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Some places are meant for lovers. Think: Paris, the Maldives, Santorini. Now, add St. Lucia to the list. That’s where you’ll find Serenity at Coconut Bay; an adults-only, couples-only resort that’s oh-so-sexy.

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Coconut Bay Resort St Lucia

Words by Sheryl Nance-Nash
  

FROM THE MOMENT MY BUTLER GREETS me in the lobby, the vibe at Serenity at Coconut Bay whispers total luxury. It’s called Serenity for a reason: there are 36 plunge-pool suites at this intimate resort, so forget the distracting crowds; couples here only have eyes for one another.

I see it as I’m led to my suite, passing by the 3,000-square-foot pool; there are couples cooling off in half-sunken pool loungers, cocktails in-hand, and others cozied up in cabanas. Perspiring ice buckets of Champagne and hors d’oeuvres are within arm’s reach, but attendants are quick to refill their flutes and offer chilled face cloths.

When my butler opens the door to the suite, I try to play it cool, keeping my “oohs and ahs” to a minimum. In the private “backyard patio,” there’s a plunge pool with a waterfall, hammock, outdoor shower and wet bar. Inside, the room is spacious and plush. Vaulted ceilings frame a four-poster king-size mahogany bed and the oversize soaker tub and shower are so big, it’s clearly an invitation for two.

Coconut Bay Resort St Lucia

For sure, this is the setting for a wildly romantic romp. Serenity is a place where decisions to get married are made and honeymooners confirm that oh yes, they did the right thing. Heck, I suspect Serenity might even resuscitate a comatose relationship. Yet, in what feels something like a sitcom, I am here on business without my husband. I shoo my butler away while sharing a chuckle with myself: he’s the only man who will step foot in my romance-riddled suite. I get ready to meet my colleagues for dinner, glossing my lips if only to impress myself. After a sumptuous meal and a few too many handcrafted tropical cocktails, I call it a good night.
 

I KNOW IT’S GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY WHEN it starts with breakfast in bed. It feels good to lie-in a while. I can’t help but grin when a masseuse knocks at the door – she’s a most welcome interruption. I’m well taken care of as she applies treatments that use St. Lucian ingredients like aloe from the resort gardens. I could have chosen to take the massage in a private oceanfront cabana during the day or under the spell of the moon. Both would have been dreamy, but I’m equally satisfied with my decision; I’ve barely left bed yet been royally pampered, all before noon.

When lunchtime rolls around, a beach cabana calls. I feel like a queen, as an attendant works to serve my every desire. The Champagne flows and so do the nibbles. The only thing left to do after a short siesta is to make my way to the shore and take a cool dip in the Caribbean.

Coconut Bay Resort St Lucia

As the day gives way to dusk, my colleagues and I set off for dinner. We’ve been invited as guests to the Chef’s Table, a private dining room in The Greathouse Restaurant. Just like Serenity’s luxuries, the food is over the top. A feast of the senses ensues as a spread of plates colonizes every inch of the table. The resort’s executive chef puts an island twist on St. Lucia’s classic dishes using ingredients pulled straight from the soil. It’s hard to believe the delicious morsels are all-inclusive. I eat to my heart’s content and waddle back to my suite.

Coconut Bay Resort St Lucia

The next morning, I do something cheeky. In the secluded privacy of my suite’s backyard patio, I bare all. Meditating in my plunge pool, I let the waterfall cascade over my head. Much as I love the nest that is Serenity, today I plan to venture off-property. A catamaran trip with views of those legendary St. Lucia Pitons calls.

From my waterline view, I sit transfixed by the mighty volcanic peaks. They’re surreal, stretching high into the sky. I listen in on a conversation shared by a husband and wife who are also admiring the view. He’s just as amazed and awed by the Pitons’ beauty as I am. She responds by making a playful quip: “Really? Nothing impresses you!” I suppress a giggle and snap some photos for my own husband to judge.

Coconut Bay

My last half day in St. Lucia includes a bit more pool time – truly, it’s hard to resist. As I dip my toes in the water, I think that this has to be one of the best places to share with someone you love. The fact that Serenity was the winner of the Brides 2019 Honeymoon Award is not surprising. But I have my own testimony about the magic of Serenity: though I’m not with my beloved, just thinking about him, wishing he was here, makes me realize I am still very much smitten - and what a souvenir that is!

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