A new five-star resort in St. Lucia feels like your own personal Garden of Eden

My hair still damp from a last-minute dip in the pool — a desperate attempt to make this mini-escape last just a wee bit longer — I stared at the fluffy clouds outside my airplane window contemplating the decadence of the past few days. I had been invited to St. Lucia as part of an intimate press group; I flew in on Thursday and was headed home Sunday night. Serenity is the newly opened adults-only five-star-plus all-inclusive resort in Fort Vieux, St. Lucia. A five-minute drive from the airport and I was transported light years away from work deadlines, dirty dishes and the stress of life. Road rage was replaced by smiling golf cart drivers. Instead of a cluttered house with an endless chore list, I had my own sanctuary, with a butler, who unpacked for me, ironed with a smile, brought me a perfect cappuccino every morning and generally tended to my every whim. Very different from my actual home, where I tend to cater to everyone else’s whims. The sound of blaring sports or heated political discussions was replaced with the soothing cacophony of my personal splash pool waterfall. Serenity is aptly named.

More than ever, we need places like Serenity at Coconut Bay. It’s an unparalleled haven where couples can rekindle or girlfriends can reconnect. The romance factor is a twelve on a scale of one to ten, but it’s also a setting that girlfriends will embrace for its beauty and supreme service.

The world needs more people like Shebee, driver and guide extraordinaire — and Auntie Debbie, whose cooking skills (and vocal chords) will blow you away. During a “land and sea” tour of the island, Shebee inspired us to cheer, “One perfect love!” on cue, whenever he would say, “Love, love, love,” as he regaled us with his version of St. Lucia’s history and happenings. A highlight of the journey was having him decorate our swimsuit-clad, mud-covered bodies with darker mud at the Soufrière Sulphur Springs and Mud Baths (an add-on adventure that can be arranged by Serenity staff).

Dipping his hands in a bucket filled with the creamy black potion said to have healing powers, he went to work, and soon handprints and finger-painted polka dots turned our bodies into living canvases. When his paint-job was done, our group looked like extras from Broadway’s Lion King, ready for the stage. We let the mud dry and posed for pictures before slipping back into a pool of hot ashy water to rinse off, our skin noticeably softer. Mother Nature’s spa treatment is a must for anyone visiting St. Lucia.

The best thing about Serenity is the spontaneous joy that flows through the property. Even with just a few days there as a solo traveler, I witnessed so many unforgettable moments that are the stuff of fantastic vacations. When you make a spur-of-the-moment decision to take a dip in the sea and you suddenly see the full moon rise through pink and blue clouds. When the dashing kite-surfing crew senses your curiosity, hands you gear that you’ve never seen before in your life, and patiently shows you how to pose with a kite so that you look like a giant human butterfly. When gifted Chef Auntie Debbie breaks into a sweet St. Lucia ballad that makes your heart do a waltz. (Mark Adams, CEO of Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, lured her out of retirement. She had her own restaurant on St. Lucia for many years and was a professional singer before that. Her cuisine is extraordinary, and her personality divine.)

Guests checking into Serenity are led not to rooms, but to one of 36 suites, or rather, “sanctuaries.” There are couples who may never want to leave their own private area during a vacation. Inside, oversized soaking tubs, stone showers and alluring mahogany beds beckon. The smallest villa is 1,200-square-feet; the largest is 1,900-square-feet. Spacious patios feature hammocks, plunge pools, wet bars with refrigerators, and outdoor showers. Your personal butler can deliver meals (and whatever else you command) via a discreet passageway. The butler is summoned with a cell phone, and ‘no’ is nearly a forbidden word. If you don’t wish to walk the flower-laden stone path to the Greathouse for dinner, meals can be served in your own personal paradise. When you’re ready to swap out the sound of the plunge pool waterfall for the sound of actual waves, ask your butler to take you to one of the handful of beach cabanas that sit on one end of the mile-long stretch of sugar-sand that’s one of Coconut Bay’s greatest assets. These sweet private pods are the ultimate in seaside luxury, only available to Serenity guests. Champagne? Chocolate-covered strawberries? Fresh sushi delivered in a picnic basket? Just when you think it can’t possibly get more romantic, an afternoon spent in one of these cabanas will push the passion meter even farther.

There are also small touches that count big. When you return to your sanctuary each night to a heartfelt, handwritten message tucked into a towel sculpture. When Chef Eric joins you at the open-air, six-tables-only oceanfront restaurant, La Luna, and carves meat right onto your plate, explaining each dish to the sound of the waves. When you ring your butler to request preparation of a hot bath, and upon your return, find not only a tub full of bubbles, but also a bottle of chilled bubbly waiting for you.

Once you set foot in Serenity, you also have the option of visiting the rest of Coconut Bay, where 250 more rooms and five swimming pools offer another holiday realm in two parts: Harmony (adults-only) and Splash (family-centric) where a lazy river and water park add energy and variety to this stunning St. Lucia vacation mecca. Everything is within easy walking distance, but golf carts are the preferred mode of transportation. The restaurant selections at Coconut Bay are outstanding and include Asian fusion, Caribbean fusion, pizza and barbecue. There’s also a small spa for use by guests staying in any of the accommodations.

Your soul will feel pampered just being at Coconut Bay (and especially Serenity), but to help your body catch up, you can choose an open-air massage room with a view of the ocean, or enjoy a spa treatment in your own exclusive sanctuary space. For a twist on the traditional hot stone massage, try one with heated seashells. There’s also a chocolate body scrub to remind visitors of the island’s cocoa production. Just like at the restaurants, at the spa there are no bad choices on the menu!

This dose of paradise will cost you (rates start at $999 per person per night, but current specials offer up to a 65 percent discount!), but it’s a splurge that’s worth every dollar spent. And in the long run, not seeking these opportunities for authentic stress relief where you can be drenched in romance and restore your soul in a setting that emanates joy (and, yes, serenity!) will cost you more.

For more information:  www.serenityatcoconutbay.com

We all welcome 2017 with open arms. It’s time to renew our zest for life and travel. Here are five predictions from our editor-in-chief.

Crazy for Cruises

2016 was a stressful year. There was too much politics and too few random acts of kindness. Lots of folks want to completely unplug, and for many travelers, the ocean is the answer – but not just a beachside hotel! On a cruise you can do as little or as much as you want. Simply knowing that you are miles away from land can do wonders for the soul.

Bucket List Buzz

A decade ago, no one talked about “bucket lists,” but now it seems everyone’s transferring their wanderlust to a list – and globetrotting grandparents want to get in on the act too! Boomers and Millennials are helping their parents make travel dreams come true with multi-generational adventures. Travel can be the ultimate form of family bonding.

Will Travel for Food

More than ever, we’re letting our stomachs choose our destinations. Culinary schools are popping up all over the place and even tried-and-true foodie meccas, such as New Orleans and New York, are ramping up their game with intriguing specialty tours and tourism campaigns focused on pleasing the palate. Travelers are planning weekend getaways that revolve around securing a highly desired reservation at the latest “it” restaurant.

Europe: Always in Fashion

Our love affair with Europe is eternal! Domestic travel has been in the spotlight for some time, but heading into 2017, passport use will be on the rise, as travelers push aside economic concerns and seek the opportunity to experience the joie de vivre found only in Europe. Seasoned travelers are booking trips to their favorite European capitals and will be reminded why they fell in love with the continent in the first place.

Say Yes to Yoga

Whether it’s plank, cobra pose or downward dog, yoga – especially in an exotic locale – is commanding our attention. Women and men are seeking solace in structured programs that also leave time for personal reflection. When your sun salutation happens at sunrise with a stunning view of a glistening lake or magnificent mountain range, you’ll undoubtedly leave with a refreshed outlook on life. Find your inner goddess and take on the world, travelgirl!

5 Things To Do Right Now!

1. UPDATE YOUR LUGGAGE TAGS: Whether you check bags or carry-on, make sure every piece of your luggage is wearing a high-quality tag bearing the correct identification information. Business cards from two jobs ago or outdated phone numbers won’t help if your belongings get separated from you. January is the perfect time to update your tags (purchase new ones if necessary!) — and while you’re at it, label your electronics, eyeglass/sunglass cases, and any other valuables that are constant travel companions. Use mailing address labels (add your phone number) or tape a current business card where needed.

2. DO A TOILETRY KIT CHECKUP: Disinfectant wipes, makeup remover, dental floss, vitamins, travel-size toothpaste – is it all in there and ready to go? We’ll remind you to do this again in a few months, but make time now to give your essential carry-on a once over. Remove any loose receipts, expired items and anything else that shouldn’t be there. You might find those earrings or cufflinks you’ve been looking for!

3. BUY A NEW BAG: It’s never a good idea to bring damaged baggage into a fresh calendar year. If your favorite rollaboard has seen its last journey, say farewell and give yourself a post-holiday present. Don’t feel guilty — if you travel for work, this is not a splurge!

4. TAKE TIME FOR TAXES: When travel and work go hand-in-hand, it makes a difference at tax time. Before we get too far into the New Year, spend a morning or afternoon organizing what you’ll need in April. With 2016 still fresh on your mind, write down any travel-related expenses or incidents that may need special attention from your CPA.

5. PLAN A GETAWAY: All too soon our agendas will be overflowing with obligations, so plan a weekend of fun to add to the mix. Call a friend or favorite relative to get in on the planning. Tis the season for flash sales, so look online or call your favorite resort to see what deals the New Year holds.

1. Beignets: Whether you enjoy them at Morning Call (City Park’s 24-hour cash-only café), or the world famous Café Du Monde in the French Quarter, these powdered-sugar covered treats are an iconic menu item.

2. Cemeteries: Author Anne Rice says one of her favorite Nola pastimes is touring the cemeteries. The organization Save Our Cemeteries works to preserve these historic and beautiful places. A guided tour is your best bet and you’ll want to bring your camera to capture the aura of these final resting places, many adorned with one-of-a-kind sculptures.

3. City Park: Nola’s version of Central Park, where you can bike, hike, golf, and even take a ride in a Venetian gondola! This 1,300-acre green space also encompasses the city’s Botanical Gardens and the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA).

4. French Quarter: The heart of New Orleans is one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world, where you can dine, shop, catch a play, stroll Bourbon Street, visit the Cathedral — or a voodoo priestess.

5. Streetcars: There are currently three lines to choose from: St. Charles, Canal Street and the Riverfront, and each ride will cost you $1.25. We like to gaze out the streetcar window along romantic St. Charles Avenue, one of the most esteemed streets in America. It’s fun, functional and historic: This is the oldest continuously operating streetcar in the world.

6. The Roosevelt: It’s part of the elite Waldorf Astoria Collection, so of course we adore this luxurious hotel and its perfect location. The lobby alone will make you feel like a princess in a mini version of Versaille’s Hall of Mirrors. There’s also a fabulous spa where you can treat yourself to an incredible Hydrafacial®, or head for the famous Sazarac Bar, named for the official drink of New Orleans.

7. Magazine Street: Hands-down the street we’re likely to spend the most time on during a weekend in Nola. (With music-centric Frenchmen Street as a close second!) There’s just no end to the options: art galleries, salons, wine bars, specialty boutiques, jewelry stores and restaurants galore.

8. Saenger Theater: We can’t say enough wonderful things about this historic theater, devastated by Katrina, but reopened in 2013 after a $52 million restoration. The Saenger was the center of New Orleans’ entertainment for nearly 100 years! Today it hosts rock bands, Broadway shows and everything in-between.

 

9. World War II Museum: The national World War II museum is a New Orleans’ treasure and a fitting tribute to this critical time period in U.S. history. The Tom Hanks-produced movie at the 4D Solomon Victory Theater is magnificent.

10. Yeaux Leaux: Which, in any other place is written: YOLO, for You Only Live Once. But this is how it’s done in NeauxLa! We love these tumblers from Lionheart Prints, a New Orleans company founded by designer Liz Maute Cooke.