After falling hard for Secrets St. Lucia (and those ocean views), we weren’t ready for the magic to end. So we took our tenth-anniversary celebration to the next level, literally, by heading into the mountains for the most unforgettable hotel experience of our lives. 

Ladera isn’t just a resort. It’s a love letter to nature. A sanctuary perched 1,000 feet above the sea, where rainforest meets romance, and where you wake up every morning feeling like you’re part of something magical. We’ve stayed at some incredible places over the years, but nothing, and I mean nothing, has ever been like our stay at Ladera.

 

 

Booked on Points: How I Did It

A good friend of mine spent her honeymoon at Ladera ten years ago, and ever since, the hotel has been on my bucket list. Last year, Ladera was added to the Fine Hotels + Resorts® collection, making it bookable through American Express Travel®. When I booked my room, they were running a special: book two nights, get one free. I was able to use 300,000 American Express points to book three nights in the largest room on the property, the suites at Paradise Ridge. This room normally costs $2,500 per night!

Since I booked through Fine Hotels + Resorts®, we received the following perks:

• 12:00 pm early check-in
• free breakfast every morning
• guaranteed late checkout at 4:00 pm
• a room upgrade (we got the most private room on the property)
• $100 property credit

Now, 300,000 points is more than I normally spend for a three-night stay. But it was worth it!  I would do it again and even spend more points to do it. Ladera will change your views on relaxation.   

 

The Property: Wildly Beautiful, Deeply Peaceful

Upon arrival, we were greeted with a cool eucalyptus towel and an amazing welcome drink. The drink choice was either a local spiced mocktail or a rum punch. We had the mocktail, and it had so much flavor while still being fresh and satisfying. After check-in, we were taken to the restaurant for small bites and to wait for our own private butler. I would have sat at that table all day if I needed to; the view was absolutely spectacular. As soon as our room was ready, our incredible butler took us to our room.

Ladera is perched on a volcanic ridgeline 1,000 feet above sea level. An endless expanse of the Caribbean Sea and towering Pitons make the view from Ladera heavenly. You’re in the rainforest, literally. The resort is surrounded by thick greenery, vivid blooms, and fruit trees heavy with mangoes, bananas, papayas, and guava. Fresh fruit is so abundant on the property that the resort makes fresh juices daily. My favorite was guava; it was refreshing and so very sweet.

 

 

Everywhere you walk, there’s something new to admire: vibrant bougainvillea cascading down stone walls, hummingbirds flitting through heliconia, and tropical orchids popping up like hidden treasures. You can actually smell the freshness in the air; it’s earthy, floral, and just a little sweet.

And let me tell you: the property is big. It’s spread out across a hillside, with stone paths and stairs that wind through the trees like something out of a jungle fairytale. Be prepared to do a fair amount of walking, up hills, down garden steps, or even across lava stone walkways. But trust me, you’ll want to take your time. Every turn is Instagram-worthy.

 

The Suite: Open-Air Magic

We stayed in one of the suites at Paradise Ridge, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it was the most romantic and unforgettable hotel room I’ve ever experienced. Every suite at Ladera has three walls. Yep, you read that right. The fourth wall is completely open to the view. And what a view it is! From anywhere in our room (and I mean anywhere, even from the shower!), we could see both Pitons flanking the blue water. I took many pictures, but the spectacularness of the view cannot be captured by a picture. It felt ethereal at times, and the most peaceful place I have ever visited. 

My favorite view was from our private heated plunge pool. Imagine a full panoramic view of the Pitons and the Caribbean Sea. During the day, you could see sailboats drifting far below. At night, the stars were so bright it felt like you could reach out and touch them.

The suite itself was stunning, designed with hand-carved wooden furniture made by hand right on the property, rich local textiles, and beautiful stone and tile accents. The bed was draped in soft netting, which made bedtime feel like a wildly intimate movie scene, while also keeping out any mosquito attacks. There was a cozy sitting area, a massive shower, a sleek double vanity, and our plunge pool had a swinging chair above it, suspended over the water. I know, it was unreal!

 

 

 

 

No TV. No AC. No distractions. Just a cool mountain breeze, the sound of tree frogs in the distance, and total peace. It was like being wrapped in nature, but with all the comforts of five-star living.

 

 

The Main Pool, Spa, & Fitness Center: Jungle Calm

While the private plunge pool in our suite was one of our favorite places to be, we did venture to the resort’s main unheated pool during the day, and it was stunning. The main pool is tucked just below the main restaurant and bar, surrounded by palms and flowering trees, with sweeping views of the Pitons and sea. It’s a peaceful, low-key spot to spend a lazy afternoon. Ladera is a small resort, so while you are not the only guests on the property, you feel like it a lot of the time. There is no abundance of noise or people to distract you from the natural peace you feel throughout the property.

 

 

The Spa and Fitness Center

And then there’s the Ladera Lévé Spa, which somehow made us feel even more relaxed. It’s small, intimate, and tucked into the rainforest like a hidden oasis. The spa has its own mineral pool, a sauna, a steam room, a wellness restaurant, and massage bungalows. We booked a couple’s massage, and everything from the natural oils to the open-air treatment room was perfect. You’re surrounded by the sounds of rustling leaves and tropical birds while being completely pampered. It was the most peaceful part of our entire trip. Our private massage room even had its own heated mineral plunge pool! After our massage, we were given healthy smoothies and we were allowed to enjoy the mineral pool as long as we wanted.

 

 

The fitness facility is tucked discreetly into the hillside, and the space is cool, clean, and peaceful. It’s slightly air-conditioned, quiet, and feels more like a private wellness retreat than your typical hotel gym. Inside, you’ll find everything you need for a solid workout: Peloton treadmills, Peloton bikes, ellipticals, a full rack of free weights, weight machines, resistance equipment, and yoga mats. I really enjoyed riding the Peloton bike in the morning after a yoga class on the pool deck. The best part about the gym was the views. But let’s be honest, the views are epic from everywhere on the property.

 

 

The Romance Factor is Off the Charts

I’m convinced there’s something in the air at Ladera that makes you fall in love all over again. Maybe it’s the misty mornings spent in a private plunge pool. Or the quiet candlelit dinners at Dasheene, where you watch the sun dip behind the Pitons while dining on the freshest island flavors. Or maybe it’s the sheer privacy. No one is knocking on your door, no poolside DJs, no crowds. Just you and your person, floating through a tropical dream.

Every detail is made for connection: swinging side-by-side in the pool, watching clouds pass by from bed, soaking in that view together with nowhere else to be. If you’re celebrating a honeymoon, anniversary, or just want to escape the noise of everyday life, this place is a soul-filling, heart-melting experience.

 

 

Final Thoughts: Most Soul-Stirring Hotel 

There’s luxury, and then there’s Ladera. You will enjoy this slow, sacred, earth-meets-heaven luxury. It’s raw in the most elegant way. It’s intimate, unspoiled, and deeply grounding. The kind of place that makes you put your phone down, breathe a little deeper, and remember how beautiful it is to just be.

Staying at Ladera is like living in the dreamiest, most luxurious treehouse on the edge of the world. The service is warm and personal, the kind that makes you feel like family. The property is large enough to lose yourself in, yet it still feels intimate and serene. You never feel rushed.

Ladera Resort St. Lucia is the kind of place that lingers long after you leave. It’s not just the views or the plunge pools or the candlelit dinners, it’s the feeling of being completely present, completely in love, and completely at peace. For a points-powered trip, this one felt like pure gold.

 

 

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