The Pitons in St. Lucia

I have found paradise! Its name is Jalousie! In my travels so far I have found no getaway to compare. Jalousie is a fairly new resort created by Hilton hotels on the island of St. Lucia, in the West Indies. Now before I describe this heaven on earth I must let you know it does not come cheap. No, it’s pricey, but worth it.

The resort sits on what must be described as the best parcel of real estate on this already stunning island. Nestled between the twin “pitons”, mountains that rise directly from the ocean to a height of 4000 feet or so, on a quiet cove, Hilton has procured 400 acres of lush tropical land. The great house, modeled after an old sugar plantation houses the restaurants, a ballroom, and a conference room. Down the expansive lawn from the great house is the huge pool just steps from a white sandy beach, with restaurant/bar pavilion. The beach features thatched umbrellas to shade you from the strong St. Lucian sun. You can choose to swim in the soft Caribbean bay or the pool with the effort of a few steps. Or if you don’t feel like getting up at all you can have you lunch and drinks delivered to you at your seat. For those really active, there is a small water sports pavilion where you may indulge in sunfish sail boats, water-skiing, snorkeling and day and half day boat trips to other areas of the island. Also just a short ride from the resort is the islands volcano where you can view an impressive smoking crater. There are also trips to the regenerative sulfur springs and a gorgeous botanical garden filled with indigenous plants and cooling waterfalls.

Whether you choose to fill your day doing nothing or scouting the area an even bigger treat awaits you back at your “room”. Each accommodation is in a cottage complete with comfy beds with mosquito netting (not that you need it), terraces and your own plunge pool. The cottages come with an ocean view or a view of the amazing pitons. The rooms are set away from the great house up in the plush tropical hills and you are ferried around by small vans on demand, to the beach, great house, etc. The resort boasts several restaurants, one very upscale with good local and continental fare and one beach side, where the food is somewhat less than exemplary. Room service is 24 hours, a lovely perk for those late night munchies. I found the room service food far superior to the beach side restaurant.

This is not a place to dance ’til dawn, unless of course it is just you and your significant other. Most of the resort closes down by around nine and nighttime entertainment consists mainly of a game of pool or chess on the resorts huge outside chessboard. However as I said the booze and food can continue to come all night long with room service.

The resort also boasts a full service spa, offering massage, facials, scrubs, etc. and the service in the spa is impeccable, something I don’t often say of spas. The treatments I got at the Jalousie spa rival the ones I have gotten anywhere.

The staff is friendly and attentive, something often lacking unfortunately. Jalousie is the place to go if you want peace and quiet, unobtrusive service and the ultimate in pampering and despite the sticker shock, worth every penny.

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