Jalousie Plantation, Sugar Beach, St Lucia

This Caribbean gem is the perfect destination for a romantic escape

Nestled in the valley between St Lucia’s famous soaring twin Piton mountains, the Jalouise Plantation, Sugar Beach is situated in what has to be one of most idyllic locations in the whole of the Caribbean.

Just a 50 minute drive from the international airport with one final steep, twisting descent through rain forest, we arrive at this secluded five-star, former sugar plantation to be greeted by our very own personal butler, complete with a tray of delicious rum punches. If that isn’t enough to put a smile on our travel-weary faces, as we’re shown around our beach bungalow we know that the next four days will be exactly what two exhausted, sun-starved parents had hoped for on our first romantic getaway in nearly eight years!

One of 10 new luxurious suites recently built along the shores of the Anse des Pitons, the white stucco, thatched roof bungalows feature a courtyard with private plunge pool and outdoor shower. Step inside and the heat of the day is gone in an instant in this cleverly divided open plan room, where everything is white - from the cool wooden floors and walls, to the crisp clean bedlinen, robes and towels.

Our four poster bed is one of the most comfortable we’ve ever slept in, with views out of the French windows directly onto the white sand beach and the lapping waters of the Caribbean sea. Complete with walk-in dressing room (our cases have of course been unpacked by our endlessly helpful butler Swarmid) and kitchenette where we can make early morning coffees to sip after slipping back into bed to watch the day dawning, we ponder the possibility of moving in on a permanent basis.

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Elsewhere, the resort’s other luxurious rooms and villas are situated on the mountainside, with golf buggies to whisk guests to the beach, the spa or the main house, which is home to the gym, the Great Room restaurant (ie very posh dining), and the Cane Bar, where we spend one evening sampling the very extensive rum cocktail menu. Filled with fabulous artworks and cool modern decor, the main house is very impressive, but we feel more at home down on the beach so choose to breakfast and dine at the Bayside restaurant, and chill out in a hammock at the beach bar where we enjoy a lunch of rotis washed down with ice cold Piton beer.

It’s easy to while away the days at the Sugar Beach, snorkelling in the sea, lounging by the stunning pool or trying out the treatments at the Rainforest spa, but it would be a shame not to explore the nearby natural wonders too. A quick chat with Swarmid results in an excursion organised and booked to the Soufriere volcano and sulphur springs (only a 10 minute drive), where we sit in hot sulphurous pools, slather ourselves in volcanic gloop then bake ourselves in the sun. We step into another steaming pool to wash ourselves off, and after some vigorous scrubbing (the stuff gets everywhere!) and a chat with some very friendly locals - we emerge feeling invigorated and with baby-soft skin to boot.

Another day we take one of the water taxis stationed at the hotel jetty for lunch in the nearby town of Soufriere and if we’d been staying longer we would definitely have booked a guided walk up one of the Pitons. Instead, we decide to spend our remaining time soaking up the sun and blissful atmosphere at Sugar Beach. But that does give us a very good excuse to go back again – and if the kids behave themselves, they might get to come too…

Details: book your stay at Sugar Beach at reservations@thejalousieplantation.com or telephone +1 758 456 8000. Rates start at US$300 for a Luxury Sugar Mill Room, room only, based on double occupancy and excluding 8% govt tax 10% service charge.

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