All of the photos you’ve been waiting almost ONE YEAR for; showing some of the most memorable moments of our trip to St.Lucia. Jared and I began by planning with a vacation that would be appropriate and enjoyable in November, but also wanted a location that wouldn’t be too chilly. We still wanted a coastal experience without needing our coats and scarves…
When we booked our flights to St.Lucia we were determined to make our 4-day vacation memorable and rest assured each day was well-spent. Except, little did I know Jared had plans to make it THE MOST memorable vacation yet!

How He Asked:
When we first began dating I told Jared one of my dreams was to sail off the coast of somewhere beautiful on a catamaran. Little to my knowledge at that time, Jared’s memory is quite literally insane & remembers the small details. So while I was working long hours in the operating room in surgery…Jared was busy. He had been to dinner and asked both of my parents for my hand in marriage, customized a ring that he knew I would love, covered up a proposal surprise from me while planning our island itinerary, AND hid a ring successfully… this man… (*insert all the heart eyes*)

We arrived in Saint Lucia welcomed by the most romantic views & were completely enthralled by the entire atmosphere. The day began after sleeping in after a long day of traveling & indulging in breakfast overlooking the Pitons (another picturesque view). Jared had scheduled a couples massage with an evening ‘surprise date’ in the nearby town to follow…

Our driver picks us up from our resort.
We arrive 10 minutes down the road at the sea port. It was at that time that I figured out we we’re going on a private evening sail (something I had requested #1 on my list for St.Lucia, but thought we were sailing the next day)

So, we’re lead up the dock to a private catamaran awaiting the two of us.
We set sail at sunset in the most perfect weather, scenery, and with the man of my dreams next to me.
Since this was definitely my bucket list adventure for our trip, I wanted to be sure we got all the photos! So right when both Pitans came into view, Jared asks if I wanted the captain to slow down for a photo op…obviously I say ‘absolutely!’
And then this happened….

More on the Trip:
To our surprise, St. Lucia has great weather between November to February as this is the beginning of what they would consider their rainy season.

Rainy season in Ladera is from June to December- so while we may have taken our chances, the rates we’re probably the best they’d be all year!
But honestly, I can’t take credit- all of the props go to Jared since he was the one who scored finding Ladera via TripAdvisor. When checking out the island- Ladera is easily a top rated resort for couples and has been an award-winning resort for hospitality and the incredible experience for several years.
Personally, we love choosing boutique hotels or privately owned resorts, not that there’s anything wrong with the typical franchised stays… we just find that we truly enjoy the unique and personal experience you get with those owned individually! Ladera proved to be nothing short of the award winning resort they’re known for.
Our stay was the perfect combination of the luxury a five-star hotel offers, but also does a great job at submerging you in the beauty of the St. Lucian coast at the same time with the ‘open wall’ to a breathtaking coastal view.
Overall, we regret nothing we did on this trip! And to be honest, we pretty much nailed it… In my opinion, making a trip to St.Lucia any more than 5 full days on the island would be too long. From the beginning Jared & I planned to make this a ‘splurge’ type of getaway- but even if you choose to go a less expensive route (which is totally doable!) I would still recommend that you don’t pass up: a private Catamaran for the evening, a couples massage, & a nice bottle of wine

For those interested, since I can’t seem to recommend them enough to all of my close family and friends interested in visiting the island now…

TRIP DETAILS:
Where we stayed: Ladera Resort, which I’m SO glad we did!
Length of Stay: 4 full days / 4 nights
Time of the year: November
Highlight of the trip: Our engagement (obviously)
….but also renting a private catamaran. We ended up sailing 2 separate days through this company that i’ve linked here. Jared booked an evening to surprise me for the engagement and then we booked an entire day for the day after. Our day sail included food, drinks, and we even snorkeled off off the boat! Our captain was Jay both days at sea & he not only gave us complete freedom to sail wherever our hearts desired + choose whatever music we wanted to listen to, but he also helped photograph the beautiful photos taken after the proposal (ie. the photo here below- using my personal camera).

PACKING TIPS:
– No need to convert your cash, everyone on the island accepts US dollars
– No need to pack outlet converters for your electronics if you’re staying at Ladera, this will be provided for all guests!
– Pack bug spray (I’m always a target for mosquitos here in FL and this was no different in St.Lucia, though the housekeeping does a great job at lighting the citronella candles before sunset each night.
– Don’t forget some prophylactic medications like Zofran and/or Dramamine for those prone to sea sickness (Jared def took one before he proposed on our boat, Lol!), and maybe an antibiotic to treat UTI’s – all I know is that when I’m traveling the very last place I want to be is back in a hospital or doctors office, so I will forever bring all the medications without shame.
– If you’re staying at Ladera, bring an eye mask for coverage. Esp if you’re easily awakened by sunlight. Each morning we were awakened by the sun rising or rain falling (which was a pure delight IMO, but I know that not everyone loves this)
+ then your standard travel items like : passport/travel documents, extra cash, prescription meds, neck pillows for flights, headphones, swimsuits, sunscreen, toiletries, hats/shades, camera (extra memory cards), etc.

Honestly, I cannot say enough positive things about our St.Lucia trip & would definitely recommend- especially for couples wanting a romantic getaway! Despite completely utilizing our trip to accommodate the activities we wanted to do, the island offers many other sights/adventures like hiking the pitons, trekking to the sulfur baths, diving and snorkeling options, and much more!

Definitely a trip of a lifetime & memories that will be near to our hearts forever! Hope you enjoyed this one!