November 14, 2007

Caribbean | St. Lucia

Caribbean All-Star

By Nicole Cotroneo

Don't blink or you'll miss it. St. Lucia's transformation from laid-back to ultra-luxe is happening at blinding speed.

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For an island whose national pastime is lime-in’ — that’s Patois for chillin’-out — St. Lucia’s on a heady mission to become the “adventure island” of the Caribbean. That’s from the tourism minister himself, who spoke to globorati on a recent trip to the it-isle. And while a new zip-line tour through parts of St. Lucia’s 19,000 acres of rainforest is a bold sign, it’s an upscale hotel boom that’s got us salivating. Following the opening of Jade Mountain, Cotton Bay Village, and Discovery at Marigot Bay — which just launched a solar-powered ferry to shuttle guests around its exclusive cove — a new bevy of ultra-luxe resorts is on the way.

Slated to open in September 2008, the Westin Le Paradis commands one mile of coastline and a Greg Norman golf course, while the Ritz-Carlton Residences will show off a 20,000-square-foot spa and Arnold Palmer course (winter 2008). But next up is RockResorts, which unveils the first phase of The Landings on December 19. Set on a rare white-sand beach (many are black), the gated compound will ultimately harbor a five-acre marina (just for guest parking) and 231 suites with gourmet kitchens (plus private chef should you wish).

In fact, the resort’s Rodney Bay enclave is a rare spot of gastronomic heaven for the island: don’t miss Ti Bananne’s nouveau Caribbean cuisine at the Coco Palm (pictured) — an 80-room boutique hotel with swim-up rooms — or jewel box Ku de ta for stellar Thai. They’re both just a nonstop flight away starting tomorrow, when American Airlines begins the swiftest service from New York. Air Jamaica will do the same December 15 through the holidays — encouraging Americans to join the fly-and-flop Brits who already jet direct on Virgin Atlantic.