The lush island of Saint Lucia – about 27 miles long and 14 miles wide, has waterfalls, drive-up volcanoes, sulfur springs and the UNESCO-listed Pitons – the mountains based in Soufriere.
Having visited over 10 years ago and enjoyed the best boating and snorkeling of my life, I was thrilled to return this time with family, staying at the famous Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort.
Hotel
Located on a steep, verdant slope that slopes down to a calm, crescent-shaped beach, Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort is a favorite resort for families visiting St. Lucia.
The property has a Mediterranean style and features six swimming pools, a selection of restaurants and bars, an upscale spa, a well-equipped gym with a program of classes, an extensive water sports center (including windsurfing sailing, SUP, kayaking, snorkeling and diving) and a fantastic kids club. We visited as a family in July and were impressed with the vast offering this resort has to offer, with distinctive luxury touches along the way.
Bedroom
The resort offers 216 different accommodation options, including beachfront villas, beachfront suites, hillside rooms and individual luxury residences (the largest measuring up to 2,700 square feet and can accommodate 12 people) with swimming pools, all with varied views of Labrolette Bay and the Caribbean. Sea.
Our hillside villa was beautiful. The property had its own private driveway and garden – a first for me while staying at a resort. Upon entering you were struck by the white and blue decor, the high ceilings and the elegant split level open plan living space. The kitchen and dining room were on the upper level with the living room on the lower level and patio doors leading out to our sparkling infinity pool. The master and double bedrooms lead into these spaces – both spacious bedrooms with ultra comfortable beds, plenty of storage space (ideal for long term guests) and large bathrooms (one with a walk-in shower , one with a bathtub – practical for families).
We enjoyed our welcome chocolate and bottle of bubbly in the fridge and used tea and coffee making facilities, but ate apart from that. You can, however, request a dedicated chef for your stay, for the ultimate in luxury. And no matter where you are staying on the property during your trip, whether up the hill or closer to the beach, there is a fleet of minivan shuttles to take you to and from the lobby, spa or kids club. We never waited more than five minutes for one to arrive.
Food
The resort offers five superb restaurants and three bars, each with its own style and vibe. We started our days with breakfast at the Dragonfly restaurant, overlooking the beach and the main pool. The extensive buffet really featured every possible type of food you could think of to eat for breakfast and in four days we didn’t manage to try everything.
We tended to have lunch at the casual Caribbean-style Jammer’s or Embers BBQ Grill, which served delicious pizzas and wraps. Both were also perfect for dinner if you wanted a more relaxed affair. We also enjoyed cocktails at Jammer’s bar and 96 Degrees in the Shade beach spot.
We enjoyed Dragonfly’s seafood menu one evening – specialties were Ahi Tuna Tartare, Lucian’s Coconut Shrimp and Seared Scallops in a Lemon Butter Sauce. My vegetarian dish of fried cauliflower steak with Colombo spices, cumin, fennel and paprika was delicious.
However, our favorite meal was an Italian at Papa Don’s on the hill – named after the founder of the hotel. We sat at our table, adorned with a blue and white checkered tablecloth, gazing out over the restaurant’s curved pool and beyond the sea. My Caprese salad followed by an eggplant special served Milanese style were both melt-in-the-mouth on the tongue.
Spa
The Windjammer Landing has a large spa, located next to the tennis courts and gym. A calm reigns as you enter, as receptionists greet you in low tones and the trickling of an elaborate water fountain provides a relaxing soundtrack, while you decide on your treatment. There are four treatment rooms, two couples’ suites, a Japanese bath and an outdoor shower. We tried a couples massage and it was truly divine.
We also discovered that, post-pandemic, the resort is revamping its spa offering, with a new spa menu featuring new therapies and innovative beauty treatments, all of which draw inspiration from the region. New Spa and Wellness Director Alex Danila plans to focus on wellness and provide future guests with a more complete sanctuary, offering bespoke wellness and fitness classes focused on breathing, nutrition and postural alignment classes.
For a real treat, try the new Full Moon Spa Ritual, which consists of an evening spent at the beach including a night boat ride in Labrelotte Bay, a Yin yoga session with guided meditation, a signature massage, a Communal herbal dinner and a stargazing session. . Guests have the option of adding a scuba night dive, focusing on underwater breathing for an additional fee. The station also launched three new retreats focusing on detox, immunity and weight loss.
Do
Windjammer Landing offers a plethora of activities – there are so many that you probably won’t be able to try them all. Try Hummingbird Yoga – set in a lush, scenic garden atop a hill overlooking the sea, where feeders are placed in the trees to attract hummingbirds as you practice. Or book a picnic at Sunset Beach, the resort’s newest private dining experience on an intimate stretch of white-sand beach. The picnic offers diners to choose their small bites, accompanied by prosecco and wine, served barefoot on a colorful table.
Additionally, guests can book tours through Jammin’ Tours, which include catamaran trips to Soufriere to explore the sulfur springs, ziplining, horseback riding, and more.
Not to mention the Jacquot Fun Club, where children aged 4 to 12 enjoy crafts, games and activities, while teenagers can enjoy water sports and participate in bonfires at the Teen Club.
Getting There
It is approximately 80 minutes by car from the international airport and 10 minutes by car from George FL Charles Airport (SLU), which serves the other Caribbean islands. We used Lawson’s taxi service (1 (758) 716 736), who arranged for some forgotten luggage to be transported to the airport in another taxi coming to meet us, arriving before we left.
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Rooms can be booked from £385 per night for two people all-inclusive, or £182 per night for two people on a bed and breakfast basis.
Prices start at £285 for one-day retreats, £755 for three-day retreats and £1,220 for five days – all per person.
Address: Labrelotte Bay, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
Call: 00 (758) 877-522-0722
E-mail: reservations@windjammer-landing.com
Website: windjammer-landing.com
