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ROMANCE AT ANSE CHASTANET
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A St. Lucia travel review
 villa rental staff |
| Posted by johnsilander |
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As owner of 2 rental villas on St. Lucia I'd like to offer a suggestion to potential villa renters. Please communicate with the staff conerning any problems that may arise during your holiday. They are there to make your visit the best one that is possible. If they can't solve a problem they turn it over to the property manager. A review of La Petite Fleur des Pitoons was entered for a Juen '08 visit. I thank them for the criticism because we try to provide high standards for both our villas. I'm just sorry that they didn't tell our staff immediately about their concerns. We knew nothing of this until we ead the review. The pool light has been replaced, the pool, tho only 2 years old wll be reprainted, all our bathrooms have 110 v. and converter plugs are available on request, an expandable mesh bag is supplied for laundry and holds at least 2 loads at $25e,c,, or $9.27U.S. The villa is separted from La Fleur by a 2 car parking lot, and a high privacy fence for complete privacy. The veranda has 2 chaises, a dining table and chairs, a rocking chair and the 10 by 12ft. plunge poo. Our property manager is available by cell phone 24/7, as is our staff who live on the property. Phones are in all bedrooms. Again I say, please communicate with the staff whose job it is to take good care of you. Many people enjoy the Caribbean in off-season as the weather is mostly quite lovely. It can rain as it is the ropics, but most of our many guests have enjoyed this season. |
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| Not Your Usual Resort....It has Personality Visited: August 2008 |
| Posted by crapshoooter2 |
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We (5 couples 45 to 64 in age) stayed at Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain resort for 10 days. I must preface my comments. None of us had been to St. Lucia before;
The Anse Chastanet resort has a very good staff, they were always asking if there was anything they could do for us. This occurred from the manager to the ground keeper. Everyone wanted us to have a great time. It seemed to come naturally and not a superficial concern.
The food at the 3 restaurants, from the Gross Piton Hamburger( U.S. inspected beef) at the Beach Grill, to the fresh tuna sushi at the Tree House, was very good, well presented, included a variety of styles and spices. Breakfast was buffet styles ( 7 until 10) but there was a chef who made omelets, eggs and crepes. Also a juice bar were fresh fruit drinks were made. Lunch was usually taken at the Beach Grill. You could be served at the restaurant, bar or on the beach. If you wanted anything when you were on the beach, just wave the flag and stick it in the ground, with in minutes a beach boy would appear to take care of your needs. The lunch menu went from appetizers to a full 4 course dinner ala cart. Dinner was offered at all 3 restaurants at night, dress was smart casual. Women were usually dressed a notch above the men. As stated the food was very good, service was at the right pace to allow for table conversation and a nice wine. 5 couples, 10 days and 300 meals and nothing to really complain about.
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 This is in a beautiful location. Visited: June 2008 |
| Posted by bhdbln46 |
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The cottage is a very nice place to stay if you love great views - because that is what you will get. The Petite Peton is right in front of you as you look out over a tropical rain forest stretching out to the ocean.
I recommend that you do not go during the summer months, since in St. Lucia it is the rainy season. It rained every single day. The last two days it rained non-stop.
The plunge pool is so cold that you cannot take a plunge - unless you are a polar bear. It is not heated (which they do not tell you this in the ad). There is very little area to lay out, also. The pool is in need of repair (not very appealing). Also, the pool light did not work. I would recommend only staying in the cottage if you are renting the bigger villa with it. The outdoor shower is excellent.
Also, note that even though they say a washing machine and dryer are available - you can only pay the people to work there to do it for you. They do charge a reasonable rate of $25 per load.
Do not forget to bring a transformer with you - since the electric is not on the same voltage that US is (and it will burn out anything you bring with you). I think they should provide that for you, but they do not.
The caretakers were very nice to us, and they were truly helpful. I would recommend using a guide to take you around the island, that way if you do not like being begged on all the time, your guide will take care of you.
We found the island food to be excellent and reasonable for the time of year.
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| 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
Saline Reef, St. Lucia traveler review
| This was a five-star villa with unparalleled views. Visited: July 2008 |
| Posted by jgriffen |
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Saline Reef was beautiful! The views were gorgeous, the staff was professional, and Angel's cooking was very satisfying. The house was clean and very spacious. They needed drawers in the upstairs bedroom, though.
There was a beautiful beach within walking distance, and tennis and golf were right down the road.
We would definitely make this our return destination if heading back to St. Lucia in the future.
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| Zephyr Hill offers large villas with a large pool and good views. Visited: July 2008 |
| Posted by firsttimer |
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I had a large villa, There were two doubles upstairs, two twins completely separated by the pool, and all with en-suite. There were only four of us, so we only took the doubles.
There was plenty of sitting area in the shade and in the sun - both by the pool and on the verandah. There was also a covered area to the west of the house. We had no problems tripping over people in this villa!
There was a good selection of books (local tourist and nature guides - fishes, trees, etc - plus fiction and cooking amongst others).
All the windows and doors had an almost equal area of (netted) slats alongside, so the ever-present wind kept the inside cool, and the outside bugs out - even when the doors were shut.
They had a very large pool. It was six feet, six inches at the deep end, so it was okay for diving if you are careful.
Zephyr also afforded great views - south over Cap Golf Course to Rodney on the west coast and Cap-en-Bas to the east. The approach road rutted, but it was still only ten minutes from the Rodney Bay shops, eateries, etc.
The bad points - there was a lot of villa building in the Cap Estate, so there was some noise during the day. It was not too troublesome, though, as it was far enough away. It was also sporadic, but was present. In addition, the local guard dogs in other villas were vocal. I think these would be the same anywhere, though.
I would return.
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| 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
Coco Kreole, St. Lucia traveler review
| Great place for a vacation. |
| Posted by lydris |
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Coco Kreole is one of the best hotels on my favorite island of St. Lucia. |
| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
Heaven, St. Lucia traveler review
 It was "Heaven" in Paradise. Visited: June 2008 |
| Posted by mckinnona |
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The roads to get to Heaven were awful - steep, narrow, and very bumpy. We used four-wheel drive to get up the steep parts. Once on the top of the hill, though, the view was spectacular. We could see all of Rodney Bay, Pigeon Island, and the Northern end of St Lucia. At night we could see the lights of Martinique in the distance.
The villa was comfortable, but hot. There was only one stand up fan in the living room. There was some breeze, but the house was not designed to catch the breeze. The bedroom had great air conditioning, though!
The pool was wonderful, and the grounds were beautiful. We got a tour and a tasting from the gardener - sour sop and jelly coconut as well as limes and other fruit.
Lydia was a sweetheart, and made our stay extra special. She made a great lunch of pumpkin soup, shrimp and rice, and bread plant fritters.
Heaven was in a good location. Occasionally, the noise from Smugglers Cove would drift up the hill. There were several beaches close by, and Rodney Bay with shops and restaurants were very close by. I would recommend getting a car, since it is at the top of the hill. A taxi ride up and down into Rodney Bay was 70 ECs.
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
Coco Palm, St. Lucia traveler review
| Great hotels don't have to cost a lot. Visited: June 2008 |
| Posted by mckinnona |
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We arrived in St. Lucia the same time as Virgin Air. One-and-a-half hours later, we finished going through customs. Then, we had the long drive north and got in rush hour traffic. We landed at 1:00, and arrived at the hotel at 5:30. It was a terrible introduction to St. Lucia, and we were exhausted.
Coco Palm quickly soothed away our weariness. It was adorable, and everyone was very friendly and accommodating. We had a great corner room with a view of the pool - it was worth spending a little more for. Also, they had great air conditioning!
The pool was wonderful - especially in the evening when we had it to ourselves. It was nice to have a bar and restaurant on the property, too. The Pina Coladas were the best. We ate dinner and breakfast here, and enjoyed both. They had a tremendous jazz band on Tuesday night out by the pool and the restaurant.
The hotel was in a great location. We could walk to Reduit Beach and to great restaurants.
We loved Coco Palm, and highly recommend it. It was a great surprise!
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| 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| It was a great experience. Visited: June 2008 |
| Posted by mckinnona |
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Four of us returned from ten days of sailing in the Grenadines to Sunset. It was great to stop moving, and have a full size house to move about in. Desi picked us up at the airport, and delivered us via very steep and bumpy roads. It was very intimidating! The drive was worth it, though.
Sunset's views were incredible - day and night – all of Rodney Bay and around to the Atlantic.
The house was comfortable with great open areas and a view from each window. Patricia was there to great us on her day off - which we appreciated - especially with the number of keys it took to unlock the doors.
The wind blew continually, so you could always find a cool place. The bedrooms were air conditioned - but not well. It was okay for sleeping.
Patricia was great, and cooked breakfast and lunch. She even had dinner ready after our day of touring the island. It was a good chance to try island recipes.
We rented a car (delivered to the villa), and soon conquered the terrible roads. Road Harbor was very close, and the car was great to have to go to the beach and the store.
Desi gave us a wonderful personal tour of the island, and was always available to take us when we didn’t want to drive.
We had a wonderful experience and would return to Sunset.
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| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
Rendezvous, St. Lucia traveler review
| It was an amazing experience. Visited: July 2008 |
| Posted by sirk245 |
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I just returned from a week-long vacation with my boyfriend in St. Lucia, and we stayed at Rendezvous. I must admit, I can understand why some reviews I read rave about this place while others don't.
The true reason is, if you are looking for a posh hotel that wines and dines you and has six restaurants, this is not for you. Rendezvous has a relaxed atmosphere where you can come from the beach and grab dinner without changing.
All dining is steps away from the beach, and the food is good. Again though, you have to realize you will not be dining at a five-star restaurant.
The staff is friendly, and activities here are lots of fun. We would play volleyball with the other guests sometimes for three hours. I enjoyed the laid back, island feel to this resort, where you can drink and relax all day. Since that is what I expected when I came to Rendezvous resort, I loved it and would definitely return. |
| 8 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| This single female guest was satisfied with her stay. Visited: November 2007 |
| Posted by tennisfan |
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Vicki was my personal tour guide. She was very accommodating. It was a very relaxing accommodation. Breakfast options provided included freshly squeezed juice from the tree outside, local fruits, and a good variety of options. Service was al fresco with a lovely view of the marina beyond the patio. |
| 1 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. |
Coal Pot, St. Lucia traveler review
 The Coal Pot is overrated. |
| Posted by leila_mo64 |
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The fare at Coal Pot was average, which was a disappointment given all they hype it receives.
If you are staying in the Rodney Bay area, I would advise trying many of the great restaurants near you rather than venturing to this tucked away location - especially if you have to wait for a cab to return to pick you up. |
| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| They had awesome desserts, but less than hospitable staff. |
| Posted by leila_mo64 |
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The dessert course at The Edge was the highlight of our evening. The basil cheesecake was interesting, and the banana tart was sublime.
Things would have been better had we not been banished to the brightly lit table near the sushi bar as punishment for walking in without a reservation. This was despite the fact that it was the off season, and there were barely any customers in the restaurant during the entire evening. |
| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
Ladera Resort, St. Lucia traveler review
| It was spectacular. Visited: May 2008 |
| Posted by maura |
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We spent the first two days of our honeymoon at Ladera. It was beautifully appointed, and the view was unbeatable. There were lots of honeymooning couples--some quite young, which surprised me.
They had good live music, although it started rather late in the evening. The food was excellent, and the service was superb. The spa was not a five-star, but the massage was pretty darn good!
Also, Dasheene Restaurant is the best on the island, so if you are wondering whether to choose the all-inclusive option - do it.
We would love to return and spend more time.
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| 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
attractions, St. Lucia traveler review
| The Botanical Garden is gorgeous. |
| Posted by maura |
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We toured the botanical garden near Soufriere with one of the official, but unpaid, tour guides. It was beautiful.
There were wild orchids, very interesting plants you don't see in the states, and a nice tour guide. Be sure to bring cash to tip the tour guide.
It took about one hour, and we enjoyed it. |
| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
attractions, St. Lucia traveler review
| It was not worth the drive. |
| Posted by maura |
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We stayed in Soufriere and drove the 1.5 hours of harrowing, winding turns to get to the St. Lucia Golf Club.
The drive was pretty and interesting, so don't get me wrong. However, the golf club wasn't much to write home about. It was a very flat and dry course, with little in the way of challenge. Save your time and money and play golf at home. |
| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| They offered fabulous food and service |
| Posted by maura |
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We stayed at Ladera Resort for two days, then moved to a private villa. We ate at Dasheene nearly every night.
Truth be told, there are very few restaurants in the Soufriere area that are any good. Dasheene exceeds expectations no matter where you might be.
The food is excellent, with a special menu every night (in addition to the standard menu). Service is flawless at dinner. Breakfast is also excellent. |
| 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
| This was truly the most beautiful view in the Caribbean. Visited: May 2008 |
| Posted by maura |
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After spending the first two days of our honeymoon at the Ladera Resort next door, my husband and I spent five days at the villa. It was an amazing, well-appointed home with the most spectacular view you can imagine.
We had hoped that we would be able to cook for ourselves. That was not possible. While the kitchen was fully functional, the grocery store in Soufreire offered little in the way of food you would want to cook while on vacation (seafood, meat, fresh vegetables, or fruits).
The property manager turned us on to the farmers' co-op which was close by, and open on Tuesday afternoons. We were able to buy some fruits and veggies there. However, because there were limited groceries, we were not able to cook as much as we had hoped. At the grocery, expect to be able to buy milk, juice, eggs, cheddar cheese, crackers...just the basics.
We didn't have the same experience with the caretaker couple that others have. We saw Fabrice the day we arrived and the morning we left.
Shaka came to cleanup the house every morning. She cooked breakfast on a couple of mornings and it was fine, but her repertoire is very limited. We tried to teach her how to make an omelette, for example. She was perfectly nice, but not all that much help with directions, information, or food.
While the Jalousie beach was closer, we preferred the Anse Chastenet beach -- food and drinks were much better. There were no piton views, however.
We will return, but with more realistic expectations. |
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| 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
Zandoli, St. Lucia traveler review
| The negative outweighs the positive here. Visited: May 2008 |
| Posted by mia |
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They have a beautiful view from the deck, and spacious open floor plan.
However, be aware that road access is treacherous. The road is very steep in places, and completely covered with large rocks and deep ruts. It knocked a hole in the underside of my rental car.
Also, the driveway to the house is a 45-degree angle down with a hairpin turn. The house is not fully screened, so mosquitoes are a big problem inside.
In addition, it has southern exposure, and there is no AC anywhere in the house. It is difficult, but not impossible, to walk to the beach.
WhereToStay.com comment: Mia, I wish you had rented with us as we only let our clients arrive in 4WD cars at Zandoli. People often love the seclusion and the road is not problem in the appropriate vehicle. Our rental agents always note that this villa is very open. It has a beautiful design with amazing views but as there is no AC its not for everyone. |
| 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
Crystals, St. Lucia traveler review
| We will return! Visited: March 2008 |
| Posted by gadd |
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We got married at Crystals. The place was charming - the kind you can't get at the Marriott if you follow me (been to one, been to them all).
Monica and Martin and the girls couldn't have been nicer, more helpful or more fun.
If you go, rent a car. The roads are rugged, but you must drive the island. And, if Monica recommends somewhere or makes a face when you mention it, listen to her.
Some places on the island rated highly, and just didn't deserve it. If you can, stay in the villa - it's the most perfect setting I have yet to see. |
| 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. |
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