Saint Lucia Celebrates Chocolate Heritage Month this August With Decadent Deals for Travelers

SAINT LUCIA – In honor of the island’s rich centuries-long history of cocoa production, the Saint Lucia Tourist Board invites travelers to spend August satisfying their sweet tooth during the annual Chocolate Heritage Month. Visitors can toast the cocoa bean with inventive “choc-tails,” chocolate-infused spa treatments, cocoa plantation tours, specialty tasting menus and island-wide hotel and resort offers for couples and families featuring savings up to 50 percent off accommodations.

Saint Lucia’s chocolate legacy dates back to the thriving cocoa industry of the 1700’s and the island still produces some of the world’s most sought-after chocolate. Hotels and resorts are tapping into this rich heritage to create inventive chocolate services and amenities as well as hands-on agritourism experiences for visitors. Many of Saint Lucia’s top resort spas and restaurants use native cocoa to create inspired savory and sweet dishes and spa treatments that are both indulgent and healthful.

“Travelers are in for a sweet treat when they visit Saint Lucia during Chocolate Heritage Month,” says Tracey Warner-Arnold, deputy director of tourism. “Saint Lucia’s reputation as a premier culinary destination is growing tremendously, and the celebration of our chocolate heritage adds another layer of fun – and tasty – exploration for visitors.”

For a deeper look into the island’s chocolate heritage, plantation tours share the history and tradition of Saint Lucian cocoa production with a variety of experiences such as Morne Coubaril Estate and La Dauphine Estate. The Fond Doux Holiday Plantation tour leads guests through the cocoa fermentation house where visitors can participate in the traditional “cocoa- rina” dance to polish the cocoa beans while Jade Mountain’s Emerald Estate Organic Chocolate and Chocolate Laboratory offers guests a behind-the-scenes look at a bean-to-bar, single estate boutique chocolate maker.

The Chocolate Decadence Tour by Island Routes Tours offers a rich chocolate exploration. Travelers can take a luxury catamaran ride from Castries port to Rabot Estate at Hotel Chocolat for an all-day tour that includes chocolate making from scratch, a gourmet chocolate-infused lunch and a leisurely afternoon at the Sulphur Springs’ mud bath.

Cocoa aficionados interested in planning a chocolate-inspired trip filled with Saint Lucia’s decadent culinary delights can visit Saint Lucia’s Chocolate Heritage Trail map at https://www.facebook.com/SaintLuciaTouristBoard, which highlights the island’s sweet spots, including history, key sites and special offers.

Chocolate Heritage Month promotions offered by island hotels and resorts this August include:

Anse Chastanet – Soufrière

“Dan Dous” (“Sweet Tooth” in creole patois)

• Book a four night stay for $2,362 per couple in standard accommodations
• Includes a chocolate welcome treat and cocktail, a chocolate infused one hour spa treatment per person, a chocolate sensory tasting of the resort’s organically grown and locally made chocolates, a visit to the resort’s organic farm Emerald Cocoa Estate in the Soufriere hills, airport transfers and breakfast and dinner daily
• Offer is also combinable with Anse Chastanet’s fourth and seventh night free promotions
• Minimum four night stay required; available in standard, superior and beachside deluxe room categories
• Book by August 31, 2015 for travel from July 15 through October 15, 2015
• For more information or to book, call 1-800-223-1108, visit www.ansechastanet.comor email [email protected]

Calabash Cove Resort & Spa – Marisule, Gros Islet

“Sweet Days in Paradise”

• Book five nights in a Sunset Oceanview Jr. Suite for $2,490 per couple, inclusive of taxes and service charges
• Includes breakfast daily, a private champagne dinner on the resort’s beach with dessert inspired by Saint Lucia’s homegrown cocoa, one chocolate scrub spa treatment per couple, one manicure per couple, round trip private luxury car airport transfers, welcome champagne and more
• Book by August 31, 2015 for travel between June 1 through September 30, 2015
• Visit www.calabashcove.com for more information and package details

Capella Marigot Bay – Marigot Bay

“50% off Summer Suite Promotion”

• Book a one bedroom Resort View Suite for $275 per night
• Includes airport welcome to assist with luggage and transportation, complimentary in-room refreshment center, daily chocolate afternoon beverage, farewell chocolate amenity
• Promotional rate is available from now until October 31, 2015
• Visit www.capellahotelgroup.com/capellahotels/stlucia for resort information; call for package details

C’est la Vie – Trouya Pointe

• Book seven nights and receive the seventh night free
• Includes $50 excursion credit per person, airport transfers, butler and concierge service
• Offer valid for villa bookings only
• Valid for stays from stays from August 1 to September 30, 2015
• Visit www.villacestlavie.com for property information

Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa – Vieux Fort

“Chocolate Harmony”

• All-inclusive rates start at $150 per person, per night in the adults-only Harmony wing for a savings of 45 percent
• Includes all meals, alcoholic beverages, airport transfers from Saint Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport and all hotel taxes and gratuities
• Chocolate experiences include the late-night Chocolate Extravaganza and chocolate-inspired spa treatments at the resort’s and Kei Mer Spa
• Book by June 30, 2015 for travel from July 1 through August 31, 2015
• To book call Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa toll-free from North America at 877-352-8898 or visit http://cbayresort.com/

Fond Doux Holiday Plantation – Soufrière

“Authentic Chocolate Journey”

• Book five nights in a one bedroom cottage on the 250 year old traditional working cocoa plantation for $1,799 per couple, inclusive of taxes
• Includes a welcome bouquet of tropical flowers and basket of organic fruits, chilled choc-tail upon arrival, traditional plantation breakfast with cocoa tea, three-course dinners to include chocolate themed desserts, Saint Lucian chocoholics gift pack, exotic cocoa pedicure with the soothing cocoa-rina dance, decadent chocolate body wrap and chocolate facial experience
• Book by August 10, 2015 for travel from August 1 through August 31, 2015
• Visit www.fonddouxestate.com for resort information or call 758-459-7545

Jade Mountain – Soufrière

“Chocolate Alchemy”

• Book a four night stay for $5,140 per couple in a Sky Jacuzzi Suite
• Includes chocolate welcome cocktail, “Chocolate Lovers’” breakfast in bed celebration, a chocolate infused one hour spa treatment per person, a learning excursion to the resort’s Emerald Cocoa Estate, a chocolate sensory tasting followed by an interactive class in Jade Mountain’s Chocolate Laboratory, airport transfers and breakfast and dinner daily
• Offer is also combinable with the resort’s free night promotions
• Book by August 31, 2015 for travel from July 15 through October 15, 2015
• For more information or to book, call 1-800-223-1108 or visit www.jademountain.com, email [email protected]

La Dauphine Estate – Soufrière

“Chocolate Adventure Package”

• Book five nights or more and receive 25 percent off standard rates on all accommodations and vehicle rental
• Standard rates start at $175 per person, per night
• Includes accommodations at the La Dauphine Great House or Chateau Laffitte, complimentary cocoa plantation tour with the estate manager and free chocolate samples
• Book now through November 30, 2015 for travel from August 1 through December 12, 2015
• Visit www.villabeachcottages.com for more information and package details

Ladera Resort – Soufrière

“Chocolate Heritage”

• Receive 30 percent off all bookings of three nights or more, starting at $350 per night
• Includes chocolate covered fruit at check-in, free chocolate mousse dessert per person with purchase of a three course meal and 15 percent discount on food and beverage purchase during the stay (not including alcohol beverages and wine)
• Book by June 30, 2015 for travel from now through September 7, 2015
• Visit http://www.ladera.com/ for more information and package details

Marigot Beach Club – Marigot Bay

“Caramel Kiss Package”

• Book a stay for $99 per night, a savings of 65 percent off standard rates
• Price includes a spa treatment for two (caramel sugar scrub, chocolate facial and caramel kiss pedicure), breakfast for two and all taxes
• Valid for travel from August 1 through 31, 2015
• Visit http://www.marigotbeachclub.com/ for more information and package details

Seagrape Apartments – Rodney Bay

• Receive a 10 percent discount on all bookings of six nights or more in one and two bedroom apartments (prices start at $80 and $130 per night, respectively)
• Offer available from August 1 through September 30, 2015
• Includes a box of chocolates at check-in
• Visit http://www.seagrapeapartments.com/index.html for more information and package details

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort – Soufrière

“Linger Longer Five Chocolate”

• Receive a fifth night free with complimentary daily breakfast for two, and one chocolate massage per booking
• Average nightly rates start at $340 per night, excluding tax and service
• Book by July 31, 2015 for travel from now through December 15, 2015
• Visit http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/en/sugarbeach for more information and package details

The Landings St. Lucia – Pigeon Point, Gros Islet

“Ultimate Luxury Getaway”

• Rates start at $395 per person, per night for a minimum three-night stay
• Includes accommodations in a luxury suite, breakfast daily at the Beach Club Restaurant, guided hike to Monde Du Cap
• Guests receive a $50 resort credit for a minimum five-night stay in a Marina View Suite, $100 resort credit for a minimum five-night stay in an Ocean View or Beachfront Suite, complimentary butler service with an Ocean View or Beachfront Suite
• When applicable, two children stay and play for free
• Available for travel from now through December 19, 2015 and must be booked by June 30, 2015
• For more information about The Landings St. Lucia’s Chocolate Heritage offerings and to book the “Ultimate Luxury Getaway” package, call 866-252-0689 or visit www.landingsstlucia.com

Ti Kaye Resort & Spa – Anse Cochon

“Ti Kaye Cocoa Package”

• Stay a minimum of five nights and receive 30 percent off on any room category
• Five nights in an ocean view room is priced at $1,113 per couple, inclusive of 10 percent VAT and 10 percent service charge
• Package includes breakfast daily, a chocolate fruit plate upon arrival and a 30 minute Kai Koko Spa chocolate refresher facial treatment
• Book now through July 31, 2015 for travel through the end of August 2015
• Visit http://www.tikaye.com/ for more information and package details

Villa Capri – Cap Estate

• Stay at Villa Capri in four to nine bedrooms for five nights and receive a chocolate themed dinner on arrival night as well as a chocolate themed gift basket upon arrival
• Book four bedrooms with up to eight guests for $650 per night
• Book five bedrooms with up to ten guests for $750 per night
• Book six bedrooms with up to twelve guests for $850 per night
• Book seven bedrooms with up to fourteen guests for $950 per night
• Book eight bedrooms with up to sixteen guests for $1,050 per night
• Book nine bedrooms with up to 20 guests $1,200 per night
• Visit http://www.capristlucia.com/ for more information and package details

Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort – Trouya

Chocolate Extraordinaire

• All inclusive rates start at $332 per night, based on double occupancy in a Premium Ocean View Room, or $492 per night in a one bedroom villa with a pool for a savings of 50 percent off standard rates
• Pricing includes premium all-inclusive (unlimited a la carte dining, unlimited premium brands on alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, non-motorized and motorized water sports), a welcome cocktail, chocolate “wow” plate and a bottle of champagne upon arrival, a chocolate spa wrap, turn-down gift, and complimentary Wi-Fi
• Book by August 15, 2015 for travel from August 1 through August 31, 2015
• A minimum of five night stay is required
• Visit http://www.windjammer-landing.com/ for more information and package details

Chocolate Heritage Month specials can also be found: http://stlucianow.com/press/2015/06/saint-lucia-2015-chocolate-heritage-month