Saint Lucia, the Caribbean beach resort that can power the battery recharge we all need – Scotland on Sunday Travel
When it comes to leading wellness centers, you won’t find a place to recharge your batteries more legendary than BodyHoliday (thebodyholiday.com). The original St. Lucia Sanctuary has been bringing zen to its affluent patrons for 30 years, hosting celebrities like the late Amy Winehouse and Morgan Freeman.
Built into a secluded hillside bordered by beach near popular Rodney Bay, the private all-inclusive resort enjoys year-round sunshine. And with a world-class spa, golf academy, and water sports center on-site, there is an equal amount of adventure and indulgence in relieving stress. Think of it as the ultimate wellness playground that you won’t want to leave.
It’s easy to be sniffing about all-inclusive packages, but BodyHoliday is not like your usual resort where you fight tooth and nail with other guests for space. It has just 155 rooms in total, ranging from simple but comfortable rooms with a garden, to luxurious ocean views with plush king-size beds and panoramic views of Cariblue Bay, where you can lazily watch the fishermen bring back. the catch of the day. .
If you are looking for to spend the money and want to be like the wellness elite, settle into one of BodyHoliday’s spacious junior suites located in a two-level villa (there are three in total) higher up the hill. What you enjoy in the privacy you pay for with a thigh burn – you’ll have to climb a number of winding wooden steps to get to the resort.
A 360-degree wellness experience
One thing to know about BodyHoliday is that they focus on treating guests using a mix of eastern and western philosophies. The Barnard family, who own the property, believe wellness is built on four pillars: diet, exercise, restorative beauty and relaxation. As such, you will find all of a State-of-the-art CrossFit-style gym, to a purpose-built “Ayurvedic” pavilion in the wellness center. (In case you are unaware of your wellness trends, Ayurveda is an ancient Indian healing system that promotes balance between body and mind using holistic practices.)
All-inclusive rate generously includes a daily 50-minute spa treatment, so I started every morning with a soothing massage, facial, body scrub, body wrap or hydrotherapy treatment. Their abhyanga massages are especially fantastic – a therapist coats your body with warm oil and massages knots and tension in areas of tension.
There are additional treatments for which you can also pay extra, including reiki, osteopathy, acupuncture, Thai massage and hypnotherapy, and on site you will also find a specialist skin clinic with Skinceuticals treatments and Thalgo, nail, hair and makeup services, and an infrared sauna.
The ability to set your ideal vacation pace is certainly one of the resort’s main draws, if like me, you hate having to do administration. Before your stay, simply log on to the BodyHoliday website and choose your treatments and activities. A handy tablet in each room displays your daily itinerary.
One of the most interesting offers of the complex is the BodyScience Clinic, a high-tech concept that uses a combination of DNA testing, 3D cardiac mapping, iridology and Ayurvedic techniques to help you feel better. By analyzing a range of personal data and diagnoses, in-house physicians use your results to suggest a tailored health program tailored to your needs, whether it’s a specialty diet, nutritional supplements, personal care, or of meditation and yoga. (Prices start from around £ 2,060, in addition to the cost of a stay.)
A treat for body and soul
If you’re on a total wellness cleanse, BodyHoliday can help get you on the right track, with immune injections and healthy salads available from Wellness coffee for the lunch. The The relaxed Cariblue restaurant offers a virtuous a la carte menu for dinner, marked with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and Ayurvedic choices, so it’s easy to eat well all day long.
Fortunately, there are no calorie-controlled menus or punitive juice diets. One of my favorite places was I-TAL, a private farm-to-fork dining experience that takes place in a log cabin high in the lush hillside jungle heights. I-tal is the name of the Rastafarian vegan diet, believed to improve energy and our connection to the universe. Usually, guests can forage for their own food in the gardens and help cook their meals under Chef Julienne’s tutelage, but with the Covid restrictions still in place, all you need to do is show up and go back home.
As well as relaxing, you’ll want to roll up your sleeves and embark on an adrenaline-fueled adventure. All activities are included, which means you can do as much or as little as you want, and you won’t be stuck with a big bill at the end of your stay.
There are fitness classes throughout the day, ranging from gentle yoga at sunrise on the hotel’s wooden pier to high-intensity HIIT sessions in the gym. One thing to note is that the hotel offers monthly “themes”. I was there in September “Solo” where the lessons were super interactive and designed to bring solo travelers together.
You can try your hand at land sports like archery, golf, tennis and cycling, as well as pool volleyball and aqua fitness. The great thing about BodyHoliday is that they use the amazing beachfront location with an ASA accredited sailing club, where you can learn to sail, race and crew in the Caribbean Sea. In addition, there is also a PADI certified diving school. Each guest receives a free diving course, and for an additional fee you can take a full diving course.
Saint Lucia has a few incredible dive sites; from reef dives to underwater wrecks. We spent a day enjoying a boat trip from the resort to a spectacular marine park at the foot of the famous Piton Mountains in the south, renowned for its tropical marine life including parrot fish, trumpet fish, sergeants majors, morays and sardines.
What’s really great about BodyHoliday is the sense of community – it’s unassuming luxury. In a climate where one in six people go on vacation alone, the resort is a safe, friendly and welcoming place to spread its wings and “get together”, meet other nice people or simply enjoy a moment of reflection. With the Caribbean Ocean lapping on your toes, the sun beating down on your skin, and nowhere to be except a massage table or a beach lounger, it’s hard not to feel rested.
Saint Lucia, the Caribbean beach resort that can power the battery recharge we all need – Scotland on Sunday Travel
For more information on the destination, visit stlucia.org
