The Hotel – Saint Lucia, West Indies –
Your invitation to stay When I first walked onto The Rabot
Estate in Saint Lucia, 5 years ago, my jaw dropped – the twin Pitons rise majestically in front of you, the azure blue Caribbean Sea nestles between, and rainforest stretches behind. The soothing breeze is constant and gentle at 1000 feet above sea level and the warm air is scented with mango, banana and ripening cocoa. Add to this natural paradise, the warmth and good humour of the Saint Lucians and the barefoot luxury of our boutique hotel and you will understand my enthusiasm to encourage you to treat yourself to this unique experience.
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Go on, you deserve it!
Angus Thirlwell Co-founder & Chief Executive
View towards our Rabot Estate, right between the twin Piton mountains
www.thehotelchocolat.com
at the real Hotel Chocolat
The story Having grown up in the Caribbean, I’ve always been drawn to this string of little emerald islands. Five years ago, one of my lovely customers sent me an old book from the 1920’s about cocoa growing, which so enthused me that I set off with co-founder Peter Harris to find a cocoa estate to buy. Of all the Caribbean islands we visited, Saint Lucia was the most beautiful, worthy of its name The Helen of the West. In the southwest of the island, close by the old French capital Soufrière, we first walked on Rabot Estate. Now Peter is usually quite a cautious person but
after only half an hour, he exclaimed ‘This is it, we’ve got to have it!’ Dating back to 1745, the cocoa estate is the oldest on the island and home to some very rare old trees which are of significant scientific and chocolate interest.The first two years were spent rehabilitating the cocoa groves, restoring the original historic estate house and planning how we could open up this captivating experience to our customers.That’s when we decided to create an intimate and exclusive place, the real Hotel Chocolat, where nature, well-being, hedonism, style, and of course chocolate, would come together.
By day All that fresh air makes you naturally sleep better, revitalised for whatever the day holds‌.
Well-being Have a dip in the pool Then a cocoa butter massage Snooze on your private veranda Read a good book in your favourite spot - by the pool, in the shade next to the Rock Pool or in the scented garden of the Hummingbird Sanctuary
Around the Estate With 140 beautiful acres, there’s lots to do
Stroll the paths under the dappled light of the cocoa groves Take part in the cocoa harvest Let the sun-warmed beans on the drying trays trickle through your fingers
Hike to the top of the Rabot Ridge for the best view in Saint Lucia Stroll to the site of the Battle of Rabot and have it recounted to you by a local expert Take a guided Fruit Tasting Safari – as well as cocoa, the estate is home to guava, mango, banana, papaya, soursop, breadfruit and many more. Tasting the fruit straight from the trees is unforgettable
Use our binoculars for bird-watching with hummingbirds, chicken hawks, shrikes, frigate birds and much more Take a class in chocolate making, savoury cocoa cuisine, chocolate desserts or cocktail mixology
By day Beach & Sea Have a day on a nearby beach, we’ll drop you off and pick you up Take a powerboat up the coast to Marigot Bay Sail the Caribbean Sea coastline View the awesome Pitons from the sea in a kayak Go deep-sea fishing for marlin, tuna, sailfish The sea coast off the Pitons is a world-renowned dive site, the scuba diving and snorkelling is amazing
Around the island Take a Sulphur Springs bath, just as Napoleon’s soldiers would have Visit the cocoa estates of one of our 80 local partners, and talk chocolate Ride a zip-wire over the top of the rainforest Climb the pathway up the Gros Piton, all 2,600 feet of it. The view is to die for! The drive-through volcano is Saint Lucia’s number one attraction and it’s just next door
By night As the tree frogs begin singing, the hotel’s Boucan Bar is the coolest place in Saint Lucia to watch the sun go down. The majestic Petit Piton is effectively ‘back lit’ by the setting sun, which creates a mystical and primeval experience, heightened by a unique sound track of atmospheric music. The drinks menu specialises in Bellinis made with fresh mangoes from the estate, Mojitos made with local Saint Lucian Rum and limes, the ‘British West Indies’ Rum Punch or the French ‘Ti Rum Punch’ from across the sea in Martinique. Naturally, there is an exciting wine cellar and a collection of rare vintage rums to explore. As the sun finally drops, the twinkling lights and balmy breeze of our open-sided restaurant, Boucan, will beckon you.
Boucan
The cuisine at our restaurant, Boucan, draws on amazing local fish and seafood, free range chicken, salad vegetables, fruits and herbs, naturally showered with rainforest rain. As you would expect from Hotel Chocolat, Boucan’s menu has a strong connection with cocoa and chocolate. We also make full use of the bounty of natural ingredients around us. Cocoa was first used by early civilisations as a savoury ingredient - it really works and features as an option throughout our menu – dishes include Chicken with Champagne
& Chocolate sauce, Roast Kingfish with Cocoa Nib Crust, Sautéed Prawns with Chocolate Tapenade, Slow Cooked Lamb with Chilli & Chocolate. Our cuisine philosophy eschews heavy and fussy, ‘chef worship’ cuisine. Instead the fantastic quality of local, fresh ingredients takes centre stage, served simply and artfully.
Your Accommodation Just 14 Cocoa Pod cottages make up the intimate and exclusive guest accommodation. The design philosophy throughout was to mix Hotel Chocolat’s contemporary style with a dash of West Indian levity. Constructed from local stone and wood, they have high ceilings and a cooling natural breeze-way designed in. Beds are raised to the optimum height to allow the breeze to caress you as you sleep. The landscaped grounds are gently lit by solar powered lights and water has been harvested from the rain.
Finished to a high specification • Double bedroom with queen or king size bed, ultra-high thread count cotton sheets • Private veranda with Rabot Rocker chairs and a concierge cabinet of chilled drinks • Polished granite double-basin bathrooms with rainforest open-sky showers
Pool Clubhouse & Spa Massage Pavilion The 50 foot long pool is set high up above the trees, surrounded by extensive lounging areas and has its own pool bar. The massage pavilion is the zen-like space where you experience our unique massages drawing on the health giving properties of cocoa – cocoa butter moisturising massage, cocoa nib exfoliating rub-down, yoga, meditation…
Getting there Direct flights to Hewanorra, Saint Lucia are operated by From the UK From London Airports British Airways flys everyday except Monday & Friday. www.ba.com 08444 930 787 Virgin Atlantic flys on Tuesday, Friday & Sunday. www.virgin-atlantic.com 08448 747 747 From Manchester Virgin Atlantic flys from Manchester to Barbados on Sundays, with a quick island hopper on regional airline LIAT to Saint Lucia www.virgin-atlantic.com 08448 747 747 From the USA American Airlines flys from JFK on Thursdays & Sundays & from Miami daily. www.aa.com Jet Blue flys from JFK on Sunday, Monday & Thursdays. www.jetblue.com Delta daily service from Atlanta www.delta.com US Airways direct from Charlotte, NC and Philadelphia, PA on Saturdays www.usairways.com Rabot Estate is only 30 minutes from Saint Lucia’s international airport We operate an airport pick-up and drop-off service.
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Saint Lucia map provided by: www.worldatlas.com
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X Rabot Estate
View of Rabot Estate from the summit of Gros Piton
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Traditionally the high season is seen as December to April, when there is less chance of rain, but Saint Lucia is worth going to at any time of the year.
Voltage
UK guests don’t need an adaptor. The plugs and voltages are the same as the UK. US guests will need a 3 pronged UK style adaptor.
Exclusive Use
The hotel is an ideal escape for groups as the entire property can be hired for private use. Please contact us for more details. We have 14 rooms and also have arrangements with nearby partner hotels if required.
Suitable for Children?
Due to the steep terrain and positioning of the hotel, we regret that it is not suitable for children less than 12 years.
Disabled Guests
Unfortunately due to the steep terrain and uneven landscape we are not able to accommodate wheelchairs.
What sort of clothing should I take?
It is never cold, so don’t worry about that. As it is close to the rainforest, we occasionally experience tropical downpours, but these often last only a matter of minutes. As well as the usual swimming trunks etc, we recommend bringing a good sun and water resistant hat, a slip-over waterproof, small rucksack and trainers/light walking boots if you are intending to be active. Smart/Casual is required for evening dinner at The Boucan and ladies a cocktail dress is never out of place.
What’s the currency?
Two currencies are used and both acceptable everywhere – US Dollars and Eastern Caribbean Dollars. We work with US Dollars at the hotel.
Do I need a visa?
Holders of UK, European Community or US passports need no visa.
What’s in my room?
Your room comes fully stocked with hair dryer, complimentary toiletries, cotton dressing gowns and slippers, ipod docking station with speakers and free loan of our hotel ipods, tea and coffee making facilities, Concierge Cabinet with ice cold Piton beers, Champagne, Prosecco, complimentary water, good local rum.
How to Book Book online at www.thehotelchocolat.com or contact our reservations office Email: reservations@hotelchocolat.com Tel: +44 (0) 844 544 1272
Get a taste at London’s Borough Market To get a taste of what life is like at Rabot Estate, pop down to our store at London’s award-winning food market, Borough Market. We offer Cocoa Tea, (also served at breakfast at our hotel), delicious Chocolate Pots, savoury cacao dishes, as well as a wide range of the rare chocolate made from the estate’s cacao and that of our Island Grower neighbours.