The Caribbean island of Saint Lucia was recently voted the World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination at the World Travel Awards. Saint Lucia winning this award for the tenth time is not surprising as her landscape is picturesque, and there are quite a few luxurious and award-winning hotels on the island that are popular with honeymooners and couples on a romantic vacation. One such hotel is Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia, where I recently stayed.
Opened in December 2006, Jade Mountain Resort is owned and managed by the same team that runs Anse Chastanet Resort. One of, if not the best, luxury hotels in Saint Lucia, Jade Mountain Resort beautifully highlights the island’s rainforest and volcanic mountains and draws you in for rest, relaxation, and romance.
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Looking at The Pitons from JE2 Sanctuary at Jade Mountain Resort in Saint Lucia.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: First Impressions
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia is located seventeen miles from the Hewanorra International Aiport just north of the town of Soufriere, whose iconic landmark, the Pitons is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Turning off St. Judes Highway and onto the road leading to Jade Mountain, my excitement intensified even though the unpaved and weathered road made for a slow, bumpy ride. What should have been a 5-10 minutes car journey based on distance was nearly 20 minutes due to the rough condition.
Upon reflection, the road conditions all added to the charm and intrigue of visiting Jade Mountain Resort. Located on the 600 acres of beachfront Anse Chastanet Estate, Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia is owned by Russian-Canadian architect Nick Troubetzkoy who has been involved with hotel developments on the island since the 1970s.
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Anse Chastanet Estate: Anse Chastanet Resort (lower left) and Jade Mountain Resort (top right) from the Caribbean Sea.
The architecture of Jade Mountain Resort in St. Lucia is truly unique and impressive. The resort is designed by Nick Troubetzkoy, who is an architect, and it features a series of individual sanctuaries that are built into the hillside overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Each sanctuary is designed to be a private and secluded retreat, with stunning panoramic views of the ocean and the surrounding landscape.
One of the most striking features of the resort’s architecture is the way the sanctuaries are constructed. Rather than being built on a traditional foundation, the sanctuaries are supported by a series of pillars that rise up from the hillside. This allows the sanctuaries to blend seamlessly into the natural surroundings, giving the impression that they are almost floating in mid-air.
Based on his meticulous design, Troubetzkoy and his team of local workmen from the nearby town of Soufriere built an architecturally stunning mountain resort with exterior walls of rough concrete embedded with locally quarried stone. He actually named the resort Jade Mountain as he has been an active collector of antique jade mountains for over 35 years and thought some of the jade pieces in his collection resembled some of the mountain ranges in Saint Lucia. Now superbly run by his lovely wife Karolin, Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia is uniquely beautiful, bold, and bucket list.
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Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: First view from the Pavilion level.
Jade Mountain Resort in Saint Lucia: Bridge walkways to various sanctuaries.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Bridge to Infinity Pool Sanctuary JE2 – Star Category.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Sanctuary JE2 – Star Level
Arriving on the Pavillion level at Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia, I was welcomed by one of the assistant managers, who warmly greeted and escorted me straight to my sanctuary with a long bridge walkway. As I stepped over my sanctuary threshold, I immediately felt an intense sense of calm and pure joy I had never experienced at another hotel. Luxuriously designed with a private infinity pool that has spring green tiles, I was enchanted by the stunning views of the Pitons, the Caribbean Sea, and St Vincent off in the distance. The sound of birds chirping in the lush green rainforest also warmed my heart.
The interiors of my sanctuary were equally impressive, with high ceilings, spacious living areas, and large windows that provided breathtaking views of the sea. The use of natural materials, such as local stone and wood, adds to the sense of connection to the surrounding landscape.
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Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Infinity pool and views of the Pitons from JE2 Sanctuary.
Looking beyond the beautiful views made possible by the missing fourth wall, I loved the decor of the open-plan room with a very comfortable king-size four-poster bed with a canopy and the living area furnished with a couch, chair, and two sun loungers. Along with two cabinets for clothing, there is also a small fridge and tea/coffee maker.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Sanctuary JE2 King size bed with canopy – mosquito net.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Lounge area for JE2 Sanctuary.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Pair of sun loungers in JE2 Sanctuary.
On a raised level, the bathroom area with a multi-shower head system and Jacuzzi tub also had great views of the Pitons and the Caribbean Sea. And the tub with strategically placed jets is equipped with the very latest in “chroma-therapy based on the theory that colors affect biorhythm and life equilibrium.” The wonderful smell of the organic VOYA body and bath products reminded me of being at a spa. It was all so luxurious but not over the top, which made the sanctuary quite relaxing. Seriously, the balance between exterior and interior was (is) perfect at Jade Mountain St Lucia. Everything just flowed in my JE2 star category sanctuary, which was about 1600 square feet, the size of my first apartment in Chicago.
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Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Sanctuary JE2 double sink and shower.
Jade Mountain Resort in Saint Lucia: JE2 Sanctuary Jacuzzi tub.
Note: There are intentionally no televisions or radios in the sanctuaries at Jade Mountain Resort, as the focus is on relaxing without being disturbed by technological devices. However, there is strong WIFI available at Jade Mountain Resort, so it is quite easy to listen to music via streaming service or watch a movie on a laptop. Personally, I was happy to have the time and relaxing environment conducive to digital detox.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Food & Dining Options
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia has one main restaurant, the Jade Mountain Club, with an infinity pool with colorful glass separating the bar from the dining area. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the menu at Jade Mountain Club, managed by award-winning chef Allen Susser serves up a mix of classic Saint Lucian dishes as well as American and European.
Guests at Jade Moutain St Lucia also have access to the three restaurants and two bars at the sister resort Anse Chastanet, just below. Of course, if you are like me, you’ll be so mesmerized by the view and fantastic 24-hour room service provided by the team of Major Domos (butlers), that you’ll have many of your meals in your private sanctuary. That said, be sure to have drinks and watch the sunset one evening from the Celestial Terrace above Jade Moutain Club. The view is breathtaking.
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Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: French toast and orange juice breakfast from Jade Mountain Club.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Afternoon snack from the chef in Sanctuary JE2.
Jade Mountain Resort in Saint Lucia: Burger lunch while taking in the view from Sanctuary JE2.
Jade Mountain Club: Shrimp appetizer.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Beaches
With a private infinity pool in my JE2 sanctuary at Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia, I honestly considered not leaving my sanctuary for the beach. After all, the 450 square feet infinity pool with spring green recycled glass was heated, and the tranquil nature of the surrounding had me feeling remarkably calm and relaxed.
Not wanting to miss out, I eventually ventured down to spend time on Anse Chastanet Beach, one of the best in Saint Lucia. I also took the 5-minute taxi ride across to Anse Mamin Beach, another area for Jade Mountain guests to relax and explore. If you prefer to walk, you can also follow the nature trail from one beach to the other. Anse Mamin Beach has its own facilities, including Jungle Bar & Grill.
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Jade Mountain Resort in Saint Lucia: UB relaxing and taking in the views from infinity pool within Sanctuary JE2.
Wide angle view of Anse Chastanet Beach in St Lucia.
UB at Anse Mamin Beach in St Lucia.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Activities & Amenities
Guests at Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia can partake in a range of activities, including morning yoga, working out at the fitness studio, or having one or more spa treatments at Kai En Ceil Spa, which means House in Heaven in Creole. For those who love water sports, there is Scuba St Lucia, a PADI 5-star dive shop at Anse Chastanet Beach. And for those who love the great outdoors, you can go bike riding near Anse Mamin Beach, as there are 8 miles of private biking trails. A guided hike through the rainforest is also great for spotting some of the indigenous Caribbean birds, including the Antillean Crested Hummingbird. Beyond this, you’ll also see some of the ruins of the old plantation and learn about the history of the Anse Mamin.
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Bike and rainforest walking trails near Anse Mamin Beach in St Lucia.
Plantation ruins near Anse Mamin Beach.
For chocolate lovers, there is a Chocolate Laboratory at Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia where you can take part in a chocolate tasting or even make your own truffles. A visit to the Chocolate Laboratory can be followed up with a visit to the nearby Emerald Estate to learn about the history of chocolate and cacao bean-to-bar production in Saint Lucia. Beyond chocolate, there are also regular culinary classes and workshops.
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Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Chocolate Laboratory.
Emerald State St Lucia Chocolate.
Beyond the above, Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia helps its guests organize excursions to some of the top things to do in St Lucia. So as tempting as it may be to stay in your sanctuary, there is a lot to see and do around the resort as well as off-site in St Lucia, including a visit to Sulphur Springs Park for a rejuvenating mud bath.
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Things To Do In St Lucia: Mud Bath at Sulphur Springs Park.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: The Verdict
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia is a fantastic resort, and having spent some time there, I now understand why it is one of the best luxury resorts not just in Saint Lucia or even the Caribbean but the world. It is in a private secluded area of Saint Lucia, and the resort is in complete harmony with its rainforest surroundings.
The striking architectural design of the Jade Mountain building with the rugged exterior with individual bridges grabs your attention. Also, the heated infinity pool sanctuaries that illuminate at night with fiber optic lights are ever so relaxing and romantic. Plus the service provided by the staff is first-rate and second to none. There were so many personal and lovely touches, from the welcome flowers and champagne to the nightly poems left with turndown service. Overall, my time at Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia was the most relaxed I’ve ever felt at a hotel; thus, I highly recommend it and can’t wait to return. I have found my happy place.
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Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Welcome flowers and champagne in Sanctuary JE2.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: A poem by John Burroughs.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Sanctuary Categories
Now that you are hopefully all excited and convinced that you should book your honeymoon or romantic vacation to Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia, note that the sanctuaries are not cookie-cutter. The design and color scheme for JE2 is unique. Thus while there are some common elements, including fantastic views of the Pitons and the Caribbean Sea, all twenty-four infinity pool sanctuaries and the five SKY jacuzzi suites have their own layout and color schemes, including amber, ruby red, plum, and various shades of blue and green. Even the faucets, porcelain sinks, and toilets are different in each sanctuary.
The five categories at Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia include:
- Sky Suites are located on the lower hillside level and are approximately 1,650 square feet and have raised jacuzzi tubs of infinity pools.
- Star Infinity Pool Sanctuaries are approximately 1,400 to 1,800 feet square feet, with infinity pools averaging 450 square feet.
- Moon Infinity Pool Sanctuaries are approximately 1,600 to 1,950 feet square feet, with infinity pools averaging 650 square feet.
- Sun Infinity Pool Sanctuaries have up to 2,000 square feet in size, with infinity pools of up to 900 square feet.
- Galaxy Infinity Pool Sanctuaries, including JC1, JD1, and JE1, is the largest in size and have the most commanding panoramic views of the Pitons and the Caribbean Sea.
Below are examples of two other infinity pool sanctuaries I had the opportunity to view while at Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia.
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Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: JD4 Sun Infinity Pool Sanctuary with a blue color scheme
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: JD4 Sun Infinity Pool Sanctuary.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: King size bed in Sanctuary JD4.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: JE1 Galaxy Infinity Pool Sanctuary with a deep red color scheme
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Wide angle view of bed and lounge area in Sanctuary JE1.
Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia: Partial view of jacuzzi and infinity pool in Sanctuary JE1.
With regards to pricing, note that Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia offers à la carte or all-inclusive pricing packages. The all-inclusive pricing, aka Total Romance package, includes airport transfer, welcome cocktails, a bottle of French champagne, all meals (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner), all non-alcoholic and most alcoholic drinks along with a range of activities and excursions.
The price for either option is dependent on the sanctuary level and the time of year that you visit. The most expensive time to visit is Mid-December through mid-April, which is peak season at Jade Mountain St Lucia. This is followed by mid-April through the end of May and November through mid-December. The lowest rates are from mid-June through the end of October.
To ensure you get the best deal, check the Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia website for current prices and promotions, including enjoying the 5th-night free. Would also recommend checking Expedia to check reviews and rates. If, after review, your budget won’t stretch to a full week or two-week honeymoon at Jade Mountain Resort St Lucia, I’d at least spend the minimum 3nights as the experience is like no other hotel or resort.
Seriously, this is the first luxury resort I’ve ever stayed at where I didn’t want to leave the room and grounds as everything about Jade Mountain St Lucia is stunning and beautiful. Jade Mountain is a luxury resort to connect and spend quality time with nature, yourself, and your partner.
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