Love In Saint Lucia: 3 Romantic Hotels That Aren’t Sandals

Saint Lucia is a prime destination for couples. Featuring lush rainforests and mountains mixed with turquoise waters and colorful sunsets, romance is always in the air. While many couples choose to book a Sandals vacation, I was recently able to experience some other accommodation options on the island for travelers in love.

Luxury On A Budget

Located in the volcano town of Soufriere, La Haut Resort offers perfectly manicured grounds, awe-inspiring views, expansive swimming pools, and an infinity pool with The Pitons as a backdrop. The resort sits on a former coconut and cocoa estate, with a refurbished main guesthouse that is nearly 100 years old. Rooms range from Premium Vista Rooms with balcony views of The Pitons and close proximity to the onsite infinity pool, to the Three Bed Villas with private swimming pools. As for food, guests are able to taste authentic and well-prepared Creole cuisine, like local fish, pumpkin chips, green fig and saltfish pie, and coconut chicken. There are also international options for those who want. If you’d like to explore the island outside of your room, experiences like rainforest hikes and cycle tours, snorkeling, sailing, whale watching, horseback riding and island hopping can be booked onsite. Although you’ll be paying the same rate as a for a basic hotel, La Haut will give you a more romantic and luxurious experience. Prices start at $175 to $250 per couple, per night depending on the season for their Standard Garden Room, Superior Deluxe Room and Country Cottage. To splurge on a budget, their 3 Bed, 2 Bath Villas range from $300 to $525 per night. Click here to book.

Boutique Pampering

Here is a bit of Saint Lucia travel advice: While you may have trouble finding Calabash Cove Resort & Spa due to its hidden location off the main road, it’s well worth the effort as you’ll be tucked away in a secluded, boutique paradise. We stayed in their Waters Edge Cottages, which allowed us to enjoy unobstructed ocean views from the patio, dips in a private plunge pool, relaxation in the in-room jacuzzi and unlimited calls to room service for Champagne and beef rotis with an all-inclusive package. To add to the romance, an outdoor rain shower allow guests to watch the colorful sunset while showering under natural forest vines. To help give us a taste of adventure, we were able to walk less than a minute down to the beach and use complimentary kayaks, or book tours like segwaying or quad riding on the beach, scuba diving the local marine park, hiking the iconic Pitons and zip-lining through the rainforest. For relaxing romance, you can stroll through the onsite Cove Gardens, sit at the end of the pier, partake in a couples’ massage using plant and fruit-based treatments, sip a cocktail from Lance the celebrity bartender on an outdoor canopy bed or book a Champagne cruise through the concierge. I recommend eating dinner at their ambient Windsong Restaurant around sunset, as the upscale-casual venue offers open-air seating and front-row views of the sunset over the Caribbean sea. There are two classes of rooms available. These include Swim-Up Junior Suites, with Jacuzzis, patio access to the property’s infinity pool and 620 square feet of contemporary luxury, and the Sunset Oceanview Junior Suites, which offer ocean views and balconies perfect for a romantic meal or nap on an outdoor day bed. Rates vary depending on the travel dates and meal plan. I would suggest going with the all-inclusive option, as it’s only about $100-$200 extra per day and gives you access to unlimited bottles of wine, Champagne and booze, food and meals in their upscale restaurant. The other option is the European Plan, which includes the room and breakfast. Rates per night start at about $385 off season and $495 high-season. During the summer, you can get the Waters Edge Cottages for about $620 per night. Click here to book.

A True Splurge

If you’re looking to really indulge with your sweetie, The Jalousie Plantation, which will soon be Sugar Beach Resort, spoils guests with expansive rooms, rare views of both Piton mountains, and a spa that incorporates its rain forest surroundings into the design and philosophy. The luxury villas offer a private butler, a complimentary local bottle of rum, and – our favorite part – a private infinity pool. This is where we spent most of the day, drinking wine and watching the sunset in between The Pitons from our deck. For relaxation, indulge in a couples’ massage. You’ll stroll through a dimly lit tunnel of vine and tree branches where you’ll hear nothing but the chirping of tree frogs and trickling water to get to the spa complex. Then you’ll come to a small village of raised rain forest huts, each incorporating the natural environment to create a relaxing space. Choose a 50-minute full-body massage as well as a private dip in their natural watsu pool, conveniently located directly outside the treatment room. Their organic treatments make use of the local surroundings, like using bananas to firm skin, coconut to energize and bamboo to massage. For dinner, their upscale Great Room restaurant is a one-of-a-kind romantic experience. We were amazed at how it felt uber fine dining yet the staff were extremely friendly and relaxed. The room is hushed, as the staff and patrons speak in soft whispers. You’ll sit on a balcony overlooking the water and mountains while being served some of the best food on the island. I had a pork chop with pumpkin puree that made me almost fall off my chair, and the roasted plantain with pecan ice cream and dulce de leche gave us a sweet taste of Saint Lucia. While by law no beaches on Saint Lucia are private, Jalousie’s seems like it is. No matter how many guests are staying at the hotel, it always feels like you’re the only couple there. Rates vary depending on season. Based on 2012, The lowest rate you will get is the Sugar Mill Luxury Rooms, with prices starting at $300 per night from June 1 to October 14 and $800 from December 16 to January 3. If you really want to splurge, opt for the Two Bedroom Grand Villa, which starts at $1,540 per night and goes to $2,650 per night. Click here to book.

Have you ever stayed at a romantic hotel in Saint Lucia?

*Disclosure: My trip to Saint Lucia was sponsored by the Saint Lucia Tourism Board. I was not required to post about this trip and was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.

Bonus Saint Lucia Travel Resources

BodyHoliday: An Amazing St. Lucia Wellness Retreat For Solo Travelers How To Have An Amazing Solo Stay At Jade Mountain Resort In St. Lucia 6 Secret Beaches In Saint Lucia Adventurous Couple’s Guide To Marisule, Castries & Rodney Bay In Saint Lucia Adventurous Couple’s Guide To Soufriere, Saint Lucia 3 Best Luxury Caribbean Wellness Retreats & Resorts