Last week, I mentioned getting away without the kids is mandatory! Well, I want you to know I practice what I preach.
For our honeymoon, my husband and I went to St. Lucia. We loved it so much and had such a great time, we committed to coming back for our fifth anniversary. It took a lot of planning and help from our family (with babysitting) but we made it happen.
We not only went back to St. Lucia, we went back to the same place we originally stayed, Ladera!
St. Lucia is a fantastic volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is very mountainous with two famous landmark mountains call the Pitons (Gros and Petit). Ladera is situated between these two mountains providing picturesque views (as proven from the shots below).
But the best part of Ladera is their three-wall suites. Yes, all the suites have only three walls. One wall is completely open to allow for the best views of the Pitons and the water.
It is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
You can also book a room with a plunge pool (not heated) or a pool (heated). The first time we opted for the plunge pool, which was freezing cold. This time we opted for the heated pool, which was awesome. Here’s a picture as you entered our room.
Yep, that’s a swing you can sit on with your feet in the heated pool and yes, those are cup holders (perfect for a glass of wine)!
This is looking back from the pool. The netted bed is at the top of the steps along with a huge bathroom.
Here’s Michael swimming and hanging out with the great view behind him.
You can also take a short ride down to the beach and check out the Pitons from the bottom.
During our first visit, we did a lot of touristy type things. We visited the drive through volcano. We took a dip in the hot springs, which are said to have medicinal powers! We visited waterfalls and snorkeled at private beaches.
On this trip, we didn’t do much and it was perfect. We relaxed, swam in our pool, stopped by the beach, and just at a great time at one of the best rooms I’ve ever stayed.
The one thing we did do was take a chocolate tour at Fond Doux Estate. They give you some history of the estate and show you the most amazing grounds with all types of things growing. I learned so much on the trip about a variety of plants and especially chocolate! Yum! We had lunch there too, which was delicious.
Speaking of food, the food at Ladera’s Dasheene restaurant is amazing. The staff is very friendly and it seems they are always making improvements to the property. 
If you are looking for a beautiful, romantic retreat for your “no-kids” get-away, please check out St. Lucia and specifically Ladera! I promise, you will love it!
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Happy Family Travels 