Jade Mountain at Anse Chastanet is hands down one of the most incredible resorts on the planet. We recently spent 10days/10nights there and here is our review.

Overall Rating: A+

We have traveled extensively both in the US and abroad and stayed at some of the most luxurious hotels/resorts around (Ritz, Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, etc)...without question, Jade Mountain is on par with these facilities if not superior in some aspects.

I will do a quick breakdown and the reason I am writing this review (something I don't normally do) is because I feel as though the other reviews of Jade on this site are way off base and had me a little concerned about our vacation selection the week prior to going.

Here goes:

1) Rooms: It seems no one is in disagreement - they are spectacular...
there is a reason they are called Sanctuaries. Every amenity you could want/need is either in the room (infinity pool, bed, bathroom, tub, sun deck, fridge, coffee, etc) or...you call your personal Butler and have it arranged to be brought in - this includes all meals, drinks, personal yoga instructor and spa services. Probably the only things they can't bring to your room are the excursions that require walking out the door.

Rating: A+

2) Food: Beware other reviews...I have eaten at some of the finest restaurants in the major cities around the globe and would easily say that the food here is fabulous! The dishes are presented beautifully, the portions are not oversized, the flavors are exquisite and the selection of restaurants for a single on property resort are great. There is the jade mountain club - an exclusive restaurant for those staying at Jade (visitors of Anse Chastenet, which is a short walk down the hill, are unable to come up). The menu offers four course meals (appetizer, salad, dinner, dessert) and come complete with sorbet to cleanse the palate between salad and dinner. At the Jade Mtn Club there are typically many fish dishes to choose from, one steak, one chicken and one vegetarian - while the menu changes daily it stays fairly similar in terms of base food with changes in sauce, flavoring, style of preparation, etc. The Indian restaurant Apsara and the Treehouse restaurant were also great and a nice change of scenery. I have ZERO complaints about the food, the appetizers, salads and entrees were all fresh, carefully prepared and quite delicious. I think one complaint some travelers might have is that the food is expensive...but then again - this is a $1200 a night resort, so if you're stretching yourself to stay here, don't forget that the food will be priced accordingly. Also, consider the meal plans - no matter how much you think you may not eat, all the hiking and fresh air is bound to make you hungry...bon appetit!

Rating: A-/A

3) Diving: Have dived in Fiji, Cayman, Turks, Bahamas, Great Lakes, Hawaii, Mexico, etc...but did not dive a lot while at the resort. The few dives we did do were pleasant, few pelagics (if any) lots of smaller invertebrates and reef fish. Yellow sponges abound, green coral fans. An interesting wreck dive (but didn't personally do the site). Plus side - all of the diving is a very short boat ride away OR its right off the beach and is good, hardcore divers looking to log lots of bottom time may not find it a great dive only locale. But, this is less because of the actual diving and more because there are so many other activities to do.

Rating: B+

4) Excursions: No end to the number of things you can do both on and off property. The volcano tour is a bit disappointing as they require you have a guide (who likely expects a tip) who walks you approximately 180 feet up a small stair case to overlook the bubbling sulphur vents in the earth. However, if you do this as part of the resort package - you then go to the Botanical Gardens and Diamond Falls which was a very delightful stroll with plenty of tropical birds, plants and lots of signs and informational areas along the way. The mineral baths were a bit sketchy but felt nice even in the warm Jungle environment.

A trip to Anse La Raye is a must, quite fun little fishing village on Friday nights that has music, drink and food served by locals along the main street (maybe 1/2 a city block), food was delicious but be sure to bring at least $100 EC dollars (local currency).

The Pitons...Gros Piton has a great trail to the top, moderate hiking ability required with a roundtrip time ~3 hrs. They will inform you that the Petit Piton can be climbed but is not advised by anyone and should you choose to do so, it is at your own risk. We chose to climb the Petit Piton but both have extensive climbing experience. ~2300 feet of vertical gain on a trail that is less than 1 mile long. Entire climb is 4th class with significant sections requiring scrambling and at least 3 sections that are 5th class with a crux I would rate at least a 5.4. Ropes have been placed to "help" climbers but I found them to be more of a hindrance. There is minimal/if any exposure but the trail is narrow and a fall would likely result in serious injury/death. I DO NOT recommend this unless you have lots of mountain hiking experience in scree/boulder fields, have great balance, exercise often and have at least tried vertical rock climbing. If you are not used to exerting yourself in hot/humid conditions - bring at least 1.25 Litres of water per person and prepare for a roundtrip time that could exceed 4 hours if there are more than two people climbing (depending on your speed/ability). Overall a great climb with spectacular views.

Jungle Biking is another adventure that is highly recommended, as well as a tour of the Anse Mamin Plantation ruins on the resort property. Many other activities and shopping opportunities that can be explained by staff and in the informational materials they offer.

Rating: A

5) Spa: There are two spas which both offer great services. The Jade Mountain Spa will even perform many of the treatments right in your Sanctuary. My wife and I both enjoyed a number of Spa services and found them to be quite relaxing and romantic. The swedish massages and Jojoba Skin Hydrating Treatments are a must. Prices were very reasonable.

Rating: A-

6) Butler Service: A very recent addition (was added 12 days before we arrived) and a truly exceptional service. Three professionally trained butlers are at your every beck and call...forget something after walking the 200+ steps down to the beach? Just give a call. Decide that you're a bit too tired from the sun and sand to walk all the way back to your sanctuary...give a call, they'll come down within minutes to pick you up and drive you back in an air conditioned van. Need something special for your significant other but want it to be a surprise? They will gladly help arrange for something secret and romantic that is sure to be delightful.

Rating: A+

7) Travel to hotel: HIGHLY recommend the helicopter service to and from the resort. If you have any tendency toward motion sickness (car, boat, etc) be sure you book the helicopter. It is well worth the price and you get a gorgeous flight to the resort. I recall the drive from Hewanorra (UVF) taking us close to 1.5 hours one way, whereas the flight in the Helo was 7 minutes....'nuff said.

Car Rating: C- :::::: Helicopter Rating: A+

I hope this is helpful and if you go to Jade Mountain...I'm certain you will have a great time!

I took my husband to Jade Mountain for a surprise vacation for his 60th birthday. As many people write, Jade Mountain is truly unimaginable and extraordinary in its construction and aesthetic beauty. Kind of like a magnificent stone and blown glass spiral interweave of runways and highways leading to the sanctuaries, incomprehensibly plastered into the side of a mountain overlooking the gorgeous and magical Piton Mountains. Our sun sanctuary was ravishing, with a completely open fourth wall and our own totally private half-indoor, half-outdoor infinity pool in our room! The pools are beautiful, each one plaited with what looks like hand-blown glass that creates multi-prisms of resplendent color when the sun hits the pool. You have your own individual pool color scheme, and ours was blue (some are orange, purple, or green, etc.). You can't really imagine the stunning aspect of it in photos (as many people report here), and my husband and I can't imagine how we are going to stay anywhere else (from a room perspective only) again in comparison. Also, JB-1 doesn't have a wine bar (another issue, is that you are not given the liquor in the sun sanctuary that is also described on the Jade Mountain site -- not that we are big drinkers, but don't promise something you are not making available to your guests).

We had very little problem with bugs, thanks to the mosquito net on the bed and the use of Burt Bees Herbal Insect Repellent that was great (one night we forgot to slather it on, and, subsequently, we did get a bunch of bites, but nothing too problematic) to keep the bugs at bay. Other then the delight of various species of birds flying intermittently in and out of our room, we had an occasional petite gecko lizard and one elephantine bug -- both of whom were more scared of us, then us of them! Even when we had our breakfast in our room each morning, the birds and bugs were gracious and stayed at arm's length. As people write, housekeeping automatically supply the bug coils at night (a bug repellant coil that is lit and burns for many hours through the night, and has a kind of nice, smokey scent), and the multiple ceiling fans seem to keep things cleared out. I also brought a bug candle that I watched carefully (I'm not sure that candles are allowed in the rooms), which we used specifically during meals in our room, and helped when we were having dinner in our room at night. We did not like having the heavy-duty bug spray "spritzed" around our bed at nighttime though, which seems to be automatically done with turn-down service in the evening, so make sure to ask them not to do that ahead of time if you don't want it. However, I imagine April is still a tame month in the bug-malady sense, and perhaps if it was the summer, we would have tolerated it.

The view from Jade Mountain Restaurant is splendid, and the sky at night so burnished and illuminated with sunsets, rainbows, and clarity, that we could actually view satellites in the sky at dusk (other guests, and my husband and I were mesmerized by this -- satellites for TV, phones, etc.). Service at their restaurant is fantastic, and could not have been better, and the food very good. Unfortunately, Jade Mountain was the only restaurant we went to while we were there, except for one in Margot Bay (we were only there for four nights).

I do want to say that for a resort that is only a few years old, the general condition of the rooms is a little surprising. A door kept falling off the mini-bar, one of the multiple fans was dysfunctional and so noisy that we asked for it to be turned off, and there was a very bad leak in our bathroom that was taken care of after we mentioned it, by staff putting a plant underneath it to catch the water; and, the floors and furniture are already not in great condition. There were a couple of tiles off the pool, and a few other things that are totally surprising in management not fixing and keeping things completely up to par on a regular basis, considering the expense of the sanctuaries and the newness of the structure. The king bed is fabulous -- as comfortable as can be, with terrific frette sheets and really plump pillows (lots of them), and room service makes sure you have whatever you may need (we actually needed an extra blanket one night!).

Our sun sanctuary was JD-1, also written about in these reviews. Please know that all sun sanctuaries are not equal. One writer mentioned being put in JB-1 (they were very upset with this issue, as well) which claims to be a sun sanctuary, and definitely not one in all intent and purpose! We were first put into JB-1, but moved to JD-1 immediately upon arrival, after we complained. Make sure to ask not to have sanctuary JB-1 if you pay for a sun sanctuary. It's small both in size and in terms of the pool, and does not have a great view, relatively speaking. Considering the exorbitant price of a stay at Jade Mountain at rack rate, my husband and I would have felt pretty angry about the accommodation, had they not moved us, especially considering how Jade Mountain depicts its sun sanctuaries (2,000 sq ft, etc., largest pools, best views -- this sanctuary was at least half the size of JD-1 with a much smaller pool and no view of the Pitons unless you walked to the very edge of the room and looked out). It was my husband's 60th birthday, and fortunately, the manager moved us immediately to JD-1 (big sanctuary, much larger pool, but still not a direct view of the Pitons as is described in their own literature -- however, still wonder if it was a sun sanctuary). I heard there were other sun sanctuaries that faced the pitons directly and are larger, but ours was gorgeous, and we also had our own huge outdoor porch next to the pool which seems to be an exception, and really enjoyed having that a lot (however, the initial experienec of being put into JB-1created a sense of mistrust for the rest of our trip, that we would not be getting what we asked for -- not a good feeling). JB-1 feels like how the moon and star suites are outlined. Please don't misunderstand, JB-1 is gorgeous, but not how Jade Mountain describes sun sanctuaries. As one writer expressed, if they were more realistic in their own descriptions, one wouldn't have this experience. We had a very different bathroom experience, then described in reviews. Somehow, JD-1's bathroom is tucked into a corner -- doorless, but definitely private. We really appreciated that, considering what people write about the toilets being out in the open. The shower was terrific!

The room service was terrific, too. Punctual, warm, and professional. If we ordered our breakfast for 9 AM, it was served exactly at 9 AM. If we called for something we needed, it was responded to immediately. Not having phones in the room was not a problem for us. The signs on the door worked incredibly well, and if we "buzzed," someone came immediately. We always had enough towels and soaps, etc. and our room was cleaned thoroughly each day. The room service meals were completely decent, and our meals at Jade Mountain were excellent. Except for the awful concierge service (which I will write about shortly), it seems that Jade Mountain has worked on this area and is providing better service then written about in prior reviews. However, the concierge service and accompanying management was a DISASTER. When I first called Jade Mountain and asked if I could book excursions ahead of time, I was told by reception that I could not (which actually was not true, and it was just someone in reception not wanting to be bothered), and only with persistence and lots of emails, managed to get another person in reception to help me with excursions. However, in retrospect it was very poor management in that she did not refer me to the concierge, because ultimately they completely mishandled and screwed up our excursions, causing a lot of discomfort, anxiety, and expenditure of energy in trying to fix things (which never adequately happened, and due to the fact, we missed out on the excursions that we wanted) on an occasion that should have been seamless and expertly handled. There were numerous other instances pre-check in and during our stay that were highly problematic in this area, and was handled in a very unprofessional manner. When our flight home was canceled due to American Airlines debacle this month, management and concierge were enormously passive and unhelpful in aiding us in finding a way to get out of St. Lucia. I had to do all the phone calls and negotiations (my own cell phone didn't work in St. Lucia), while the concierge looking annoyed, and sat passively by. Amidst the tumult and worry on our way out after I finally found a flight, they forgot to add $8 for our mini bar the night before, and the manager came running after us asking for the eight dollars out of pocket right then and there. We thought that was enormously tacky, to say the least, because of what we were contending with related to the airlines, and it could have just appeared on our bill later on. When you are paying almost $2,000 a night for a place, there really is no excuse whatsoever for this. And, although the room is extraordinary, because of these issues, I would not recommend it to friends. Jade Mountain really has an obligation not to rest on its exquisite beauty and rely a little more on better management. We've had the immense opportunity to do a lot of traveling, and have never experienced such poor service in this area at a place that is so expensive, and should therefore be absolutely seamless in its functioning. Also, when I spoke to reception prior to my visit, they asked me if there was anything they could get for me in the room for my husband's birthday the day of arrival, and asked if I'd like fruit and a cheese plate. I said yes, and then we were charged for the plate! It would have been fine had I known up front, but again, I thought that was poor management.

The beach is very average, and we had to wait an hour for our drinks to be served, but the snorkeling is great and everything on the beach is very close by. There is no seating at the beach specifically for Jade Mountain guests, and by the time we arrived at the beach at noon, all the "good" seats were taken (the ones with the big umbrellas). Again, at a place like this, more attention should be paid to these details. The beaches in St. Lucia all of public, which is great, but it means there is no priority seating on the beach, and no attempt for the resort to make necessary accommodations for it's guests (at least, in our experience). You don't really go to St. Lucia for the beach, and there are many other lovely things to do on the island.

We've done a lot of traveling, and St. Lucia's Pitons are beautiful, but the walk-in volcano, botanical gardens, etc. are also average, and the draw, in our view, is the room and the Pitons, the infinity pool and total relaxation. Clearly, this is our own subjective opinion, and we do think had the concierge service been better, we may have had a very, very different experience in viewing the island.

For people who are worried about walking all the steps described over and over in reviews -- I do have a knee problem, and except for walking some stair cases to and from restaurant and sanctuary, etc., you can shuttle to the beach or any other spot, so unless you literally can't walk a staircase or two or three, it really isn't as challenging as is written. The shuttle service is incredibly expedient and efficient, and the people who took us on tours were also very kind, warm, and generous, as was true for everyone that we met in St. Lucia (except concierge and related management).

Something not mentioned is the road up to Jade Mountain from the main road, which is pretty formidable and a little scary. Narrow and horrifically pot-holed and challenging -- I thought it was this road, not the stairs, that was precarious and difficult. It's kind of shocking that it hasn't been repaved like much of the rest of St. Lucia (at least, where we went). All these details that are not paid attention to is what is going to keep Jade Mountain from being on the top of all the best travel lists. However, our drivers to and from Jade Mountain were also incredibly careful in going up and down the road.

We both felt enormously privileged and lucky to have had the experience at Jade Mountain. It was exceptional and unique. We won't be going back essentially due to the expense, but even if that wasn't an issue, because the service ranges from fantastic to incredibly poor, we would travel elsewhere for a Caribbean vacation where service is seamless. Jade Mountain really needs some new management to walk in and make it Four-Seasons service perfect. For the rack rate of almost $2,000 a night for a sun sanctuary, their patrons deserve it!!!!!

This is our subjective review of course, but as an "older" couple (relative to the ages of the people who have written reviews) who have traveled extensively, I do think our thoughts about management specifically are very valid. Perhaps, there have been improvements since our visit. We hope so.

The good news...

Jade Mountain is breathtakingly beautiful with plenty of 'Oh shoot' moments at this very new resort. The rooms have 3 walls - with the fourth being completely open and in some cases - framed with an infinity pool. We were just dating at the time but its clearly the right place for Honeymooners.
The staff treated us like royalty - I feel bad for the others that didnt get the same treatment. They went above and beyond for us - day after day. The food was great and the serenity was priceless.

Now for the bad news...

MOSQUITOES: Words cant describe the agony of microscopic vampires feasting every night on your souls. This is despite the mosquito nets, cans of raid, and 4pm smoke bombings that the staff are forced to do. I mean these guys walk around in full hazmat suits and usher a thick cloud of insect death between 4pm and 5pm. Id hate to know what Jade would be like at night without this scary service.

CONSTRUCTION: This was a year ago but the place was only 75% done. Lots of blocked stairways and hanging wires and unfinished gardens. The worst part was right outside our perpetually open 4th wall was a group of gardeners that were finishing a job. They seemed to go out of their way not to look into the hotel rooms but if you aren't an exhibitionist, you may want to stick to the upper floors.

OTHER: Oh. There is no bathroom door. Circle of Trust takes on a whole new meaning here.

SUMMARY: If you want perfection, stay at a 4 seasons. If you want to be swept away to a unique and enchanting (if rough around the edges) tropical locale, then look no further than Jade. We'll be back.

My wife and I stayed at Jade Mountain from February 22-28, 2008 for our mini-honeymoon. We stayed in a Star Sanctuary and purchased the Total Romance all-inclusive package. We ended up deciding between Jade Mountain/Anse Chastanet and Ladera, and settled on Jade Mountain based on the unbelievable photos on the website and the myriad positive reviews online. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our vacation and the island of St. Lucia, which is pleasantly under-developed and authentically Caribbean. The following are positives, negatives, and things to consider about Jade Mountain:

Positives:
Room/Sanctuaries: The rooms are unbelievable and live up to what you see online. They are spacious, well appointed, kept in tip top shape, and stocked with beautiful Frette linens and high end toiletries. The pools are beautifully designed, and the view of the Pitons is absolutely stunning.

Service: The service at Jade Mountain was fantastic. Throughout our stay we had no issues with room service, even though there are no phones in the room. The staff was attentive, responsive, and friendly. I am somewhat obsessive compulsive about travel, but details and requests were generally taken care of in advance and without me having to follow up. The service at the restaurants down at Anse Chastanet was less consistent and slow at times.

Negatives:
Food: I read several marginal reviews of the food at Jade Mountain, but did not pay much attention prior to our trip. That was a mistake. The food at Jade Mountain is horrible and totally unacceptable. The Jade Mountain Club is not a fine dining establishment, but rather what amounts to a cafeteria tacked on top of the resort. The restaurants at Anse feature all sorts of 70’s-era Caribbean kitsch, from the wait staff’s costumes to the thatch umbrellas on the beach. All of the restaurants at the two properties featured cheap plastic menus, a dearth of local fare, and, most importantly, food straight out of the package, the freezer, and the microwave, from the stale rolls to the tasteless gazpacho to the almost inedible scallops. The resort is too isolated to easily access outside restaurants or to buy local food, which isn’t an attractive option anyway once you’ve paid for the all-inclusive. I cannot emphasize enough how disappointing this part of the trip was for us, and the food problem was a constant topic of conversation amongst the Jade Mountain guests. However, we did hear a rumor toward the end of our stay that management is bringing in a new chef for the Jade Mountain Club, so you may want to check back for future reviews before making a decision.

Wine: The all-inclusive packages include four or five varietals by the glass, all of which are the same brand. These generic offerings are less than palatable across the board, and no attempt has been made to add any sophistication to the wine list.

Considerations:
Beach: Compared to what I was expecting, the beach is relatively small and crowded with various facilities. St. Lucia is a volcanic island so the sand is much darker than other Caribbean islands. This is certainly not a criticism, but if you are looking for white sand beaches that stretch for miles, this is the wrong island.

Social Scene: There are a ton of activities at the resorts, all of which seem to be well organized and enjoyable. However, there is not much in the way of opportunities for social interaction with other guests. This is no bar or real lounge at Jade Mountain. The resort is designed for couples who want to relax together, but if you’re looking for nightlife you should take this into consideration.

Jade Mountain is definitely a unique resort and the rooms and view alone are enough to make your stay special. However, considering the importance I place on food and the cost of the package (several thousand dollars more than Ladera, which is home to one of the better restaurants on the island), I would not return unless the dining options are completely overhauled and upgraded.