Discovery at Marigot Bay, St Lucia

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St Lucia is, without doubt, breathtakingly beautiful. The landscape is a tapestry of twisty hilly roads laced with lush valleys, banana palms, hillside forests and white sandy beaches that seem like trimmings on St Lucia’s coastline. When it comes to luxuriant beauty, this island has it in abundance and nowhere more so than at Marigot Bay on its south west coast, not too far from the iconic Pitons. Writer James A Michener loved it here so much he was moved to describe it as ‘the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean’.

Carved into the hills of Marigot Bay is the newly refurbished Discovery at Marigot Bay resort. It is just over a year old, but this is its second incarnation. It had its first heyday in the 1950s when its bar, the celebrated Hurricane Hole, was the place to be seen, and stars including Ava Gardner were regulars at the now authentically restored bar that currently serves as an al fresco restaurant.

Reception is located on the top of a hill and from there a white path leads to 124 rooms that cascade downwards towards the marina and shops. The rooms are elegantly minimalist with wood floors and shutters and large, tiled bathrooms with oversized showerheads. Some rooms come with their own outdoor Jacuzzi built into wide verandas, and many have views over the bay and the large open-air kidney-shaped pool. On hot days, being perched by the pool bar sipping blessedly cool cocktails is just the tonic. For a change of scenery, the Sunshine Express, a solar-powered boat, can take you to the small palm-fringed beach or to the Rainforest Hideaway restaurant and bars on the other side of the bay.

At the lowest level is a spa with an extensive menu of massages, wraps and facials, using home-made potions made from home-grown ingredients.

It’s easy to forget yourself at Discovery. Colourful tropical plants, palms and flamboyant trees have been thoughtfully woven into the landscape, butterflies and humming birds add to the atmosphere while the Zen garden offers grace and a place to be still.

Overall, service at Discovery is friendly and efficient if sometimes a little slow, but then, there really is no reason to hurry here.

Double rooms at Discovery at Marigot Bay start from $270 (approx £136 GBP) per room per night on a bed and breakfast basis (excl. 8% government tax and 10% service) including a welcome cocktail, snorkelling equipment, non-motorised watersports, weekly wellbeing class, Bay ferry to beach, lounge chairs and towels.

For reservations, please 
call +1 758 458 5300 
or log onto www.discoverystlucia.com.

Seven nights in St Lucia with Virgin Holidays starts from £549. Prices include Virgin Atlantic flights from London Gatwick to St Lucia and seven nights’ car hire. Prices are per adult, based on two adults travelling, for departures up until 30 April 08. Child prices for under-12s start from as little as £299. Prices may be subject to an increased fuel surcharge and Air Passenger Duty.