Saline Reef

In Depth

Saline Reef sits high on a cliffside within the exclusive residential area of Cap Estate in the far north of St Lucia, with a bird’s eye view south down to Pigeon Island and Rodney Bay and north across to the neighbouring French island of Martinique. It is a two storey villa with traditional Caribbean fretwork set in an acre of professionally landscaped gardens, with lovely lawns and an abundance of exotic flora and shrubbery that tumble towards the sea. Its setting gives it complete privacy and a dramatic atmosphere. However, it is also conveniently located above its sister property Lemon Tree. The two villas work well when rented together.

Saline Reef has a light and contemporary Caribbean style, with a large open plan, split-level living area and high white painted, exposed pine ceilings. The sitting room has white wicker furnishings with pretty tropical floral cushions, against immaculate white walls, and has a small selection of books and cable TV. An open stairway leads up to a gallery dining area, which has a jaunty hand-painted rail to match that on the staircase, each spindle a different colour. The upper room is open plan with the dining area next to a well equipped, modern kitchen, where a pine unit with breakfast counter acts as a room divider. The entire look is fresh and cheerful. A set of three double doors open up onto a tiled, covered patio and bring glorious views into frame. The patio has recently been extended to include a wet bar and a covered dining area. This is partially enclosed by latticework, but has excellent views to Pigeon Point.

The patio, shaded by extensive wood latticework, reaches out to the swimming pool terrace which has areas for sunbathing and a split-level pool. A small kidney shaped plunge pool on the terrace spills down in a waterfall into the main swimming pool, which has a direct access point. The smaller pool is 2.6ft deep with a surrounding ledge so that guests can sit and enjoy a cocktail. Just below the pool a charming cliffside cook-out area has been created with a built-in barbecue and tiled terrace.

There are three bedrooms at Saline Reef, one downstairs and two up, and all have similar furnishings with twin beds that can be made up as kings. They are air-conditioned, have ceiling fans, walk-in wardrobes and en suite shower rooms. The downstairs bedroom is located off the main entrance hall which leads into the living room, and opens out to the covered pool terrace. Upstairs the other two bedrooms both have sea views. The master bedroom is located on the corner and has a private wood decked, covered balcony facing the south and a smaller one facing west, both with stunning views. Like the gazebo deck, the bedroom itself feels as though it is suspended above the ocean and you even get a view while lying in bed.

Beach & Swimming

The nearest beach is at Anse du Cap, where LeSport is located. It has volcanic sand and is about five minutes by car or ten on foot. A ten minute drive will get you Causeway Beach, where there are two stretches of white sand leading to Pigeon Island National Park. The northern area of the beach is popular with St Lucians on weekends, especially bank holidays, and has a picnic area. Reduit Beach is the island's most popular beach and is located on the other side of Rodney Bay, with a lovely mile long stretch of powder soft sand. It is fairly active. It has a few hotels and a good variety of watersports is available, including waterskiing, parasailing, jetski, sunfish and hobie cat sailing. It takes about ten minutes to reach by car. Saline Reef has two pools, a small kidney shaped dipping pool on the main terrace, which is 2.6ft at its deepest point surrounded with a sitting ledge. This spills down in a waterfall effect to the main swimming pool below, which has direct access from below with entry steps at a depth of 4.10ft. .

Sports & Recreation

The 18-hole, 6829 yard, par 71 course at the St Lucia Golf & Country Club at Cap Estate is within five minutes drive and has a pro shop, driving range and restaurant. The nearest tennis courts open to the public (courts must be booked in advance) are at the St Lucia Racquet Club at Club St Lucia, also in Cap Estate, which has seven floodlit Laykold cushioned tennis courts, a squash court and gym. There are also two squash courts at the St Lucia Yacht Club at Reduit in Rodney Bay. The Sportivo fitness centre at Rodney Heights is St Lucia's largest gym and offers yoga, Tai Chi and Karate classes. There is a full service spa at LeSport Hotel which you can visit with a day pass.

Locality

Saline Reef is located on a hillside in Cap Estate, a large residential development in the Gros Islet area of St Lucia, which is in the north of the island. There are many luxury homes dotted on the hillsides of Cap Estate, some holiday homes and some residential. The estate has an 18 hole golf course and a couple of resorts, and is conveniently close to two of the best restaurants in St Lucia - the Great House and Tao at LeSport. Views from the estate extend to Pigeon Island National Park, a forty four acre National Trust reserve which was joined to the mainland by a man-made causeway in 1972, where there are two white sandy beaches. The island features ruins of many 18th century British and French military buildings including Fort Rodney, and has an Interpretation Centre, a restaurant featuring local cuisine, a historical themed pub and restaurant, and lookout point at the top of the fort. The island is also the main venue of the annual St Lucia Jazz Festival, held each May which attracts a host of international stars. A ferry runs between the island and Rodney Bay on an hourly schedule.

Rodney Bay is St Lucia's busiest tourist area, where there are hotels, good restaurants and bars, a shopping mall, banks, mini marts and a nearby supermarket (on the main road) called Super J and a very lively nightlife. It has a busy marina and attracts over 200 boats for the annual ARC (trans-Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) which usually sees its first arrivals in early December. The nearby village of Gros Islet hosts the now famous Friday Night Jump Up, an all night street party. The Rodney Bay and Pigeon Island area is a ten minute journey by car. Castries the capital and George F L Charles Airport (formerly known as Vigie) which receives inter-island flights only, are about 25 minutes drive away.

Useful Hints

Ask your travel organiser or the management company (if booking direct) for initial food and drink supplies to be laid in for your arrival (a starter food pack costs approximately US $40 per person), so that the cook/housekeeper can then prepare a simple welcome meal should this be required. Thereafter, your housekeeper will be happy to assist you with your shopping should you wish to delegate this chore, however do expect to provide transportation and appropriate gratuity for this service. Rental rates for villas in St Lucia do not include 'tips', about which you will find advice in the guest information book at the villa.

Personal laundry is included in the rental rates.

There is a non smoking policy at Saline Reef.

Airport Meet & Greet

If you are booking direct ask the villa management company Tropical Villas to send a taxi to meet you at the airport. These are arranged with their taxi driver Desir (pronounced Daisy), who normally waits in the area just outside the customs hall at Hewanorra airport. He will hold a Tropical Villas sign and if you miss him go to the Tourist Board desk and they will page him for you. Your airport transfers are paid for locally and take approximately 1hr 30 minutes from Hewanorra and 20 minutes from George Charles. Alternatively, if you would prefer to be taken care of from the minute you arrive at the airport, with a range of services that can include helicopter transfers, you may want to consider organising a concierge service, we recommend St Lucia Representative Services.

If you are booking through a travel organiser, it is likely that their representative will be at the airport to meet you. This service and your return airport transfers should be included in the cost of your holiday. Please check at the time of booking.

Getting Around

A hired car is strongly recommended for all St Lucia villas, unless you would prefer staff to call taxis for you as required. A vehicle will be useful if you want to dine out at night or do lots of sightseeing and particularly when it comes to shopping for groceries. Book car hire via your travel organiser or direct with Drive-A-Matic (Tropical Villas will book this for you) or Cool Breeze Car & Jeep Rentals for your St Lucia car rental and ask for your vehicle to be delivered to the property approximately 3 hours after your scheduled time of arrival on St Lucia or the following morning. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. Please note that the access road to Saline Reef is unpaved and very uneven, so if you are hiring a car, a jeep is probably your best bet.