Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia

[prairiegirl]

We are planning on staying at Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia for our
honeymoon in September. Has anyone stayed there? Is there a preferred room we should ask for?Is it worth paying probably $1,000 more to stay in the premium room with the view of the Pitons or is the deluxe oceanside better? Also, any ideas about things we should not miss while there? This is our first visit.

[Carib Mark]

I never stayed at that resort but I will suggest that while on St Lucia, if you can, got to Castries on Saturday morning for market day. Lots of local items from wood crafts to baskets, colorful fabrics to pepper sauces. One of my favorite market days in the islands. Just up the road is Bagwell's for some beautiful linens in tropical designs. Enjoy this beautiful island!

[tschommers@yahoo.com]

Anse Chastanet is in the top 5 of all resorts I've been to. I would suggest spending a little more for one of the rooms up the hill with a view. We stayed in a ground floor room which was very nice and we did get to see the view over meals and while on the beach but I will request a hillside room next time. The snorkeling and diving right off the resorts beach is great as well as the hiking in the surrounding rain forest. Be sure to fly into the resort near Souffrie (SP) otherwise it's a very long drive to the resort. If I remember correctly it's something like 3-4 hours from Castries to Anse Chastanet by car. The resort affers a trip to Castries by boat which only took about 45 minutes if you want to tour the Capital. When I return to Anse Chastanet, I probably won't leave the resort or the surrounding area. It is beautiful and a very romantic place, But very secluded. You can't go wrong
Hope this helps. Email me if you'd like more opinions.

[prairiegirl]

Thank you for the reply. We will definitely upgrade then to at least a Superior room which is on the hill with an ocean view. Did you happen to see the botanic garden, or take a jungle bike ride, hike, or kayak or see the mineral baths, drive thru volcano, or get a spa treatment? Just wondering if some are better than others.

[anonymus]

My boyfriend and I just got back from St. Lucia last week and absolutely loved it! You picked a great island. We stayed on the north side of the island but I think I will probably stay on the south side next time because it is so beautiful. I would say, if you can spend the extra money, get the room with the view. The Pitons are amazing and I would love to wake up with a view of them every morning. We went to the volcano, but due to rain, didn't go in the mineral baths. It looks great though. Definitely go to the volcano and try to do a hike into the rain forest. I also highly recommend taking a horseback ride on the beach. Some will take the saddle off the horse and let you ride the horse in the water while the horse swims around. It was a lot of fun. Even if you just spend a lot of time on the beach, enjoying the beautiful Caribbean, and take in the gorgeous views of the lush green mountains, you will have an amazing time. Wow, what a beautiful place. I hope to go back soon. Have fun!!!

[Carryrapp]

I'll be honest with you. I really didn't like the beach there, at all or the snorkeling. To be fair I didn't stay at the resort so I cannot offer an objective opinion of it as we were just day tripping there from another part of the island.