St. Lucia Offers More Than Just Tropical Beaches

Soft sand beaches? Check. Breathtaking seaside views? Check. Tropical waterfall? Check. St. Lucia has a surprising amount of items on your island vacation checklist. Thanks to the recent backdrop it provided on "The Bachelor," more vacationers may be looking to it for a future escape. Since most of the articles about St. Lucia feature the premium priced hotels on the southern end of the island, this article includes information about the north end as well.

The southern half of the island is featured for good reason of course. The twin peaks known as Gros Piton and Petit Piton are on Oprah's list of things to see in your lifetime. Nestled along the coastline on the right shoulder of the pitons is culture-rich town of Soufriere, where artists and restaurants crowd the busy streets. The more luxurious resorts are placed in the best possible location to capitalize on the majestic verge mountain region.

Ladera, for example, is "carefully constructed" near Soufriere, about 2,000 feet above the sea. Best known for its lack of a fourth wall in the guest room, the suites also come with their own plunge pool. It's also one of the most recommended hotels in bridal magazines. Rooms go for around four dollar signs (that's objective speak for very expensive). Also sharing that price range is Anse Chastane, a beachside diver's favorite.

To the north, the list of Fodor's recommended hotels includes the ultimate mass-couples get away chain of Sandals Grand, one of three Sandals hotels near each other on the island. Guests of one, may dine and play at all three. Grande, however, is the nicest of the three, offering larger and more numerous pool and beach options. There's even a hidden surf spot behind the hotel, which is built on a man-made causeway connecting Pigeon Island with the rest of St. Lucia. However, if you would rather not have a swim-up bar with tequila shot Tuesdays, you might want to look into my personal favorite: Ti Kaye Village.

This 33-room community will always be my happy place. Upon arriving, you're shown to your own little cottage, complete with a white balconied front porch and private plunge pool overlooking the azure horizon. Here I was forced to spend four days choosing between the hammock on my porch, the lounge chairs by the pool, or the best snorkeling on the north side of the island. It was rough. Had I known how hard these choices were going to be, I would have stayed here for seven days. And don't even get me started on the food - a delicious blend of French Creole and island pizazz.

For jazz lovers, May will be the best time to plan your trip as the world's most famous industry legends gather here for a 10 day St. Lucia Jazz Festival. If you love street food in a Anthony Bourdain kind of way, you'll want to check out the "Jump Up" Friday night street festivals. And do not leave the island without eating their bananas. They only export them to the UK, so you cannot enjoy their sweet, intense candy like flavor in the U.S.

Reading the user comments before choosing you hotel is highly recommended, as St. Lucia has a large number of English speaking visitors. While the island is small, don't get the idea from a map that you can travel quickly from one location to another here. The roads are all very windy and bumpy, making them an adventure of their own.