"The land, the people, the light" — Official motto of Saint Lucia
Greetings from Saint Lucia! Yes, you can be working while you accept a freshly cut coconut as you exit the spa pool of your beachfront resort. This is what happened on my first full day at StolenTime (formerly known as Rendezvous) in Castries, in the northwest area of the island. I'm one of six Virtuoso travel advisors being hosted here for a week by both StolenTime (adults only) and its sister property, BodyHoliday (ages 12 and up).
They're both all-inclusive beachfront idylls where you can relax and/or be as physically active as you want. Each property has a looooong list of water activities (like tubing, sailing, SCUBA training), vigorous group exercises, yoga classes for all levels, sound bath sessions, garden walks, aquafit (my favorite!), live entertainment, guest speakers, theme months, spa treatments, and gorgeous beaches.
StolenTime has only 100 rooms, and they're all serene - some closer to one pool or another. Even entry level rooms have a lush garden view that's so tranquil. It's like staying inside a private botanical garden, and StolenTime has a long, white sand beach with warm, calm waters.
BodyHoliday is at the northwestern tip of Saint Lucia, just eight miles north of StolenTime. At 150 rooms, it's still a boutique hotel vibe here, especially because it's more spread out - and up. There's a pretty walk via a stone staircase up the hillside to the Wellness Center (Ayurvedic, fitness, hydrotherapy, red light therapy, spa, medical consult areas), and every time I walk down those steps, I say to myself, "I carried a watermelon," chaneling Baby from Dirty Dancing. I can't help it! BodyHoliday is giving adult summer camp vibes.
So far since I've arrived on Saint Lucia, I've swum in paradise-blue waters, done aquafit, zenned out in a sound bath, held an Olympic gold medal belonging to motivational speaker Danny Crates (Paralympic legend and former world record holder), savored delicious meals with local produce and spices, had a facial and Abhyanga hot oil massage, drank from two freshly-chopped open coconuts, sat through 20 minutes of red light therapy, shopped for produce in Castries market, met the hotels' owner over lunch, and toured both properties to see all the different room categories they offer. FUN FACT: BodyHoliday has NO single supplements! I saw the solo rooms, and they're so cute - with a King bed.
Has everything been perfect in paradise? Of course not! No one's perfect, and this is actually why I'm here. As I experience both properties, I'm primarily looking at everything through the lens of how guests (i.e. you) would look at it, what you would love, and what you might question. We advisors are here to give our honest impressions and professional opinions to our wonderful host, my local sales representative for these resorts. I'm here walking the walk to earn your trust for when I talk the talk.
I promise you I'm working here, as we advisors are comparing notes, sharing our individual experiences with each other, and discussing who the ideal clients would be for each property. I also promise you that I LOVE my job, and I'm having a really, really great time on Saint Lucia! Today, our host is taking us on a boat trip to the Piton Mountains for a snorkel swim, and I can't wait!
I arrived to StolenTime by helicopter transfer, and tomorrow I'll see what the windy drive is like heading back to Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) on the southern end of Saint Lucia for my nonstop flight to JFK on JetBlue. We're technically in the off season right now because it's the rainy season, which only means at some point each day you'll get a brief shower. Personally, I love this because although I burn easily, I can still get into the water comfortably every day when it grows a little overcast. In fact, the photo above was taken just after blissfully floating in StolenTime's spa pool during a light sprinkle.
What questions do you have about Saint Lucia? Please send them my way, and let's chat!
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