I’ve spent thousands of nights in hotels around the world, so hear me loud and clear when I say that Jade Mountain is one-of-a-kind. I first saw the property on The Bachelor years ago, and it’s been on my travel bucket list ever since. It was far too sexy a hotel to visit in my solo travel days, so I had to wait for Rick to arrive with that final rose (and a drone*) to make it happen. (Fortunately, we didn’t have to go on reality TV to find each other…)
Getting to Jade Mountain is an adventure in itself. It’s more than an hour from airport to hotel, but the scenic ride through Saint Lucia’s lush, volcanic west coast affords plenty of time to get a sense of place (and a taste of roadside mangoes) along the way. Once you wind through narrow roads in the seaside town of Soufrière, it’s a rocky, unpaved ascent to Jade Mountain and sister property Anse Chastanet. I was glad we found out in advance that the road would be bumpy, otherwise I surely would’ve thought we were lost.
Upon arrival, there was no grand entrance, no check-in desk or long lines. We were dropped off at an unassuming, landscaped pathway near the bottom of the Jade Mountain complex and met by our Major Domo, Reynold. He escorted us directly to our room, just a few feet away.
Each room is assigned a category based on square footage, pool size and view – Galaxy, Sun, Star, Moon and Sky. We spent our time in JA3, a Star level sanctuary with a portion of the room open to the mountains and the sea.
We had a sparkling, emerald infinity pool, super comfortable canopy bed, an open shower, tub and toilet area and our own fancy Major Domo to coordinate activities, bring breakfast, light candles, draw baths, etc. (Loved it all except perhaps the open toilet area. I don’t need to see the Caribbean or make eye contact with my husband swimming in the pool while taking care of private business.)
The way the hotel is designed, your sanctuary is your own private, quiet domain, and there’s not much else going on unless you take the shuttle down to the Anse Chastanet beach, or book offsite excursions at the waterfalls or volcanic mud baths. The only real public area, aside from the Jade Club and Celestial Terrace on the very top floor, is the interior courtyard of the property, a lushly landscaped, multi-level, open-air space with glass accents, colorful tiles and koi ponds.
It’s a beautiful spot to wander.
Stone bridges connect Hogwarts-like staircases to the enormous sanctuaries on higher floors. At first glance, I didn’t think I’d ever figure out how to get from Point A to Point B, but basically you just pick a staircase and mosey on up.
Keep going. Eventually, you’ll make it to the top!
The architecture and design reminded me more of hotels I’ve visited in Bali than others in the islands. From the service to the design, Jade Mountain was more Far East than Caribbean. It’s a world away from other places we’ve stayed in this region.
I’ve never been anywhere quite like it.
My favorite part of Jade Mountain, and the characteristic that makes it such a unique hotel, is the individuality of each suite. Architect and owner Nick Troubetzkoy designed each sanctuary differently, using sustainably harvested hardwoods and stone quarried in Barbados. The infinity pools all have custom-designed tiles, so some rooms are calming in green or blue and others are bold in red or yellow.
We were fortunate enough to sneak a peek at a few of the Galaxy and Sun level rooms, because they were absolutely mind-blowing. (And what I remember seeing on The Bachelor!)
How epic is this view? The Galaxy rooms are worth a future trip back.
The view from JA3
Our sanctuary was perfectly lovely and relaxing, but to be honest it didn’t knock my socks off like some of the others. Our space did not have the sweeping view of the Pitons, unless you stood at the edge of the room or in the tub, or swam to the corner of the pool.
You won’t catch me complaining though. With our own Major Domo and the novelty of a missing 4th wall, there are no “bad” rooms. Even at the lowest level, Jade Mountain is a magical place to stay.
Vacation mode finally kicked into high gear right about the time Rick and I wandered to the Kai en Ciel Spa, just around the corner from our room. We had a couples massage that was transcendental! I was a puddle of relaxation by the time it was over, wishing that I had more time for some of their famous signature treatments.
I barely remember the rest of the day.
Pro Tips for Your Visit to Jade Mountain
- Jade Mountain is just the type of place where “Go big or go home” is an appropriate motto. You don’t want to come all this way and then pinch pennies. Splurge on the all-inclusive package. Most folks who stay at Jade Mountain aren’t too bothered by a $5 Coke, but I’m frugal and I mentally keep a running tab (even when it’s work-related!). Going with all-inclusive from the get-go gives you the freedom to not worry about expenses while you’re trying to unwind, and caffeinate with reckless abandon.
- The best Star sanctuary you can book is E2, so if you’re going to Jade and looking for a lower priced room with the best view, that’s the one.
- If you have any accessibility issues at all, or if you’re lazy and out of shape like I am, let them know when booking. There are no public elevators, so the climb up to the Jade Club or your room, depending on what level, can be a challenge. You can request a car to drive you up to the top, but I felt a little foolish doing that when I have two good legs.
There’s no question that Jade Mountain is a singular, distinctive hotel. It certainly has earned its reputation as one of the most unusual properties in the Caribbean. Want to learn more about pricing or book your trip? Check it out here!
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