the most lovey-dovey hotels, bedrooms are designed to immerse occupants in their surroundings, not only with the views but through features such as outdoor garden showers. At Jade Mountain, the most famous (and expensive) romantic bolt-hole, couples have been known to not leave their palatial suites for several days, with meals delivered by butlers. Wherever you stay, dine with your loved one looking to the Pitons at Ladera’s Dasheene or in the north at Cap Maison’s first-rate Cliff at Cap, take a catamaran cruise along the west coast, and take a dip in a mud bath at the Sulphur Springs.
See for yourself
England’s men’s’ cricket team is touring the West Indies in 2019. Several matches are being held at St Lucia’s Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, close to Rodney Bay resort. Barbados, Grenada and St Kitts are also hosting matches (ecb.co.uk).
St Lucia isn’t just about sedentary holidays. You can climb the Gros Piton (four hours up and down), hike on trails through the mountainous rainforest, zip line over through the tree canopy (rainforestadventure.com), and go jungle biking (bikestlucia.com).
Where to stay: For an utterly romantic, relatively affordable hideaway, consider Ti Kaye. Adults only and miles from anywhere, its gingerbread cottages spread over a cliffside, with hammocks, rocking chairs and in some cases plunge pools on their verandas from which to lap up bewitching sea views and sunsets. Steps descend to an undeveloped, jungle-backed, silver-sand beach.