Rachel Leroy 
Imagine you’re ensconced inside a three-walled colorfully themed room facing the gleaming cerulean waters of the Caribbean Sea, you’re staring at two Pitons rising side by side listed a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the views from Jade Mountain Resort on St. Lucia are truly unparalleled.
Designed by its architect owner Nick Troubetzkoy, suspended bridges link infinity pool sanctuaries throughout the resort. Wood plays a major role in the resort’s design while blending in with St. Lucia’s rustic and rugged surroundings. Ledgestone veneer columns add to the mystifying look of the resort. As if guests have entered an out of this world retreat.
All 29 rooms, called infinity pool sanctuaries, only have three walls designed for a purpose. The fourth wall was intentionally eliminated to provide guests uninterrupted views of the Pitons. The Pitons are two volcanic spires standing next to each other on the Caribbean Sea, almost 770 m and 743 m above the sea level. The Piton Mitan ridge, the mountain range looming over the St. Lucia landscape, connects them. The Pitons are a breathtaking sight to be behold, nature’s own work of art. Guests staying at any of the infinity pool sanctuaries at Jade Mountain can enjoy sweeping views of The Pitons at any time of the day or night.
Featuring 20 various species of tropical hardwood flooring, rooms in Jade Mountains were designed with environmental sustainability in mind. Locally sourced the furnishings, mostly made of tropical wood, add to the otherworldly charm of the resort. The indoor walls feature crushed blush toned coral plaster from Barbados while the exterior features stones from Chile. Modern conveniences like fridge, tea/coffee making facilities, hair dryer, iron, ironing board have also carefully been added for guests’ convenience.
The bathrooms also have an open-air design so guests can take a plunge in the tub while fully immersed in the nature-infused sights. Each of the infinity pool was designed in a way that the water flows as if straight into the Caribbean Sea as the sky meets the water below. Lit with fiber optic lights, guests have the capacity to control what color of lights they want their pool to be. Varying in size, from 450 to 900 square feet, the infinity pools are ozone-treated. Heating can be a challenge though so best to swim during the middle of the day when the water’s not freezing. There are also five Jacuzzi suites on top of the 24 infinity pool sanctuaries.
The resort has no generator so when the island of St Lucia experiences a power cut, Jade Mountain can be thrust into darkness too. But candles abound in the rooms and restaurants so service is not interrupted. Televisions, radio, or telephone in the infinity pool sanctuaries and sky sanctuaries are non-existent to ensure guests are fully immersed in nature. Service at Jade Mountain is top notch. There are personal butlers called ‘Major Domo’ who are available at guests’ beck and call. Don’t expect the same service at the Anse Chastanet beach though. Service can be slow or nonexistent at all.
A blissful stay at Jade Mountain can also be interrupted by a plethora of boats, swimmers and divers going to the reefs. The air can be filled with the smell of gasoline. Best to go out early in the morning, as the sun rises. Enjoy the views and the calming silence before the crowd gathers. Breakfast can be served at the privacy of your sanctuary. Or enjoy gourmet cuisine at any of the award-winning Jade Mountain restaurants. Taste exotic flavors created by James Beard Award Winner Chef Allen. Above the Jade Mountain Club is the Celestial Terrace, an idyllic tryst for a soothing drink or watching the magnificent sunset or stargazing.
Sprawled across 600 acres, Jade Mountain is set in the heart of the Anse Mamin colonial plantation that used to produce cocoa. This allows Jade Mountain to produce its own chocolates from the cocoa trees in the plantation. The resort also has its own organic farm called Emerald Estate where the hotel gets most of its main ingredients including vanilla beans, bay leaf, nutmeg trees, cinnamon trees, and mangoes. This ensures guests enjoy the freshest of ingredients, from the farm direct to the tables at Jade Mountains. Fishermen in the local community also enjoy a close relationship with the hotel and are a main source of the freshest of fish. This collaboration is a reflection of how Jade Mountain benefits from and gives back to its local community. Dining at Jade Mountain is not only a gastronomic journey but a culturally connected journey too.
Noteworthy are the resort’s five Sky Jacuzzi suites, found on the lower hillside of Jade Mountain. With ceilings rising up to 15 feet, these suites also have no fourth wall providing guests panoramic views while enjoying complete privacy. The suites’ average size is 1,650 square feet spread in two levels. Designed with an open bath, the Jacuzzis are elevated and tower over the living room so guests truly enjoy the views while soaked in the Jacuzzi, truly one of a kind. Be sure to book one of these exhilarating suites.
