May hotel of the month: Anse Chastanet
Anse Chastanet is a unique resort in St Lucia which emphasises the natural beauty of the island. A superb holiday destination for couples, the resort is also perfect for active families thanks to the vast range of activities on offer. Children over the age of 10 are welcome all year round at the resort, with those as young as 6 welcomed during July and August.
The resort provides its guests with a variety of ways to explore St Lucia and the waters surrounding the island, from above the surface and below it. From mountain biking to tennis and from sailing to scuba diving, there’s plenty to occupy the whole family within the estate as well as a fantastic range of excursions which allow guests to explore more of the island. The two beaches are beautiful spots to relax after a day of adrenalin-filled activities, while some of the family-friendly rooms provides spectacular views of the famous Pitons.
Water sports
The resort is renowned for its fantastic snorkelling opportunities thanks to its location within a marine reserve, with the coral reef starting just 10 yards from the water’s edge. Snorkelling equipment is available free of charge, allowing guests to easily discover a remarkable selection of tropical marine life. The resort’s beach is also home to a PADI 5 star dive centre, offering the possibility to scuba dive either straight from the beach or at another dive site reached by boat.
Thanks to the resort’s location on the calm Caribbean side of the island with gentle tropical breezes, this is the perfect spot for guests to windsurf and go out in Sunfish sailing dinghies. Sit-on kayaks and paddle boards are also available, both fun and safe ways to explore the water. Guests can borrow equipment free of charge, with sailing lessons and kayaking tours available at an extra charge.
Land-based activities
Thanks to Anse Chastanet’s setting on a 600 acre estate with plantation ruins, there are miles of trails to explore on foot or by bicycle. Guests can hike on their own, join one of the complimentary guided walks where they learn about history and botany, or hire mountain bikes to ride through the jungle. Birdwatching is another popular pastime at Anse Chastanet, as the estate is home to five endemic species along with plenty of other colourful birdlife.
Anse Chastanet is also perfect for chocolate lovers, as the estate is home to over 2000 cocoa trees on the estate and a Chocolate Laboratory where the sweet treat is made. Guests can set off on a Tree to Bar tour of the Emerald Estate to learn about the history and production of chocolate, or take part in an experience which includes making a personalised chocolate bar.
Back at the resort, guests can use the tennis court where complimentary tennis clinics are held each week. Yoga classes are available every morning and evening at the beach yoga gazebo, suitable for beginners or more advanced yogis, while the resort’s spa offers a range of relaxing treatments overlooking the beach.
Excursions
Saint Lucia is a superb holiday destination for those in search of activity, with plenty of options for all ages. Anse Chastanet offers a full programme of excursions to enable guests to discover the island’s history, culture, wildlife and landscapes. These include sightseeing trips to the island’s famous drive-in volcano, ziplining excursions, plantation tours, dolphin and whale watching cruises, hikes up Gros Piton and shopping trips to Castries and Marigot Bay.
Sunset cruises are available every evening, while private sailing excursions are another way to discover nearby coastal attractions including the spectacular Pitons, with half day and full day options available.
Dining & entertainment
There are three unique restaurants at Anse Chastanet as well as a beach grill on Anse Mamin beach. Breakfast is served in the Treehouse Restaurant, as is a Caribbean fine dining menu in the evening along with the brand new ‘Balawoo’ concept which focuses on locally caught fresh fish. Emeralds is the hotel’s vegetarian restaurant which serves organic produce grown on the estate’s farm. Trou Au Diable is a beach restaurant serving light meals throughout the day and a grill menu in the evening as well as a fusion of East Indian and Caribbean cuisine. A special Caribbean themed evening is held on Tuesdays, an enjoyable evening where a steel band plays and the beach is lit by candles.
There are two bars that serve a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks throughout the day and evening, with live entertainment held in the Piton Bar every day except Tuesdays.
Accommodation
Accommodation at Anse Chastanet has been individually designed to maximise the views of the Pitons or the sea, all furnished with colourful fabrics and local wood. Twelve rooms sit at beach level while the rest wind up the hillside, some with wooden louvered walls and others missing a fourth wall entirely to make the most of the cool trade winds. All rooms have wifi and can accommodate two adults and two children. Some also accommodate a third child, with a number of two bedroom suites available on request.
Offers & Prices
- Two children up to the age of 16 years old stay free of charge on a bed & breakfast between 15 July – 15 September 2018 when sharing with one or two adults.
OR - Book by 30 November to save up to 35% for stays until 21 December 2018.
- 7 nights from £4480 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children under the age of 16 departing 3 September 2018.
- 7 nights from £3570 for a family of 1 adults and 2 children under the age of 16 departing 3 September 2018.
Sample prices include flights, transfers and bed & breakfast sharing a Superior Hillside Suite.
Add a special family package to enhance your stay:
Package 1: Unlimited use of mountain bikes, unlimited boat snorkel trips, 1 beginner’s scuba dive, 1 volcano tour and 1 sunset cruise. Price: £165 per person.
Package 2: Unlimited use of mountain bikes, unlimited boat snorkel trips, 1 sunset cruise. Price: £75 per person.
Included in all stays at Anse Chastanet:
Water sports including snorkelling, windsurfing, sunfish sailing, sit on kayaking and paddle boarding.
Use of the tennis courts and bi-weekly tennis clinic (Monday & Wednesday, 9-9.30am).
Selected guided walks and hikes.
Yoga (Daily 8.30-9.30am and 5-6pm).
Nightly live entertainment.
Chocolate tasting session (Tuesday 10-10.30am).
Available at an additional cost:
Treatments at Spa Kai Belté.
Boat snorkelling trips.
Mountain bike rental & jungle biking tours.
Escorted snorkelling tours and night snorkelling trips.
Scuba diving.
Kayak tours.
Private sailing excursions.
Sunset cruises.
Emerald Estate Cacao Tree to Chocolate Bar Tour.
Excursion such as zip line adventures, whale watching trips, Gros Piton climbs, Segway tours and much more.
Sample prices are a guide only – contact us for a tailor made quotation. Conditions apply for all special offers including book by dates, blackout dates and minimum stays. Offers are for new bookings only.
We offer fully bonded and protected holidays, whether booked with flights via our ATOL 5615 or for accommodation only holidays with our ABTA Y5401. This means you can rest assured that your Tropic Breeze holiday is safe and secure.
Author RachelCategories Best places to go on holiday, Caribbean, News