Playtime meets personal restoration at this unique Caribbean resort
If your idea of an ideal tropical vacation is a chaise lounge at the pool and a succession of colorful fruit-garnished drinks, you have plenty of choices. Or maybe it's time for something different. Get up off that lounge chair and learn to windsurf, take a yoga class, explore a coral reef, hit the gym, hike to a waterfall, or rejuvenate body and mind with some personal wellness coaching. That's the idea behind The BodyHoliday, which is not your usual Caribbean beach resort.
A Place to Refresh
BodyHoliday's mantra is “give us your body for a week and we'll give you back your mind.” In support of this goal, the resort offers a wealth of programs that promote health, relaxation and discovery through recreation. The property has all the expected amenities of a first-class Caribbean resort. It overlooks the white sands of Saint Lucia's Cariblue Beach and the Pigeon Island National Park. Guest rooms are perched on the hillside above the bay, delivering sweeping ocean views. The rooms offer a peaceful sanctuary without the intrusion of televisions and other digital distractions. Guests can keep it simple or go for luxury, as the resort offers a range of choices from cozy Gardenview Rooms designed for solo travelers to Luxury Oceanfront Rooms and Grand Luxury Oceanfront Suites.
Expected on-property amenities include three pools, personable beach bars, a well-stocked wine cellar and a suite of both casual and fine dining options that includes one of the island's premier restaurants. One of the first hints that this isn't your usual luxury hotel is the sprawling, temple-like Wellness Center, with its manicured courtyards, reflecting pools and meditation pagodas. This facility houses the spa and is the epicenter for a number of wellness activities such as yoga and bodywork programs.
A Plan to Nurture
BodyHoliday's all-inclusive rates include daily spa treatments, but this is just one component of the customized wellness programs that are offered for all guests. Personal wishes and goals can be established before arrival and could include everything from personalized fitness routines to nutrition and lifestyle counseling, spiritual explorations and Ayurvedic and holistic bodywork.
Good food is at the heart of the resort experience at BodyHoliday, and cuisines are created to both nurture and inspire. Chefs at each of the five unique dining venues base menus on fresh ingredients from local organic farms, and locally-caught seafood. Vegetarians will delight in a creative array of savory options, and the culinary team can accommodate a wide range special dietary needs. At the same time, guests wishing to indulge in a few guilty pleasures after a fulfilling day are also taken care of and can enjoy a range of international menu choices, with treats and indulgences that include complimentary libations.
To put those healthful meals to good use—or to work off those indulgent calories—there is fitness trail with core exercise stations and a full range of fitness and exercise programs offered daily. The schedule includes Pilates, toning and spinning classes, personal training programs and hosted runs. In the spectacular Treehouse Fitness Center, workouts take place in a glass-walled studio set high in the hillside forest. More relaxing routines are also available each day, include yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong sessions, and guided meditations.
A Time to Play
Wellness and fitness are certainly worthwhile goals, but a vacation should also be about recreation. And BodyHoliday definitely has play time covered as well. Not only are there dozens of land and water-based recreations to choose from, many of these activities come with professional help. Always wanted to try golf? The on-site Coubaril Valley Golf Academy is staffed by a full-time PGA professional who can help perfect your swing. Ditto for the tennis center, where both basic and intermediate lessons are offered each week, along with the option of private coaching. More eclectic instructional programs include archery, boxing, fencing and island bike tours.
An even greater variety of sports await on the waterfront. Kayaks and paddleboards are always available for personal use, or as part of a group tour. If you are new to paddling, there are clinics to get you started. You can take a windsurfing lesson, get basic or advanced coaching for waterskiing or wakeboarding, learn to sail or schedule a fishing trip. Snorkeling is always an option, and with colorful coral reefs right offshore, scuba is another favorite. Both basic and advanced open water certifications are available through the resort's water sports center, and there are daily beach dives and regular two-tank boat dives each week.
On the socially active side, guests can participate in organized events such as volleyball games, beach football matches, table tennis tournaments and cooking classes. Nightly entertainment ranges from jazz-themed wine and cheese mixers to beach parties with steel drums, live bands and DJ-hosted dance nights. At the end of the evening, a favorite stop to unwind with a nightcap is the piano lounge, where smooth sounds and conversation provide a chance to power down.
A stay at BodyHoliday provides a rare chance to get away from everyday stresses. It's a place to rebuild, refresh, make new friends, and pick up some new life skills in a fun and inclusive environment. In essence, it is an adult take on summer camp—only better.
If you are ready for some Caribbean-style R&R, Caradonna Adventures can set you up with special packages at BodyHoliday. Give us a call at 800-330-6611 to find out more, or drop us a note at sales@caradonna.com and we'll get started on planning your island escape.
