Rabot Hotel from Hotel Chocolat

Rabot Hotel from Hotel Chocolat isn’t just somewhere to stay - it’s a complete holiday experience on the paradise island of St Lucia. Your own personal space will be one of 25 lodges, surrounded by 140 acres of cacao groves. With temperatures rarely dropping below 20°C it’s never going to be cold, but as the driest months are December to May it's the ideal place to go for a dream Christmas, Easter or Valentine’s break. And while the tasty sweet treat is loved by almost everyone, this resort is for adult lovers of ethically sourced, high quality chocolate.

The hotel offers numerous opportunities to allow you to learn more about chocolate and the natural beauty of St Lucia. Tree to Bar is a 2.5 hour experience. It starts with a rainforest tour of the cacao groves, during which you try your hand grafting a cacao tree. Afterwards, it’s the best part where you’ll get to make your own chocolate bar, yum! Bean to Bar is slightly less hands-on. You’ll start by sampling fresh cacao pulp from a pod and learning about the history of cacao, before you craft your own chocolate bar.

After starting your day with breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant you can join the cacao grove walk of Marcial, taking around 20 minutes. Don’t forget to snap a photo of the picturesque lake. An alternative pre-dinner Bois Nef stroll is just a little longer. You’ll get to see the lake again, but the thing you’ll want to catch for your Insta feed will be the evening arrival of the white egrets. If you’re one of the more active guests there’s longer routes (up to 2.5 miles long), including a trail that gives you the opportunity to see Soufrière Basin. And if you’re up for a strenuous challenge there’s the chance to climb to the summit of Gros Piton - almost 800m above sea level, although do note this is only suitable for experienced hikers, who have a head for heights.

If walking’s not for you, consider one of the experiences on the pristine water (payable locally). Maybe you’ll go for the leisurely cruise that gives you the chance to dive into the crystal clear Caribbean and see the coral reef up close. Or for a more relaxed pace sip cocktails on the sunset cruise.

At Rabot Hotel they find a use for cacao for everything - even in the spa. Choose from treatments including a cacao massage, a cacao detox body wrap and a cacao body exfoliate. There are other treatments too - including a wild coffee scrub and an anti-stress ritual. If you’re after a relaxing day, but don’t like the idea of a spa, consider booking the soufrière experience. You’ll get the chance to relax in natural baths at Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens. These are filled with mineral-rich water, heated to the perfect temperature thanks to volcanic activity.

The lodges are furnished with window shutters, allowing you to enjoy a good night’s sleep, before opening them to reveal the sunrise over the garden courtyard or Petit Piton beyond. They are a generous 40m² and come with a king size four-poster bed. Upgrading to a luxe lodge gets you a massive 70m² pad, complete with a super king size bed and your own private verandah with sun loungers. Whichever type you go for you’ll benefit from freshly ground coffee and your favourite cocoa drink straight from a Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser™. Plus, you’ll be treated to complimentary chocolates (restocked daily).

Of course, as much as you like chocolate, you’ll need to eat other delicious food during your holiday. And for that very purpose the onsite restaurant is there to cater for your needs. For the first meal of the day maybe you’ll try the tropical bowl complete with mango, banana, watermelon, coconut, granola and almond. Alternatively, live like a local and try a breakfast consisting of saltfish, cacao nibs, cucumbers and bell pepper julienne. The tea options include mint fusion (using leaves from the hotel’s own garden) and cacao tea (based on a West Indian drink). If you fancy, you can even have an alcoholic cocktail with breakfast (surcharge applies).

For lunch and dinner there’s a wide selection of fish and meat dishes to choose from, as well as some pasta and salad options, suitable for vegans. And as you might expect, there’s no shortage of chocolate dessert options, whether it’s chocolate panna cotta, cacao pulp sorbet or chocolate mousse. The chef’s special is The Story Of Chocolate In Ice, where you’ll get to sample a trio of homemade ices charting the progression from pod to chocolate. The restaurant is open to everyone, not just hotel guests. Dinner is served in two sittings, at 18:00 and 20:00. Reserving your preferred time is recommended but on your arrival day you’ll be accommodated without the need to book in advance.

Drinks are available from the bar from 10am to 11pm daily. But there’s no rush to get you out at the end of the day, you can order a drink at 10:55pm and take as long as you like to devour it. After all, a holiday in the Caribbean shouldn’t feature clock watching.

On the island of St Lucia both US and East Caribbean dollars are used widely. For services paid for through the hotel, their preferred currency is US dollars. Due to the unique experience the hotel provides on steep terrain, it’s not suitable for disabled guests or those with reduced mobility.