St. Lucia is the ideal vacation destination! Scenic views, exciting attractions and a relaxing landscape are just some of the draws about one of the world’s bustling vacations spots. If you are planning a trip and researching ideal vacation rentals or have recently booked your stay at Hermitage Terrace, then this is the post for you!
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I Live Where You Vacation!
If you’re familiar with my blog, you probably know that I live on the enchanting island of St. Lucia in the West Indies. It’s a picturesque island with gorgeous beaches and historical charm.
Depending on what part of the island you’re staying in, you may have a totally different experience. I have lived in St. Lucia for several years, but still enjoy exploring the island and creating new memories and experiences.
My family often goes on road trips to other parts of the island, what we refer to as staycations, and I love sharing my experience with others!
Choosing Soufriere for our Daughter’s First Trip
When we took our first road trip with our baby girl she was only about 8 weeks old. We wrestled a lot with if it was too early for her to travel but ultimately we felt safe and comfort bringing her to one of our favourite towns, a place both my husband and I know well. My husband was actually born and raised there.
We chose Soufriere because we wanted to get out of the city and have a restful and relaxing trip, and Soufriere is the perfect destination for that. We had been stuck in the house for sometime with the pandemic going on and after the birth of our daughter, so wanted a laid back environment with lots of natural scenery and low-key, but fun, action.
Choosing the Right Place to Stay
We opted for different experiences on our 5-day trip, so settled on two unique properties to stay at. Our first stop was a private villa located at the Rabot Estate Piton National Heritage site, about 10 minutes outside of the town of Soufriere by vehicle.
In this post I will tell you all you need to know about the villa, our experience traveling with a newborn and some insider tips for those of you planning a visit to this marvelous destination.
If you’re interested in learning more about exactly what we packed to make it a smooth trip with our newborn you can check out this post where I discuss the items that saved my sanity and our trip!
Let’s Talk More about Soufriere!
Soufriere is a beautiful historical town. It is located on the west coast of the island and is one of the most visited destinations for tourists. Whether you are travelling on your own, as a couple or with your family, Soufriere is definitely a must see destination if you’re visiting the island. Soufriere is located about 30 minutes from Hewannora International Airport or about 45 minutes to 1 hour from George F. L. Charles airport.
What To Do Once You Get There
It’s unlikely that you’ve researched Soufriere and haven’t heard about the main attraction, the Pitons, our dormant drive-thru volcano that stretch far into the beautiful skyline. They are a remarkable sight to see, and even though I have seen them many times, every time I drive into the town I marvel at their breathtaking beauty. I am sure you’ll have a similar reaction!
Soufriere also boasts several other popular attractions, such as the many waterfalls, the Sulphur Spring mud baths, horse back riding, ziplining, in addition to the beaches which are known for amazing snorkeling, fishing and scuba diving.
Our Experience at Hermitage Terrace
We spent two nights and three days at Hermitage Terrace. It is a sprawling 3 story, 4 bedroom villa with a bathroom in each bedroom. It features a very unique split layout, and has one of the most amazing views of petit piton I have ever seen.
The villa is called hermitage terrace because it is designed as a big open concept multi-level verandah with closed bedrooms and bathrooms. You can enjoy the scenic surroundings and fresh air from just about any spot in the house.
First Floor
The master bedroom and ensuite bathroom are located on the main floor. A king size bed provides lots of room for a comfortable rest. There is also a smart television, if you find time to watch. The master bathroom features both a newly renovated shower stall and bath tub.
The kitchen is a short distance away and boasts an three wall design, so you can watch the scenic skyline as you prepare meals. The kitchen was fully stocked with a blender, coffee maker, electric kettle and everything else you could possibly need to cook for a large family, including a full size refrigerator and stove.
Descend a few steps from the kitchen and you will reach the dining room area, which is set up on a covered balcony so that you can eat while enjoying the view, day or night. The large table can accommodate at least 8 if you are travelling with a large group.
Lower Level
On the lower level you will find another bedroom and bathroom with a stall shower.
This level is also where you will find the huge patio area, pool and nice outdoor entertaining space. We could have stayed out there all day, enjoying the fresh air and pretty view. The deck’s open concept layout is perfect for entertaining.
The infinity pool with waterfall feature was a refreshing and inviting addition, and because it is so centrally located, it made it great hangout spot. There is a perfectly situated table right beside the waterfall feature, a great spot to have lunch by the pool.
A plus is that you can easily access all other sections of the house from this area as well, as a result of multiple stairways.
Top Floor
The two other bedrooms and bathrooms are located on the top floor of the villa, offering another amazing view of the piton and seascape.
More about Hermitage Terrace
The stone and brick design of the villa helped to keep us cool even during the hot sunny daytime. The layout permitted a great deal of breeze to flow through the house as well. Likely for this reason, we didn’t notice many mosquitos, however, there were fans and mosquito nets placed in the bedrooms for our use.
Housekeeping services were included with our stay, and offered each morning by friendly staff members.
This is the perfect vacation home for nature lovers, bird watchers, photographers or simply a family or group looking for a self-contained spot close to local attractions. There are beaches, supermarkets and restaurants within 5-10 minutes drive from the villa. The sulfur springs is conveniently located within 5 minutes of the villa.
What I loved about Hermitage Terrace is that could cook breakfast, eat dinner and lay in a hammock while technically being indoors, all while staring at the lush green scenery and beautiful blue sea surrounding me. Not to mention the sunsets were amazing! What more could you ask for?
What was it like to travel to Hermitage Terrace with a newborn?
My favourite perks about this villa while travelling with my newborn daughter included:
- The shutter style doors gave us easy access to the rooms when she was sleeping without making too much noise as we entered and exited.
- The proximity of the master bedroom to the kitchen for bottle preparation and warming.
- Shaded areas for hanging out comfortably with baby.
- The many hangout areas, while still being in close proximity to the master bedroom where baby was sleeping.
- The provided pack-n-play and mosquito net for the baby (even though we’d packed our own).
To find out more about the first trip we took with our newborn to Hermitage Terrace, check out this post.
What you may not like about traveling to Hermitage Terrace with a newborn:
- If you’re not a fan of stairs, the layout of this villa may not be the right one for you. We found it manageable.
- If you don’t have a vehicle it’s a little bit of a drive to town (maybe about 10 minutes).
For more information
If you’re interested in visiting Hermitage Terrace, you can find more details and booking information here.
