Ti Kaye Village truly is a magical place. We stayed there the last four nights of our trip to St. Lucia in February and were amazed that this tranquil piece of paradise comes at such an affordable price. Ti Kaye is literally located in the middle of nowhere - partway down the west coast of St. Lucia. You will undoubtedly have to traverse St. Lucia's windy, mountainous roads to get to the resort, so carsick travelers beware. We DO NOT suggest renting a car - you'll be much safer with the cab drivers who have navigated the roads many times before. Once you arrive at the entrace to the resort, you will travel down a bumpy dirt road (with an unbelievably steep hill) before you get to the hotel. However, once you're there, the relaxation begins immediately. Instead of having to waste time checking in, the staff sends you directly to the open-air, large square bar, where you're treated to your choice of cocktail. We suggest the Pina Coladas - the best we had in St. Lucia (although not as good as the ones in Hawaii).
We were then escorted to oceanview cottage "J", our home for the next four days. Upon setting foot in the cottage, we were immediately charmed. It had a large wooden front porch with a hammock and views of the water framed by the lush vegetation. The double glass doors opened into the bedroom with a bed covered in flower petals and complete with a mosquito net. When you're lying in the bed, you can literally see panoramic ocean views - it's fantastic. There's no indoor shower/tub in the cottage. Instead, the bathroom opens to a small patio with tropical plants and an outdoor shower. (One of our few complaints about the resort is that the shower's hot water did not last much longer than five minutes).There's an amazing sense of privacy in the cottages - perhaps because of the way they're strategically situated on the hillside - and we definitely recommend getting a detached cottage. We didn't splurge for the plunge pool room, but we're sure they're wonderful as well.
The restaurant is fun and lively and the hotel staff makes a point to learn your names. Keep an eye out for George - the hotel's "utility player" who always has a smile on his face! Hot breakfast is included with the room rate, and you're given a choice between American, English, and St. Lucian breakfasts. The dinner menu varied each night. Our first night (Wednesday) was a buffet with a lot of traditional St. Lucian food - including green figs and saltfish salad and grilled fish skewers. We had our best meal the last night - fresh-caught tuna that was seared rare (other restaurants on the island way overcooked their tuna). The wine list wasn't very extensive, but there were some decent bottles. La Crema seems to be a favorite wine on the island! There's live music and entertainment several nights at week at Ti Kaye, and we even got involved in learning some of the island dances. Romance is in the air in the outdoor dining room, and many couples (including us) got up to dance on the moonlit terrace.
The pool at Ti Kaye is nothing special, but there are nice sunset views from the lounge chairs by the pool. There are also a ton of steps to the beach, but you get used to it. The beach itself was quiet and tranquil - it reminded us a bit of Gilligan's Island. There's excellent snorkeling in the cove, and many large boats from Sandals and other hotels bring dozens of snorkelers throughout the day, which can get a little annoying. The beachside restaurant is convenient but nothing special. Don't order the cheeseburger!
One of the greatest things we did through Ti Kaye was sign up for the "Land and Sea" tour. We took a water taxi to Soufriere, where we met up with Earl - an excellent and knoweldgeable tour guide who took us to for a tour of the botanical gardens and drive-in volcano, lunch at the Ladera Hotel, and a dip in the hot springs.
The Ti Kaye Village is the perfect way to escape from every day life. Nothing beats reading in the hammock, showering beneath the stars, or watching the sun set over the Caribbean sea. Just be prepared to be removed from society - there's no television, Internet access, or cell phone service that we we're aware of. You're also miles from other restaurants and stores, so you have to rely on what the hotel offers. Ti Kaye is perfect for a 4-5 day stay - a full week might be a little long.
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