A typical Caribbean plantation house, with superb panoramic ocean views.

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Entire home

Mango Plantation House in the afternoon sun

View to Point Seraphine from the veranda

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 63618 sq ft

Popular amenities

Washer
Parking available
Barbecue grill
Pet friendly
Kitchen
Outdoor Space

Explore the area

Castries

Castries Central Market
‪4 min drive‬
St. Lucia Town Hall
‪4 min drive‬
La Toc Beach
‪7 min drive‬
Castries (SLU-George F. L. Charles)
‪15 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

Living Room 1

2 Twin Beds

Master Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Master Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Upstairs Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Balcony

Separate dining area

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

La Plantation des Manguiers (Mango Plantation) dates back over 100 years. It has all the hallmarks of a house built to make the most of the climate in years gone by before air conditioning. The windows sport big heavy shutters and there is no glass, allowing the balmy trade winds to flow through the house. The sheltered wrap around veranda stays cool from morning to night protecting the interior from the heat of the day. From this sleepy veranda you can relax whilst watching the world go by in the distance. The commanding view changes constantly, with sailing boats, small planes, cruise ships, the changing colors of the sea and the sky all offering entertainment. On a clear day Martinique can be seen, sometimes so clearly that you feel that you could swim there! The interior of the house is elegantly decorated and furnished in keeping with the 'plantation' style wherever possible and is comfortable and inviting whilst still offering all the mod-cons to ensure a relaxing stay.

The villa is owned by Chef Jacques and his wife Cathy. They also own Jacques Waterfront Dining Restaurant which is located on the waterfront in the Rodney Bay Marina.

Transportation : La Plantation des Manguiers is situated close to Castries the buses are regular. From Castries it is possible to catch buses to anywhere you want to go but be prepared for loud music and being a little squashed! The buses generally don't use air conditioning either, so it is hot but breezy with the windows open. Also please note that the walk to and from the house is for those who are of an above average fitness especially in the heat.

We live half way down a one way road with a bus stop at the top and the bottom. The walk to the bus stop from the house is all down hill. Coming back to the villa it is possible to get off the bus at the top of the hill and walk down the road to the drive way to the villa, however the drive is quite steep and would be challenging to those who do not walk on a regular basis especially in the heat. In this case I would recommend hiring a car. NB. Please contact Cathy for further information on special car hire deals.

Airport information: La Plantation des Manguiers is 21 miles or 1 hour 20 minutes by car from the international airport Hewanorra, which is situated in Vieux Fort in the south of the island. Helicopter transfers are available between Hewanorra and George FL Charles airport in Castries which is only 10-15 minutes by car from the villa. George FL Charles also has flights coming in from other Caribbean islands and flights that connect through Peurto Rico from the USA. Airport transfers are suggested and can be arranged, contact Cathy.

Property manager

Cathy Rioux

Premier Host

Languages

English, French

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Pet friendly

Free WiFi

Outdoor Space

Ocean view

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Ocean view
Kitchen
Washer
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House Rules

Flexible check-in available (contact host in advance of arrival)

Minimum age to rent: 21

Flexible check-out available (contact host to arrange)

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings

Group dinners and weddings with prior permission.

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 20 lbs per pet (limit 2 pets total)

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

Smoking allowed only on the verandah

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 6

Note from host: Group dinners and weddings with prior permission.

Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

About the neighborhood

Castries

Located in Castries, this villa is in a rural area and by the sea. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Marigot Bay and Anse Chastanet Beach. Traveling with kids? Consider Splash Island Water Park Saint Lucia and Rodney Bay Aquatic Centre. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and scuba diving nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding and hiking.

Castries

What's nearby

Castries Central Market - 4 min drive - 2.2 km
St. Lucia Town Hall - 4 min drive - 2.3 km
La Toc Beach - 7 min drive - 2.4 km
Saint Lucia National Archives - 7 min drive - 5.7 km
Vigie Beach - 15 min drive - 4.3 km

Getting around

George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) - 15 min drive

Restaurants

‪KFC - ‬5 min drive
‪Armandos - ‬5 min drive
‪Cricketer's Pub - ‬4 min drive
‪Bayside Restaurant - ‬7 min drive
‪KFC - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is A typical Caribbean plantation house, with superb panoramic ocean views. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 20 lbs per pet.

Where is A typical Caribbean plantation house, with superb panoramic ocean views. located?

This family-friendly Castries villa is located by the sea, within a 15-minute walk of Windward Islands, Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, and Mont Fortune Historic Area. La Place Carenage Duty Free Mall and St. Lucia National Library are also within 1 mi (2 km).

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.

Learn more

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.0/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen A.

Jan 22, 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Taste Of Island Life

My family and I travel every other year around the Christmas holiday and this year we chose St. Lucia. We like staying in the midst of every day life and typically rent a home. This original plantation home was just what we were looking for; privacy, comfort and the most beautiful view of Castries and the surrounding area were highlights of our stay. The owner's two dogs greeted us upon our return home each evening, making us feel at home. We cooked many meals in the well stocked kitchen and on the outdoor grill. We sat on the large wrap around porch in the evenings and ate our meals on it as well. We made sure we rented an all wheel drive car to navigate the dirt road to the home and to get around the island on our own. I highly recommend this property if you want to create your own adventure.

Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Yevgeniya D.

Jul 31, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bryan R.

Jun 1, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A slice of Heaven!

This was our second stay at Mango Plantation, and it certainly won't be our last. As soon as we arrived, we felt like we were returning home. Reggie and Ella greeted us as we drove up, and hung out with us each day. They are completely unobtrusive, and wonderful company. There is nothing Cathy & Jacques haven't thought of to make the house a home. From reading, relaxing, and having brunch and happy hour each day on the veranda, to having coffee at daybreak on the lounge chairs in the yard as the bats come home, our stay was once again magical. An added bonus was an exquisite dinner at Jacques Waterfront Dining. The food and service were outstanding - a five-star experience. Vigie Beach is a short drive from the house and is beautiful. The city of Castries delighted us once again with its friendly people and delicious food. We loved visiting the market every few days to get fresh veggies and fruits, and preparing our meals in the well-stocked kitchen. The island, particularly this property, is an amazing, gorgeous getaway. Don't miss this slice of Heaven!

Stayed 9 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shabnam H.

May 23, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Heaven on the Hills

Our second time in St Lucia, this time with kids. We had a great time at Kathy's place. The house is beautiful and so much better that the pictures. Caribean farm house with beautiful touches. It has all amenities you need. Very nice view to the ocean and close to beaches. Kathy was very easy to intract and communicate and we had no issues communicating with her. We went to viggie beach, naked fisherman beach, Reduit beach, zipline in rainforest.... and enjoyed all. One general thing to know when you go to St lucia is the roads are very steep, hilly, and narrow, so if you deicide to rent a car and drive be prepared. Right side driving wont be an issue as you will get used to it. We all loved St lucia and will back again.

Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Marc W.

Jan 23, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful House, amazing views and Wonderful Host

The historic Mango Plantation is a beautiful, picturesque house on a hillside. It has a great view overlooking the bustling City of Castries and its Port. We were there over New Years and watched the fireworks from the veranda and could hear the city enjoying themselves. The house was clean, well equipped, and comfortable. The dogs were very gracious hosts welcoming us returning from our explorations. The lot was secluded and private though would recommend a 4x4 or AWD to drive the short distance from the road to the house. The owner, Cathy, was extremely helpful with recommendations and we enjoyed dinner at her restaurant Jaques. Any drive from Castries North could take longer than anticipated due to traffic depending on the time of day. The local cuisine on the Island was excellent. Cathy’s recommendations of The Naked Fisherman and Anse Chastant (Soufriere) stood out (reservations are recommended). St. Lucia is a wonderful island.

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bryan R.

May 24, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Heaven on earth!

The Mango Plantation will forever be remembered as a heaven on earth experience! The location and the property grounds are beautiful. The house is rustic but so comfortable and had everything we needed to just stay put and enjoy living right where we were! The master bedroom was comfortable and so lovely to wake up just before sunrise in. The kitchen was well-stocked and a delight to cook in, and the veranda… well, let’s just say that we spent almost every waking minute enjoying the view, the breeze, the birds, and the lizards. Reggie and Ella were wonderful companions for our afternoon happy hours and were always a joy to see coming (this is coming from people who are not really dog people). We were so grateful for them sharing their time with us. We loved the sounds of the city of Castries below. Castries was actually quite delightful; bustling with the friendliest people. Our only regret was that we did not get a chance to meet Cathy in person as she was away for family during our stay but she kept in constant touch through WhatsApp for every question we had during and prior to our stay. When we arrived, we were expecting to have a once in a lifetime experience and by the time we left, we were making plans for our "next stay". For anyone who wants THE IDEAL, real vacation getaway from the sanitized and corporate "resort" vacation, I highly recommend staying at the Mango Plantation. It will give you the quintessential 5 star experience!

Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

Andre H.

May 19, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Serene Haven

The house has all the charm described. My favourite part was the verandah for both sunrises and sunsets.

Stayed 5 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

James S.

Apr 12, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

St Lucia 2023

Truly enjoyed dining on the veranda looking out at the harbor below. Would stay again.

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Clark P.

Mar 23, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The view alone is worth the stay!

This historic house is beautifully maintained and a pleasant fit for our group of four adults and six teens. It is close to everything and the view is gorgeous. Cathy is amazing to communicate with, and there are two wonderful host dogs to make you feel at home. It safe and cozy, with an alarm and electric gate. No air conditioning, but you won't miss it. You will need a rental car and a 4 wheel drive is strongly encouraged as the road up to the house is in rough shape. We would definitely stay here again on our next visit.

Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Delia B., Zurich, Switzerland

Dec 30, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Highly recommended

If you would like to stay close to Castries and the north of St. Lucia while enjoying a lot of privacy, this is the place to book. Communication with the owner Cathy was easy and you get all the required information for a smooth check in. The view from the house is breath taking. The house itself is very spacious and well equipped, including the kitchen. It is recommended to rent a 4x4 car (small SUV) as the road to the house is quite bumpy (but not an issue to drive there, it is only for a short distance). Reggie and Ella, the two lovely dogs, enjoy good company and will „ask“ you to play with them (hint: there are some toys next to the main door). Overall a very nice place that I would recommend to my friends.

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Eugene G.

Dec 27, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

house

Love the bones of the house and the view. Cathy was super responsive/helpful and has great dogs.

Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Blake D.

Jan 5, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

TERRIFIC STAY!!!!

I must say that this is truly the most unique place I have ever stayed! BEAUTIFUL REAL DEAL Caribbean cottage with a spectacular view overlooking Casteries and the Caribbean Ocean. SO AWESOME! Now if fancy swanky resort living is your preference, then you might not be as carried away by Ms. Cathy's beautiful home as we were but if you want to truly unique experience that is true Caribbean then I think you would love it. The house will make you feel like you're in a romantic movie. LOL. Ms. Cathy was absolutely awesome in every aspect also. Great suggestions on how and what to do while in St Lucia. The only drawback at all, which has nothing to do with the house, property or Ms. Cathy at all, would be the city of Casteries. It can feel a little sketchy in areas and at times, but we always felt extremely safe and comfortable at home. Thank you Ms. Cathy for a wonderful stay!!!!

Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Muhammad S.

Jan 4, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very beautiful location and home

The house is on a hill overlooking the ocean and Castries. Very beautiful views. The property is well furnished and our stay was very comfortable. We really enjoyed staying there. Cathy was extremely helpful with all the questions we had.

Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2021

8/10 Good

Veronika H., St. Louis, USA

Jul 21, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful view

We enjoyed staying at Mango plantation! Every morning we would sit on the veranda and enjoy the beautiful view and feel the nice breeze. The villa is surrounded by fruit trees- we picked coconuts and sour oranges for juice, there are mango and banana trees also but not ready to be picked when we were there. Cathy was very nice and accommodating, whatever we needed she arranged for us. She was a great host! We had all the privacy we needed, we would walk to Castries, Vigie beach and La Toc beach- it is quite a good workout since the area has fairly steep hills but we enjoyed it (most people either arrange a taxi driver or rent a car, there is also a bus transportation available). The nights are usually warm, we definitely took advantage of the fans provided. Also keep in mind you are surrounded by nature (you can hear cicadas at night, you will be visited by small birds, geckos and ants if you leave food lying around). Definitely pack a mosquito repellent is was helpful to have one. If you are interested in an authentic island experience you won’t be disappointed! We loved the villa and the garden and the view and Cathy is a great resource when it comes to exploring the island and will quickly help arrange whatever you need! Thank you Cathy for all you did for us!

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Peter H., Thunder Bay, ON

Mar 7, 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mango Plantation - St. Lucia

We really loved "This Old House". It had so much character; a very classy act for sure! The house was well equipped and comfortable. Cathy was so helpful in so many ways especially giving us directions, as St. Lucia is a little lacking in signage. We got lost a few times, but the locals were always willing to help us out and get us back in the right direction! Vigie Beach was the best beach (on the other side of the small airport in Castries) We really enjoyed the tram ride through the Rain Forest, the volcano, botanical gardens and water fall in Soufriere.

Stayed 14 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Beatriz G.

Dec 22, 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

30th anniversary

My husband and I had the pleasure to spend a few days at this beautiful property to celebrate our 30th anniversary. The hosts were really nice and we also enjoy a beautiful lunch on our special day at their restaurant at Rodney Bay. We took a water taxi to get there. Strongly recommend renting an SUV because the access to the house is very steep. Cathy (the owner) mention that to us ahead of time and we also read the comments from previous guests.

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2019

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Melissa R.

Jul 15, 2017

The best time ever!!! We've rebooked for next year.

My husband and I stayed two weeks at the Castries Plantation House. The house is charming and the views are stunning. The bed was comfortable and the kitchen had everything since the owner is a chef on the island. While we were there, the mangos were ripe and I would go out every morning to collect our delicious bounty. We had more mangos than we could eat by the time we left. There was a dog, Maya, whom we loved. We are cat people in the states but Maya provided an extra layer of enjoyment during our stay. I hope she misses us because we miss her. Cathy was great and suggested some interesting things for us to do besides diving. They do own a restaurant, so they know all of the nice places to eat and visit. We visited her restaurant about 3 times and each time was better than the last. All in all, it was nice having a friendly contact on the island. The house is close to the town of Castries, and we were close to outdoor vegetable and fruit and fish markets which were fun and colorful. Driving on the island was wild but my husband managed it heroically. We have rebooked for next year. We could not get anyone to come and a meet us on our vacation this year but I'm afraid we will have too many people and family wanting to visit us next summer. Counting the days!

Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Hans C.

Apr 18, 2017

Sainte-Lucie, Castrie

Nous avons passé des moments fort agréable à Castrie. La propriété est idéalement situé donnant vue face au port. Le soleil et le calme de l'endroit sont idéal pour tout ceux qui cherche à la fois le dépaysement, un confort rustique et complet en dehors des sentiers habituels que sont les ''resorts'' . Avec un Dayhatsu Teiros (Rav4) vous aurez que du plaisir à Saint-Lucie, vous pouvez louer au prix d'une voiture standard (400US semaine) vaux mieux avoir un 4x4 les routes sont très sinueuses, pittoresque et la conduite à gauche se fait bien et ne vous en faite pas les gens sont courtois et prudent. Le stationnement est simple. Nous avons été au restaurant de Cathy et Jacques et y avons été reçu en invités de marques. La table y est délicieuse. Pour l'épicerie et les courses nous avons tout trouvé et tout près. À quelques kilomètres il y à une épicerie avec tout ce que vous voudrez situé à Cul de sac! Il y à aussi un genre Costco à mi chemin de Rodney Bay. Pour le reste découvrir l'ile à partir de la Maison de Cathy était parfait nous avons visité tous les sites de l'ile sauf la Soufrière , nous voulions plus profiter des spa naturel et chutes ce que nous avons trouvé à juste avant les deux pitons, un site peu fréquenté mais pour quelques $ nous y étions seul en famille avec un guide '' Bob Marley'' très drôle et divertissent. Cela à fait notre journée au deux piton un bonheur vue que le seul reproche à faire de Sainte-Lucie est le coût exorbitant de la location de chaises de plage... Mais c'est le seul attrape touriste au quel vous devrai vous résigner mais négocier les prix baissent vite. Somme toute grace à la maison plantation de Cathy vous tomberez sous le charme pittoresque de Sainte-Lucie.

Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Anna W.

Feb 22, 2017

Truly a Home Away from Home with a perfect hostess

Mango Plantation is a very special place with an amazing feel to it- from the wooded interior and 100+ year plantation design complete with open air flow throughout, the beautiful kitchen, comfortable furniture, great beds, and of course the amazing views from the veranda! As a plant lover, I enjoyed walking the grounds and examining the beautiful assortment of flora. The bitter-orange juice right from the tree was lovely and I was excited to see a magical Moringa tree (a really great superfood whose peppery leaves made a nice addition to just about everything we made). Maya, the sweet German Sheppard and Sushi the cat of the house were there to greet us each time we arrived back at the house. A 4x4 vehicle is a must for accessing the house. The rental car company did not honor this request upon arrival and our Kia had an issue- thankfully we were able to contact Cathy who was able to have her awesome neighbor help us out of the jam. Cathy was such a lovely hostess. She met us at the rental car place and showed us the way to the home. Her recommendations helped to make this vacation truly special. From visiting her friends restaurant and inn while crossing the island (Fox-Grove Inn-highly recommended for spending an afternoon having lunch and taking in the beautiful views and utilizing their pool in a completely serene setting), to arranging for a fabulous masseuse to come to the house (a real highlight), to pointing us in the direction of a great boat to book passage on back to Martinique (outside of the ferries whose timetables were somewhat restricting), her help took our experience to the next level. Our last meal was at Jacques, the restaurant owned by Cathy and her husband Jacques) and it was phenomenal! The views, the food and the atmosphere were all terrific! I honestly can't say enough good things about our time here. My only complaint is that I did not book more time here! Xo, Anna

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Troy & Heidi Z.

Apr 21, 2016

The perfect place to unwind after the beach!

We had plans to make our three children's first vacation one that they would remember for a lifetime and this amazing house was a huge part of that. We were scheduled to arrive on March 24, 2016 ( the day before Good Friday) at around 2:30 pm and make our way up to Castries to meet Cathy to get settled into the house. Well... things didn't go according to plan. Due to a snow delay in Toronto, we weren't able to connect with Cathy until about 11:00 that night. In all the chaos, we didn't realize that all the stores would be closed on Good Friday! Now this is where we see the kind of person Cathy is. She realized the situation we would be in and had gone out and picked up groceries for us to get us through a couple days until we could get to a store! We knew right then that we found someone that we could rely on. If you look at the pictures you will see the stunning views from the house. These pictures are 100% accurate. The one thing they don't give you are the smells and sounds of the lush garden that surrounds the property. You will be amazed at the birds and geckos that surround the property, as well as the flowering shrubs and trees. All of this topped off with flowing trade winds that took the edge off the tropical temperature. It was an experience in itself to eat breakfast every morning on the deck and take in our surroundings. Cathy also has beautiful German Shepherd named Mia that kept a watchful eye on us as we enjoyed the house. Our kids also had fun playing with her. The one thing we appreciated about this house was the combination of old world charm and character with the amenities of a modern house. The wifi worked great, there was a television to watch if you wanted, (even caught a game on Hockey night in Canada too!) and a pile of board games. The kitchen had everything we needed to comfortably cook our meals and enjoy our stay. Cathy and Jacques also gave us complete privacy at the residence as well but were very helpful whenever we had a question about the house or the island. I would also like to recommend a meal at Jacques Waterfront restaurant as well. He won't disappoint! After spending 10 nights at Cathy and Jacques house, we felt a level of relaxation we hadn't felt in years. PS. Cathy, If you ever want to sell... You know how to reach us! :-) PSS. If you need to rent a car, contact Marcus Antoine at www.islandercars.com call 758-719-2837. Great service, best price on the island!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Louise C., Hatley, Quebec, Canada

Apr 6, 2016

Wonderful family get away

My husband and I spent a glorious week at Mango Plantation with four adult children. What a wonderful way to re-connect! The house is spacious, well appointed and had all the comforts needed for a relaxing stay, including a selection of well-loved board games we played every evening. Early mornings were spent with a cup of coffee on the porch, listening to birdsong and watching the cruise ships in the harbour below. If arriving on the island in the afternoon I highly recommend having supper prepared for you by the host Cathy and her chef husband Jacques. A delicious lasagne, salad and garlic bread were heaven sent after the hour ride from the airport. We rented two four-wheel drive jeeps and were glad we had as the driveway to the house is steep; but we found the roads in Saint Lucia to be in great shape, if a bit twisty. Having the jeeps allowed us to see the whole island easily. Great hosts and great memories☺

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Diana T.

Feb 4, 2016

Beautiful tropical escape, and lovely hosts

I traveled with my 2 children, 2 and 5 along with my friend and her 7 year old. It was a mom's getaway from the Canadian cold. We absolutely loved our stay at Cathy and Jaques' gorgeous plantation style home. The views and vistas are breathtaking and there is nothing more peaceful than having a glass of wine on the front porch at sunset. The house is wonderfully maintained as are the gardens in front. It is comfortable and spacious with all the amenities you need. Fast WIFI and satellite TV. Note that the house is completely open so as to allow the fragrant trade winds to blow through. Mosquitos were a bit bothersome at dusk, but we sprayed ourselves with bug spray and were mostly left alone. The mosquito nets over each bed will keep you bite free as you sleep. Our kids had no complaints. We rented a car and drove as per Cathy's well written directions to the Super J grocery store where she met us and then drove into Castries and back up to the house so that we would have an idea of how to get around. Like other reviewers have noted, and I will echo, driving in St. Lucia is not for the feint-hearted. With its switch-backs, poorly maintained roads, steep grade hills and left hand driving you should be fairly comfortable doing all of the above to drive around the island. It is definitely an adventure. House is perfectly positioned to enjoy the whole island, we drove the south-west coast, to the north and the east coast. Our favourite beach was Anse de Cochon in Anse la Raye, which is also a unique little fishing village. Thank you Cathy for making us feel quite at home and for being available with anything we needed. I can't wait to come back sans enfants next time around.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jun 9, 2013

Perfect Stay a Beautiful Setting

We loved the Mango Plantation. It was very spacious and could fit at least 6 more people comfortably. It was fully stocked with all you need to enjoy your vacation. Including Wifi and a local phone to use. The owners Cathy and Jacques (also the owner of Jacques Waterfront restaurant in Rodney Bay) where very helpful and answered all our questions quickly and promptly. We rented the Rav 4 from Cathy and it was helpful getting us around the island. Stanley (their driver) picked us at the airport and drove us to meet Cathy at the restaurant. He was very nice and informative about the island. It was a very welcoming and humbling being the first one we met and the last we spoke to. We followed him to the grocery store and met up with Cathy later who then led us to the house. She provided landmarks and ways to remember how to get up the somewhat remote location. This landmarks where very helpful and made getting lost nearly impossible. I suggest taking a few notes if possible. The house itself was an older but well taken care of home. We primarily stay on the first floor which is where the master was along with the master bathroom. The shutters where wooden and added such a nice charm to the house. It also had an alarm system we never used. It was on top of a steep hill and we just didn’t see anybody would want to climb it to rob us. Plus there was sweet natured Maya who was the house protector whom guarded it all day. The house is surrounded by the most beautiful fruit trees and flowers of all kinds. You have a beautiful view of Castries bay. We ate all meals on the patio. Angie, the housekeeper, came to the house on MWF and was assisted with laundry and cleaning the kitchen. She was very helpful and informative as well. We used the home as a base camp for us. We explored all the neighboring cities. Rodney Bay is really close ~20 mins and we went there for several of our meals. We also were really close to Marigot Bay ~ 20 mins. It’s a about a 1.5 hours away from Soufriere Bay which is where you find the active volcano and the Gros and Petit Piton. To us the location was prefect and provided is with lots of privacy and a comfortable place to lay our head. We know if we return we would bring our entire family. Thank you for allowing us to stay in your beautiful home.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Apr 7, 2013

Beautiful tropical vacation home

We were intrigued by this house from the moment we discovered it online and it more than lived up to the reviews. We ate all of our meals on the lovely covered veranda where we could watch the city of Castries below, Pigeon Point to the north and the Caribbean Ocean beyond. At night the town was lit up and when it was clear we could see the lights of Martinique in the distance. We were regaled by choruses of cicadas and frogs as dusk descended. Cathy and Jacques welcomed us on our arrival and Cathy was a wealth of information on local sites. She was always available when we had questions. We enjoyed Jacques delicious food and a jazz trio(with steel drum/pans) at the Sunday morning brunch at their restaurant. Angie, the housekeeper, agreed to cook us traditional Caribbean fare and sent us to the bustling Saturday farmers' market with grocery lists for our meals. Glenroy, the gardener, taught my teenagers to climb a coconut tree and to drink coconut water from the freshly harvested fruit. The house is a great stepping off point for visiting Soufriere, the Pitons and the volcano to the south, Dennery on the Atlantic side, and Rodney Bay and Pigeon Point to the north. We had the added convenience of renting Cathy and Jacques RAV for our sightseeing excursions. We would love to stay at the Mango Plantation on our next trip to St. Lucia.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

giulia t., Vicenza

Jul 7, 2012

A perfect family holiday

We are an Italian family, with 2 children. We spent 2 weeks holidays in this beautiful place and we would hightly recomand it to other families because it is safety for babies. The house is very big and you can stay there with all the conforts up to 8 people. The villa is perfectly located as it is slightly up in the hills, in the middle of tropical forest. You can sleep listening natural sounds like tree frogs and caribbean birds. It is always windy an it is a pleasure dinning in the patio looking the natural landscape. Enough to be out of the crowd but still in 2 minutes by car you can be downtown. The owners, Cathy and Jacques, wormly welcome us and they has been at our complete disposal for the entire vacation. They are also owners of a wonderful restaurant called "Jacques Waterfront" in Rodney Bay Marina, where you can eat a fantastic franch-caribbean dishes. A special mention also to Madelaine who has been a perfect carefull made. The island is very friendly and there are a lots of incredible places and beaches to go. To conclude we have been into a real paradise! Giulia and Alberto Signoretto with our little babies Giacomo and Ottavia

About the host

Hosted by Cathy Rioux

I was born in Nottingham in the U.K. and spent part of my childhood in Yorkshire, Guernsey in the Channel Islands, and Oxfordshire. I studied Hotel Management at Bournemouth University in the UK. I have traveled extensively since then working on a cruise ship, in Bahrain in the Middle East and Sudan in Africa, eventually settling in St Lucia 28 years ago with my husband Jacques who is French, and our two children who were toddlers at the time and now live in the UK. We originally came to St Lucia as Jacques was offered a job as the Executive Chef at Anse Chastanet Hotel in Soufriere. Four years later we decided to move to Castries and open our own restaurant. 'Jacques Waterfront Dining' was located not far from the house in Castries until July 2011 when it was destroyed by fire. Jacques re-opened on 11/11/11 in Rodney Bay in a fabulous waterfront location with views over the Marina.

Why they chose this property

I will never forget the first time that I saw La Plantation des Manguiers (Mango Plantation for short). I was teaching English to children in a French school here in St Lucia. One December another teacher and I decided to teach the children English Christmas Carols and organise a bus tour around each of the children's homes to sing their newly learnt songs to their families. One of the children lived in Mango Plantation at the time. The bus driver dropped us at the bottom of the drive and we walked up the drive with the children. When we got to the top of the drive the view just took my breath away (or what was left of it after the steep climb) a lover of Caribbean architecture I instantly fell in love with the wooden plantation house and said to my friend 'If I ever live in Castries, I want to live in this house' I never thought another thing about it until a few years later we met the family that was currently renting in the house, we became good friends and we spent happy times there visitng them. As they were getting ready to leave St Lucia, Jacques and I were getting ready to open our restaurant in Castries and needless to say we jumped at the chance to rent the house. We lived in the house for 9 years and asked the owners if we could buy it several times eventually they agreed. We absolutely love our house and we know that you will too!

What makes this property unique

Plantation des Manguiers is a typical Caribbean Plantation style house. The foundations date back over 100 hundred years. The wooden part has been renovated over the years but by all accounts has been kept true to the original style. The view is superb. We never get tired of sitting on the veranda and watching the ever changing sea and sky. We look out over the City of Castries to Pigeon Island and beyond. On a clear day we can see Martinique so well, you would believe that you could swim there! The lights twinkle at night. We live only minutes from Castries but the house feels secluded, there are neighbors but we can't see them, and they can't see us.