From the archive, 2018. Photography by Blake Wisz.
Since Jasmine and I met and started traveling together we’ve rarely booked a trip in entirety before we arrive to the destination. We always find it to be a bit more adventurous to book things while we are traveling for two reasons — last minute hotel deals and our millennial preferences changing while there. It can at times cause some momentary stress (sorry Jasmine) so it’s definitely not for everyone. Though if you can do what my Hawaiian paddle board yoga instructor said, “go with the flow and let the waves pass under your board”, it might very well be the most freeing way for you to travel. Let go.
How we found the Ginger Suite
You can imagine, in the days leading up to the open slots of nights we had yet to book, the hundreds of properties I reviewed. Browsing countless accommodations through apps like Airbnb, Expedia, VRBO, Booking.com, Hotel Tonight, and Skiplagged. Unexpectedly, and through the best medium of booking a location — word of mouth — we found The Ginger Suite at Villa Cybelle. Through a mutual friend we heard of a comfortable, clean, and private place we could call home for a couple of days.
P e r f e c t i o n
The villa
What we loved about Villa Cybelle is that the owners, Cybelle and Don, live in the main house onsite and are able to answer any questions you may have while staying in the Ginger Suite. The two are warm and inviting but also respected the Ginger Suite as “ours” while we stayed on property. Becoming quick friends with them, it was hard not to want to stay at the suite for a week or two and absorb the nearby city of Castries.
The space is well designed, which invited creativity and relaxation. I had a warm cup of Caribbean coffee on my favourite spot, the covered patio area, during a morning rain shower. In fact that’s where we wrote our previous blog on Stonefield Villa Resort.
With many top resorts in Saint Lucia it can be hard to cycle through each place and discover where you want to stay. Many offer a unique perspective of the island, which is why we would recommend staying longer than you think, and at a minimum two locations on the island: north (near Castries or Rodney Bay) and south (near Soufrière).
Featuring a full kitchen, dining area, and living room surrounded by beautiful wood slat windows and doors, you forget if you are inside or outside — which, when you are traveling to the island of Saint Lucia, is a delightful experience. Though if you get tired of the sea breeze and warm sun you can escape to your large master bedroom and enjoy air con with your afternoon nap. When you wake up you can grab a cold Piton beer and take the path off your patio that strings around and up to the pool.
Things to do nearby
After arriving and putting away your luggage you might be wondering what to do with all your free time. We recommend visiting a close restaurant called the Pink Plantation where you can view the owner’s tropical artworks, behold an awesome view of the bay, and cure your grumbling stomach with a fresh caught fish for lunch. I had the barracuda with lemon and an original Pink Plantation rum punch. Oh, and the hot local bakes as they are called — make sure you get those.
Another fun activity is to head down to the city of Castries and peruse the tourist stands where you can score a souvenir. We felt really safe walking around the city during the afternoon while some of the cruise ships were at dock. Jasmine found a cute little ice cream shop and scored a cone for less than 3 Eastern Caribbean Dollars. At the villa there is also a wonderful book of excursions you can book with nearby vendors for snorkeling, sunset sails, tours, and more. Plenty of fun things to keep you busy and experiencing the beauty of Saint Lucia.
Conclusion
If you are looking to escape the resort scene and stretch your stay but not your budget, Villa Cybelle’s Ginger Suite is a no brainer. Shopping at the local grocery store, cooking our own meals, and turning on some tunes really hit the spot for ultimate vacation vibes.
Please feel free to reach out with any comments or questions about our stay, we would be glad to hear from you.
Photography and video by Blake Wisz, 2018. See more travel photography.