Are you wanting to celebrate a special birthday or life event? Or maybe you just want to treat yourself but want something just that bit different. Maybe you want to incorporate Yoga, Pilates or T'ai Chi in to the holiday but are going with someone who does not get involved in these activities. You might also have the problem of trying to find an exotic location that would suit someone who does not enjoy the sun. Sometimes life throws up these little dilemmas.
For me it was all about wanting to find some way of celebrating a land mark event as my husband had recently taken early retirement at the age of 60 and we were moving into a new era.
Whatever, your reasons are for wanting a holiday with a difference, if you're looking for an exclusive holiday with a difference then I can recommend the
BodyHoliday resort in St Lucia in the Caribbean. Over the years it has won a variety of accolades and is considered one of the top holiday resorts in the world. On all fronts for me it ticked all the right boxes and here's why -
Lets start with location -
exclusive hotel located on a gentle undulating hill side, set in acres of tropical garden, overlooking your own private beach.
Elegant sea view rooms with balconies and effective air conditioning that runs quietly enough for night time usage.
For swimming, sunbathing and relaxation there are a couple of swimming pools with aquafit activities most days. The hotel has it's own private white sandy beach with sun beds located both on and off the beach.
For relaxing in the afternoon there are hammocks and sunbeds on the lawn in cooling shady locations under swaying palm trees. All the sun bed areas are serviced by attentive and friendly beach staff, who bring out iced water buckets and drinks on request. There are even bar staff who bring drinks out on a tray to anyone resting in one of the sea rings! Trust me it's an amazing sight to see them wade out into the Atlantic with a round of drinks held above their heads as they negotiate the waves! Also, towel stacks are everywhere, so there's no worries about bringing towels down from the room.
Also,
great food served round the clock in a variety of restaurants with the exclusive
Tao restaurant being voted one of the top 60 table in the world. For a foodie like it me it was heaven. I was able to get protein shakes during the day and there were plenty of vegetarian, dairy and gluten free options at all meals.
Inclusive activities such as early morning walks, Pilates, Yoga, T'ai Chi and meditation are there for those wanting to take part. There are also specialist tuition sessions in diving, golfing and tennis available for those who want to pay extra. There is a gym that feels like a chiller, which was great for my husband who found it a rejuvenating place to be in the afternoon when the sun was at it's hottest.
For me though the resort's
Wellness Centre is really what made it special. Set in a temple and located on a hilltop overlooking the complex, this is a lovely place to relax and unwind with a cooling breeze and the sound of bird song in the background. Daily massage and other treatments are included in the package and it is possible to pay extra for other more specialist treatments, such as Ayurvedic massage.
Above all else though it was the St Lucian staff who made it the most
wonderful experience. Caring, empathetic, friendly and genuine their level of customer service was something I had not encountered anywhere else. At the resort I meet a number of people who had been coming to the resort for 20 years and I can see why.
It's true that the holiday does not come cheap. However, once you're there, it's possible to get by without ever needing to spend money, as all meals, drinks, basic treatments and activities are included in the package.
All this amounts to the holiday of a lifetime where I made friends, relaxed and felt cared for. Here's to the next time but for now I have many lasting memories.
We booked through
expedia.co.uk but ebookers & virgin also feature the hotel on their websites.
