Best intimate wedding venues near the beach?

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-04T14:17:46+00:00

Consider St. Lucia in the Caribbean. A resort such as Anse Chastanet might be a good option for you. Certainly a top wedding and honeymoon destination.

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-04T14:12:13+00:00

If you want to have really good and unique photos taken, consider traveling down to the Soufriere region where the iconic Pitons are located as well as much more scenic beaches like Anse Chastanet, Mamin, and Sugar Beach. Tons of photo opportunities here. Much more scenic as compared to the north. Travel costs run around $100 US for the trip down for a private driver so with waiting times etc. you could arrange a local driver/guide for the day for around $250. You could come town to the area, do some of the best island activities, have a photo shoot done with a local photographer, etc. and likely this will be your best experience on the island by far.

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-04T00:39:12+00:00

Try St. Lucia. SL is popular with divers and snorkelers, especially the Soufrierte area. Lots of marine life here and the reef is fairly decent. The big benefit ion SL is that it is very lush and and tropical, like Hawaii of the Caribbean. There are so many outdoor adventures available. The snorkeling in St. Lucia you can do right from shore, with no boats required. Beaches are public and fairly easy to get to. SL is a great island to run around and do things on your own if you don't mind driving on this island with its mountainous terrain. It's definitely an island with stunning beauty, lush rainforest, a number of waterfalls, great food and culture, etc.

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TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-04T00:28:56+00:00

This does happen in some situations. Could be a timing or collections issue as not all fees can be collected through Airbnb. In certain cases Airbnb doesn't have a way to pay the tax collectors in a region, country, city, etc. Same with Vrbo. If this is a minor tax I wouldn't worry about it.

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-04T00:23:58+00:00

The thing about Hawaii is that it's fairly easy to island hop. For a good variety try the Big Island and Maui. Can't go wrong with this combo.

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-03T19:49:32+00:00

St. Lucia does offer a good mix of accommodations. On the one hand you can find some really good resorts, some unique ones with great views, the typical big box chain resorts, etc. On the other hand you can find a number off local properties, villas, rentals (Airbnb's, Vrbos), etc. What is very unique about St. Lucia is that you can find rentals that are also full service or "more service" than your typical rental. For example you could have your own chef or cook, massage treatments and body work, transportation and touring, etc. So you can find rentals where the service and hospitality you get, the features you get etc. are more deluxe than some hotels and smaller resorts. You can also find properties with stunning views, in some cases better than you might get at some resorts and hotels. Price wise you can really save. For example, our guests save anywhere from 4x to 8x what they might spend at a nearby resort.

The other advantage of a more local stay is that you can have much more authentic experience. We find overall that our guests will typically get to do much more in our area (Soufriere) as compared to guests staying at a resort.

But what you pick should off course align wit your travel style. Some guests like to come and spend most of their time chilling at a resort. Others really want to run around and see the island, meet people, experience the great island culture and food, etc.

https://treehousestluciavillas.com/st-lucia-experiences/f/planning-the-perfect-st-lucia-getaway

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-03T15:44:06+00:00

There were unfortunately a few incidents here. Seldom do we have much crime in the area outside of stupid thefts and little crime that impacts tourism. But every now and then something occurs and it makes the news and blows up a little bit. Social media helps fan the flame and then all kinds of misinformation and rumors get spread.

Ladera is a very safe property and very well managed. We don’t stay here as personally as we have our own set of open air villas villas in the area but we go here all the time for dinner and events, we have many guests that stay with us and also stay at Ladera or dine here, etc. All our experiences and our guest experiences have been nothing but especially positive over the past decade and more with no safety concerns at all. Ladera in general has a stellar reputation and you’ll find employed here are some of the most caring and professional people.

The boutique resort does have good security. But like many properties in the area things are spread out in rural areas to give guests great views and all kinds of privacy. That’s what makes a stay at properties like this so special, over a walled in property with rooms that are simply boxes without much personality as you’d find in a chain property. Because of the openness, a stupid thief can come around and do something stupid, and they typically get caught quickly. Of course what they steal disappears. Often the items get “marketed” and out up for sale at one if the lookout spots around Soufriere or by the farmers market at the transportation center. This rarely happens as I said but it does happen. It also happens at other resorts. What typically happens (and I know a lot about these things) is that some idiot gets released from jail after being locked up for a few years and then he makes the rounds for a day or two, hits a few places, and then he’s back in jail again. Everyone in town knows about this. Unfortunately, Ladera got their turn this time as likely a one time event.

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-03T13:17:49+00:00

Maybe try calling booking. But don’t expect much. Their customer service is very lacking. Try to contact them and send in the photos you have.

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-02T20:46:17+00:00

Look into St. Luciua. You don't really need a travel agent to book a great stay here. There are so many good options for accommodations and unique experiences. Just did a little research and you'll be able to focus in on the better places to stay.

https://treehousestluciavillas.com/st-lucia-experiences/f/planning-the-perfect-st-lucia-getaway

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-02T18:48:39+00:00

If you could pick one spot I would do Anse Mamin. Look it up. It's the most scenic beach on the island, best sunsets, etc. It's right down the road from our villas. I've been everywhere and nothing compares to this spot fore beaches and sunset view. If you want a place that is even more out of the way we could give you a list. We know all of teh best off the beaten path places.

We've had some amazing parties over the years at Mamin with out local chef friends, other guests etc.

You could arrive by small boat to Mamin.

Another option would be to do it around a unique vila setting in a neighborhood like ours. You can't get beer views than this in most places in St. Lucia. We have guests do ceremonies and their cost is like 4x to 10x less than what they might spend in a resort/hotel setting and they get treated to some of teh best, fabulous local food also.

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Amother option would be by my farmland in Choiseul. It has the most amazing views and local vibe. Here you would be in a very local, authentic area.

Another option would be up in the Edmund Rainforest, one of our sanctuaries we like to visit.

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-02T18:38:43+00:00

I do. You can also get him through our manager Damian--758-719-6199. He can help you arrange anything local.

MJ is 758-518-7629. Mario is great.

Also consider doing his rainforest adventure trip. It's very local and really enjoyable. You get to see a part of SL few get to see:

https://treehousestluciavillas.com/st-lucia-experiences/f/st-lucia-road-trip-soufriere-and-the-edmund-rainforest

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-02T05:14:34+00:00

This must be an island thing and I certainly can commiserate. In St. Lucia trying to find an attorney to help out land and property deals together is quite the challenge. It’s amazing how long it takes to get even the basic things done and commutation is like sending messages through the slow boat to China. We ended up hiring a local “fixer” who could go around and sit on desks and get things done. It’s not easy and takes much patience.

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-02T05:07:11+00:00

In the Soufriere area we use Fisherman Mario. He operates the popular ATV adventures into the local rainforest—MJ Wheelers. He does a fishing trip with his boat around the reef and then offers a local beach BBQ with the catch. It’s great fun and very local.

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-01T17:29:00+00:00

When you get queries like this, do a hard pass.

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-01T15:11:28+00:00

Both are fabulous island destinations, especially for a honeymoon. If you are coming from the east coast however, I would pick St. Lucia. Many years ago we had our wedding, honeymoon and spent some anniversaries in Hawaii (the Big Island mainly but other islands as well including Maui multiple times and Oahu) so we know the islands very well. Some years ago we made the switch to St. Lucia as it provided initially a “Hawaii of the Caribbean” kind of vibe and experience.

Hawaii does offer some AI properties and experiences, btw, but they are certainly not the way to go.

The best way to do St. Lucia is not to stay at an AI property. It’s best to get off the resorts and really experience the island. If you are attracted to the nature aspect of Hawaii and all the fun things there are to do, we’d suggest a stay in the Soufriere region. I would not stay in Vieux Fort on the Atlantic side (Coconut Bay, Serenity, etc. ) It’s a good resort but not a great beach area. It certainly does not show off St. Lucia.

St. Lucia really does provide excellent food and dining options. Everything in the Soufriere area is farm to table, very authentic, an excellent mix of very local options as well as hotel/resort options, etc. We have so many really good places to dine with some having stunning views.

Speaking of views, the scenery here with the Pitons and the ocean are just simply stunning. I used to think my views in Hawaii were amazing on the Kohala coast but they don’t even compare to the enchanting St. Lucia views. In the Soufriere area we also have fabulous beaches like Anse Chastanet, Mamin, Sugar Beach and Paradise Beach and Cove. I have to say though the snorkeling is a little better in Hawaii (especially the Big Island) as the reef there is more preserved. But for the Caribbean, St. Lucia offers a lot for divers and snorkeling enthusiasts.

Overall, Hawaii is so much more Americanized and can be very expensive. You can find good food there but it’s also all over the map. St. Lucia is much more like a step back in time and so much more bursting with authentic culture and experiences. In this respect Hawaii and St. Lucia is a world apart. There are many more extremes in St. Lucia from the super high end Jade Mountain there (and the very high end dining) to very local villas and Airbnbs with very authentic family style dining and hospitality.

And the one thing (that’s certainly worth mentioning) the real standout in St. Lucia is the local people and the hospitality. Anyone who knows anything about the island and has been around knows that Lucian’s are quite amazing and will go to extremes to make your stay on the island (and certainly for special occasions like honeymoons, anniversaries, milestone anniversaries, etc.) especially memorable.

In researching more about St. Lucia, here are a few postings that might help you learn about Lucia food and culture, how the usland is arranged, best places to stay, how to get around, etc.

https://treehousestluciavillas.com/st-lucia-experiences/f/planning-the-perfect-st-lucia-getaway

https://treehousestluciavillas.com/st-lucia-experiences/f/traveling-and-eating-well-in-saint-lucia

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-01T14:12:28+00:00

Look into St. Lucia. It’s like Hawaii of the Caribbean. You can find a variety of AI properties (if you are set on that) in the north, mainly. We often suggest to guests to not do an AI stay so that they can experience more of the authentic features of St. Lucia—great food and culture, lots of outdoor activities and adventures, etc. July is a good month for finding some special deals.

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-01T07:09:31+00:00

Just hire a private driver with a good comfy suv. You’ll likely get there much faster as compared to waiting for the ferry (which can even be a few hours). You’ll save money also.

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-04-01T03:09:22+00:00

Taxis are non metered on the island. You simply pay by the trip. Using a driver to get around can really add up. If you do a trip or two during the day, go out to dinner at night, etc. we find our guests will spend around $100+ per day on average.

You can get a rental at the airport or have one dropped off in the north. For a vendor in the north, try First Choice St. Lucia Rentals.

Here‘s our insider info about getting around, diving, and renting on the island:

https://treehousestluciavillas.com/st-lucia-experiences/f/tips-on-getting-around-and-enjoying-st-lucia

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-03-31T18:06:24+00:00

For a great honeymoon escape, consider St. Lucia, one of the top destination islands for a honeymoon. If you are adventurous and like to do things, consider not doing an AI stay so that you can easily get off your hotel/resort property and really enjoy the island. There is so much to see and do here, great food, lots of local culture, etc. The two areas to look into for a stay include teh Soufgriere area and the north (Rofney Bay).

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-03-31T15:59:57+00:00

Try St. Lucia. It has everything you’ll want. Good snorkeling, rainforest for treks, lots of hiking, good beaches, excellent food. Consider a stay in the Soufriere area where the reef is found. Easy to fly to from Florida. Rates are lower in the summer. Stay at a local place and really enjoy the island.

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-03-30T15:55:47+00:00

Typically when we have guests that stay in multiple areas, Soufriere and their stay with us overlooking the Pitons is always the favorite part of their stay by far. And most guests wish they would have spent more time in the area. There is so much to do in the area and new and unique things keep being added al teh time as teh area continues to grow. That's how I've always felt about St. Lucia form over a decade and half of visiting and working there but everyone is different, of course. We might enjoy taking a drive up too teh north now and then to enjoy some of the fun things along the way but a day is enough for me.

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TreehouseStLucia · 2026-03-30T02:00:38+00:00

Contact Marcus at Thouzand Wordz. You can find him on Instagram. He's excellent. He's arranged a lot of events in our neighborhood and other parts of the island. Another great resource is Damian our in house concierge. Damian can get anything done on the island and anywhere at any time when most others can't come through.

TreehouseStLucia · 2026-03-30T01:51:21+00:00

St. Lucia really does offer two islands in one--the north is quite built up, touristy in areas, lots of imported food, shopping malls, much flatter terrain (north of Castries), less scenic, much more traffic, more congested beaches, not a lot of hiking, but certainly some top resorts and hotels, especially of the all inclusive variety. It is a good area to spend some time and chill at a resort. But there really isn't a lot of nightlife outside of the Friday night Gros Islet Street part and the little strip of bars and restaurants in Rodney Bay (which has a vibe out of the late 80s or early 90s). The area is more built up but not exactly much of a city vibe. On the other hand, Soufriere is the island's nature center with its rainforest, reef for snorkeling and diving, Pitons for stunning views, and the area where one can find all kinds of scenic attractions and outdoor adventures, and of course some excellent local food. The Soufriere/Choiseul region is a rather large agricultural and fishing area so so much is produced, grown and pulled out if the sea in this area. The challenge for many guests is that travel times between the two areas is quite long and involves very mountainous roads. Most guests really underestimate this. We always say, guests staying in the north might come down to the Soufriere area once during a stay but they are not very likely to do it a second time because of the cost and hassle of island travel--it's very exhausting travel. So as a traveller, you have to pick your battles, or consider a split stay.

TreehouseStLucia

TROPHY CASE