Fond Doux Eco Resort — Hotel in Saint Lucia

See my trip advisor review because I ran out of space.

It was a wonderful stay. Sometimes it is not about the excellence of the property where you are staying itself but the affability, quality, inner beauty, and warmth of the people looking after you there. My main feedback is that the various staff, including restaurateurs, cleaners, guides, bar staff and reception staff, were of a high class compared to other venues I have visited. It was a new experience staying in a botanical garden style environment. We all enjoyed these beautiful surroundings - the abundance of cocoa trees, tropical fruit trees and tropical flowers. It is part of the special uniqueness of the Fond Doux resort.

Main critiques

The fee for our rooms - I would describe this as high. We paid somewhere between 250-275 USD per night due to additional fees on top of the base price. We were told this was a discounted rate because we were part of a larger party. One member of our group was upset because they were charged some sort of COVID fee. This fee was later removed. Feedback from one small group revealed that there were errors in billing, but these additional costs were later removed after a vehement challenge. I am pleased to say we are glad to have a rainy day fund.

Mosquito control in areas of public gathering could be better. We have been to public functions elsewhere and have seen things like outdoor coils/smoke towers. This should be a ‘no brainer’ particular in reception/dining areas.

For the high fee we pay, our (and other families) could have been provided with large umbrellas (we were in the peak of rainy season and it rained nearly every day). This was particularly required during our late night rainy arrival.

No kids play area, and no kids facilities provided, e.g. COT for infant

No public pool (feedback from other family) Only plunge pools are available in public area and selected higher end accommodation.

Categorised feedback

Property/s: We stayed at Cocoa Tree House. We experienced the other buildings because family were there, e.g. Cinnamon Cottage and Angelina Villa

Mostly single floor villa style accommodation. Some properties have two floors.

Air conditioning in most of the properties/rooms is a big plus point because it gets very uncomfortable both day and night.

We had gas cooker, fridge/freezer, kettle, coffee machine (didn’t use). This was extremely welcome. Some family members reported that Gas Cylinder needed changing. We expect that these are checked before the visitor arrives….not during the stay.

Bedding linen/Beds Nets were all of good standard. Thank you.

In Europe Bed Bugs is a hot topic. We had no issue from this during our stay.

Minor things. Fixtures and fittings are in need of upgrade and there are clear signs of wear. Our cooker was suffering from rust as were some cupboards.

Bathrooms were OK. Taps and Showers fixture fitting are in need of upgrade because of leaks. Hot water was available but not required most of the time because conditions are hot and muggy. Some party members reported faulty toilet flush.

Instructions on operation of AC, Cooker (e.g. switch on Gas) and devices could be something that you can improve on because a variety of tourists may come and most of these are confused. We figured things out by ourself.

DRAINAGE during active heavy rainfall was a big issue for me. We had drainage problems during heavy rainfall e.g. all Sinks/Toilet. If you need to use sinks/toilet at night during heavy rainfall what do you do?

Daily cleaning/maintenance was of good standard.

Staff help you with your luggage without additional expectation, which is a plus.

Botanical gardens style environment.

Most people should enjoy the environment. Urban dwellers may be in for a shock.

Night times would be described as noisy NOT because of residents or loud people but because the Crickets make a real racket! Comparable to screeching birds plus their natural creaking sound. It takes ‘getting-used-to.’ We had just spent a few days in Trinidad so our expectations...

A Magical Twist in St. Lucia – When a Cancelled Flight Becomes a Dream Detour||My adventure in St. Lucia was already unforgettable, a place where the warmth of the people leaves a lasting impression on your heart. But it was on the day I was meant to return to England that the island showed me a little more of its magic.||Adverse weather had swept through, grounding all flights. No plane could land or take off. As the airport slowly emptied out after the rush and excitement of the day, a quiet stillness settled over the space. Only a few of us remained—stranded, but calm. British Airways handled the situation wonderfully, offering support and reassurance. But there we were, a handful of travelers surrounded by silence, wondering what to do next.||Then came a beautiful twist.||A kind airport receptionist suggested we head to Fond Doux Eco Resort, just 40 minutes away. My friend was still debating, but I felt a calm certainty. Something about St. Lucia’s beauty and the kindness of its people made it easy to trust the journey. I looked at the gentleman next to me and said, “Let’s do this.”||Soon, we were in a transfer van, driving through the warm, tropical night. The storm had passed, the skies had cleared, and the road to Soufrière felt like a dream.||When we arrived at Fond Doux, we were greeted warmly by staff who looked like kings—tall, strong, and dignified. Security welcomed us and guided us through the lush, dark beauty of the cocoa plantation that surrounded the resort.||Then came the best part: my room.||They called it The Tree House, nestled above the grounds, up a short hill climb—a perfect fit for a fitness lover like me. As the door opened, I was welcomed by a tranquil, tropical haven. The peaceful energy of the space was immediate. Calm. Serene. Blissful.||I took a moment to meditate and simply breathe it all in. Later, my friend called—he had found snacks and drinks waiting in his room. A thoughtful gesture from the hotel that spoke volumes after the chaos of a cancelled flight.||In the end, what began as a setback turned into a moment of paradise. Fond Doux wasn’t just a place to stay—it was the highlight of a journey I never expected. If you ever find yourself in St. Lucia, trust the island. Stay a little longer. And definitely stay...

Overall, we loved our stay! The location was absolutely perfect. The resort was located just a few minutes drive from Soufriere. It was also very close to many local attractions like the botanical gardens, sulphur springs, snorkeling, Tet Paul nature trail and the pitons. Best of all, the resort feels like it is located right in the middle of the rain forest. The grounds are lush and fun to explore. On the property, particularly on the La Montagne trail, I saw countless types of beautiful and unique plants. We did not see many other guests using the La Montagne trail....I would highly recommend it. We saw many lizards, frogs, birds, snails and even a huge hermit crab. One could spend plenty of time just exploring the grounds. The resort is not on the beach, but they have pools and a daily shuttle to Sugar Beach which was convenient and easy-to-do. Our cottage was very nice. The main room was spacious, airy and pleasant. We enjoyed the open-air shower and particularly enjoyed the frog and lizard visitors (they kept to themselves). The cottages felt very private and we loved our private deck/pool. Many staff members were exceptional. We were especially fond of Albertina in reception and Hilarius, who tended bar. Hilarius made excellent drinks, although sometimes an uncomplicated Piton hit the spot. Albertina and other reception staff made arranging transportation, tours, etc very easy. She was able to quickly arrange tours for whenever and wherever we wanted. She arranged for a medical provider to come right to the resort for our pre-departure COVID test. We spent more money on this resort than we are accustomed to, however, the price was much lower than many other resorts in the area. We felt like the price was worth this unique resort; it had more soul and character than some of the other run-of-the-mill beach resorts in the area.

We ate dinner every night at the resort. They had very good food but not a ton of variety. We ran out of new entrees to try by the end of the trip. We might have appreciated more menu choices. Dinner was pleasant with nice ambience. We enjoyed live music a few nights at dinner, which was good, because dinner could be slow. We had a few errors in the items we received and sometimes had to ask a time or two for things we...