St Lucia is full of large resorts, but this boutique hotel has some of the best views of the Pitons in this tropical rainforest paradise!
Keep reading if you are looking for a totally unique and breathtaking experience.
Topics in this Post
Where is this Gem on St Lucia?
Shhhh it’s hidden, remember? But for you, I’ll let the secret out. It’s only about an hour from the airport in the best location on the entire island!
In my last St Lucia post, I mentioned how the Soufriere area is where you want to be. It is situated right where the Piton mountains are; and the pitons and rainforest vibes are the reason why you visit St Lucia! Not to mention, the best beach views are here because you have the Pitons as the backdrop. There aren’t any other views like it in all of the Caribbean where you feel like you’re in East Asia. Lastly, the fact that many people skip this area to stay in the touristy Northern part of the Island, my mind can’t comprehend, but it leaves this hidden gem for us!
Crystals Villa Resort
If you want to relax, recharge, make life-long friends, have your own pool, a huge villa, and an excellent Indian restaurant, Crystals is the place for you. If it took me a while to find it online or on social media, then you know it’s truly a secret gem. The property is owned and operated by a beautiful family inside and out! Monica and her daughter, Solange, are still our very good friends to this day. We connected instantaneously and look forward to the day that we can visit them again. But enough talking, let me show you this dreamy place!
Dreamy Island Villas
There are 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and even 3-bedroom villas here. All of them have a large kitchenette and a pool! Our Sugarcane room was so spacious for just the two of us. The pool views in this room are in tough competition with even the 5-star Ladera Resort. Breakfast is included in the rate (juice, tea, coffee made in room, fruit, eggs, coconut pancakes, YUM). Taxis are extremely easy to arrange with the staff. Speaking of the staff, they are amazing in every way. Hamilton, the bartender, is a gem himself! He made me a rum concoction called Ti Punch (pronounced “Ti Posh”) for my sore throat and man, did it numb the pain for a while haha.
Breakfast & Best View of St Lucia
Breakfast every morning is delivered to your room at the time of your choice. It is actually a full breakfast with eggs, fruit, pancakes, juice, breads, jams, and you can make coffee or tea in your villa. Have it outside while taking in the view or inside on the regal wooden dining table.
Treetop Restaurant & Bar
The Treetop restaurant really brings Indian vibes to life in the Caribbean. The atmosphere and decor is not something you would expect on St Lucia and makes it a fun, unique experience. All of which was inspired by Monica’s world travels blended with St Lucian traditional charm. The colorful lanterns and tables amongst the lush green vegetation and views of the pitons are *chef’s kiss* perfection. All guests taking part in dinner, meet for L’apéro on the deck with a spectacular view.
The meals are plentiful and savory! You can expect samosas, chicken ginger curry, lamb saagwala, lentils, butter naan, steamed basmati rice, mixed vegetable makhni and of course, amazing desserts. Honestly, we loved the food and ambiance so much that we dined here twice. Can’t beat the vibes here or the convenience of your room being a short walk away.
Activities Nearby
Head into Soufriere
Only a 10 minute maximum drive will bring you into Soufriere. It is a lively town with many shops and restaurants to check out. You will find the boat tours and water taxis here by the docks. Spending a few hours on the water viewing the pitons from the sea, gives a lovely new perspective of them! We made our way down to the beach for dinner at the Hummingbird Resort and it was excellent. They have a huge bar area too!
Sulphur Hot Springs and Mud Baths
If you’re looking for a fun and messy activity with some health benefits, head over to the Sulphur Springs! The Qualibou volcano last erupted over 200 years ago and is considered to be dormant. The sulphur mud baths claim to detoxify the body and help heal sun burns, eczema, arthritis, sore joints, and more. Hey, it’s worth a try and maybe you will leave looking and feeling 10 years younger!
Jalousie Plantation Beach
Now the area is called Sugar Beach and it is one of the most scenic beaches in the Caribbean. It is crazy to think that people fly to St Lucia and don’t visit at least once! Go for a walk on the beach and grab lunch or drinks at the Bayside Restaurant here.
Relax on the Villa Grounds
We always get caught up in the thrill of a new place and need to explore it. Sometimes we forget to just pause and relax! Make sure to take advantage of your private pool! Relax on the various decks and ask Hamilton to make you something special at the bar. Sure you can go on excursions as well, but spending a few hours taking in the ambiance of the indoor outdoor living spaces will do your soul some good!
My Restaurant Recommendations
Hummingbird Beach Resort
This is a great spot for dinner and drinks in Soufriere. They have menu choices for those who like and don’t like seafood. I haven’t stayed here, but the views from the pool and beach are awe-inspiring!
Rabot Restaurant by Hotel Chocolat
If you want to try something different, like cacao cuisine, check out this place! Formerly Boucan by Hotel Chocolat, this hotel and restaurant is walking distance from Ladera Resort (short 15 minute drive from Crystals Villas). As you can guess, chocolate is infused in many dishes here since it is also the site of a cacao plantation. The volcanic soil, plentiful sunshine and rain is the perfect environment for cacao to thrive. Chocolate has been made on the island since the 1700s! You can even harvest your own and make your own chocolate bar! It’s called the Tree to Bar experience and it’s available to reserve at Hotel Chocolat.
Unfortunately, we had to leave before dessert. We will just have to come back because this is Hotel Chocolat and dessert is necessary!
Dasheen at Ladera Resort
We stayed at Ladera Resort before this trip and on this trip again. It is hard to visit St Lucia and not stay at least one night here! At the very least, go out to dinner at Dasheen and soak in the grounds and views. Arrive early and have a drink at the bar, you won’t regret it.
If you are interested learning more about our stay at Ladera Resort, or more about my tips on traveling in and around St Lucia, read about our first trip here! And I hope you all can visit this magical island at some point, especially the Pitons! And especially Crystal’s! Say hello to Monica, Solange, and the pups for me 🙂
