The Lotus Villa has a few undeniable positives: i.e. the absolutely stunning views and the kind, responsive help from Nelly, the local house manager. Unfortunately, other aspects of our stay fell far short of our expectations—especially given the €400 per night price tag.

The property itself is in serious need of maintenance and updating. The promotional photos are outdated and do not reflect the current worn condition of the villa and its amenities. During our stay, there were multiple water outages, leaving us without the ability to flush toilets, shower, use the dishwasher, etc. The swimming pool is in a run-down state, with loose and missing tiles and a pool light that sometimes detached from the wall—something that felt potentially unsafe, especially for children. The rain shower in one room could not be used due to the wrong fitting, the mattress in the main bedroom sagged badly, one of the main roller shutters in the living area didn’t work, many of the outdoor seating areas lack cushions or chairs, the BBQ was not functional during our stay and the kitchen was under-equipped in regard to tableware for a six-person villa. With proper maintenance, attention to detail, and an update of the facilities, the Lotus Villa could be the most wonderful place (to stay) during a visit to St. Lucia. PS Ensure your car has sufficient power and road clearance to cope with the bumpy road up, and the very steep driveway.