St Lucia holiday accommodation
| country: | St. Lucia |
| location: | near Vieux Fort |
| price: | Room US $40 - US $90, 1 bed cottage US $90 - US $130, 2 bed cottage US $160 - US $190. Min stay 3 nights, weekly discount 10%, rates for long stays/groups. |
read 4 travellers reviews
description
Our St Lucia holiday accommodation is a Plantation Guesthouse offering several eco-style cottages in a unique natural and historic setting. The authentic character of this peaceful vacation retreat, which remains a working plantation, a St Lucia heritage site, and a family residence, has inspired and touched the hearts of many travelers.
The property comprises 70 acres of exotic flower gardens and fruit orchards, lush vegetation, pastures and historic ruins along the south-western coast of St Lucia. Several secluded beaches, rivers and hiking trails are within walking distance. This is a popular destination for honeymooners, families, group retreats, volunteers, weddings and other special events.
Artists, photographers and writers come and are inspired.
The estate's rich history includes ancient Amerindian settlements, the remains of an 18th century sugar mill and the 150 year old antique furnished Plantation House, which serves as a family home, museum, and guesthouse. Traces of a Pre-Colombian presence include rock basins and petroglyphs at the banks of the Balenbouche River, and a collection of artifacts such as stone axes, various tools, and beautifully crafted clay pottery. Our guided tour of the estate brings to life 2000 years of human settlement of the area.
The property comprises 70 acres of exotic flower gardens and fruit orchards, lush vegetation, pastures and historic ruins along the south-western coast of St Lucia. Several secluded beaches, rivers and hiking trails are within walking distance. This is a popular destination for honeymooners, families, group retreats, volunteers, weddings and other special events.
Artists, photographers and writers come and are inspired.
The estate's rich history includes ancient Amerindian settlements, the remains of an 18th century sugar mill and the 150 year old antique furnished Plantation House, which serves as a family home, museum, and guesthouse. Traces of a Pre-Colombian presence include rock basins and petroglyphs at the banks of the Balenbouche River, and a collection of artifacts such as stone axes, various tools, and beautifully crafted clay pottery. Our guided tour of the estate brings to life 2000 years of human settlement of the area.
travellers' tales
Staying at the estate was a joy. We have to mention the style of the estate; the food was lovely, the way we were looked after was warm, comfortable, relaxed. (more)
rooms, food and facilities
At our St Lucia holiday accommodation, visitors can chose between one of the two rooms in the Plantation House and our four West Indian cottages. The rooms in the Plantation House share a bathroom and can be rented at single or double occupancy rates. Guests staying there have access to the main kitchen.
Our two largest cottages, the Almond and Banyan Cottages, each have two double bedrooms with separate bathrooms, kitchen and living room. Each house is designed to accommodate 4 people; however, arrangements for extra beds or a baby cot can be made.
Our one bedroom cottages offer a double bed, bathroom, refrigerator, and private veranda. Whereas the smaller Calabash Cottage is located near the Plantation House, the more spacious Frangipani Cottage is situated further away in a secluded palm and bamboo garden, and is especially popular with honeymooners.
All cottages have hot water and some have an outdoor shower built with natural stone. Every room is uniquely furnished and designed to capture the constant tropical breeze, and also equipped with standing fans and mosquito nets.
We offer breakfast every day and dinner 2 - 5 nights per week. A light lunch is available by request, as are Vegetarian and Vegan meals. Our meals are prepared with fresh local ingredients, and are inspired by Creole, Asian and European Cuisines. We can cater for up to 50 people for special occasions such as weddings.
Extra amenities include internet access, telephone & fax service, maid service and laundry service.
Family friendly accommodation: This St Lucia holiday accommodation is a fun environment for children of all ages. Children under 18 staying in the same room or villa are free. Baby cots & babysitting can be arranged by request. Children under 12 pay half price for meals, children under 7 receive free meals! However, one should keep in mind that the property and certain areas of the houses (especially the historic Estate house) are not particularly safe for very young children - supervision is required at all times.
The Estate is the perfect starting point to explore the stunning natural beauty of St. Lucia. While we recommend that you rent a car for at least part of your stay, you can access several beaches, rivers, local bars and hiking trails by foot. We also offer guided tours of the grounds and the plantation's unique history.
The nearest supermarket, post office and bank are a 20 minute drive away, near the town of Vieux Fort. There is one very good local restaurant 5 minutes by car, others are 20 - 45 minutes away. Taxis and local buses are also readily available.
Group Retreats: We regularly cater for private groups such as yoga & artist retreats.
Weddings: There are many amazing locations to choose from; you can say your vows under one of our ancient banyan trees, on a secluded st lucia beach, or in the historic sugarmill, with the mysterious old waterwheel as a backdrop. The reception is usually held at the elegant 19th century Estate house, where we can seat up to 30 guests. Up to 20 wedding guests can stay in our cottages and rooms, and additional guests can stay at another small guesthouse within walking distance. We will work with any budget, and make all the neccessary arrangements for the ceremony and reception.
Volunteers: A property such as this requires constant care and maintenance, and the ability to overcome various challenges with limited resources. At the same time, many travelers have a desire to share experience and to make their travels more affordable by volunteering in exchange for free or reduced room and board. This can be for as short as 2 weeks, and as long as 6 months. Areas include: gardening, agriculture, construction & building restoration, energy & alternative technology, environmental mangement etc.
Although not officially registered as a non-profit, all our revenue goes back into preserving the property. We are a designated heritage site and a members of the Heritage Tourism Association of St. Lucia (HERITAS).
Our two largest cottages, the Almond and Banyan Cottages, each have two double bedrooms with separate bathrooms, kitchen and living room. Each house is designed to accommodate 4 people; however, arrangements for extra beds or a baby cot can be made.
Our one bedroom cottages offer a double bed, bathroom, refrigerator, and private veranda. Whereas the smaller Calabash Cottage is located near the Plantation House, the more spacious Frangipani Cottage is situated further away in a secluded palm and bamboo garden, and is especially popular with honeymooners.
All cottages have hot water and some have an outdoor shower built with natural stone. Every room is uniquely furnished and designed to capture the constant tropical breeze, and also equipped with standing fans and mosquito nets. We offer breakfast every day and dinner 2 - 5 nights per week. A light lunch is available by request, as are Vegetarian and Vegan meals. Our meals are prepared with fresh local ingredients, and are inspired by Creole, Asian and European Cuisines. We can cater for up to 50 people for special occasions such as weddings.
Extra amenities include internet access, telephone & fax service, maid service and laundry service.
Family friendly accommodation: This St Lucia holiday accommodation is a fun environment for children of all ages. Children under 18 staying in the same room or villa are free. Baby cots & babysitting can be arranged by request. Children under 12 pay half price for meals, children under 7 receive free meals! However, one should keep in mind that the property and certain areas of the houses (especially the historic Estate house) are not particularly safe for very young children - supervision is required at all times.
special things to do at our St Lucia holiday accommodation
The Estate is the perfect starting point to explore the stunning natural beauty of St. Lucia. While we recommend that you rent a car for at least part of your stay, you can access several beaches, rivers, local bars and hiking trails by foot. We also offer guided tours of the grounds and the plantation's unique history. The nearest supermarket, post office and bank are a 20 minute drive away, near the town of Vieux Fort. There is one very good local restaurant 5 minutes by car, others are 20 - 45 minutes away. Taxis and local buses are also readily available.
Group Retreats: We regularly cater for private groups such as yoga & artist retreats.
Weddings: There are many amazing locations to choose from; you can say your vows under one of our ancient banyan trees, on a secluded st lucia beach, or in the historic sugarmill, with the mysterious old waterwheel as a backdrop. The reception is usually held at the elegant 19th century Estate house, where we can seat up to 30 guests. Up to 20 wedding guests can stay in our cottages and rooms, and additional guests can stay at another small guesthouse within walking distance. We will work with any budget, and make all the neccessary arrangements for the ceremony and reception.
Volunteers: A property such as this requires constant care and maintenance, and the ability to overcome various challenges with limited resources. At the same time, many travelers have a desire to share experience and to make their travels more affordable by volunteering in exchange for free or reduced room and board. This can be for as short as 2 weeks, and as long as 6 months. Areas include: gardening, agriculture, construction & building restoration, energy & alternative technology, environmental mangement etc.
Although not officially registered as a non-profit, all our revenue goes back into preserving the property. We are a designated heritage site and a members of the Heritage Tourism Association of St. Lucia (HERITAS).
how to find our St Lucia holiday accommodation
Our estate is located on the south-western coast of St. Lucia, just 20 minutes from the Hewanorra International Airport. The towns of Soufriere and Vieux Fort are 40 and 20 minutes by car.how this holiday makes a difference
 The main goal at our St Lucia holiday accommodation is to maintain and preserve the natural beauty, historic remains, and authenticity of the 70 acre estate. This alone is a monumental task, which is carried out by only a handful of individuals with no financial resources other than what the Estate generates. However, as a family, we feel that it is our calling and responsibility to ensure that this special spot on earth remains an oasis of peace and beauty and creativity for present and future generations to enjoy. The estate has come a long way, from being a large sugar plantation in colonial times, to a diversified but struggling farm up to the early 1990’s, and finally to a multi-facetted small eco-tourism enterprise in the last 10 years. We have an abundance of ideas, plans, hopes and dreams for this St Lucia holiday accommodation, which we are slowly but steadily realizing. We would like to further intensify our activities in the areas of environmental and spiritual awareness, arts and crafts, skills training, history and archeology, and eventually become a regional resource centre. Another objective is to become largely energy self-sufficient, as alternatives such as wind and solar energy become more available and affordable. Up until just a few years ago, we were not connected to the island’s water distribution system. We now use a combination of river water, rainwater collected in cisterns, and public water. Hot water is generated through solar energy. We ask our guests to reduce energy use and wastage. We do not use high energy appliances such as air conditioning, microwaves, or TV's.We do not use any chemicals or fertilizers on the grounds or farm. We seek to grow our own produce as much as possible. Organic waste is composted and other items are recycled where possible.  We have made special arrangements with community members to build temporary homes on our land, graze livestock, plant gardens, and produce controlled amounts of charcoal. We offer discounted rates to locals for special events such as weddings and charities such as the Lion's Club Family Fiesta and the Annual Christmas Bazaar organized by the National Council for the Disabled. All profits made from the Jazz Festival at the estate go back into the community and help pay for 4 free Jazz concerts in the South. We refer our guests to local businesses, restaurants, and attractions, and purchases goods and services from the local community. As a member of the St. Lucia Heritage Tourism Association, we have implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS) which seeks to further minimize our impact on the environment. We work with other local and regional organizations such as the St. Lucia National Trust and the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) to ensure that our product remains of the highest quality. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |