lin Delamaine

It will be Anse Chastanet for our honeymoon in April. Can anyone help me with some idea of what the food is like? We like to eat quality - not necessarily quantity - and are a little concerned about what the food might be like there. Also, what is there to do in the evening?

lisa

Lin: I did not stay at Anse Chastatnet but at a neighboring resort, Ladera. We did spend 2-3 days on Anse Chastanet's beach enjoying the fantastic snorkeling there, however. I can vouch for lunch at the restaurant on the beach at AC: the food is very good and reasonably priced. Try the rotis. The tropical drinks are wonderful too, and we thought the service (both in the restaurant and on the beach) was very good. We did not eat breakfast or dinner there though so I can't tell you about those. <BR> <BR>I will say this: if for some reason you don't care for the food at Anse Chastanet, go elsewhere for dinner. I highly recommend the food at Ladera's restaurant, Dasheene. It has a spectacular setting and you should really go there at least for drinks at sunset one night even if not for dinner. There is a manager's barbecue once a week which includes a complimentary happy hour and a buffet of freshly-grilled fish, steak, checken, pork, etc. with lots of side dishes and desserts, and a calypso band for dancing afterwards (you can call and find out what night it is). We also liked the food at the Jalousie Hilton and had an excellent buffet dinner there on the beach one night, which included entertainment (limbo dancers, fire eaters, etc.) and dancing to a reggae band. Again, I would call or ask a concierge at your hotel and find out when that is. It is fun and romantic to eat dinner on the beach there, at white linen-covered tables with candelight and all the stars overhead. <BR> <BR>There is another fun restaurant nearby on the other side of the Jalousie Hilton called "Bang" which is very casual but has excellent grilled fish and other grilled items. They have a floor show after dinner once a week that is pretty bizarre but kind of fun with twin fire-eaters and acrobats. <BR> <BR>The Hummingbird restaurant in Soufriere is also very good for dinner. <BR> <BR>The locally-brewed beer, Piton is very good if either of you are beer drinkers. <BR>Have a wonderful time on St. Lucia -- we loved it!

lisa

Lin: Just to clarify something in my previous message -- the weekly manager's barbecue at Ladera is not complimentary; only the happy hour beforehand is. The dinner itself costs money (can't remember how much -- seems like it might have been around $35 apiece). I only mentioned that because you asked about things to do at night and that does have a band with dancing. If you aren't interested in that then you should just go there any night for regular dinner from the menu -- it's excellent (no entertainment on the regular nights though -- the setting is the entertainment!). If you go to Ladera, ask if they will show you a room -- you have to see them to believe them -- it's the best view in the world!

Bonnie

Delamaine, We were at Anse Chastanet last May. The food is wonderful, the dinners are gormet with many courses and several choices. They had entertainment every evening, usually island music, fire eaters, etc. Check out my trip report at www.caribtravelnews.com/ctr_7.htm. Go to island index and then St. Lucia. Bonnie <BR>

Phoebe

I'm considering either Anse Chastanet or Ladera for my next vacation. Anyone who can tell me more about these two resorts in terms of rooms and views? Thanks.

ellen

It's been 4 or 5 years since I've last been to Anse Chastanet - which we absolutely adore - but, unless a lot of roadwork has been going on in the intervening years, suggesting going elsewhere for dinner might not be as easy as it sounds. The road to the hotel is pretty scary - lots of pot holes and hairpin turns hanging over cliffs - best to leave the driving to the local people - or travel by boat. <BR>I personally find the food I've experienced in the Caribbean to be a bit on the heavy and greasy side for my taste - but my husband thinks it's fabulous! When we were there, the hotel offered a choice of entree each night which I believe you choose at breakfast. I dont touch fish or seafood but chicken, beef or something veggie was always on the menu. I wouldnt call the food gourmet, but it was plentiful and involved lots of fresh ingredients (we still joke about the "cheesy bananas" that were served as a side-dish one night!) <BR>As far as what there is to do in the evening....one night a marine biologist came by and showed slides - another night a little local combo played before dinner - again, unless a lot has changed, (which I sincerely hope it hasnt!) this is not the spot to choose for jumping nightlife. We found it to be a real early to bed early to rise experience! <BR>In terms of the rooms - they were fairly simple, but comfortable - no A/C - they are scattered all over the steep hillside the hotel sits on and most have pretty impressive views of the Pitons. The walk up from the beach like climbing a small mountain and we were glad that our room wasnt all that far up on the hill as some others were - down side of the location was that we sometimes had fairly strong cooking odors wafting through the room from the kitchen in the main building.

lisa

Phoebe: You asked about rooms at Ladera and at Anse Chastanet. The rooms at Ladera are open-air and have the most incredible views you can imagine. Each one looks out over the Pitons and the Caribbean. You can lie in bed and watch the sun set (or rise). It is truly amazing. Almost all the rooms have personal plunge pools in the room and some have personal swimming pools. The staff brings in fresh flowers every day from the garden they have on-site. The rooms have a lot of natural hardwoods and fieldstone. They are sort of rustic feeling rather than fussy or frilly. You feel like you are part of the beautiful environment -- birds fly right into your room. There is no A/C but you don't need it because Ladera is elevated high up on a hillside and gets lovely breezes. Check out Ladera's website if you haven't already: www.ladera-resort.com (you can see what the rooms look like there) -- and Anse Chastanet's is www.ansechastanet.com

tbk73

Since we are talking about the rooms at AC and Ladera... any comments on the rooms and facilities in general at the Jalousie Hilton?

tammy

In response to Phoebe's question of Anse chastanet or Ladera.. <BR>We are going on our honeymoon this december and are staying at Ladera part of the time. We did alot of research on both places and over all there seem to be much better reviews of Ladera...up between the mountains, great views, great rooms, great food..and their are shuttle everyday to take you to the beach at Jalousie Hilton or Anse Chastanet. Famous people have stayed at Ladera also.... It sounds wonderful and we can't wait!!! We are also staying at sandals st. lucia part of the time.. <BR>Will post a message upon our return and answer more questions!

Teri

I have just recently returned from my trip to St. Lucia and Anse Chastanet. Im sure the rooms at Ladera are wonderful but being a beach lover myself the idea of traveling those roads every day to get to the beach did not thrill me. A/C is wonderful, We have never been to a more romantic spot in our lives. You dont ever have to leave the resort. There is hiking and snorkeling right there on the resort. We hiked the plantation area by ourselves and felt like we were the only people on the island. The rooms are perfect. Every day I would take an hour long shower just because I loved the feeling of showering outdoors. We had a tree in our shower and no full walls to our room. The rooms are private but extreamly open with the most incredible views. Every day I would wake up to little birds chirping and flowers in my view from every direction. We could watch the sun set and rise from our room and see the hummingbirds fly from flower to flower. Everything about A/C was perfect. We loved the staff the food the beach.....I have serious withdrawls and want to go back in the worst way. We have been to quite a few resorts (some very fancy) but A/C is our speed. Very laid back and peacfull. No nightlife, no casino's (thank God). They do however have local entertainment come every night consisting of steel bands etc. A/C is not for the physically challanged, we had 300 steps to get to our room from the beach and loved every minute of it. To all the people that posted negative remarks on A/C...I pity you. A/C is a resort that allows people to appreciate natural beauty if your looking for a fancy resort with a busy night life go to the Atlantis in the Bahamas. Of all the places we have been this is the one resort we will return to. It is Simply Beautiful....

lisa

Teri: Thanks for the great trip report. It's good to hear you had such a wonderful time at Anse Chastanet. And I know what you mean about the withdrawal -- St. Lucia is so beautiful. Sounds like you look for the same things in a vacation that I do -- relaxation, not flashy casinos and nightlife. I wish more places at other destinations had open rooms like Ladera and AC. Now that I've experienced that, the idea of staying in an air-conditioned room with 4 walls doesn't appeal as much -- but it seems very hard to find places with open rooms on other islands. Have you been to any others or do you know of any?

Bonnie

Teri: I know what you mean. We were at Anse Chastanet last May and really had a good time. It is our type of vacation too! I haven't been to Young Island but it sounds ery similar to A/C. Lynn McKamey wrote about it on her web site and I read it when I read about her A/C trip. Her address is www.scubamom.com. Go into the Caribbean part and look up her trip report on Anse Chastanet. Bonnie

Teri

Bonnie, its so funny that you mention young island. I have just been researching St. Vincint and the Grenadines. Ive looked up several resorts with open air rooms besides Young Island. Firefly Inn on Mustique, Palm Island Beach Club on Palm Island and Petit St. Vincent Resort on Petit St. Vincent Island. The later seems to be a favorite amongst travelers however I belive it is quiet expensive. I thought AC to be very reasonable. I am like you obsessed with finding the relaxed atmosphere that we had at AC. Now any plain old 4 wall, air conditioned room just wond do. If you hear of any other resorts I would love to hear about it. Thanks for Scuba Moms address...Im going to look that up now! <BR>

Teri

Lisa, I am in the process of looking into finding resorts with open air concept now. I just wrote a message to Bonnie in this Fourm on some open air resorts that I am researching in St. Vincing and the Grenadines. Check it out....And if you find out about any other resorts, let me know. Thanks, Teri <BR>

lisa

Teri & Bonnie -- Thanks for the info. I have been looking up a bunch of these open-air places mentioned in your posts, and they all look fantastic, but they all seem awfully pricey. Ladera is starting to look like a huge bargain at $190/night including breakfast, and I know there are packages that make it even less than that. Also, FYI, in November my boyfriend and I are going to Costa Rica for two weeks, and at least one of the places we are staying there is open-air as well. I'll post a trip report in the Latin America forum when we get back.

Bonnie

Lisa & Teri, I would be interested in a trip report. Where in Costa Rica are you staying? Many of the beautiful open air places are expensive, part of the problem is difficulty getting there too. I don't know if I will ever find snorkeling so convienent and good as at Anse Chastanet, but you never know. Bonnie

lisa

Bonnie: We are staying in five different areas of Costa Rica over the course of two weeks. The most remote place, and the place with the open-air bungalows, is called Lapa Rios. It is on the Osa Peninsula in the south of the country on the Pacific side. It is very pricey -- by far the most expensive place we've ever stayed (rates are per person) -- but includes all meals and we're only staying there 3 nights and staying in less expensive places during the rest of our trip. The food is reportedly fantastic and the jungle location assures all sorts of wildlife viewing -- scarlet macaws, monkeys, toucans, etc. Aside from the price, the only other downside is that you have to fly in on a small plane from one of the other major cities in Costa Rica, although the flights are short and not that expensive. The website is http://www.laparios.com/laparios.htm if you are interested in checking it out. Actually, now that I think about it, we did come across at least one other open-air place in Costa Rica while researching our trip -- Makanda-by-the-Sea. It is in the Quepos area on the central Pacific coast, near Manuel Antonio National Park. Here is the website address: http://www.makanda.com/costarica/hotel/3avilla1.shtml It is supposed to be wonderful too but we ultimately decided to stay at a less-expensive hotel just down the road that got equally good reviews, called Si Como No (http://www.sicomono.com/rooms.htm) -- I believe that parts of this hotel have an open-air design as well and the rooms have large balconies that open up to the Pacific which you can see from the photos on the website. The other places we're staying are Villa Caletas, a little farther north on the Pacific Coast (http://distinctivehotels.com/hotelvi...etas/rooms.htm), Vista del Valle (www.vistadelvalle.com) which is outside of San Jose near Grecia, and Tabacon Resort which is near La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano (www.tabacon.com). Actually, I think Vista del Valle may have somewhat of an open-air design in some of its rooms, and Villa Caletas may as well judging from some of the photos on the website. <BR>Costa Rica is not known for its snorkeling so I'm sure it can't beat Anse Chastanet in that regard, but we're hoping its other charms will make up for it! I will definitely post a trip report when we get back.

peter Daley

Stayed at A/C after chartering a sailboat out of S.Vincent & sailed Grenadines. The island that impressed most was Bequia, second Mustique. Enjoyed everything about A/C except the walk up & down from the beach. Food good , Rooms good. If food doesn't suit there are a couple of good restaurant off the property in Soufriere. Didn't think much of Palm Island but Bequia has all the attributes you are looking for in a carribean island - namely as yet undiscovered. Yet v. good food friendly people & even a book shop downtown. <BR>Peter J

Bonnie

Check out the December issue of Caribbean Travel & Life for a good article on St. Lucia, especially the Soufrere area. There is a picture of Anse Chastanet on the cover. Bonnie

lin delamaine

Thank you all so much for your responses. We are booked for the first week in April and have requested either room 7 or 14 and are very excited about this trip. We don't mind stairs and, if we have to stop for a cocktail partway up the steps, we can manage it. Again, thankyou all.