French-Creole-Style Boutique Hotel Close to the Beach

According to Travel + Leisure magazine, St. Lucian native and former minister of tourism Allen Chastanet first envisioned St. Lucia as a destination for "village tourism"—a place where travelers could immerse themselves in rich local culture while staying in upscale yet laid-back hotels. Coco Palm, which Chastanet himself created, is the realization of that vision: the all-inclusive resort is located in beachside Rodney Bay Village and has a casual, chic vibe that helped make it a Fodor’s 100 Hotel Award Winner in 2011.

Coco Palm's layout draws on feng shui, a Chinese system of positioning objects in a way that promotes balance and harmony. It’s particularly visible in the premium swim-up rooms, which have tiled floors and french doors that open right up to the pool. The decor is classic Caribbean-French creole, with the bold lemon and lime colors and mahogany furniture that exemplify St. Lucian culture. Pool-view rooms and garden-view suites further the motif with plantation-style accents and paintings by local artists. Each has an adjoining juliet balcony and a luxurious rain shower with a seating ledge and glass walls.

Head to the open kitchen at onsite Koko Cabana Bistro & Bar to get a slice of island life—watch as the chefs prepare local French-Caribbean specialties amid hand-painted murals depicting a St. Lucian banana plantation. The bar is popular among locals, including West Indies cricket captain Darren Sammy. It's also known for its specialty cocktails, such as the BBC, which blends Bailey’s, banana, and colada.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Saint Lucia: French-Inspired Cuisine and Spectacular Volcanoes

Located in between Martinique and Saint Vincent in the eastern Caribbean, Saint Lucia was coveted by the British and French, who quarreled over the island for more than a century. Although English is now Saint Lucia's official language, the French seem to have left a more noticeable influence on its arts and cuisine. Along the coast, a string of marinas exhibits a cultural blend through restaurants ranging from fried-fish shacks to upscale French eateries. Grab a table to sample meaty pepperpot stew, spinach-like callaloo soup, or the country’s national dish of green fig—a Caribbean term for small, unripe bananas—and salt fish.

With several beaches, Saint Lucia attracts those looking for snorkeling excursions, dolphin-watching tours, or deep-sea fishing trips in search of blue marlin, barracuda, and mako shark. Crowds descend on the popular Reduit Beach at Rodney Bay, not too far from the 18th-century British forts at Pigeon Island National Park. For a less hectic scene, head south down the coast to Anse Chastanet, a more secluded beach with giant palm trees and undulating green hills.

A vacation in Saint Lucia is not complete without a visit to one of its volcanoes. Considered the country’s unofficial symbol, the Pitons are two vegetation-covered volcanic plugs rising more than 2,000 feet above the western coast. Nearby Saint Lucia Volcano is considered "the world's only drive-in volcano," as you can drive your car close to the volcanic crater to see its steaming sulfur springs.