Anse Chastanet Resort

St. Lucia

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We have mixed feelings and are totally mystified! Visited: September 2007 Posted by peach My wife and I have just returned from Anse Chastanet, and I feel compelled to write about our experiences here. We went on an "all-inclusive" deal with Virgin Holidays (who rate this resort in their Platinum range). We arrived with two weeks of luggage to be allocated a "Superior Room" with views overlooking the beach and the Pitons. This room to us seemed very shabby, and the hanging space wardrobe was ridiculously small. We immediately pointed out our concerns to the assistant manager (Peter), who was very helpful. We were upgraded to a room with the "fourth wall missing" and separate bedroom, at no extra cost. This seemed most adequate, albeit a further considerable hike up the mountain. The heat and humidity took its toll on us, with no way of cooling off other than several showers under a showerhead with little or no water pressure. Despite several days of quite heavy rain, we decided that overall, we quite liked the place... perhaps it was a little over priced though. We were lucky to be on an "all-inclusive" deal. The fact, though, that we had to sign for everything we did, ate or drank wore on us after a while. Beware, though! The biting insects became a real problem, with our room being totally inadequately screened. I'm convinced that the bed was infested with something - as well as the shower room with cockroaches and mosquitos who seemed totally impervious to the constant sprayng of pesticides and us painting ourselves with deet every day. The food at the resort was on the whole good. Sometimes I got bored with the style of cuisine, and just really wished we could get a nice plain steak and fries, but no way. The activities on offer were good. I recommend the jungle biking and reef snorkeling. However, beware as there were lots of jellyfish. We got stung several times. The staff was very friendly and polite. The hike up and down from our room to the beach was a real bummer, though! The entertainment was a little hit or miss, with the same artists each week of our stay. The lack of a pool or gym to gave few options, and no air conditioning anywhere other than in the Spa rooms were another minus! The beach was nice with polite and eager to please "beach guys". Platinum, though? I don't think so. 20 users found this review helpful. 6 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We had a perfect wedding. Visited: March 2006 Posted by tjfrizzell After much searching, and not wanting a traditional wedding, we booked our wedding and honeymoon at Anse Chastanet. This being our first Caribbean gettaway, we were a bit nervous handing over the details - but it was worth it. If you are looking for a destination wedding, look no further - they have a one-per-day rule which means you have access to everything and you don't need to stand in line at your own wedding. The incredible staff looked after our every need and want, the wedding went off without a hitch (we went the whole nine yards, complete with sunset cruise!), and we had an activity filled vacation of a lifetime. Beforehand, we read all the reviews complaining about the stairs, the walking, the lack of AC and comments about the food. First of all, we love to walk and we love the outdoors, so the open walls with the waves crashing at night was a treat to be savored. Visit the spa for the wonderful staff and indulgent treatments - not for the AC. Go do the biking and the hiking trails and the walking tour of Soufriere. That is the way to see an island, not lazing around a cookie-cutter hotel eating and drinking too much. If you are reasonably fit, ignore the stuff about the walking and the stairs. This place has it all - activity, relaxation, great food and the staff truly are gems. This is the type of place where other people go to get away from the big chain resorts. We can't wait to go back to the Anse Chastenet. Many thanks to the wonderful staff for the trip of a lifetime. 30 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was a most unusual and delightful place. Visited: August 2005 Posted by allengvol My wife and I split our vacation between the Windjammer and Anse Chastanet. While comparably priced rooms at the Windjammer were much more luxurious and comfortable, Anse Chastanet was our favorite of the two, with much more personality. At Windjammer, we wanted to lay around and do nothing all day. At Anse Chastanet, the resort just begged us to go out and get active, with excellent snorkeling right off the beach and a 600-acre plantation waiting to be explored. But this is not for the weak of heart or knees, since the climb down (via steps of course) to the beach is quite strenuous. Go to the Windjammer to relax and be comfortable. Go to Anse Chastanet to experience St. Lucia in a way that you'll be talking about for years to come. 20 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This must be Paradise in the middle of paradise! Visited: November 2004 Posted by jdhooker2 Off the beaten path and in the middle of paradise lies a quaint little hotel called Anse Chastenet (that’s pronounced ahns chahstuneh or ahns chaastee by the people there). The trip from the airport proves to be the first adventure as you traverse unimproved roads and hairpin turns (but they are currently working on improving the roads). Perched under the awesome Pitons, this resort is perfection for the traveler fed up with the hustle and bustle of the average mega-resort. My wife Kristin and I took our honeymoon this trip and booked the all-inclusive, Total Romance Package. Needless to say, we were more than pleasantly surprised. We stayed in one of the premium rooms with a spectacular view. Two walls were completely gone, and the island linens and decorations brought the jungle into our room. Several mornings we awoke to the birds playing around the glasses we accidentally left uncovered the night before. Although the resort had an attitude of ‘do nothing’ and total rest, we did a major activity every day. From the sunset cruise to the jungle biking and snorkeling, we kept busy and loved it. We look forward to going back and enjoying their new addition which promises a swimming pool, vine swing and rock climbing. The beach was gorgeous with fine, black volcanic sand. The beach staff got our every need and came around periodically to spray us with peppermint water and gave us cool, refreshing peppermint towels. Although the water was not the clearest I’ve seen, the aquatic life was abundant and diverse even for snorkelers. Food was superfluous and excellent. The dinners were amazing, but if you are a little nervous about exotic dishes (as Kristin was) then I would suggest eating during the afternoon snack. However, the chefs were more than gracious about slight modifications on the menu items to suit our tastes. For those who don’t like to dress up too much, the attire seemed very relaxed, but on occasion we dressed to the nines and the wait staff just loved it. This resort would not be for the person who does not like to sweat a little and/or cannot handle moderate exercise. The rooms were open-air and there was not an air conditioner, television, or radio in sight (save the spa area). Most rooms required an uphill walk, which could be quite tiresome if you’ve forgotten something in your room while on the beach. However, for those who love a true vacation getaway, look no further than Anse Chastanet. 17 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Anse Chastanet is heaven on earth. Visited: March 2004 Posted by tess1rn If you want to get away from it all, this is the place. It was one of the most beautiful spots I've ever seen - the flowers, the beach, the Pitons, all that great natural beauty. The rooms were unique and comfortable, though be aware that there was no AC. However, I didn't miss it. Cool ocean breezes worked for me. There were also many steps, maybe 100 or more, between the beach and the main hillside level. It would not be a place for anyone not willing or able to walk a lot. There were nice shady resting spots in between, though. The staff was friendly and helpful. The food was good, though don't expect your typical American items. The only milk I could get was hot canned milk. Apparently, they don't drink milk on St. Lucia! The surrounding area was lush and secluded, and I enjoyed the plantation and volcano tours. I recommend this hotel for anyone wanting a restful place, or for those wanting to dive, etc. It's not a place for children at all. There was no pool or play ground. It is definitely an adult-oriented place. It would be very suitable for a honeymoon or any other romantic getaway. 9 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Anse Chastanet offers a taste of "Shabby Chic" and a great beach. Visited: March 2004 Posted by alex_de_courcy We arrived at Anse Chastenet after the obligatory 90-minute transfer from the international airport in the south of the island and found that the room we had booked was not available - but would be the next day. Registering at the hotel was a relaxed affair and we walked back up the hill to our room for the night. The next day, we moved to the appointed room and settled in with a view of the Pitons from one side of the veranda and the ocean from the other. The hotel would not be suitable for the infirm or the plain lazy as there were about 90 steps from reception to the beach and you will definitely come back fitter than you were when you arrived. Given the care that the British chef seemed to place in the food, it would probably be wise that you indulge in some exercise! The food was usually good, sometimes excellent and other times just that bit too fussy to really hit the mark. The service in the restaurant could be a bit hit and miss, and we had to provide "feedback" on our second night before they met and maintained the standard we would expect of this type of Caribbean hotel. The staff here was a real bonus to the hotel - from Agnes, in the restaurant, to the rooms general manager, Stephen (who calmly and without fuss arranged for our second room change of the holiday when a cocunut fell through the roof of the room!). The volcanic beach was lovey and the snorkeling off of it was the best I have seen in the Caribbean (though nowehere near as good as the Maldives!). We enjoyed a relaxing ten days here, tempered only by the wet and windy weather for almost eight of them. It was our second trip to St. Lucia, but will be our last for some time as the weather has now played up on both occasions and so with limited vacation time available we will probably head back to Antigua and Galley Bay for some drier and brighter weather. 7 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? What a fantastic resort! Visited: December 2003 Posted by mmarsh202 We have recently returned from Anse Chastanet where we spent a fabulous ten days over Christmas and New Year. We had come here many years before and this was one place we knew we had to return to. We did not regret our decision. We found the staff and management to be most attentive, and it was very nice to also meet the owners. We had a hillside room overlooking the Pitons and we spent many late afternoons just sitting there enjoying the great views. The four-course dinners were elaborate - we love to eat and thought the chef did a fine job. Try one of his chocolate desserts! We chose Anse Chastanet many years ago because we wanted to get away from the standard type hotels - we loved the fact that there was no telephone, television or radio in the rooms. We were glad to see that they have stuck to their philosophy. Anse Chastanet holds a very special place in our hearts. And while it may not be for everyone, it certainly was the right choice for us. We have not come across any other place that has given us such long-lasting, fond memories. 3 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? “Almost Paradise” Visited: August 2003 Posted by mojamusic my review is too long to post here. it is from august 2003 and is very indepth for the curious. read it at: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g147345-d148994-Reviews-Anse_Chastanet_Resort-Soufriere_St_Lucia.html 0 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We enjoyed wedding and honeymoon bliss. Visited: April 2003 Posted by karel I have been visiting Anse Chastanet for 20 years. The resort gets better every year. This April 2003, I chose this secluded, romantic destination resort for my wedding and honeymoon. My wife had never been here and was totally pleased with my choice. She conceded that all my rave promises about Anse Chastanet were true. Peter handled all the wedding details perfectly and we were officially wed right on the beach without a hitch. We met other honeymooners who were all delighted with their accommodations and hotel ambience. The staff was well trained, friendly and grateful for having the best jobs in the area. We enjoyed the art gallery and the unique local art decor throughout the resort. There was plenty of outdoor activity, including unique tours or time to enjoy the peace and solitude of the private suites. Food was gourmet and abundant. No one could go hungry here. The owners live on site and are dedicated to continue to develop and improve Anse Chastanet as an international first-class destination resort. They are approachable and earnest about providing each guest the best possible service. Many, like us, will continue to return year after year. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Beautiful beach and view, disappointing everything else Visited: March 2003 Posted by dtoy101 We stayed in a hillside deluxe room right above the main reception and dining area. The room was expansive with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The view was magnificient with the Pitons on one side and the beach on the other. The living/dining area had the open wall (meaning no wall) and was comfortable and allowed us to enjoy the views. However, beware after the sunset. Mosquitoes were a SIGNIFICANT problem for us and many other guests we talked to. Despite the mosquito net over the bed, on several nights the mosquito managed to either be hiding or made their way in somehow. The mosquito nets also made for very warm nights. The bed had a ceiling fan which kept things bearable. The warmth made for some sweaty nights and the mosquitoes made for some sleepless nights trying to find them in the very darkly lit bedroom. The furnishings of the room were highly disappointing. The bathroom was very standard. If you expect high-scale shower, sinks, nice tiled bathrooms, etc., this is not the place to be. Even the toiletries are standard shampoos and soaps that they refill in the old plastic trial size bottles. It was very standard stuff when we were expecting luxury for the price we paid. The furniture in the room was also disappointing. For example, the drawers of the bureau for our clothes collapsed when we pulled them out. The room was very dimly lit and there were missing light bulbs. The hotel was just missing all the finer touches of a high-class hotel. Don’t be deceived by the A&E special and the Conde Naste listing. The beach is beautiful natural volcanic sand with lovely beach huts. They have nice touches like beach towels and drinks delivered directly to you and a peppermint spritz and cold towel as a refresher in the afternoon on sunny days. We are active and wanted to go on many of the excursions that are offered on the Activity Board. However, we happened to be there on a week when nobody else wanted to participate and some of the trips were cancelled because there is a min. 4 person requirement. The staff are friendly but there is a sense of resentment against the working conditions (long hours, low wages). The staff are mostly natives and my sense was there is intense tension between them and the owners and managers of the hotel (mostly racial tension). Don’t get me wrong, the staff were terrific and we very much enjoyed their service and conversation. However, there was a lack of sincerity in some of the service. We could empathize because as we were shelling out top dollar for services and excursions, they were seeing very little of that in any shape or form (other than our tips). 7 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was a tropical paradise, but not the best on the island. Visited: February 2003 Posted by chachaj Having been to many high-quality resorts over the years, I was critical of Anse Chastenet. I read all the reviews on this site before going with my family, and it wasn't at all what I expected. We had bad luck with our trip including lost baggage, canceled flights, rain and bugs. Otherwise, the place was nice, although overpriced. The food was good, although some of the dishes were just thrown together. The staff was friendly except for the occasional waitress who gave you soup and took away your soup spoon, mixed up your drinks and dropped the dishes. The worst thing about the place must have been the insects. Although I used the mosquito nets, when I woke up in the morning I was faced with over 20 bites, every night, including one night being bitten 16 times on my leg in an area of 3 square inches. My brother's bed apparently had a sand flea infestation underneath it, so he was bitten so bad that his hands were red and swollen. He was in pain for the remainder of the trip, since salt water only inflamed his bites. I also witnessed a young girl, about two years old, with over 30 bites on her face. When you're paying a $1,000 a night, you're not supposed to have sand flea infestations in your room. I'd have to say that I can't recommend this resort. I suspect that only lovesick honeymooners (which there was an abundance of) could overlook the bugs in their search for a tropical paradise. If we'd vist St. Lucia again, we would stay at the Hilton, it seemed so much more like an era plantation, with more to offer. (When we were looking for a hotel, they were full, while Anse Chastenet still had a lot of rooms.) 4 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A beautiful, peaceful place with wonderful staff. Visited: December 2002 Posted by elsajs7 Our son Xavier Felipe and his wife Suzanna Charbonnier were married at this hotel in December. It was a wonderful experience. From the moment we arrived and were greeted with a delicious tropical juice to the moment we left, Peter was there through the whole visit greeting us, helping us, and making sure that everything was going well and that we were happy as the bride and groom's guests. The accommodations were delightful with beautiful views from our magnificent rooms. The food was great. The facilities were great, but the best part of all was the staff. Everyone was genuinely pleasant and courteous with a smile, and we felt like guests at some close friends home that was really happy to see us. From Peter, Aboo, Daniel, Elsa, Josephine (I think that is her name, the manager at the boutique) David, Rocky (our experienced driver), to all the chamber maids and restaurant workers, and guards by the rooms - everyone was wonderful. The only negative point was the ride from and to the airport. The road was terrible and dangerous even though Rocky was terrific. It was the only thing that I feel should be improved. Our stay was terrific - especially because of the wonderful staff. Thank you! 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Terrific, relaxed, and unique. Visited: November 2002 Posted by bkinbaltimore My wife and I visited Anse Chastanet for our honeymoon. We both loved it. Upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised to have been upgraded to one of the premium rooms (in fact, the room that was often featured on their brochures). The view from the room was truly spectacular. The room itself was sparse, but comfortably appointed. Many of the other reviewers have accurately captured the spirit of this unique place. The beach was lovely, the sand was soft and cocoa brown, which extended out into the sea to make swimming a pleasure. Despite the excellent scuba facillities, there was not much to see in the immediate bay for snorkelers. The resort includes thoughtful touches such as the beach staff with their peppermint towels, and my wife reported that the spa services were top notch. The meals were good. Breakfast was a standard buffet fare, complete with a plethora of birds ready to pilfer anything left unattended. Lunches were very good, especially when delivered to your beachside hut, dinners were also very good, but at times a bit too gourmet for my tastes. The staff was pleasant, but a bit relaxed (read slow). Mosquitoes were a concern, but posed little problem for me. My wife did bring home about a dozen bites as souvenirs. One unpleasant distraction was that there was ongoing construction taking place just up the hillside from the premium rooms...you will hear hammering and heavy equipment if you like to sleep in, or plan on spending your day lounging in the room. Dos: Take the hike with Meno to Anse Mamin, a fantastic tour guide, but take some bug spray. Do bring a backpack or bag to carry your gear from your room to the beach. Do consider taking a boat to either airport as opposed to the taxi...half the time of a taxi, same fare, and much more scenic. Do choose a meal plan, there aren't many options in Soufriere. Don'ts: Skip the drink packages offered...overpriced and not worth it. Don't worry about the stairs, just bring some practical shoes. Don't miss this opportunity to visit this unique, wonderful place. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was gorgeous Visited: June 2002 Posted by ddd929 We stayed at this resort the 2nd week of June. The trip from Hewanorra airport was very scenic and adventurous. Once we arrived, after a one hour and 15 minute trip, we were greeted by a courteous hotel staff with refreshing beverages. We were expecting something a little different and were excited to get into our one-room cabana. There was no air conditioning, TV, or telephone in the room, so anyone requiring these essentials of modern life may not want to stay here. The room was clean, well maintained, and decorated in a Caribbean style. Again, do not expect the same furnishings as you find in major U.S. hotels. The vegetation and wildlife was magnificent. The view of the Pitons and the ocean was wonderful. You get the sense that the resort has attempted to preserve as much of the natural wonders, and still have a first class resort. The beach was a beautiful, black volcanic sand, and the resort provided use of kayaks and windsails at no charge. The surf was calm and the water was clear. There were many half-day and full-day activities that originated from the resort. We did many of these and recommend that people try some because St. Lucia was a beautiful island, and the people were very friendly. The restaurant was good, but don't expect your normal American fare or portion sizes. If your travel agent offers you a "meals" package, we would advise you take it. We did not take the meals package because normally we like to explore other options. This resort was remote and sometimes we were too tired depending on our day's activities to want to fool with getting a cab to Soufriere and arranging dinner. If we return someday, at a minimum we would get the breakfast package. You will be offered a meals package at a higher rate if you do not purchase in advance. This is not a crticism of the hotel, but smart business pricing strategies by the hotel. Overall, this was the greatest vacation experience of our lives and we would recommend it to anyone seeking something a little different. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We think this place is heaven! Visited: March 2002 Posted by broadwat We have been to Anse Chastanet at least six times. Every time we stay, we say there is no place else we would rather be! The service is great, the rooms are fantastic, and the view is the most incredible I have ever seen in the world (I have been to every major continent several times). Also, the staff is friendly and quick to please. Our favorite room is 7E up on the top of the hillside. It is a bit of a climb, but well worth the effort because you can see both the incredible Piton's and Anse Chastanet Bay. The rooms are mostly open and do not block you behind glass from nature, which is something we really enjoy. True, the stray bug may find its way into your room, but the combination of near constant tradewinds and bed netting will keep you comfortable. This is not a "posh" marble floored resort with doormen wearing white gloves. If you like that kind of stuff, you won't find it here. But if you're looking for a place where you can relax, I mean really relax, then Anse Chastanet should be on your list of places to try. It provides a great volcanic sand beach, incredible diving, and great snorkeling just off the beach. If you like going to the true Caribbean, you'll love this little resort. Even the rough road from Soufrierre is an adventure - especially the first hill! You're going to love it. We guarantee it! We'll see you here next year! 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Wow! Visited: October 2001 Posted by russells98 We have been to many Caribbean resorts, but this time around, wanted something different from the big chain hotels, so we chose Anse Chastanet. It more than exceeded our expectations. Granted, the first day was intimidating being tired from the flight in, enduring a fairly long and bumpy road, and then having to climb a significant hill to our room, but we quickly adapted and were thrilled to be living so closely with nature. The rooms and dining areas are all open concept, so if you are at all squeamish about birds or the occasional insect, this place is not for you. We were there toward the end of rainy season and found the mosquitoes really posed no problem at all. We had only a few bites between us -- nothing compared to a summer evening in Canada! Everyone we met was thrilled with the resort, but we all shared the same interest in the outdoors and nature. We had to laugh one morning, however, as we heard one woman screech at a staff member to have a caterpillar removed from the outside wall of her room. “Just what was she expecting,” we had to wonder. The meals were excellent, and if anything, were a little too gourmet for my husband. I was delighted to be able to sample local cuisine, which the chef tried to prepare as often as possible. The staff was very accommodating and warm. We felt we became friends with the staff during our week—never having the impression they were being nice for the chance of a tip, which I have found to be the case in many other countries. Leroy conducts a heartfelt tour of the adjoining Anse Mamim Plantation. Despite the fact he has probably given the tour 1000s of times, his passion still shows through as though it was the first time. Abo, walks along the beach with a spray bottle of water and cold peppermint towels...heaven! Many of the waitresses tried to help us pick up the local Patois language. Kumo ou ye? I thought my husband would go into ESPN withdrawal, not having a TV in our room. But surprise of surprises, we actually had wonderful, long conversations as we watched the sunset from our porch, and even got into a Scrabble rivalry as we sipped our cocktails before dinner each night, listening to the symphony of peeper frogs and birds. Our only complaint would be the cost. We found the price of the rooms to be quite steep. For us, it was more than worth it to be away from the hum of air conditioning and the big box hotel scenario, but it will, unfortunately, prevent us from returning as soon as we would like to. 3 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Upscale Jungle Lodge Visited: June 2001 Posted by btattrie5 My husband and I stayed at Anse Chastanet for the last half of our honeymoon. We have never stayed in such an expensive place before, but decided to try it since it seemed to offer lots of down and dirty adventure. After the two-hour drive from our hotel in Rodney Bay, we entered the jungle of Anse Chastanet. The surroundings were amazing. Birds and flowers of all types were at our doorstep. Both being biologists, we were very impressed by the vegetation. The black sand beach was so gorgeous and unique! Snorkeling was excellent, (although the marine reserve was not as large as we had imagined). The service on the beach was probably the best of the entire hotel. After choosing which palm thatched umbrella to sit under, the "beach boys" bring you cushions, towels, and food and drink! The only downfall was all the jellyfish, which happened almost everyday. All in all, Anse Chastanet was a great place to stay. It has the feel of a small, secluded camping community with all the amenities of a top scale resort. And Soufriere has a lot to explore and offer. If you get up the courage to rent a car and explore the island like we did, Anse Chastanet is a great starting point! Just watch out for the bugs--and be sure to use the mosquito nets! 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Highly Overrated. Visited: June 2001 Posted by priltd I wonder if Travel Guides ever visit the resorts they review. Such has to be the case with Anse Chastanet. After careful research, my wife and I decided on Anse Chastantet for a ten-day vacation. What we ended up having was a disaster. The airport service was on time but there was a 1-1/2 hour car ride over winding roads ending in a horrible 2 mile, unpaved road to the hotel. We were told it was to keep the locals from the beach but we had a hard time with that, since the road into the Hilton a few miles away is paved. We had booked a Luxury Beachfront room, what we got was a second story room standard beachfront. When I asked the difference I was told me there was none. That was hard to believe since we were paying $500.00 more for a Luxury and it was not hard to see the difference in rooms. The room and bathroom were large but to say the decor was outdated and tired and not appealing is being generous. Worse the temperature was around 80 F and all there was to cool the room was a small slow moving ceiling fan. We had to have a floor fan brought up. All rooms are totally open so you heard every noise and as we found out meet every mosquito. All rooms come with nets and a can of bug spray. In the morning we stopped counting our bites at 75. The second night the people in the room under ours had a fight. The Manager moved us into a room on the mountain, much smaller but the windows had been screened. The main restaurant for breakfast/dinner is up a mountain, the beach at the bottom. So, you must climb 110 steep, difficult steps twice a day. The food for breakfast was horrible, other meals between good and excellent. The Manager always responded quickly to our problems and the staff was friendly. We were so unhappy that we cut short our trip at 7 days and did get a refund. Anse Chastanet is a highly overrated resort and may have been quaint 15 years ago. Now it is outdated, tired and in real need of updating for its rooms, dining areas, etc. As it is today, it does not compare in any measure to other first class resorts we have stayed at in the Caribbean. Based on our experience at Anse Chastanet, we could not recommend this resort. 5 users found this review helpful. 5 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A scenic, romantic adventure! Visited: March 2001 Posted by heather Considering the price, we had some high expectations for the Anse Chastanet, but we really wanted to try something different than the usual all-inclusive, and it was. This resort surpassed our expectations. Every detail was taken care of, and they always kept the promises they made throughout the week. Our Superior Room was an octagonal shape with the moon and stars painted on the ceiling and louvered-windows everywhere! Sitting up in bed in the morning, you could see the Piton mountains, and stepping out onto the wraparound porch provided even more incredible scenery: the lush valley below and the ocean! We spent our evenings on that porch, sporting our Anse Chastanet cotton robes, sipping wine, watching the gorgeous sunsets. And the meals: breakfast was average, lunch was plentiful in quantity and variety (from Curried Chicken Roti to delicious homemade burgers—not to mention a healthy, ever-changing buffet), and dinner was more exotic. The seafood and spicy dishes were amazing. We spent our days jungle biking (a little challenging but worth the refreshing dip in the freshwater swimming hole), hiking (the guides are extremely entertaining and educational), kayaking and snorkeling (we decided to be lazy and not go diving as planned, but it was the best snorkeling I've ever experienced). Oh, and a lot of lounging on the beach, trying to decide which cocktail to order next from the friendly waiters who'd visit your chair. The staff was sweet, accommodating, and didn’t interfere. I got my hair braided at the spa and I learned more about St. Lucia from the ladies there than I ever would have from a guided tour. It's an island full of spirit and pride. My only complaint was that I expected the beach area to be a little more private and intimate; it should be given the isolated location and only 49 rooms at the resort. But every day at least one or two boats would dump off (what seemed to be noisy and rude) tourists for scuba package trips, lunch, to use our beach, whatever. Sure, it’s a brilliant marketing idea on Management's part, but not what I expected. Not a showstopper, but notable. Also notable was the number of infants and toddlers there; I was shocked, given the type of resort. A screaming child created an annoyance at least once a day. Overall, we would return in a heartbeat. If you're looking to get back to nature and fall in love all over again, go to the Anse Chastanet! 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Heavenly--a Garden of Eden. Visited: February 2001 Posted by tcbay After our six-day stay here we are thrilled to add our 5-star rating to the list of others whom enjoyed this resort as well! This is the place for those of us who appreciate the real luxuries in life: beautiful and lush surroundings, ocean breezes, natural decor, peace and quiet, hummingbirds, outstanding views, and great people. The list could go on and on. My husband and I were so stressed out from everyday living that we could not even imagine relaxing in such a place. It was so perfect and unreal, we felt like we were in a commercial! The weather was absolutely perfect, no bugs at all (we didn't see one mosquito) and we loved the staff! Make sure to meet Manot, the hotel's guide who knows everything about the surroundings and was such a pleasure to be with! The St. Lucians in general seemed to be very friendly and relaxed people. We were not harassed at all by anyone. Not only was the staff friendly, but this resort seemed to attract very nice guests. We thought we would keep to ourselves, but we met lovely people from the U.S, Canada and Europe. We were a little worried about the steps, but they turned out to be no big deal at all! You can do as little or as much as you like. There are a lot of adventures to choose from, or you can simply choose to lay under your "beach hut" with the sound of the waves, sipping a "Coco Loco" (our favorite drink). My husband had a little more energy than I, and climbed the Petit Piton, which is not typically recommended because it involves some ropes—but he was thrilled by the experience. We returned home so rejuvenated and feel lucky to have chosen this unique resort. We would love to go back one day! 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful?