| |
|
|
Home
> Destinations > St. Lucia > Trip Reports > Trip Report
I've just returned from visiting the beautiful island of St. Lucia. Our American Airlines flight left out
of Dulles at 7:20 and we arrived promptly in St Lucia at 1:55 with a stopover in San Juan. We took the
hour and a half trek by cab from Vigie Airport to the Jalousie. The ride reminded me of the road to Hana,
with lots of hairpin curves and turns. The scenery was beautiful but I would take the helicopter on my
next visit, as it's only just a 5-minute ride to the hotel.
On our arrival we were handed complimentary run punches and check-in went very smoothly. We had a
1BR Villa w/plunge pool. Our villa was huge and elegantly furnished and the bathroom was very spacious.
There is a refrigerator and wet bar outside next to the plunge pool. It was one of the most romantic
settings I've ever been in on any island. Our maid always put new flower arrangements on our table and
flower petals on our bed.
My husband loved the beach. It was a beautiful white sand beach with a clear emerald green color. The
snorkeling was very good and it was such a spectacular setting as the beach is nestled between the 2
Pitons. The pool area was also nice but we never spent time there, as we loved being by the beach.
Everyday someone brought out fresh fruit and cool towels for people on the beach and in the pool area.
The fitness area was well equipped with modern machines and daily exercise classes were offered at 11:00.
The spa offered many services and I thoroughly enjoyed a Caribbean massage after one of my workouts.
Overall we thought the food was very good on the resort. Breakfast is served in the Verandah restaurant.
There was a good omelet and waffle bar and lots of fresh fruit and breads. The buffet was $16 pp. We
really liked the Bayside Restaurant for lunch. They have a pretty big menu and we normally ordered the
daily fish and pasta specials. The sandwiches and onion rings were also very good. Lunch for the 2 of us
was normally $30-$40. Our first night we ate at the Pier Restaurant, the more casual eatery. It happened
to be a buffet and the salads and entrees were very good. They also had a local band playing that night
which was very good. Our only disappointing meal at the resort was at the Plantation. Our appetizers were
very good but we found our pasta entrees to be a little bland. I think we just ordered the wrong thing. I
spoke to other guests and they all liked the food. I would definitely visit again and maybe order
something different. I will say the service here was excellent. We also had dinner at the Bang on Wed.
night and stayed for the show. It was a very fun night and the entertainment was great. One of our
favorite meals was at Dasheene. I had seen many postings raving about this restaurant and I must say its
everything I expected and more. Our concierge recommended the Courthouse in Soufriere and we really
enjoyed the local dishes especially the chicken tizki appetizer. Our favorite meal was the Caribbean
Buffet Friday night at the Bayside restaurant. They had grilled fish kabobs, steak, prime rib, conch
fritters, rice and everything you can possibly think of, and the food was absolutely delicious. The
entertainment was also very good. They had children from one of the local schools perform a few dances and
they had fire eating and limbo dancing. The show was great and it was a very fun evening. We also
heard really good things about The Still, La Mirage and the Hummingbird from the locals and other
guests.
We visited the drive-in volcano, diamond falls and the town of Soufriere. There were so many excursions
to go on but we loved just laying out by the beach. We did visit the beach at Anse Chastanet and the
snorkeling and the food at their beach restaurant was very good. We were asked many times if we needed
a guide but a simple no was fine and we were left alone. I felt very safe on the island and I found the
locals I met were some of the nicest and friendliest people.
We took the helicopter ride back to the airport and the $160 was well worth it. I have to say
the service at this resort was top notch. We met the new manager, Rui Domengues, at the manager's party
and he was very nice and always asked us how we were enjoying our stay. The staff was excellent. Teresa,
the concierge was always so pleasant and very helpful and always pointed us in the right direction. The
drivers that shuttle you around the resort were so incredibly nice and we enjoyed seeing their faces
everyday. One driver in particular, Columbus was one of the nicest people we met during our stay.
St. Lucia is a beautiful lush island and the staff at the Jalousie was simply the best.
Thanks to Ann for this trip report ...
November 1999
|
|
|
