Anse Chastanet

What were Caribbean hotels like before the trade winds were replaced by the blasts of air conditioning, when morning exercise was a walk on the beach and not water aerobics and when you sat watching the sunset instead of cable TV? You can still find out at the Anse Chastanet Resort on St.Lucia's unspoiled southwestern Caribbean coast.

Since architect Nick Troubetzkoy purchased the first 14 hillside units in 1974 and throughout the expansion and renovation that has followed, design in harmony with nature, complementing the island's natural beauty, has remained his focal point. The 600-acre site is a lush garden of tropical foliage bordering one of the island's best beaches, where soft silver sands dip into the clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean. A second beach, Anse Mamin, belonging to the estate is just around the corner and can be reached by the resort's water taxi. St Lucia's trademark green peaks - the Gros and Petit Pitons - make for a dramatic backdrop.

No two rooms at Anse Chastanet are exactly alike. Twelve beach-level units are tucked away behind the coconut palms, just steps from the water's edge and the resort's renowned SSI Platinum PRO/PADI dive facility. Perched on the hill are Anse Chastanet's original rooms; cherry whitewashed cottages with wrap-around balconies. These octagonal shaped "gazeboes" offer splendid views of the Pitons and the sea, framed by an abundance of flourishing blossoms. Chairs and beds are covered in madras prints - a traditional island fabric of bright plaid woven with the same colours as the ginger lilies, anthuriums and bougainvillea found in every room.

Further up the hill are Anse Chastanet's deluxe suites, where Nick Troubetzkoy's architectural imagination can best be appreciated. Roomy is hardly the word to describe them. Immense is more accurate. And the sense of space is even further enhanced by the fact that as little as possible was put between the guests and their natural surroundings, leaving entire walls open to the vistas. Indeed, it's even hard to say where the inside stops and the outside begins: a flamboyant tree drapes its red-blossomed branches gently over the balcony in one room, the veranda of another was actually built around a red gommier tree. And the famous showers-with-a-view in the premium suites are a unique luxury of Anse Chastanet.

Anse Chastanet's ever growing art collection provides a visual feast of its own. Public areas and guest rooms all feature original art works by both local and international artists who have come here for inspiration and who have added some of their work to the resort collection. There are impressive wooden sculptures and plaques, earthy burlap compositions, painted "sky ceilings" and vibrant acrylic paintings revoking memories of Matisse and Picasso. The Resort's art gallery has an impressive variety of artwork.

While the sensuous seclusion of the rooms provide some guests with the perfect excuse for lolling away the day on the balcony, others head out to partake in the many activities on offer, from snorkeling, scuba diving, tennis, sunset sailing to jungle biking or a nature walk among the ruins of a colonial plantation.

The less actively inclined "simply do nothing", lie on the beach or enjoy one of the therapeutic body and beauty treatments offered by Anse Chastenat's spa Kai Belte located at beach level. There's also a casual, beachside bar and restaurant and a panoramic hillside terrace where breakfast and afternoon tea are served daily. Dinners are a romantic candlelit affair with a daily changing menu celebrating Tropical World Cuisine, with musical backdrops provided by local entertainers.

Location
Soufriere. 70 minutes from Hewanorra International Airport

Anse Chastanet offers 49 individually designed rooms, 37 of which are scattered about a lush hillside, and 12 which are nestled within a tropical garden at beach level.Anse Chastanet emphasizes the use of local woods and other local products in the room decor and furnishings. Cushions and bedspreads are made from colorful cotton fabrics called madras, the island´s "national cloth." Even the resort bathrobes are locally made and have become a popular souvenir item!The furniture has been individually designed and handmade in the region with the exclusive use of the island woods such as teak, mahogany, green heart, red cedar and wild breadfruit.All rooms have fridges, electric tea/coffee makers and wall mounted hair dryers, and in-room safes. Deluxe and Premium rooms also have irons and ironing boards.Please note that there are approximately 100 stairs leading from beach level to mid-hillside level, thus making the property unsuitable for those with walking difficulties or cardiac problems. This is never a question of age. A complimentary shuttle service from beachside to hillside level is provided any time it is requested.

Premium Hillside (5 rooms)
Premium rooms offer picture postcard perfect views of the Piton Mountains and the surrounding sea by virtue of their very elevated and strategic location. Some Premium rooms have fourth wall missing. All Premium hillside rooms have ceiling fans, clay floor tiles or tropical hardwood floors, wooden jalousie louvres, large ensuite bathrooms.

Deluxe Hillside (13 rooms)
Hillside Deluxe rooms are extremely spacious and individually designed, some in a very open-air style with the fourth wall missing and some with dramatic open roof dormers. Some rooms have a formal separation between bedroom and living room; others are wide-open spaces flowing into each other. Clay floor tiles or tropical hardwood floor, king size bed, wooden jalousie louvres, ceiling fans, balconies, and very large ensuite bathrooms with 2 sinks, shower and WC, Piton and/or ocean view.

Deluxe Beachside (12 rooms)
All beachside rooms are deluxe category rooms. Beachside Deluxe rooms are very spacious rooms with either 2 doubles or 1 king size bed, ensuite bathroom with 2 sinks, shower and toilet. They have clay tiles, wooden jalousie louvre windows, ceiling fans and large balconies or patios. All beachside rooms offer a tropical garden view, just a few steps from the water´s edge.

Superior Hillside (15 rooms)
Superior rooms are located on the hillside and are octagonal or rectangular in shape, with 2 twin beds or one king size bed, with ocean and/or Piton view. Standard rooms are slightly smaller than Superior rooms with twin, queen or king size bedding, with garden or partial ocean view.

Two Bedroom Suites
Anse Chastanet offers a few selected two bedroom 2 bathroom suites which are available on request. Suite/room combinations are available in Standard/Superior, Deluxe Hillside and Premium Categories.