Balenbouche Estate is a Historic Plantation Guesthouse offering several tropical vacation cottages. The 80 acre property includes an expansive park with colonial plantation house, 18th century sugar mill, yoga barn, fruit orchards, lily ponds, nature trails and two secluded beaches just a 5 minute walk away. Balenbouche is not a resort and remains a working organic farm, heritage site, and family residence with a focus on wellness, sustainability and conservation. Our eco-chic accommodations are created from historic structures and sleep between 2 and 6 people, some include kitchens. We prepare breakfast daily, and dinner 2 - 3 times a week by reservation. There is a restaurant within walking distance. Several other St Lucia restaurants as well as a supermarket are a short drive away. We are located 20 minutes from the International airport and 30 minutes from the town of Soufriere, near many of the islands best attractions. Balenbouche is a magical place, a world in itself, popular with artists, photographers, green travelers, wedding couples, honeymooners and families. Our family has owned and managed the estate for three generations. Gradually, the property was transformed into a well known St Lucia attraction, guesthouse and retreat venue. Many of our guests feel very much at home at Balenbouche Estate, and keep returning!
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Quiet nature, with evening nature symphony of frogs and crickets. Lovely hostess made us feel like her special guests. Birding was great. I love dogs and always miss mine when away , so the sweet house and yard dogs were an excellent addition
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is not Rodney Bay. There are no crowded beaches or hoards of tourists spewing off cruise liners. The accommodation is not sleek and luxurious. However Balenbouche is perfect in every way if you want to get off the beaten track. Our cottage was a delight. Imagine the Inspector’s shack in Death in Paradise. Natural air conditioning, quirky bedroom opening onto verandah, shower built from local stones and pebbles. Verena and Ute are perfect hosts and the old plantation house is beautiful and like stepping back into another age. Breakfast and dinner on the verandah are thoughtfully presented and very tasty. Edward, the security/handyman, loves to talk about St Lucia and all it has to offer and provided us with coconut, almonds and starfruit straight from the trees as he walked with us to the adjoining beaches. I just wish we’d stayed longer.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We visited Balenbouche for dinner and had a great experience. Dinner is served ‘family style’ with generous portions of delicious locally sourced food. Seating is out on the wrap around porch of this old plantation-style property. As well as being high quality food, its great value for money ( eating out can be relatively expensive in St Lucia ). The family is doing an amazing thing in preserving and developing this lovely old property - I would recommend anybody to support their efforts and get an amazing home cooked meal in unique surroundings.
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I booked out the entire estate to host my dream wedding. A deposit was paid 6 months in advance with constant communication with myself and the owners has taken place via email. However when the estate got infested with mole cricket they never reached out to notify me. My parents happened to stop by 4 weeks before my big day and saw that the grass was gone - Eaten by the mole crickets and what was once a beautiful area was literally now a dirt patch infested with mole crickets. The owners had no plan to fix it except for burning a bon fire.- RIDICULOUS ! When my planner asked about the health and safety of our guest we were told that there are bugs and insects all over the world. Eventually i was offered a refund in the last stages of my wedding plans, which she did via paypal. Paypal takes 30 days to refund . I will not be getting my funds in time to put towards a new venue and This Lady and her poor business ethics has made my process a night mere. DO NOT BOOK this resort. The do not take care of the property. Mole crickets are everywhere and they bite extremely hard. Neighboring owners have gone out and spent their money to treat their soil to fix the problem. Not these people! They only want to provide half ass and unhealthy accommodations for your money.
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Date of stay: January 2020
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Response from BalenboucheEstate, Owner at Balenbouche Estate
Responded Feb 1, 2020
We understand that this bride is disappointed and under a lot of pressure before her dream wedding. Early last year, we had agreed to give Jenna the venue for FREE, if she booked 4 of the cottages for at least 2 nights (she wanted a late party and we didn't want other guests to be inconvenienced). Reserving the cottages for only two nights in the height of the season was a big sacrifice to make on our part, but we are always happy to support the local community. We noticed end of last year that the lawn had some sizable dry patches, and identified the cause. However, it did not occur to us that Jenna would not still want to have the wedding on the estate, or else we would have reached out earlier. When she canceled the event, we were surprised but very apologetic. When she asked for a refund, we did this right away. Since the $630 was paid with PayPal, we did the refund through PayPal. When she said it would take 30 days, we offered her a cash refund. Mole crickets are harmless to humans and spend the large majority of their time underground, but they eat the roots of grass and other plants and can be hard to get rid of without harsh chemicals. Traditional local knowledge suggests setting fires at night which they fly into, so this was our first step in trying to reduce the population. Most have advised to use a combination of natural methods, rather than upsetting the entire eco-system with toxic substances which would put people, pets and other animals at risk. We will investigate and address the problem over the next few months, and then replace the lawn at the start of the rainy season. In the meantime, Balenbouche is still stunningly beautiful by any measure. Everyone who knows my family knows that we work tirelessly to maintain the historic property and accommodations and provide excellent service. In the past, we have been through much worse disasters; from coconut mites, mealy bugs and African snails, to droughts and hurricanes. We are now all living in challenging times, which will require us to rise above ourselves and our human species. Having read Jenna's comments, it is probably better that she choose not to have her wedding here, as this could have resulted in even greater problems. We wish her the best and hope that in time, she will be able to reflect on what she wrote and consider the bigger picture.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I stayed with Verena, Uta, and Anitanja at Balenbouche for two weeks when I arrived to Saint Lucia for my quarantine and the stay was absolutely delightful. The property itself is gorgeous with multiple beaches to swim and explore, so much light, green, and open space, and adorable cabins. I felt like I was in a slice of paradise my whole time. Beyond that, they absolutely took care of me- the meals were delicious, they took care of my shopping so that I was always well stocked, and they were ready to help with any excursions or anything else that I needed. The whole process of booking, arriving, and staying was so seamless and wonderful. I definitely will return and have any of my friends and family stay here when they visit.
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Date of stay: December 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You must see this! This is the most idyllic place ever!!! We chose it for our honeymoon. Uta was utterly wonderful/knowledgeable and cooked the most divine meals, so beautifully presented too. We chose to come here for the REAL St Lucia. Uta is amazing and rescues people/animals without any thought for herself. She works tirelessly and has done for years. The place is an honour to her. We we're even gracious enough to be taken to the ancient Arawak site with cave etchings & ancient washing stones, where we swam through the rivers & swang from the vines once Uta had made the way through the jungle for us with her machte! We can't wait to go back, be with Uta, Mac the horse ,Chai Chai and the other dogs/cats. Namste x
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Date of stay: March 2020
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Room Tip:Â Loved Frangapini & the outdoor shower!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were delighted to find this charming hotel tucked away in a very quiet area of south west Saint Lucia, we had previously stayed in the more commercial northern part of the island and wanted a more relaxed style of visit. Balenbouche did not disappoint us. Communication was easy through email and WhatsApp and the ladies gave us helpful advice and guidance. The hotel grounds are stunningly beautiful and tucked away is a ruined sugar mill and intact Victorian machinery. The mill is worth a visit in its own right! Our cottage was well equipped and it was easy to prepare a simple meal. The bed was large and comfy and the mosquito net was the best I have ever slept under. The ladies have managed to create a safe and sustainable environment where even the wild birds are tame. Don’t come if you need hairdryers, shaver points and TV, but do come to be nurtured and healed.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Booked and arrived for a 2 week stay and nearly fell out of the van upon our arrival from rubber necking my way around the property. Stunning, magical, quiet, vivid colors, birds, flowers, Waterlily cottage and of course the family. All were well above expectation. We have been married for 21 years and were never able to take a honeymoon. We found Balenbouche Estates and kept going back to the website. Verena and Uta welcomed us as we arrived and we just felt like we were being greeted by old friends. The estate is a treasure trove of small and grand experiences. From two beaches to wade in, walks around the property, always with a tour guild of one of six dogs, exploring the massive sugar cane wheel, dining on the porch of the 180 year old house, visiting with new friends at one of the other very unique cottages, or just sitting under a blanket of stars at night. And that was day ONE and just the beginning! Dinner the first night was delivered to our door and was delicious as was breakfast the next morning on the porch of the main house. We didn't have any set plans on this trip and just slowly developed our daily itinerary as we went. Verena and Uta were never far behind to lend us a hand on where to go and see but were never intrusive. We hired two drivers and both were great. Shem drove us for several day trips and never disappointed with knowledge of the island, local culture and fabulous little stops for grilled meats and seafood. Again it felt like we were visiting an old friend. Our trip never ventured further north than Soifriere and we never felt like we missed out on anything on the north end, maybe next trip. Some highlights were The Atlantic Horseback ride on the beach with our guild Max, the Des Cartier Forest Trail with Marvin, the Tet Paul Trail with Fabulous. It is not that we needed a guild but we deserved one. They all know the trees and trail secrets and history and locals and have such pride for their island. Always to return in the evening to Balenbouche. It was so much more than just a place to stay, it became a place to come home to.
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Date of stay: March 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Uta and Marina made our stay lovely. Our two teen daughters loved the family’s dogs and the short hike to the beach—which we had all to ourselves. We requested dinner and breakfast, and enjoyed both. We met another couple out on the porch and enjoyed hearing about their trip to the island. Our girls love nature and enjoyed that the rooms are quite open (some without windows). This is not for the uptight American tourist who can’t handle the sights, sounds and critters that come w being in the rainforest. We had hummingbirds and little lizards on our porch and heard owls perched outside our open window at night. It was truly an authentic St. Lucia experience.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for a lovely quarantine stay! I was lucky to have been able to stay at Balenbouche and enjoy the large property for two weeks which has a lots of old trees, a yoga barn, ruins, pastures and two small beaches attached to it (one beach you get to it by passing by some friendly cows). It's an idyllic natural place to get away from pandemic life in the U.S. Yes, there is no AC (it's not that hot at night anyhow), and yes you will hear crickets at night, and yes you do need to sleep under a mosquito net, but the accommodations are comfortable, the showers hot, the dinners brought to the cottage delicious and the family that runs it wonderful. Merci bien.
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Date of stay: February 2021
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Room Tip:Â The quietest cottage is Banyan
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Laborie area.
PRICE RANGE
$173 - $203 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
balenbouche estate hotel laborie
LOCATION
CaribbeanSt. LuciaLaborie QuarterLaborie
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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