A Taste of Paradise - St Lucia


Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort

Style Theory: St Lucia is the only sovereign nation to be named after a woman and she welcomed us with warmth, showing us her beauty from the moment we stepped off the plane. St Lucia is situated in the Caribbean, on the eastern Caribbean sea (on the boundary of the Atlantic ocean) and is a heady mix of rainforest, mountains, picturesque bays and the most stunning white sand beaches and crystal clears seas. 

For our first 3 nights we stayed the East Winds, St Lucia which is a secluded, laid back but beautiful 4 star hotel on the North West coast of St Lucia (about an 1hr 40 mins drive from the airport). It has 30 cottage suites and an ocean front beach house all set in an expanse of beautiful tropical gardens, complete with winding paths and small bridges leading you around the low key resort. It prides itself on being a secluded, boutique hideaway resort, not in the least brash or shouty instead it has a warm welcoming relaxed atmosphere that immediately put us at ease. 
East Winds, St Luci

East Winds - beach

East Winds, St Lucia
Dress - Honey Rocks London
Our ocean front suite overlooked the beautiful quiet beach, we were the only ones on the beach the majority of the time as it was out of season and fairly quiet (although even the height of the season as there are not loads of cottages it remains quiet and relaxed) Our suite was beautiful, spotlessly clean, airy with a sitting area and a huge bathroom and wardrobe area, within 5 steps we were on the white sandy beach and the pool and restaurant was a 2 min walk away. 
East Winds, St Lucia - Ocean Front Suite
East Winds - beach
The vibe in East Winds is easy, dip in and dip out of what you like. They had watersports, catamarrans, paddleboarding, canoes, snorkling gear that were manned all day by East Winds watersports staff who were super friendly and happy to get us set up in a boat any time of day. There was also daytrips, a sunset cruise (one of my highlights, it was incredible watching the sunset as we sailed through the sea with champagne) yoga, pilates outside in the secluded pavillion. 

If relaxing is your thing, you can just as happily lie on the sunloungers reading and dipping in and out of the crystal clear sea watching the palm trees sway in the breeze as the minutes gently pass you by in idyllic peacefulness. 
East Winds, St Lucia

Fresh towels for the beach - East Winds 
East Winds, St Lucia - Beach 
Bikini - Boden
Sarong - Forage Somerset
Flip Flops - Havianas
Sunset Cruise - East Winds St Lucia
Sunset Cruise - East Winds St Lucia

Sunset Cruise - East Winds St Lucia
The food at East Winds is amazing, all served in the cool, open oceanfront restaurant where you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. The staff are all incredibly attentive and friendly but in a laid back way so the vibe is calm. Fresh fish, delicious meats, out of this world fruit and a barbecue on Friday nights, I could not fault it, Russ and I loved it all.
Breakfast at East Winds
Dress - Zara 
Bag - Estee Rose London
Sandals - Espadrille.co.uk
The people staying at the hotel were a mix of ages, all couples there were no kids (our two may have struggled for things to do there I think) but mainly older couples. It is the kind of place people go to once and return year after year as it is beautiful, low key, the staff are friendly but not pushy and the food is fabulous. The fact it has 987 almost all 5 star reviews on Trip Advisor really speaks for itself.

After three relaxing, idyllic days we drove to the south west of St Lucia, past the banana plantations,  the fishing villages, the bustling town of Soufriere with its brightly coloured houses and busy fishing port. The scenery driving through St Lucia is breathtaking, the roads are incredibly windy, hairpin bend after hairpin bend but around every corner is a spectacular view, densely covered green mountains juxtaposing the clear Caribbean sea. 
The Pitons - St Lucia
We stayed for the next two nights at the ultra luxurious Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort set in more than 100 acres of rainforest nestled in between the Pitons, two large volcanic hills that dominate the landscape. It's truly the dream location, the views are jaw dropping and the resort, a chic village of white Plantation style villas each with its own plunge pool, is the possibly the most elegant resort I have every been. 
SugarBeach, A Viceroy Hotel
The Walk to Our Villa - Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Hotel

Each Guestroom has its own plunge pool at Sugar Beach, St Lucia
Swimsuit - Beach Cafe 
The View from our villa - we watched the sunset every evening Sugar Beach, St Lucia
Dress Batsheva 
Espadrilles - Castaner
The one bedroom villa we stayed in was stunning inside and out, everything pristine white, four poster beds, double showers, with the most glorious view overlooking the sea framed by the Pitons. The staff could not have possibly done anymore for us, they were amazing and we shuttled from the villa to the resort bars and restaurants on the white sandy beach (2 minute car ride) although it was a lovely walk down to them when we weren't being lazy.
Bedroom Luxury at Sugar Beach, St Lucia
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
The main house at Sugar Beach was the home of the upmarket Great Room restaurant where we ate the first night, the decor is impeccable, the food utterly delicious, Caribbean influenced dishes with a twist. We ate at the Bayside restaurant the second night, it sits on Sugar Beach's white sandy beach and has a more laid back vibe, the food again was delicious, I ate my Caribbean obsession vegetable Roti, if you ever go try it its delicious.
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
Dress - Innika Choo 
Bag - Piel de Mar

The Pool at Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
Using Sugar Beach as a base we were taken to a few of the island's tourist attractions by the St Lucia Tourist Association who were hosting us, we visited the Sulphur Springs, the islands 'drive in' volcano where a guide told us the history of the dormant volcano, as we watched the bubbling mud pools and steam shooting from the rocks (it is all very safe and hasn't erupted since the late 18th century) 
On the way out we had a dip in the skin rejunvenating mud baths, meant to detoxify your body and is believed to help eczema, arthritis and sore joints...it definitely made our skin feel amazing.
Sulphur Springs, St Lucia
Then onto Toraille Waterfalls, again so beautiful..although I failed to get a beautiful shot, more 44 mother of two doing an impression of a drowned rat. It was so lovely to get into the waterfall, left me feeling super refreshed after the warmth of the mud baths (although on reflection it may be better to do it the other way around so your don't immediately wash all the goodness of the mud baths off)
Toreille Waterfalls 
Ha!!
We visited Hotel Chocolat for lunch - I had vegetable roti again, infused with cocoa and then chocolate melting middle pudding...delicious.
Hotel Chocolat
Hotel Chocolat
Hotel Chocolat
We spent out final evening at Sugar Beach, watching the sunset over the Caribbean Sea, peaceful, tranquil, a much needed break in paradise away from the madness and business of everyday life....it was pure heaven....
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
We were hosted by the St Lucian Tourist Association, if you are thinking of visiting St Lucia check out their website here, it is amazing, jam packed with information about the island, places to visit where to stay.

We flew British Airways, flights were approx £600 return, we went 22nd May returned 27th May and did not see one drop of rain, the temperature was a perfect 28 degrees. The sunsets early at 6pm but the evenings remained comfortably warm.

We are definitely going to go back, it was the holiday of a lifetime but hopefully we will get to do it more than once in our lifetime. We loved both hotels, EastWinds is low key, relaxed, with a really chilled, positive vibe, the team are great and the food amazing. Sugar Beach, St Lucia is glamorous, chic with jaw dropping views, great food and a great team. The vibe in St Lucia is warm, relaxed and friendly, with breathtaking scenery certainly making it a little taste of heaven on earth.

Hotel Info:

Room rates at East Winds http://eastwinds.com/ start from US$756 per night for a Superior Cottage inclusive of breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, 4 course dinner, all drinks, stocked mini bar, complimentary yoga and pilates classes use of water sports equipment and fitness centre.

Rates at Sugar Beach, A Viceory Resort from $455 (approx £348) per night. Room only. Excluding 10% VAT https://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/sugar-beach

This was written in association with St Lucia Tourist Association,  the trip was a discounted press trip (partly paid for by us) all opinions, thoughts and photography are my own.

Packing for summer holiday....

5.20.2019

pinterest; ash🌙✨
St Lucia
Style Theory: What to pack for a trip to St Lucia? It's our (Russ and I) 15th wedding anniversary on 28th May and we are going to St Lucia for 5 nights, it is unbelievably exciting, it's the first time we have been away together for longer than one night without the kids since they were born so we feel super lucky.

We are being hosted by St Lucia Tourism Authority (we have paid part but I will mark it all as an #ad) as it is a press trip for me and we are paying for Russ. We will be staying at the East Winds Hotel for a couple of days on the beach, it looks so beautiful and experiencing some fun activities such a ziplining through the rainforest..

East Winds Hotel - image via East Winds Instagram
Then we are heading to Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort for a couple of days which will be our beautiful base while we visit the Sulphur Springs and Hotel Chocolat.

New Properties Debut at St. Lucia's Sugar Beach
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
So its going to be an action packed few days, fabulous few days, so...what to pack?

First swimwear, as it really is pretty vital...

I love a black swimsuit and a black bikini, for this holiday I am packing:

Vitamin A | Edie Swimsuit | Beach Cafe UK
Beach Cafe Vitamin A Edie £170
This fab Vitamin A swimsuit, it's pricey but fab on, I love the back of it, a bikini look but in a one piece.

Santorini Swimsuit - Black/Shiny Titanium
Boden £60
Adore this swimsuit, it is possibly the most flattering colours and shape, the black panels down the side give a slimming effect (like take inches off!) I find Boden one of the best places to buy swimwear, it is always cut beautifully, does not ride up and covers all the bits that need to be covered!

Mix & Match Bikini Bottoms - Black
Boden Bikini Top £25 and bottoms £25
A black bikini is my 'safe option' I love them with a sarong or pair of denim shorts and stick a white tee over the top..I bought this one from Boden.
Formentera Bikini Top - Luxury Jade, Exotic Garden
Boden £25 top and £25 bottoms
Love the colour of this bikini, again the same shape and super flattering...

Now to Tees...

My new favourite brand of tees in Michael Stars, great fabric, cut and so cool in the heat.. (I need to find a UK supplier)

Also loving this M&S tee...
Pure Cotton Slogan Straight Fit T-Shirt
M&S £12.50

This Zara top is a great 'fancier' option for a vest top, it looks fab on, I bought a size small and will be wearing with my denim shorts and tan sandals.
Image 8 of FRILLED T-SHIRT from Zara
Zara £15.99

I live in denim shorts on holiday, I always pack two pairs..
Gap £39.95
Love the light wash of these shorts and the distressing...

A pretty white top is a must to wear with denim shorts and tan sandals if you are popping out for lunch, early dinner...

I have bought this one..
Innika Choo £168
This top can be worn both ways around, it looks gorgeous on but is expensive...


Image 2 of EMBROIDERED FRILLED TOP from Zara
Zara £29.99
This is a great less expensive alternative to wear with denim shorts..
Image result for matches batsheva
Bathsheva £270
I always take one showstopper dress...this year I have gone for it with a Bathsheva dress, they are like little girls party dresses and I just love this one on. It looks super cute, I will wear it with my flat tan strappy sandals..

Also packing this dress as there is nothing like a little sparkle on holiday...

I live in these Espadrille.co.uk sandals they look as good with dresses as with shorts..

Espadrille.co.uk £78
They take a tiny bit of wearing in (not much) but when you do they are really comfy and last for years and years.

Finally I am always tempted to bring pairs and pairs of heels with me that I never wear, so this year I am just taking on pair of Castaner Espadrilles, they give me height with comfort and look chic..

I think the key with packing is to work out what you will be doing (beach/sightseeing etc), and place all your clothes out on the bed, then edit, I go through and if I wouldn't wear the piece of clothing for a hot evening out at home I probably won't wear it on holiday. I just edit down and down until I know exactly what I will be wearing when, easy peasy..(err kind of!)

I will keep you updated on what I wear I don't wear and also what St Lucia was like, super excited..

Until next time Fran xx