No trip to St. Lucia is complete without seeing the beautiful pitons. What if you could wake up to them every morning? I stayed at the most tranquil oasis, Hotel Chocolat at the Rabot Estate. Hotel Chocolat St. Lucia is the perfect blend of eye-catching, abstract, modern architecture mixed with warm classic Caribbean accents. It gives the mmost unique luxurious island vibes. This hotel isn’t just a pretty face. I can assure you that you will never go a day wondering how to occupy your time when you are not unwinding.

Location

Less than an hour away from Hewanorra International (UVF) airport, nestled in the town of Soufrière, you will find the exuberantly lush Rabot Estate. I arrived from New York and opted to rent a car so that my mobility can be as flexible as I like. Soufrière is the heart of St. Lucia. Here you will be able to find almost everything to do, such as the popular volcano mud bath, waterfalls and viewing magnificent pitons. Venturing further out isn’t a complete must. Since the island is so beautiful, I definitely recommend.

Check-In

Pulling up the property feels like you are entering a new world. The friendly security welcomes. Checking in with the staff was seamless as I arrived during my expected time. The pandemic protocols are strict at all properties. I was required to show my negative covid results. Being that this is a cozy property, the receptions area was not hectic with other travelers. There is a bar conveniently located right next to it to start your vacation.

The Room and Property

Sitting on over 140- acres of land, on this estate lies 14 private eco-lodges (and currently building more!). The luxe eco-lodges remind you why you chose to visit St. Lucia with the most astounding views of the piton.

Walking into the room you can hear the sounds of nature all throughout the day (air plugs are provided if you are a light sleeper). The bathroom is spacious with double sinks, which is great for couples and their personal toiletries. The white robe is the perfect accessory after taking a shower in the open-sky rainforest shower.

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The spacious king-size bed (complete with mosquito net) leads to the beautiful veranda complete with sun loungers and a stocked minibar.

Did I mention that they provide you with a personal cellular phone while you are there? You can use this phone during your stay and take it off the property, in case you are out and need assistance.

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Rabot Restaurant

We all look forward to the food when traveling, and I had worked up quite an appetite. The dining experience was *chef’s kiss* stupendous. From breakfast to lunch, to dinner. No meal lacked flavor or presentation. I even got to meet the head chef Ricardo, who even gave me some pointers. It is hard for me to choose a favorite because every disk was so delicious. Not one ingredient was overlooked in any selection. A medley of flavors combined, dancing on your flavor palette. The drinks were not lacking either. The salted caramel martinis became my go-to.

The best part is that you do not have to be a guest to dine here. You can come in for lunch or dinner to experience this property. Check out the menu and make reservations here.

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Experiences and Things To Do

Remember when I said that you will never go a day trying to figure out what to do? Well here is the lowdown from soothing your skin at the spa or with volcanic Sulphur.

Every day different activities are offered like

Bird Watching Local Market Tour Chocolate Tasting & Local Rum Pairing

Sunrise Estate Walk Forest Bathing Sulphur Spring Walk

Cocktail Making demo Poolside Aerobics Picnic Sunset Cruise

Coconut Water Tasting Herb Garden Visit & Cooking Showpiece

Entertainment (Soul-O-Bliss) Yoga Morning Stretches and more!

There are two pools to choose from, their main 4 ft pool or their tranquility plunge pool.

Cacao Spa - The spa for a relaxing massage after a hike. Massages starting at $66.

Project Chocolat

(Also open to noN-residents)

An unforgettable chocolate-making experience from the expertise chocolatier grower. Start with some history about the estate and the plants around it. The entire experience is very hands-on and exclusive. Take your shot at grafting your own plant and getting the chance to name it. I named my baby “The Rich Aunt” of course. It takes about 4 years for the tree to start producing, I am already planning my next visit!

Creating our own chocolate bar was the most exciting and should be on every chocolate lover’s bucket list. How many people can say they’ve done that?

You can learn more and make reservations here.

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Sunset Cruise

Ahh, the sunset cruise! It may seem like just a boat on the water, but when it is in St. Lucia, the vibes are completely different. Hotel Chocolat has its very own boat and captain. This cruise exceeded my expectations. The blessing of seeing the pitons up close and the colorful island was touching. Our captain played melodic music and pointed out notable landmarks. You can not leave without doing this cruise. The breeze from the wind while gliding through the Caribbean sea is one to remember. If you are lucky, you may even get to see dolphins!

Hotel Chocolat was an experience unquestionably. All of the hints and touches of chocolate throughout my stay surely reminded me where I was. This place is perfect for duets who would love time to unwind and still be as active as they wish. My entire stay was remarkable and already has me planning my next visit back to St. Lucia. You can book your stay here, I am sure you will love it here as much as I did.

Xoxo,

The Rich Aunt