Ladera Resort

My wife and I just stayed at Ladera for three nights for the last part of our honeymoon. While the views are obviously the main attraction, and are amazing, for such a pricy resort you really lose a lot in comfort. The open wall concept sounds great on paper, but don't underestimate what that means. The birds (finches I think) are noisy all night, and even if you aren't a light sleeper it's rough. We also heard from others the frogs were very noisy too, although I don't think our room had any. They provide earplugs which help, but the combination of heat, bugs and noise are not great. I had a lot of difficulty sleeping and feeling rested the whole time. Make sure to use the bug spray around your bed, it helps. Even with the full mosquito netting surrounding the bed, you will still get bit. I found an enormous tick or flea inside the net one night. The resort even provides a low amplitude vibrator under the bed to repel pests. It won't bother you, but I'm unsure how much it helps keep away bugs. There are also a TON of bats that come out at night. They never flew into our room (that I saw haha), and are silent, but you will see them so just beware if you have a fear of bats. Locals will tell you it cools off at night, but it really just means the sun isn't beating down on you. It's still probably 80 degrees at night, even in October. There is no air conditioning, but ask for an extra fan. There is a lovely cool breeze from the hills behind the resort, but in our room it was entirely blocked by the bathroom wall. It was hot, humid and stagnant in the room the whole time. We were in hilltop suite X6. As I understand, some of the more expensive catagories of room (including hilltops) advertise the private HEATED plunge pool in the room, as if it were a perk. I'm not sure why anyone would want a hot tub in their room with 85 degree blazing sun. We called, and they turned the water heater off and added cold water. By the day we left (3 days later) it was a mildly comfortable luke warm temperature, but we would still recommend swimming in the main pool for refreshing water. Our pool was also littered with dead insects, mostly mosquitoes, so it wasn't a very inviting pool anyway. There is no beach, obviously because they are a mountain resort. However, Ladera is quick to point out that this is not their fault, and they are correct, but they even make you sign a paper saying you understand this fact, and that they have nothing to do with the Sugar Beach resort. Very odd. Sugar Beach is about a 10 minute drive down the hill, and is the only way to get a good view of the Gros Piton. Ladera provides free shuttles twice a day, which sounds great, but the timing is silly and forces you to spend four hours at Sugar Beach. You will be ready to leave after 30min, and a taxi will cost $33 for four people as we found out the hard way. The driver was completely unsympathetic when we told him it was outrageous to charge $33 for a 10min 26sec drive (I timed it), to go 3 miles. This would be a $6 Uber, regardless of the number of passengers. Again, not Ladera's fault, but they did absolutely nothing to warn or prepare you for this. The other disappointing aspect was the cost. This place is already around $1000/night in the off season. It only paid for our uncomfortable room. The one restaurant on site, Dasheene, is DELICIOUS but entrees run $35 - $50. Cocktails are $16-$18. You will feel like you're in Miami Beach or the Vegas strip with the food cost. The meal plans are designed such that you probably couldn't make it worth the money, so go a la cart. For example, the truly all inclusive package is $205 per person, per night. Even at their outrageous prices, a couple couldn't hit $410 in a day. We talked to a couple who tried and only came close. You need to make sure to BYOB or go into town in Soufriere to stock up on booze. We recommend checking out the Boucan restaurant at the Chocolat hotel across the street. Prices are similar, but it's delicious and service is kind and welcoming. It also felt like they were penny pinching on simple room amenities, namely water. You are "entitled to four waters per day, based on your consumption", if I remember the explanation correctly haha. With Saint Lucia being so hot you'd hope for readily accessible water, but that was not the case. There was only one water carafe at the concierge desk, during the day. I'm sure you could've called for more or gotten as much water as you wanted at the bar, but it just felt... Weird. The restaurant was also undergoing some renovations during our stay. A small crew was using power saws, hammers, etc. It was very disrupting during breakfast or lunch. And while I cannot blame them for wanting to make improvements, it was barely acknowledged and the staff weirdly ignored it. Probably because they were used to it, but it felt like they could've explained it away better. They also weirdly ignored the elephant in the room, which was of course the discomfort you're bound to encounter trying to sleep. They did not mention the earplugs, the bug killer spray, and when we asked they said we shouldn't even need the bug repellent! This is probably direction from management, but it would be best to just admit and acknowledge the concerns that come with a unique resort and provide us with advice to be better prepared. Overall, the service at Ladera was nice, but felt very scripted and formal. The staff was awesome and friendly, don't get me wrong, but it seemed like their management demanded a certain atmosphere of them which felt a bit forced and too formal for a relaxing mountainside resort. Think an exclusive French restaurant in Paris, set in a tropical Caribbean island. If you want to enjoy beautiful room views, take caution in the comfort you may trade. You're probably better off seeing the pitons from the water, the highway, an excursion from somewhere else, etc. We are VERY surprised at how many 4 and 5 star reviews Ladera has. Maybe it's just us, or maybe most people go in with a total understanding of what we've outlined here. But I would never describe this resort as "5 stars", and we cannot in good faith recommend it in general. I'm sure management will respond here with one of their canned messages they have prepared for poor reviews, but I promise we tried to be optimistic and positive during our stay and are in no way venting any "hard feelings" here. We simply want to provide a realistic and objective assessment of this particularly unique resort for your consideration.

There aren't enough words to describe this place but the ones that immediately come to mind are: perfection, heaven on earth, paradise, dreamy, breathtaking, etc etc etc!!! We arrived at Ladera in early October to celebrate our honeymoon. We were warmly welcomed with a glass of delicious rum punch and cool peppermint towels. After a brief tour with some need-to-know info, we were escorted to our suite. We stayed in a Heritage Suite C which has two levels; the stunning, heating pool with trickling waterfall downstairs and our beautiful canopy bed & open-air shower upstairs. On the bottom level, we had very comfy lounge chairs with a tall, swaying palm overhead. We were surprised by the yummy chilled bottle of champagne waiting for us and after arranging our dinner reservation, we popped the cork and started soaking in the breathtaking view that was ours for the next three days. (We did the Peak to Beach package and left for Cap Maison later in the week.) Every little thing as Ladera was luxurious perfection, down to the complimentary soaps and shampoos in the rooms. I will briefly comment on the bugs that other people mentioned - I did not find them to be a major problem and I am one of those people who typically gets bitten a lot. Around sunset, I felt a couple of bites so I put on a little bug spray and didn't notice them again. We did see a couple of birds in the room but we had fun trying to shoot them with the provided squirt gun. :) If you do not leave food out, they won't bother anything and won't stay long. Dasheene offers some of the most delicious food we've ever tasted. We especially loved their banana bread and other unique bread offerings at each meal. Fresh fruit and juices are always available. Every day we tried something new and each dish was exquisite. I will say that eating there is an upscale dining experience and as such, the service is a lot slower than most of us from the US are used to. Be prepared for most meals to last around two hours. If you are in a hurry, perhaps plan ahead and order room service which we did a few times. They service was always on time and just as delicious as the restaurant. It was nice being able to eat in our robes on our very own terrace. The hot tubs are SO COOL! Be sure to check them out. The water temps were super hot which I love. My husband couldn't sit for long. We each had a massage while we were there and I can't speak for my husband but let me just say that my massage was THE. BEST. massage I've ever had in my life. If you choose to visit the spa, definitely request an appointment with Dexter. You won't be disappointed. Sugar Beach - one day we took the shuttle to Sugar Beach and we consider that to be our best day in St. Lucia. It is a BEAUTIFUL beach with the base of both Pitons surrounding you. The snorkeling was great and the water was the best blue. The water is also calm. Lastly, if you are doing Peak to Beach, I highly recommend the water transfer to your next resort. The roads in St. Lucia are not fun to travel by car. The boat transfer was fast and we got to see the island from a different vantage point. It was an extra $100 and take it from me, WELL worth it! If you do decide to go by road, the drivers we encountered were all SO friendly and all of their vehicles were spotlessly clean. It's just those roads...the most twisty turny roads I've ever been on. I really can't say enough good things about Ladera...it's just like no place you've ever imagined and even though I read tons of these reviews before we left, I didn't fully understand till I was actually there. It was the trip of a lifetime and I hope I have the chance and means to go back someday. Ladera, you're in my heart forever!!!

Does it get anymore perfect than Ladera? We stayed October 2018 for our honeymoon. From the view, to the rooms, to the incredible service from EVERY staff member, to the delicious meals served at Dasheene, to the authentic feel of the resort: everything was just perfect. Service: could not have been better. The staff is very well trained on using your name and we were very impressed. There are too many people to name but thanks everyone! Room & View: Heritage suite was HUGE, even the pool was much bigger than expected. (6ft deep in the middle) Majestical is the only word to describe the view. See the pictures, they speak for themselves. One tip - spend the extra $$ to ensure you have a heated pool in your room. The woodwork in the rooms is outstanding. Craftsmanship like that is hard to find today. We took a stroll around the property and were lucky enough to run into Bonefice (spelling?) who is the main artist creating the rooms/furniture on property. He was working on a new piece however he stopped and talked to us for about half an hour telling us the whole history of the resort, he let us take some great video of him working and even gave us a gift to take home: that was such a nice gesture and a highlight of our trip. Pool/Beach: Infinity pool and you can't beat the view. The chairs were very comfortable for a nap :) Sugar beach had spectacular calm and crystal clear waters. Take out some paddleboards or a kayak for a great view of the Pitons (and Ladera) from the water. Shuttle took about 10 mins and wasn't bad. We are foodies so I am saving the best for last! Food: We were a little nervous at first being limited to only one restaurant however that quickly went away after our first meal @ Dasheene: We knew every meal was going to be incredible and it was. We met and spoke with Chef Nigel on a few occasions he couldn't have been a nicer guy. He makes a herb oil for dipping and we are officially addicted (We bought multiple bottles to bring back home) Isha & Cynthia provided the best service during breakfast/lunch. They knew how much we liked chef's cajun crisps they even sent us home with a container of them! The first night of dinner we were served by Leah and every night after we had to request her to be our server because she is just awesome and authentic. Leah knew how much we loved the shrimp thermidor dish and arranged for it be made for us on our last night even though it was not on the menu. Most importantly: LADERA IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. It is an open air resort located in the middle of the rainforest. There is no AC and no TV. There will be bugs, birds, and the occasional Gecko in your room. At night you will definitely hear the "sounds of the rainforest." Anyone who doesn't like Ladera probably didn't do their homework before going. Know what you are getting yourself into people. Ladera is hands down the BEST resort we have ever visited. The personal touches and staff members going above and beyond are what makes Ladera so special. We will definitely be back, only next time with some friends :)