BODYHOLIDAY
Island Wellness Retreat
The BodyHoliday in St Lucia is an all-inclusive resort that its fans return to time and again, many making the pilgrimage yearly. It’s not uncommon to find guests who have visited on twenty or more occasions.
Uniquely in the word of spa hotels, each guest is provided with one spa treatment per day as part of the all-inclusive package. The perks don’t stop there - a host of activities, taking place every hour of every day, are also included. From water skiing to scuba and from yoga to beach volleyball, there is no excuse for boredom at this Caribbean retreat on the northern tip of this Caribbean island.
Although beaches on St Lucia cannot be owned, the beach here is effectively private because of its location off the beaten track. That same location can make transfers from the airport (on the southern edge of the island) quite lengthy - a minimum of 1.5 hours by car, and much longer in heavy traffic. A faster alternative is a helicopter from the international airport to a local airport, plus a car the rest of the way - about 45 minutes all-in.
-
Bedrooms are minimalist Caribbean style.
A coffee machine takes original-style Nespresso pods.
Most rooms feature a walk-in shower, with larger rooms featuring a soaking tub.
6/10
-
Beds are not overly comfortable, although the helpful housekeeping team (led by the highly competent Cathy) are keen to help by adding toppers and different pillows as requested.
6/10
-
Although the air conditioning is efficient at cooling, some rooms, notably the solo ones, have loud units, which can disrupt sleep.
6/10
-
The outstanding feature of this resort is its spa offerings. Dozens of therapists provide a large range of 50-minute treatments to all guests each day. The inclusive one-treatment-per-day can be topped up by additional more complex, or longer-duration, treatments for an additional fee.
An infra-red sauna is located nearby and there is a hot tub near the beach, a perfect place for viewing spectacular Caribbean sunsets.
9/10
-
Well-equipped gym, with staff always on-hand to help out with equipment as needed.
8/10
-
A huge buffet spread, with additional omelette station, is laid out each morning in the room which becomes the Windows restaurant at sunset. Guests take their choices and sit in the adjacent Cariblue restaurant, where the staff will attend with coffee.
9/10
-
Coffee served in Cariblue and at the Pavillion is by Cafetiere / French press. It tends to be quite weak but you can ask for a strong one, which results in more coffee grounds being added to your pot. Ask for “heavy cream” rather than simply “cream”, as the latter will result in your being served evaporated milk.
5/10
Of the 155 rooms and suites, approximately 20% are dedicated to single occupancy (although they include queen beds), which means that you will meet lots of solo (or groups of solo) travellers here.
The five restaurants can all be visited as part of the all-inclusive fee, although Windows (a tasting menu) and Tao (an Asian fusion place on a deck above the Caribbean Sea) are restricted to one visit per stay. The main restaurant, Cariblue, has no restrictions and features Caribbean staples each evening, plus premium items such as lobster for an additional fee. Breakfasts and lunches are mostly buffet style and very-well stocked, with plenty of healthy choices available, in-keeping with the wellness orientation of this resort.
Afternoon tea is served daily at 4pm in the Pavillion restaurant.
Guests interested in yoga and other group classes are spoilt for choice, with one dedicated yoga studio (including aerial yoga ceiling hammocks), a deck over the Caribbean Sea (literally) and the rooftop of the spin class studio featuring multiple classes each day.
Personal Note
The key to the success of this place, and the reason for frequent returns, is the friendliness of its guests, which is engendered by the extensive list of group activities, from pool volleyball to beach cricket and from archery to tennis tournaments.
Although one would not describe this resort as being in the ultra luxury category, it’s a very special place with friendly, caring, competent staff and delighted guests.
As a solo traveller, you are likely to establish friendships with like-minded guests that could last well beyond your holiday.
