Jade Mountain & Anse Chastanet
In preparation for our exciting Caribbean launch, a few of the team went out to visit the beautiful island of Saint Lucia. Karen from Sales & Marketing, Dean, Seb and Arianna from the Reservations team got to experience the island travelling from North to South visiting a number of properties. From modern to laidback rustic resorts, here is what the team thought about their stay at Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet.
Spread across 600 acres of tropical forest, a stay at Jade Mountain is truly unique. Each sanctuary is open completely with an infinity pool . Falling asleep to the sounds of the jungle, and waking up to birds chirping at the edge of your infinity pool and the striking view of the Piton right in front of you - nothing can beat this! The true selling point here at Jade Mountain is the infinity pool inside your sanctuary.
On our first morning, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast overlooking the UNESCO Heritage Site at the Jade Mountain Club. The award winning Chef Allen Susser and his team curated a menu that reflects seasonal changes of flavour with influences throughout the Caribbean. Having devoured local coffees and seasonal dishes, we then got ourselves ready for a day of activities.
Our first stop was to Emerald Estate, located in Soufriere hills, approximately 20 minutes away from the hotel. The farm is dedicated to growing organic produce, from vegetables, micro greens, salads to fruits, spices, nuts and herbs, all for the resort kitchens, under the supervision of Chef Allen Susser, taking the farm to table concept to a completely new level.
There are over 1000 cocoa trees providing the cocoa beans used in the resort’s own chocolate production. After a tour around the farm, we visited Jade Mountain’s very own chocolate lab where we learnt the process of how chocolate is made. From harvesting the bean, to roasting, and to chocolate being infused with different flavours; it is safe to say we sampled quite a few different types and the team even offered us to bring some home!
After an active morning, we found ourselves down at Anse Mamin beach where we had lunch at the Jungle Beach Bar & Grill. Here I had a delicious fish burger with plantain chips, and of course no meal is complete without a Piton beer! We then strolled along the beach towards Anse Chastanet where we met the lovely Pete, Resort Manager of Anse Chastanet who showed us around the sister property.
Just like Jade Mountain, Anse Chastanet is committed to sustainability and is environmentally conscious. The property offers hillside suites that are open completely and overlook the pitons. The architect and owner Nick Troubetzkoy built the hotel with nature in mind. In one suite, the balcony is built around a full-grown red gommier tree; in another, a tree appears from beneath your shower through into the bathroom and above.
Speaking to Pete, Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain are the perfect pairing for those looking for an extraordinary and immersive experience. Guests can enjoy the secluded beaches and surrounding natural beauty, with a diverse range of accommodation all with an open-wall concept. Whilst Anse Chastanet caters to diverse preferences, Jade Mountain is an ultra-luxurious extension of the Anse Chastanet experience, complete with access to the amenities and activities available at both properties
As the evening drew, we got ourselves glammed up and headed to the manager’s cocktail evening. We met with much of the resort team accompanied by canapes whilst admiring the beautiful sunset. We also met with Karolin Troubetzkoy owner and wife of Nick, who very kindly hosted us for dinner. Since Mango was in season, we sampled the 6 course Mango Madness tasting menu which was scrumptious.
The very next morning, some of us headed for Jungle Biking and others went for a dip and a snorkel around the coastline right off the Anse Chastanet beach. The reef was remarkable and we enjoyed the tropical marine life in the shallow, calm and clear water. This location is very much a diver’s dream with many guests from other hotels coming here to dive. Many water sports activities can be done here; the scuba centre provides information on guided tours, excursions and more.
- Karen, Sales & Marketing Manager