We're about to confirm Ladera for mid-November. We can get a five night package with or without a meal plan that costs 589.00 per person. We've never been to this area and need some input as to what the dining options are. From what I've read, Ladera's only restaurant is pretty good. Continental breakfast goes with the room, regardless. Also - any thoughts on whether we should rent a car? We should arrive at the hotel around 6 pm the first evening and leave around noon on the 6th day. Thanks.

Ladera is fairly isolated, so a meal plan can be a good choice there. However, if hte meal plan includes lunch every day, then I think you'll do a bit better than $100 a day by just having dinner at the restaurant, even if you eat there every night. You will find a few decent restaurants in Soufriere, and these are the only ones that are really within easy reach of Ladera. (I'm not sure if Bang is still in operation, but if it is, it was always a nice option for something fun and more casual.) The restaurant at Ladera, however, is not cheap, but it's good. It seems likely to me that you'll be off-property for many lunches (at the beach at the Jalousie Resort, for example, or touring). It's unlikely that you'll want to stay at Ladera all day, every day.

Whether or not to rent a car is a more difficult decision. You have to be prepared to drive on the left, and I'm not sure how easy it will be to get an automatic transmission. The roads on the island aren't the best, and gas is expensive. If you want to explore on your own, then rent a car, but many people find it's easier to do their exploring on organized tours. The relative isolation and expense of cabs into Soufriere means that you may not save money by not renting a car. One question: Are airport transfers included in your Ladera rate? If they are, then you may do better by not renting a car---moneywise, at least.