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St. Lucia’s Celebrated Jade Mountain
The Art of Hospitality
By Jill Vicioso
What is it about gazing at the emerald green Pitons embraced by the magical hues of the Caribbean Sea that is so captivating? One simply cannot get enough of this view. It is better than a good book or a compelling movie—it’s enough to simply gaze, even for a Type A New Yorker. What helps of course is having only three walls and a private infinity pool in each bedroom that enables swimming to the edge of the room, as though you are swimming to the edge of a cliff. Never has there been such a room, with such a view.
It’s a known fact that a well run business starts from the top and St. Lucia’s 5-star Jade Mountain is no exception. A trip to this romantic destination is highlighted by the most exquisite… well everything—views, rooms, beaches, food, people and more. My recent trip revealed more than simply a place to which I will certainly dream about returning.
The biggest decision each day was where to spend my time. The beautiful beach, swimming in the clear sea with all of the colorful fish and great beachside waiter service, or in the room with the view, a private pool, jacuzzi, butler and room service. Luckily at Jade Mountain, the days stretch as though they are a week long. There seems to be time for everything.
What is it about gazing at the emerald green Pitons embraced by the magical hues of the Caribbean Sea that is so captivating? One simply cannot get enough of this view. It is better than a good book or a compelling movie—it’s enough to simply gaze, even for a Type A New Yorker. What helps of course is having only three walls and a private infinity pool in each bedroom that enables swimming to the edge of the room, as though you are swimming to the edge of a cliff. Never has there been such a room, with such a view.
It’s a known fact that a well run business starts from the top and St. Lucia’s 5-star Jade Mountain is no exception. A trip to this romantic destination is highlighted by the most exquisite… well everything—views, rooms, beaches, food, people and more. My recent trip revealed more than simply a place to which I will certainly dream about returning.
The biggest decision each day was where to spend my time. The beautiful beach, swimming in the clear sea with all of the colorful fish and great beachside waiter service, or in the room with the view, a private pool, jacuzzi, butler and room service. Luckily at Jade Mountain, the days stretch as though they are a week long. There seems to be time for everything.
It rained while I was there and interestingly, the rainy day was my favorite. I saw my first double rainbow, which apparently is common, as multiple rainbows (up to five) are a regular occurrence. Swimming in the sea in the rain, reading under the beach umbrella in the rain, walking to the next beach for a world-class hamburger in the rain, all in that heavenly St. Lucia warmth, made up my morning. All I could think was, “what a beautiful day!” The afternoon brought swimming in my bedroom, as I lazily enjoyed the sun twinkling off of the light afternoon sprinkle and the mesmerizing view from a relaxing jacuzzi. Does it get any better?
There are multiple dining options from which to choose. From beachside casual, to West Indian, to fine dining in the clouds with a menu carefully designed by a James Beard Award winning chef, all are beautifully prepared, and the best part, the bulk of the food comes from Jade Mountain’s organic Emerald Farm (a tour worth taking). Not only are the menus filled with organic culinary treats, but the hotel is run in an ecological fashion that puts more back into the environment than it takes. The management cares. The guests care.
The hotel boasts “tree to bar” chocolate by their in-house Danish chocolate and pastry expert who has elevated the art of chocolate by simplifying the process and teaching interested guests his methods. He’s responsible for chocolate events throughout the week, as well as the chocolate menu and other dessert items at the restaurant in the sky.
With all of the beauty, calm and goodness, there is still plenty to do for those that want activities. Live music at night, a luxury spa, jungle biking, snorkeling and scuba diving are right on the premises. A short drive can take you to a waterfall, volcano, sulphur springs and botanical gardens among other options. Pick and choose, or have a custom adventure designed for you, which brings me to what was the most impressive part of this unique resort. The staff is committed to the guests’ happiness like nothing I've experienced. They want to know what makes you happy so that they can provide it and create a totally personalized experience for each and every person in a completely unobtrusive fashion—that is their gift. Communicating before your trip to Jade Mountain will expedite surprises and while onsite, take the time to speak with the highly trained staff. Universally, they seem to love their jobs and feel privileged to work at Jade Mountain. There is a reason for this. Owners, Karolin and Nick Troubetskoy, set a stellar example for service. They are often on premises, available to guests for questions, answers, or simply to chat over a glass of wine. At the same time, they work hard alongside their staff and are committed to not only making this the trip of a lifetime for each and every one of their guests, but making it a better life for their St. Lucian community at large. When they are not at their boutique hotel, they are traveling the globe, marketing smartly to share the exquisite opportunity that Jade Mountain delivers time and again.
Good for the community, good for the people and good for the environment brings a new meaning to luxury.
www.jademountain.com
There are multiple dining options from which to choose. From beachside casual, to West Indian, to fine dining in the clouds with a menu carefully designed by a James Beard Award winning chef, all are beautifully prepared, and the best part, the bulk of the food comes from Jade Mountain’s organic Emerald Farm (a tour worth taking). Not only are the menus filled with organic culinary treats, but the hotel is run in an ecological fashion that puts more back into the environment than it takes. The management cares. The guests care.
The hotel boasts “tree to bar” chocolate by their in-house Danish chocolate and pastry expert who has elevated the art of chocolate by simplifying the process and teaching interested guests his methods. He’s responsible for chocolate events throughout the week, as well as the chocolate menu and other dessert items at the restaurant in the sky.
With all of the beauty, calm and goodness, there is still plenty to do for those that want activities. Live music at night, a luxury spa, jungle biking, snorkeling and scuba diving are right on the premises. A short drive can take you to a waterfall, volcano, sulphur springs and botanical gardens among other options. Pick and choose, or have a custom adventure designed for you, which brings me to what was the most impressive part of this unique resort. The staff is committed to the guests’ happiness like nothing I've experienced. They want to know what makes you happy so that they can provide it and create a totally personalized experience for each and every person in a completely unobtrusive fashion—that is their gift. Communicating before your trip to Jade Mountain will expedite surprises and while onsite, take the time to speak with the highly trained staff. Universally, they seem to love their jobs and feel privileged to work at Jade Mountain. There is a reason for this. Owners, Karolin and Nick Troubetskoy, set a stellar example for service. They are often on premises, available to guests for questions, answers, or simply to chat over a glass of wine. At the same time, they work hard alongside their staff and are committed to not only making this the trip of a lifetime for each and every one of their guests, but making it a better life for their St. Lucian community at large. When they are not at their boutique hotel, they are traveling the globe, marketing smartly to share the exquisite opportunity that Jade Mountain delivers time and again.
Good for the community, good for the people and good for the environment brings a new meaning to luxury.
www.jademountain.com
