If James Bond was looking for the right spot to leap from a plane, fall casually and then splash into an ornate pool of multi-coloured glass tiles to the mild bemusement of assembled diners, then the Jade Mountain Club would be that setting. Of course, he might choose to go slightly off course and splash into the private infinity pool of the heroine to save her from the advances of Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Off course if Bond was a respectful type he’d arrive by helicopter like other guests do, rather than causing a splash.
Set in 600 acres of tropical forest with mesmerizing views over the Pitons and the Grenadine Islands to the south, you’d be forgiven for gazing out endlessly from the cool waters of your own private infinity swimming pool, leaving the world’s troubles behind you. This is after all Jade Mountain, the Caribbean’s most iconic hotel.
The Caribbean has never been thought of for innovative and creative architecture, colonial Plantation House style is considered ‘de rigueur’, but Jade Mountain threw away the mould. With 24 suites, all with their own private infinity edged swimming pool and mesmerizing views of the sea and Pitons beyond. No dark corridors here, all the Sanctuaries are reached via individual bridges that criss-cross in mid-air making the Grand Staircase in Harry Potter looking very mundane.
In keeping with the ‘out of the ordinary experience’, guests have their own ‘Major-domo’ (Butler) to look after their every need. As it is the 21st century your Major-domo will not follow you at a respectful 3 steps back, but instead they are at your beck and call through the use of a ‘firefly’ a small mobile phone. They’ll still fetch your sun-cream from your Suite for you when you’re on the beach and they’ll bring you that perfectly blended signature cocktail.
Life is all about choices and at Jade Mountain there are many starting with are you going to attend sunrise Yoga? How about chocolate making, farm or plantation tours, lying on the beach, diving or just idling by the pool in your own suite with lunch or dinner being served by that Major-domo again.
If you’re like me and you’ve risen at 6 to greet the St Lucia sunshine and for a spot of Yoga, snorkelled before breakfast, toured and lunched at the farm, hit the beach for the afternoon, then the highlight just might be star gazing from the Celestial Terrace with an ice-chilled vintage Rum in hand; with one eye out for 007 falling with style
Just another day
