Here is everything you need to know about Calabash Cove in Saint Lucia.
We collaborate with hotels and resorts on photo and video work, and this stay was hosted. What follows is our experience and the media that came out of it, not a rated review.
Arrival
Upon arrival it’s overwhelmingly clear, the photographs we perused prior to arrival were a halcyon reality. We stepped down into the white beamed alter like lobby that seemed to bring the shorebreak below into frame with a refreshing blue scene. Calabash Cove is a costal all inclusive resort on the northern part of the Island of Saint Lucia.
A quick drive north on a Friday night and you will find yourself near Rodney Bay and the infamous street party in Gros Inlet (generally starts after 7:30pm) so you might want to bring your dancing shoes. There is also a collection of restaurants, bars, and shopping nearby for entertainment. Though we found the resort to offer all we needed for a relaxing time at the beach before our flight back to the chills of Michigan winter.
Stay
Accommodations are in two formats, beachside villas and Suites in the Manor. We were able to experience both during our all inclusive stay. Each accommodation offers unique qualities and attributes that we had an affinity towards. However, if you are wanting the best Calabash has to offer—book the beachside villa. It comes with plenty of room to stretch out, a plunge pool, full stocked bar (if all inclusive), massive bathtub, outdoor shower, Samsung flat screen TVs (Jasmine had no interest but I am a news junkie) and the sound of waves sweeping the beach close by.
Hotel management walked us to our room and I literally said out loud to Jasmine, “I think we’ve made it”. The space is exactly what you daydream about when working hard all year or celebrating an anniversary/occasion. Complete with a hammock and fresh flowers placed around the warm vibe villa.
The Calabash boasts one of the largest pools I’ve seen on the Island that stretches the length of the manor—appointed with a well-staffed swim up bar—Gucci. The pool is a partial infinity which creates an ascetic of water rolling off into the horizon—perfect spot to take in the sunset. Seriously, I watched a couple from our balcony and thought, what a great idea. Whether you are in the pool with a local Chairman’s Rum cocktail or looking down from the open air dining room the pool is a centerpiece of the Calabash Cove resort.
Being an all inclusive it’s important to highlight the food—of which dinner was my favorite part—nothing short of ambrosial. Our waitress at Calabash Cove was a gem and did her job perfectly, which made us look forward to going to dinner each night when tempted to order room service instead. If you come from a family like Jasmine’s dressing up for dinner is a sacred vacation tradition and while most tropical resorts do not have a dress codes the Calabash has a very light one, mostly for the guys, which elevated the dining ambience. Live music carried to the tables, each night as smoothly and graciously as the fare.
Departure
If you are looking for an all inclusive resort in St. Lucia for your honeymoon, special occasion, or an adults only getaway Calabash Cove should be on the short list. We met the owner Konrad on arrival. I quickly determined Konrad, to which staff shortly confirmed, is a diligent and devoted owner by the pace of his work and choice in classic ticking timepiece wrapped around his wrist. It shows that the staff and owner are focused on the work they do and the manner in which they do it—taking pride in personalizing a guest’s stay.
While we say goodbye for now we know that during a future Caribbean vacation Calabash Cove will be one we hope to return to.
Photography and video by Blake Wisz through a Trading Travel collaboration with Calabash Cove. Captured on the gear of the era, part of the fun of revisiting it. See more travel photography.