The first luxury residence-style boutique hotel in St. Lucia opened in 2008. A member of the British Commonwealth, St. Lucia is located in the Eastern Caribbean, between St. Vincent and Martinique.
Cap Maison is in St. Lucia Cap Estate, a former sugar plantation, covering 1,500 hilly acres at the north tip of St. Lucia. Perched on a seaside bluff, between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, it overlooks a secluded beach, with historic Pigeon Island and Martinique beyond.
Cap Maison was developed by Theo and Helen Gobat. Their St. Lucian-born son, Adam Gobat, is CEO and project director.
Interior design
Lane Pettigrew, the Venezuelan-American architect, incorporates design elements from South America and the Caribbean into the hotel. With its terracotta tile roofs, multiple tiered balconies covered with bougainvillea and central courtyard with fountain, Cap Maison resembles a colonial Mexican village.
Local and international craftspeople created coral stonework, hand-painted tiles, exotic woods and natural finishes for Cap Maison. The large interiors are decorated in floral colors, with handmade textiles and furniture. Wooden jalousie doors and windows allow cool breezes to enter. Suites and rooms have spacious bathrooms, while villa suites have fully equipped kitchens.
Garden landscaping
Three and one-half acres of tropical gardens surround Cap Maison. British-born Veronica Shingleton-Smith, who now lives in St. Lucia, designed the gardens and planted them with orchids, heliconias and ginger lilies.
Luxury suites
The 50-room hotel has 22 privately owned residences, as well as villa suites, studio suites and rooms. Families and groups can combine villa suites with studio suites and rooms to create two- and three-bedroom suites.
Ocean View Grand Villa suites, up to 3,000 square feet in size, are among the largest in the Eastern Caribbean. Each one has a spacious bedroom, ensuite bathroom, private balcony, kitchen and separate living/dining area with veranda and a private roof patio with a swimming pool or Jacuzzi and bar. Ocean Villa suites have the same amenities, but are located on the ground floor. Studio suites have picturesque views of the Caribbean Sea. Several deluxe rooms overlook the landscaped gardens. DVD players, stereos, plasma screen TVs and Wi Fi Internet access are in all rooms and suites.
Food and wine
Cap Maison's cliff-top restaurant offers French Caribbean food, a top-notch selection of wines and spectacular views.
Villa suite guests can request a private chef to prepare dinner in their suite and serve it on their roof terrace.
Golf courses
Hotel amenities include butler service, a spa, gym, beach and water sports facilities.
Guests of Cap Maison can use sports and leisure facilities at nearby resorts. A highlight is the challenging 18-hole course at the St. Lucia Golf and Country Club.
A Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course is just a short distance from Cap Maison.
Rodney Bay St. Lucia
For sightseeing, guests can visit Rodney Bay, known for its yachting. Day-cruises and yacht charters depart from the marina to Pigeon Island, an historic natural park. Cap Maison also offers guests day trips and sunset cruises on its own luxury boat.
Rodney Bay boasts Caribbean and international restaurants, a lively nightlife and stores. Cap Maison guests can also take day trips to the nearby ocean-side fishing village of Gros Islet.
Flights to St. Lucia
St. Lucia has two main airports. International flights arrive and depart from Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) in the south. Inter-island flights arrive and depart from George F.L. Charles Airport in the north part of the island.
Flying time to St. Lucia from Miami is 3.5 hours. Flying time from New York is five hours. Air Jamaica, American Airlines, Caribbean Airlines and US Airways fly to St. Lucia from U.S. gateways. WestJet, Air Jamaica, Air Canada, Caribbean Airlines and American Airlines fly to St. Lucia from Canada.
All visitors to St. Lucia must have return or ongoing flight tickets, as well as valid passports.
