We had an absolutely perfect stay in St. Lucia, and Michelle and David of the Still made it so! They made the visit comfortable and memorable--exactly the escape I needed. Among the many highlights the stellar view from our porch at the beach resort, our dunk in the sulfur pools at dusk, and watching the plantation manager shimmy up the mango/papaya/avocado trees on the nature walk the still arranged for us (for no extra charge!) . Their warmth and hospitality turned our beach vacation into a true paradise, in ways no all-inclusive resort could have matched. My only regret is that I had to leave so soon!

I'm looking forward to a return trip, and definitely recommend the Still to anyone I know to be considering a visit to St. Lucia and the Caribbean.

I think the poor rating here is fake. We experienced NOTHING like what is described there. The Still's managers were very honest and helpful. It was a wonderful experience all around!!!!!

If you're the sort that needs the all-inclusive polish of a Sandals-like resort, Soufriere isn't for you (unless you can afford Anse Chastonet). If you want to experience St Lucian culture and it's beautiful sights and sounds, you should check it out.

We stayed at the beach resort for three nights, then headed into the hills and stayed on the Plantation for the remainder of our trip. Both had their strong points but we prefered the self-catered option of the Plantation.

*beach resort...
views: brilliant
seafood: brilliant
staff: 50/50 rude/sweet
SCUBA: unmatched (brilliant)
The fact that it's not Castaries: priceless

*plantation resort...
views: nice
food: self-catered
staff: absent (was like a ghost town in the off-season)
accomodations: great - we were pretty much left alone in the place (felt like our own cottage in the Caribean)

5 Soufriere hints:

1). Get out of dodge when the cruise ships come in. They're generally full of yobbish masses who swamp the town and beaches. Not a pretty sight in an otherwise quaint cove.

2). Hike over (or take a water taxi) to Anse Chastonet to see how the other set live. It's morbidly expensive to stay there, but we just used them for their [----] beaches

3). Black-on-White racism exists in it's purest form in Soufriere. Expect insults, slurs, expecially in "town". Let it roll off your back - these jerks spoil it for the overwhelming number of St. Lucians who are kind-hearted and welcome visitors.

4). try scuba-diving (or snorkelling). you'll be rewarded in droves.

5). Skip the dumb, smelly volcano tour.

We stayed here for 4 nights, at the plantation bit (not the beach resort), with an Explore! group we were travelling with. There is no reception, so on arrival the security guard simply told our tour leader that she had to look for suitable vacant rooms by opening the ones with keys in the doors! This took quite some time and then It turned out that there were not enough rooms. We then learend that the owner had been sitting in one of the rooms all along ignoring us completely. He then came out and said that the fax he received had only made a reservation for 16 people not 19, but refused to show the fax (the same one every other hotel we had stayed at during the past fortnight had accurately received). He was very rude, and was shouting at both our leader and other guests, and telling us that we would have to share rooms. After much argument, he agreed to have a couple of the group stay at the beachside resort where there were rooms available.

The place really needs alot of maintenance work - our toilet did not work properly, the shower leaked, the tiles on the floor outside the bathroom door were all broken, and our bed was flea infested!

On our third day, the restaurant manager from the beach resort offered to make a bonfire and BBQ on the beach for us. She said that she would do seafood platters with prawns, fish, scallops and so on and the she would tell us the price later. Later in the day she gave us a menu and we were a bit surprised to see that she was charging EC$35 for the prawns and EC$70 for the seafood platter, but we thought it would be worth it for some great seafood fresh from the sea and the beach bonfire. However, for our EC$35 (about £7) we got only 3 medium sized prawns, and the seafood platter was disgusting - simply frozen seafood extender mix mushed with some tinned tomato and an extra prawn thrown in! It was the worst tasting meal I had in two weeks in the Carribean and the most expensive. To put it into context, the night before at the fish market I'd had two great pieces of Mahi Mahi, an entire bowl of prawns and another entire bowl of octopus (all fresh!) for EC$80!

Stay away - the accomodation is terible, the owner and staff rude, and completely overcharging for truly bad experiences!

We stayed at the Still Beach Resort for 5 days in the 2nd week of July. Our choice was totally based on the fact that the SCUBA Dive shop was on location. Chester runs the dive shop and he's a real nice guy. He took us to dive the Pitons and it was beautiful one of the best we have found in the Caribbean. It had been a hard decision between the Still and the Hummingbird Resort "next door". I didn't know until I got there that the two are basically on top of each other. This was good.

I emailed the hotel about a taxi to meet us at the airport. They sent the "guy" they use. His name is Christopher and he his very good. We took the waterfall tour with him and it was great...highly recommended. Our flight came in late and Christopher had sandwiches and beer waiting in the room for us since the restaurant was closed.

We were definitely there off-season. The restaurant was not open in the evenings and there isn't really much of a bar. BUT that's the best part about the Hummingbird Resort right next door. Take the road or just walk down the beach, it's very close. The restaurant was wonderful and the bar was very nice. There is a great boutique on site.

The rooms at the Still were big and clean. Air conditioned bedrooms kept the whole place cool. Nice deck facing the Pitons. The grounds are beautifully landscaped. Fresh flowers every day. Big tiled baths with fresh flowers. Full, equipped kitchen. I think we were one of only 3 rooms rented the first night or 2, so it's very quiet..

Walk to town and don't let the locals scare you. St. Lucians are very nice. Yes, there are some beggars but you find that on every island. Just tell them "no" and there off. (If you do give something, they will be your best friend for the rest of the time you are in town.....same with the pot dogs). It's only a couple of blocks across the bridge in town, don't miss Archies. Great place to eat but even better to sit at the bar and watch the main street..

The Still Beach Resort was nice but now that I have been there, I would stay next door at the Hummingbird. It's just as close to the dive shop and the restaurant had wonderful fresh fish dishes. We took many meals there. Plus the bar is very nice and staff friendly.