St. Lucia - Coco Palm Resort

$145 - When native Creole tradition meets head on with modern design, Coco Palm, located in cozy Rodney Bay Village, St. Lucia, results. And a spectacular results at that. Can you imagine what went through Caribbean guru and co-founder of the Island Outpost hotel group's mind when he wondered how to make St. Lucia any more attractive?

83 enchanting rooms, clean and simple. Decked out in the usual island colors of yellows, blues and greens. Detail of local artisans grace the resort.

But don't think they took a step backward.

For the techies, iPods and speakers! And, if you want to be close to all the action, but don't mind a little extra noise, ask reservations for one of the seven "swim-up" rooms. You simply step from your terrace into the resort's serpentine pool.

Nice!

St. Lucia (Loo-sha) is a top Caribbean destination. The most developed area is in the northwest, near the white-sand beaches. The remainder of St. Lucia remains relatively unspoiled - green mountains, grand valleys, plantations of bananas with no end, a volcano, breathtaking orchids and a fishing village or two. But here you'll find a mix of French "and" British heritage. Somewhat of a South Pacific feel, no?

While on St. Lucia, make sure you visit the public market in Castries. It is well worth the effort and is one of the most fascinating gathering spots in the West Indies. You can go any day but Sunday - well, you can go Sunday, but it's closed. Look for women with the traditional headdress, where the number of knots lets you know their marital status (ask a local), and the abundance of fruits and vegetables.

There are a couple of closeby island that are nice to visit - ask the hotel about a boat tour. Enjoy!

Reduit Beach Ave., Rodney Bay Village - 758.456.2800

St. Thomas is our Last Bargain this time - and the beaches are breathtaking! Just look! >>
www.coco-resorts.com