Whether you’re here to spa yourself into submission, to lie on the beach or to join in all the onsite activities, The Body Holiday has it all. Set in 42 acres of paradise on the northernmost tip of St Lucia, after its recent £10 million refurbishment it’s a resort where indulgence and looking after yourself come very high on the agenda.
While the 154 bedrooms are all pretty luxurious, the icing on the cake has got to be the Moorish-style Oasis Spa which sits quietly at the top of the resort, overlooking the bay. ‘Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind’ is the motto, and it’s a motto that's catered for in every way possible. Every day a complimentary treatment is scheduled in your routine and the Ayurvedic centre offers amazing healing treatments like the abhyangam four-hand massage, or the lomi lomi, which includes a thorough stomach massage to aid digestion, and shirodhara, where healing oil is poured over your forehead to address nervous and hormonal imbalances. A huge part of the appeal of the place is the fact it’s so personal, as whatever your aim – whether it be weight loss, de-stress, detox – they can devise an individual programme for it.
If ayurvedic healing isn’t really your thing, then you can try out a whole range of complimentary activities, and paid-for coaching. Sport is a big thing at The Body Holiday and you can book in on anything from yoga on the beach, to scuba diving around the bay, before retreating poolside to watch the sun go down.
Health-conscious eating goes hand in hand with the fitness regimes and all four of the hotel’s restaurants are geared up for this. The award-winning Tao restaurant dishes up Thai fusion cuisine, and you can sit out under the starry sky and (maybe) break the detox for one of their delicious cocktails…
What’s hot?
- The facilities are excellent, and everything you need is on tap
- The Body Holiday have been going for 30 years and have got relaxation down to a fine art
- The private beach and rolling ocean views
- Lengthy discussions with the Ayurvedic doctor mean you can tailor the whole trip to meet your needs and get the most out of it
What’s not?
- The resort can feel quite busy at times
Need to Know: The Body Holiday
Number of rooms: 154
Check-in/check-out times: 3pm and 12noon
Room service: Yes. There’s 24-hour room service
Swimming pool: Yes. There are two standard pools and an exercise pool
Spa: Yes. There’s a complimentary 50-minute treatment included for every day you stay and you can choose from any number of beauty treatments and holistic treatments. There are specialist skin-care clinics and signature massages as well as personalised wellness programmes.
Dogs welcome: No
Eating and drinking: This could be your downfall if you’re not strong-willed, as the food’s included in the price, and there’s lots of it. There are delicious buffets in all four restaurants (think mangos, papayas, freshly caught tilapia and sea bass); if it’s fine dining you’re after, there’s an Asian eaterie with fantastic sushi and Malaysian noodle dishes. Or for more casual dining there’s a barbecue in the club house and a café/deli-style hut for fresh juices, smoothies, wraps, salads and the perfect espresso.
Near to? Sun, sea, sports and spa: the activities are a major attraction and are literally right on the doorstep. You can choose from fitness classes, yoga, pilates, thai chi, water sports, scuba diving and archery; or you can take a trip to Pigeon Island and its National Historic Park. If sightseeing’s not really your thing then you could always lie back on the private beach with a cocktail…
Getting there: British Airways offer return flights to the island. Visit britshairways.com. From the George F.L Charles airport, the hotel is a 30-minute drive away and it’s an hour and a half from the Hewanorra International Airport. Private taxis can be arranged to take you to the hotel.
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