Saint Lucia’s New All-Inclusive Resort Now Has An Opening Date

The Pitons. The rhythm of Rodney Bay. The shopping in Castries. The marvelous mix of flavors (Orlando’s, anyone?). The vibrant green of the rainforest. The views of, well, just about everything.

Saint Lucia has a way of enchanting its visitors, from just about the moment you land at Hewanorra International Airport. It’s always occupied a unique place in the Caribbean — it’s one of those romantic, exotic destinations whose name seems to conjure up Caribbean fantasies among travelers. We get it — we’ve traveled all over Saint Lucia, and there is a kind of magic about the place.

It’s also home to a unique tapestry of resorts, from its famous three-walled hotels like Jade Mountain to boutique cacao-plantation stays like Hotel Chocolat to the lovely family-owned Bay Gardens Resorts-branded properties.

And early next year, the island is about to have another one: the all-inclusive Secrets St Lucia, the first-ever Secrets-branded all-inclusive on the island and the second Hyatt-inclusive resort, joining the existing Zoetry Marigot Bay.

The new Secrets St Lucia also has an opening date, as confirmed by Caribbean Journal: Feb. 7, 2025, according to the Hyatt

So what do you need to know about it? Secrets St Lucia will have 355 rooms, in a lush location near the northwestern coast of the island.

In keeping with the Secrets brand, it will be an adults-only property, with direct beachfront, with 13 different food and beverage concepts like an Italian eatery called Portfoinio and a French restaurant, “Morgan’s Pier.”

There will also be a Preferred Club, a Hyatt Inclusive Collection product we’ve loved in other destinations with a special Preferred Club Lounge Bar and a Preferred Club Pool Bar.

Secrets Saint Lucia is opening in February.

There’s also a Secrets Spa with a hydro circuit, a main pool, and a fitness center, among other amenities.

So what about cost?

A standard “deluxe tropical view king” room will run about $729 per night, or $5,100 for a week, on the resort’s special opening rate.

For a swim-out room, the price goes up to $911 per night (do it, we insist).

Preferred Club rooms start at $1,021 per night, with swim-out Preferred Club rooms priced at $1,057 per night.

Heading to Saint Lucia? The island has more flights than ever, including a new Saturday service from New York JFK that starts Dec. 7.

You can find more on cheap Saint Lucia flight options at Google Flights.

https://www.caribjournal.com/author/alexander-britell/

Coral Spawning Time At The Anse Chastanet Resort, Saint Lucia

Soufriere, Saint Lucia, August, 2015…It happens once a year… one of nature’s most spectacular and rare performances - Coral Spawning.  And it occurs right off the beaches of Anse Chastanet, Saint Lucia.  Each August, the resort’s scuba diving team incredibly and accurately predicts the night spawning and prepares to take novice and experienced divers and snorkelers to observe the remarkable phenomenon.  This year the event is September 5 & 6.

What is coral spawning and why is this so rare?

First discovered in the 1980s at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, this annual mass reproduction phenomena overturned a long-held belief that most coral species reproduced by fertilizing their eggs internally. This "new" external phase of reproduction is now known to be critical to coral reef – and our own ecosystem - survival. Tropical coral reefs, although out of sight, are essential to our world-wide food chains.

Each year, coral release millions of packets of egg and sperm cells that appear as a white and pink upward underwater “snowfall” of  massive clouds. After they drift to the surface for fertilization, the sea will be partially covered by the slicks of coral larvae before they settle to the bottom destined to build the next generation of one of the ocean’s most vital organisms.

Tropical reef-building corals have tiny algae living symbiotically inside individual polyp tissue and neither could survive without the other. The coral gives the algae a substrate and home, and in return, the algae provide the coral with food. While much of the coral spawning process remains a mystery, scientists from all over the world study these miraculous events, and now know that triggers of this annual wonder are the right combination of temperature, day length, rate of temperature change, lunar cycles, time of sunset, and chemical synchrony. The ideal time for the release of the reproductive cells is a week or so after a full August moon an hour or two after sunset providing the cover of darkness. This method of mass spawning increases the chances of larvae survival by overwhelming fish predators.

How is Anse Chastanet conserving and preserving this rare phenomenon?

This spawning phase of reproduction is now known to be a weak link to world-wide coral reef survival as it can only happen when conditions are just right – and is the phase most sensitive to human activity, non-point source pollution, and climate change. Anse Chastanet is able to provide access to this event and resource despite its close proximity due to its exemplary and progressive sustainable designs and architecture by minimizing impervious surfaces, keeping shorelines green and stable, and completely preventing runoff from entering the water – preserving this wonder for future generations.

Why is Scuba St. Lucia the easiest and most practical means to experience this event?

As always, Scuba St. Lucia is offering special night dives during the predicted period to allow guests to witness this magnificent spectacle. Diving is done on the Anse Chastanet reef, which is located just off the resort’s beach. Don't dive? No problem. Snorkelers can also participate, as the resort now also offers guided night snorkeling adventures. Or even better, cross learning to scuba off the bucket list with an easy and guided on-site resort course for newbies. Want photos to share the excitement back home but no underwater camera? Scuba St. Lucia also can lend underwater cameras to capture the beauty and awe of this special event.

Scuba St. Lucia's five-star professional resort diving operation, rated as the island’s best, caters to beginners and experienced divers alike including beach, boat, wall and wreck diving. The night dives right on the Anse Chastanet reef are a highlight for any diver, particularly during coral spawning – and is the perfect opportunity to channel your inner marine biologist!!!

Weekly package dive deals start at US 2389 per person/diver/double occupancy
A $200 per person per week credit is currently offered for travel  now to  Dec 19, 2015 if dive deal is booked prior to Aug 31, 2015
See more at: http://scubastlucia.com/wheretostay.html#diveSpecial

The special package includes:
7 nights  run of house accommodation, airport transfers, breakfast, lunch , afternoon tea and dinner, all tax/service, welcome drink and fruit basket on arrival, 12 beach or boat dives including tank, weights, belt, mask, snorkel, fins ( other equipment at a charge if needed, marine park fee to be paid locally ) complimentary non-motorized  watersports.  A marine park fee of S 15 is to be paid locally.

To book or receive more information call 1-800-223-1108 or email scuba@ansechastanet.com

Anse Chastanet Resort is known for its spectacular scenery and authentic Caribbean charm paired with outstanding service in a tranquil 600 acre setting. With two magnificent beaches and being located in the midst of St. Lucia’s renowned marine park, the resort offers some of the best swimming, snorkeling and diving on the island. The resort’s more than 1.5 miles of shoreline features some of the island’s finest marine reserve coral reefs just off shore over its entire expanse. Taking full advantage of this premiere location, Anse Chastanet’s in-house scuba operation, Scuba St. Lucia, has been in operation since 1981 and has established itself as one of the Caribbean’s top diving destinations. Just 15 yards beyond the water’s edge at the Scuba Centre is found the Anse Chastanet Reef which offers an amazing profusion of tropical marine life in 20 to 140 feet of calm clear water. Perfectly set up for both beach and boat dives, Scuba St. Lucia offers guests a complete range of PADI courses, Enriched Air Nitrox; a well-equipped scuba store; three compressors; rental dive gear and an underwater Photo and Video center. (See more at http://www.scubastlucia.com). The resort’s beach facilities also include 2 restaurants and bars, a full-service spa, Kai Belté, and Yoga classes overlooking the sea. Adjacent to the resort’s second beach, Anse Mamin, is found 8 miles of hiking and biking trails amid the lush coastal jungle and 18th century plantation ruins.

For more resort information, visit http://www.ansechastanet.com andhttp://www.scubastlucia.com or
contact ANSE CHASTANET and Scuba St. Lucia via email ansechastanet@candw.lc or Tel 800-223-1108.

Travelore News: Rules Vary About Travel To Countries Hit By Ebola

By The Associated Press

FILE- In this Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, file photo released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Coast Guard Health Technician Nathan Wallenmeyer, left, and CBP supervisor Sam Ko, right, conduct prescreening measures on a passenger who has arrived from Sierra Leone at O'Hare International Airport's Terminal 5 in Chicago. Demands are rising in Washington for the U.S. to ban travelers from countries in West Africa, but the Obama administration is resisting and says the screening measures already in place for travelers are more effective. (AP Photo/U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Melissa Maraj, File)

Demands are rising in Washington for the U.S. to ban travelers from countries in West Africa, but the Obama administration is resisting and says the screening measures already in place for travelers are more effective.

There are no direct flights from Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone to the U.S. Officials say that about 150 passengers a day arrive in the U.S. from those countries after making a connecting flight, usually in Europe. Most arrive at one of five airports, where screening for fever - a symptom of the disease - began this week.

Here's what different countries are doing about travel to and from the Ebola hot spots:

EUROPE:

United Kingdom: No formal ban. No direct flights from the three affected countries to London's Heathrow Airport since British Airways suspended service there in August due to the outbreak. There is passenger screening at Heathrow and soon at two other airports.

Germany: No ban and no plans for one. There is no formal monitoring or screening of arriving passengers. Like the U.S., Germany doesn't have any direct flights from those three African countries.

France: The government advises against non-essential travel to Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone. Air France suspended flights to Sierra Leone but has maintained once-a-day flights from Guinea, a former colony. Beginning Saturday, temperature checks for passengers arriving in Paris from the Guinean capital of Conakry.

Netherlands: The government advises against travel to the same three nations and urges Dutch citizens in those countries to leave. No direct flights. Currently no extra screening at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, although passengers on flights to and from Nigeria receive flyers with information about Ebola.

Ireland: No ban planned. No Ebola monitoring at airports. Ryanair flies to Morocco but not to any of the countries in the Ebola epidemic. The U.S. has customs stations at Dublin and Shannon airports for U.S.-bound travelers.

Czech Republic: Starting Tuesday, medical checks at Prague's Vaclav Havel Airport for passengers who visited Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone in the previous 42 days.

Albania: No ban.

Turkey: Passengers from Liberia and Nigeria are undergoing more intensive screening. Those with high fever or other symptoms are being quarantined. Six travelers suspected of having Ebola turned out to have malaria instead.

MIDDLE EAST:

Israel: No direct flights. The government plans to ask passengers on connecting flights from West Africa, mostly through France or Ethiopia, to declare if they have been to one of the Ebola countries recently and if they feel ill.

Egypt: Airport officials say there is no travel ban.

Saudi Arabia: People from Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone could not get visas for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, a move that affected more than 7,000 travelers. Stopped issuing work visas to nationals of those countries.

United Arab Emirates: Dubai-based Emirates halted flights to Guinea in August. Dubai International Airport, a major hub for global air traffic, has no specific Ebola screening.

Qatar: Qatar Airways advises against non-essential travel to Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone and does not fly there.

LATIN AMERICA and CARIBBEAN:

Colombia: Bars entry by any travelers requiring visas who have been in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria or Senegal.

Haiti: The prime minister tweeted that the UN stopped sending peacekeepers from Africa to Haiti as a preventive measure.

Jamaica: Bans entry by anyone who has been in Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone within four weeks.

Guyana: Diplomatic missions have been told not to issue visas to people from the affected West African countries.

Trinidad and Tobago: Denies entry to residents of Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo. Others who have visited those countries within six weeks will be quarantined for 21 days.

Saint Lucia: Visitors from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone can't enter until the Ebola outbreak is under control. Travelers from Nigeria need to present a recent medical certificate declaring them free of the virus.

Antigua: No entry to anyone who has been in affected countries within the past 21 days and suspended granting of visas.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Bans nationals from Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Belize: Issued a ban Friday on visas to persons from West African countries.

6 Ultimate Romantic Luxury Experiences

If you’re travelling with that special someone, then you deserve to stay somewhere exceptional. Whether honeymooning or a new couple, time away together provides a way to cement your relationship, pamper your partner and create memories which will last a lifetime. Romance does though mean different things to different people. Here’s my pick of the most romantic luxury hotel experiences in the world, whatever your requirements:

Breathtaking views

With 6,000sq ft of accommodation at Regina Hotel Baglioni in Rome, you could easily spend your days in the stunning interiors of the Penthouse Suite without setting foot outside. But the wrap-around outdoor terrace provides some of the most romantic views anywhere in the world, with the whole of the Eternal City laid out beneath you. You can sink into a candlelit private Jacuzzi pool while sipping chilled Champagne and gazing out at the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and beyond. This once-in-a-lifetime experience will set you back a cool $18,000 a night.

Wilderness dining

The Bushman’s Kloof wilderness reserve and wellness retreat in South Africa’s Western Cape offers some of the most romantic and unusual dining experiences on the planet. You can choose a private dinner for two at Kadoro, a rustic Shepherd’s hut which has been renovated but not modernised, so it’s like stepping back to a time of no electricity and no telephones. Your food is cooked for you over an open fire while candles twinkle and the starlit Cederberg Mountains wend their way into the distance. Or take a picnic in a wild location gazing at the spectacular African sunset. Unforgettable.

The perfect proposal

London’s Hotel 41 prides itself on providing the perfect ambiance to secure a yes from your partner. If you’re popping the question then the hotel’s staff will help you choose your location and provide you with a candlelit supper, complete with vintage Champagne, oysters, asparagus and chocolate-dipped strawberries. The hotel, which sits opposite Buckingham Palace’s Royal Mews, also offers the Romantically package designed to help you reconnect with the one you love.

Castaway picnic

While Robinson Crusoe may have famously been cast away alone, the Casa del Mar in Langkawi gives you the opportunity to take your loved one with you for a romantic castaway picnic. After a cruise around some of Langkawi’s islands, your crew takes you to a beach on a remote beach. Here, you’ll find a tent, with flowing nets and comfortable cushions, along with a gourmet picnic and the mini bar of your choice. Swim, sleep, sunbathe, and enjoy your day together before you are ‘rescued’ and taken back to your hotel.

A bath made for two

Perched high above the winding Ayung River gorge, pebbled walkways link the thatched roof suites of theAmandari Resort in Bali. The private garden courtyards include an outdoor sunken marble bath, with more than enough room for two. Walled behind glass but entirely open to the sky, you could bathe together in the evening while gazing at the stars in the arms of your loved one.

Pool with a view

Each suite at the Jade Mountain in St Lucia is totally self-contained, providing unrivalled privacy. Ornately-tiled individually-designed private infinity pools cantilevered out over the cerulean blue sea feature stunning views over the Caribbean to the towering Piton mountains beyond.  Swim to the edge of the pool with your loved one and you can truly believe you have the island to yourselves.

Whichever of the above you choose, you’re guaranteed both luxury and romance.

Contributed by Rajul Chande, Owner of London Hotels Insight.  www.aluxuryblog.com

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