By Cristal Steuer

Looking to get out of the cold and into the sun? There is no better place than the island of St. Lucia. Called the “Hawaii of the East,” it’s just a six hour plane ride from Boston. There are not that many direct flights, so you may have a layover ~ but trust me ~ it is worth it!

My husband and I were planning a vacation. He wanted a Tiki hut on the beach. I wanted pampering and luxury. We met in the middle and found a place called Ladera, which is a 25-room resort in the St. Lucian mountains, overlooking the Caribbean ocean. The tree-house like rooms are only three sided, meaning there is an open wall, which provides breathtaking views of the ocean and the Pitons (more on those later).

When we arrived at the resort, about a half hour from the airport, we were handed warm towels and an island cocktail. We were then guided to a hilltop dream suite. It was like we had died and gone to heaven: there was a bar, a dining area, a waterfall, and a pool ~ yes, that is correct ~ I said swimming pool ~ in our room! (They also have larger villas, with even bigger pools, if you are going with a group of people.)

The weather was perfect, in the 80s and sunny every day. There were so many things to do and many places to go including a couple of different beaches (one that was a volcanic sand beach), snorkeling, a tour of the island, the rainforests, a visit to the sulfur springs or mud baths, or horseback riding ~ to name just a few.

A few days into our vacation, we were feeling extra adventurous and decided to hike one the Pitons, 3000-foot volcanic peaks that rise vertically out of the sea. There is the Gros Piton and the Petit Piton, but you can actually only hike the bigger one (the smaller one is too steep.) Well, let me just say it’s not your average New England hiking. It was more like rock climbing, so good thing we had a tour guide. We did eventually make it up, and the view was absolutely gorgeous.

The resort itself is home to a five star restaurant with an open air view of the Caribbean. Everything tasted like it had just been picked or freshly caught, from the Shrimp Dasheene to the catch of the day to my particular favorite ~ local fish rolls with hand cut sweet potato fries. The restaurant had nightly entertainment with musical guests from the islands and even fire dancers. And if you don’t feel like going out, exceptional staff will bring the food right to your room.

On your first visit to Ladera, you get a free service at the spa ~ a manicure and pedicure or a massage ~ your pick.

So what are you waiting for? Start packing and visit www.ladera.com to book your ticket to paradise!