Review
Caille Blanc Villas in St Lucia, West Indies
A Dreamy Home Away From Home with OMG Views
We have all seen the photos. Newlyweds cavorting in those glorious private infinity pools overlooking the two Pitons with champagne glasses in hand. I must confess I had to suppress little pangs of regret as I quickly scrolled past these dream hotels because as any mother of young children will know, private infinity pools and open air hotel bedrooms are a disaster waiting to happen. Visions of children tumbling off cliffs, falling in pools or killer spiders crawling all over the room quickly dispelled whatever pangs of regret I may have felt. Perhaps one day in another lifetime.
But I didn’t have to wait for another day or another lifetime. I discovered the hotel of my dreams and the best part was that I could bring the children. This dream is called Caille Blanc Villas. An utterly charming boutique hotel, located high in the cliffs above Soufrière is tucked away in the southwest part of the island. As we were driven along a small unpaved and very bumpy road up through the cliffs, I wondered what I had got our family into, but this was soon answered.
There are a vast number of high-end luxury resorts lining the island. We spent time visiting some of them but I was looking for something more than a regular beach resort. I wanted to experience true St Lucian culture and hospitality and if we could have THAT view thrown in, I would be a happy momma. Caille Blanc Villa & Hotel has all this in spades.
What to expect
Caille Blanc Villas is a unique private boutique hotel where you can enjoy one of the world’s most spectacular views. With a 65 foot infinity pool and waterfall and only six luxury suites, this luxury hotel offers a small and intimate environment with a home-away-from-home feel. The jaw-dropping views of the Caribbean Sea and the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Pitons rival any offered by other hotels on the island.
History
Over 25 years ago, a New York designer by the name of Owen Coleman came to St Lucia on a holiday with his family. By chance they drove past a white 2-bedroom villa that they were considering renting for their stay. The owner invited the family to view the property and when they saw the view, they gasped, “Oh my God!”
It was from that moment they knew the villa had to be theirs. By luck, the sale of the property had fallen through and was offered to Owen. A leap of faith was required on their part to purchase a property on a remote Caribbean island. Before direct flights, it could easily take 9 hours to get to the island from New York.
The property captivated Owen and his wife Ellen. As a result, they were committed to building it into the dream it is today. Having spent many years turning this 2-bedroom villa into a hotel, they left no stone unturned. Additional individual villas were built along with a stunning 65 foot infinity pool and a 36 foot pavilion, all decorated with a vast collection of art which is displayed both indoors and out. Each and every piece of stone was carefully selected to match the others. The fact that it took 9 months to install this says a lot about the love and care that has been put into this property.
Best for
The hotel’s stunning setting attracts a wide variety of guests. We were pleasantly surprised how suitable the hotel is for families. Yes, you do get the honeymooners and couples, but you also get families staying here that are looking for a home away from home. The residence can also be hired privately in its entirety, sleeping up to sixteen guests which makes it suitable for a large family stay or a special occasion. This alone makes it unique amongst all the other accommodation in St Lucia.
Location
Caille Blanc Villas is situated on Anse Chastanet Road in Soufrière, a charming laid-back town. The road leading to the hotel is unpaved so be prepared for a slightly bumpy ride as you get closer to the property.
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The closest airports are Hewanorra International Airport approximately 40 minutes from the hotel and George F.L. Charles Airport for inter-island transfers just 1 hour from the hotel. There is also a ferry port in the capital of Castries which offers ferry service between Martinique and St Lucia.
Caille Blanc Villas is ideally located. The nearest beach is Anse Chastanet Beach which is about 550 yards from property. It is walkable but worth noting that it is an uphill walk on the return.
View of Soufrière, St Lucia
There is easy access to various activities. These include sunset cruises, cooking and chocolate making sessions, horse riding, snorkelling and diving in the area. The property is a few minutes away from the volcano, mud bath, swimming waterfall and Pitons for climbing and exploring. If you are looking for somewhere to stay that offers easy access to nearby activities, this hotel is ideal.
Room Types
There are six individual luxury suites, all unique and stunning in their own right. Decorated with treasures from around the world, they all offer en-suite bathrooms, hand-carved four poster beds, air conditioning, ceiling fans, flat screen TVs, room safes, refrigerators and even a small kitchen in one of the suites. Some have doors which fold back, creating an open air feel to the room. As they are all different, be sure to check them out before deciding which one you prefer. All suites include a personalised signature breakfast as well as daily housekeeping.
We chose to stay in the Grotto Suite. The room is constructed on the cliff edge overlooking the ocean and the Pitons, located 18 feet beneath the pool level. We were privileged to experience a large private stone and wood deck that cantilevers over the cliff. Much to our children’s delight we discovered our deck had a private wading pool with a waterfall cascading from the 65-foot infinity pool above as well as an outdoor Japanese soak tub which I gladly welcomed for some mommy time.
Our room was even more unique with two walls of fold away doors. Once folded back, we truly felt at one with the outside world. Very spacious at 1000 square feet, the Grotto Suite has handmade wood panelling and a four poster king-size bed, living area, small kitchen with a sizeable fridge/freezer, a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite bathroom with shower unit. It is fully air conditioned and also has numerous overhead fans which are excellent at cooling the room down. Whilst this room is recommended for sleeping two people, we easily fit the four of us with a further separate single rollaway bed and a cot for our little one.
Service
The courteous and friendly staff will go out of their way to help. They were very sweet and engaging with our children. No request was too troublesome. Our children are challenging eaters at the best of times and the Chef onsite was always able to accommodate and make special meals for them. Personalised breakfasts were prepared every morning. It truly felt like we were staying in a private home with our own private chef. What really stands out is how much the staff here want to genuinely make the guests happy and give them a real St Lucian welcome.
Restaurants and Bars
The Pavilion Restaurant, located in front of the pool, serves lunch and dinner daily. Meals are available a la carte or through a meal plan. The menu is crafted by a Hollywood Executive Chef and a local culinary artist to ensure the offering is nothing short of delicious.
There is a good choice of lunch food suitable for children, from pizzas to soups and sandwiches. Staff are always accommodating if there is something missing from the menu that your child may prefer. If your children have any special dietary requirements, the staff here are very happy to accommodate if given enough notice.
The bar in front of the pool is open until 9pm all day. This gives guests the opportunity to sample some amazing house special cocktails while enjoying the view from the pool.
Family
The hotel can arrange a local nanny. We took advantage of this service one day when mommy-time was required. We were sent a lovely lady who has been providing nanny service for the hotel for many years so she was a well-trusted source.
Facilities
There is a shuttle provided by the hotel which will take you to and from the beach once daily. Parking is available on-site if you wish to hire your own car. Whilst there is no spa onsite, a masseuse can be booked to come to your villa. I was told in confidence by another guest during our stay that the massage was “out of this world”.
Caille Blanc Villas conveniently offers a personal concierge service through an app called Edgar. Through Edgar guests can obtain updates on their reservation, preferences and bookings for restaurants, activities and transport. Using this app was effortless and very convenient.
For those who just can’t stay away from work while on holiday, the hotel offers the use of a laptop and printer if required.
What Made It Special
Besides the one-of-a-kind rooms and the friendly service, the star of the show is undoubtedly the stunning 65 foot infinity pool with that amazing view. You know the one … the view that ends up on thousands of postcards each year. There is nothing quite like swimming up to the edge of that infinity pool, cocktail in hand, watching the sun set over the Pitons. It is simply breathtaking.
Every single room at Caille Blanc Villas is unique. They have all been carefully planned out to provide the utmost privacy. Each has its own patio which gives you private space even though you feel like you are staying at someone’s house.
The staff even organise special touches. For example, if you have an early excursion, staff can prepare a simple breakfast of boiled eggs and fruit and leave it in your refrigerator or prepare lunch boxes to take with you.
What We Think
Caille Blanc Villas is a work of art. This spectacular Caribbean paradise successfully blends an eclectic aesthetic with the natural surroundings. In its construction, no detail has been overlooked. The beautiful local ironwork surrounding the property, the incredible and unique bedposts dating back to St Lucia of the 1860s, the luxurious interior fabrics, the antique doors from Afghanistan and Pakistan and the custom-designed metal tiles from India that line the ceiling of the Temple Suite are just some examples of what makes this property so special. It is clearly a labour of love and a privilege to be able to appreciate it in person.
Waking up to the most beautiful view every single morning was like living in paradise. It is truly one of the most special hotels we have ever experienced. It just has a magical spirit about it. If you are looking for easy beach access and slick polished service with all the bells and whistles, then there are many other places to stay in St Lucia. But if you are looking for a unique place with warm hospitality that makes you feel part of a family with sensational views thrown into the pot, then this is the place for you.
Concerned about those canoodling honeymooners? Don’t be. There is nothing more satisfying than showing them what their child-filled future holds!