CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER’S 2016 READER’S CHOICE AWARDS NAME
ANSE CHASTANET AND JADE MOUNTAIN
TOP TWO RESORTS IN ST. LUCIA
Both resorts listed earn coveted top-ten spots in the “Top Resorts of the Caribbean” category
Condé Nast Traveler today announced the results of its 29th annual Readers’ Choice Awards, and Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet reached heights that rival the stunning Piton mountains they overlook. In the “Top Resorts of the Caribbean” category, Jade Mountain was number four, while Anse Chastanet was number eight. They were the only St. Lucian properties to earn placement in the top ten.
“We are honored to be a part of this prestigious list,” said co-owner Karolin Troubetzkoy of the travel survey, which covers hotels, cruise ships, cities and islands and is crafted from votes cast by more than 300,000 readers. “We believe that nature should be an integral part of the vacation experience, and our resorts reflect the beauty of St. Lucia while also offering top-quality service from our major domos, the famous butlers who attentively see to our guests' needs from arrival to departure.”
Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain share a lush, impossibly scenic 600-acre estate overlooking the Gros and Petit Pitons, 2,500-foot twin volcanoes that have come to symbolize St. Lucia and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The property also encompasses two sandy beaches that border coral reefs; the organic Emerald Estate Farm, where much of the restaurants' produce is grown; and the historical former plantation site of Anse Mamin, popular for hiking. The cuisine for both resorts is overseen by the highly acclaimed chef Allen Susser, who conceived the groundbreaking Miami restaurant Chef Allen's and has won the James Beard Foundation's Best Southeast Chef award. The resorts have six restaurants between them, and menu highlights include kingfish ceviche, giant prawns, Chateaubriand steak and artisanal chocolate made from locally grown cacao beans.
The resorts' story began in the 1970s, when architect and owner Nick Troubetzkoy opened Anse Chastanet as an eco-conscious hotel that was decades ahead of the current “going green” craze. With nearly 50 rooms scattered along the hillside as well as within a tropical, beach-level garden, Anse Chastanet is known for its spa, Kai Belté, as well as activities like scuba diving, birdwatching and jungle biking. The resort also offers educational culinary programs like cooking classes and chocolate tastings.
In 2007, after years of planning and construction, Troubetzkoy opened his labor of love: Jade Mountain, an intimate, luxurious sister resort at the top half of the property. His bold architectural vision helped bring to life extraordinary details like dramatically suspended bridge walkways (instead of hallways) and extravagant suites called “sanctuaries,” each with a massive infinity pool that appears to be floating above the sea. Every room is missing its fourth wall, creating a dramatic, stage-like setting from which to savor the views of the Pitons and the Caribbean. As Karolin Troubetzkoy explains, the goal for the properties has always been “to meld our own unique architecture with St. Lucia's spectacular natural scenery, while at the same time showcasing the island's rich, indigenous culture.”
In addition to several Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards, both resorts have received numerous accolades such placement on Travel + Leisure's T+L 500 and World's Best Awards lists, theConde Nast Traveler Gold List, American Express Travel's Top 25 List and BRIDES magazine's rundown, “The 10 Best Honeymoon Resorts in the Caribbean.” But to the Troubetzkoys, the hundreds of testimonials from their guests, which include trip descriptions like “heaven on earth,” “an absolutely magical place” and “trip of a lifetime” are the most important and meaningful honors.
ABOUT THE READERS' CHOICE AWARDS
The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry and are commonly known as “the best of the best of travel.” Under Editor in Chief Pilar Guzmán, the Readers’ Choice Awards have become more selective and specific to the passions that inspire today’s travelers.
The Readers’ Choice Awards are announced in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler, on newsstands nationwide on October 25, 2016. The full list is published exclusively online, at www.CNTraveler.com/rca.
ABOUT CONDE NAST TRAVELER
As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler (cntraveler.com) is the global citizen’s bible and muse offering both inspiration and vital intel. Condé Nast Traveler is the most trusted and celebrated name in travel with 6 National Magazine Award wins and 26 nominations in its 28-year history. Advertising Age named Pilar Guzmán Editor of the Year in 2014 and CNTraveler.com attained 4 Webby Awards since 2015.
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