In the heart of the Caribbean Sea, between Barbados and Martinique, lies a small and stunningly beautiful island named Saint Lucia. It is primarily known for the Pitons – two majestic mountains that rise from the bay called Pitons Bay. Saint Lucia is home to one of the world’s luxury holiday destinations, Sugar Beach, a place where James Bond often went on vacation at the end of the movie, after defeating the villains.
The first settlers on the island, long before tourists, were French pirates who, in the 16th century, used it as a base for raids on Spanish ships. The British and French fought over control of the island until the early 19th century when it finally became a British territory, from which it gained independence in 1979.
Sugar Beach, a Viceroy resort, offers accommodation at several levels, from upgraded rooms and open bungalows with a view to luxurious villas and cottages that face the sea, the beach, or the rainforest that covers much of the island.
Water sports shine in the list of activities offered on site, and beyond diving and surfing, luxury yachts passing by the bay are a common sight. Tours of the rainforests within the island are highly recommended, and there are also family-friendly activities on site. You can also take a stroll in Soufrière – a town that begins in the forest and flows into the bay, with restaurants, shops, and bars, some of which know how to make a perfect Martinique cocktail.
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy resort, St. Lucia
(+925) 298 6438; www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
Bottom line: James Bond’s neighbors
