By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ What I remember is the ginger beer made from scratch. It’s a small detail but represents what makes Saint Lucia’s Serenity at Coconut Bay resort so special: nothing about the experience is canned.
Just shy of its 10th anniversary, Serenity, the couples-only sister property (and neighbour) of Canadian favourite Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, maxes out at only 36 suites, each with its own private butler, ensuring a guest experience where “privacy and indulgence reign supreme.”
The reimagined luxury resort caters to discerning couples seeking a romantic escape, offering unlimited, all-inclusive experiences with superlative service that’s both relaxed and thoughtful. Privacy is paramount, in both the resort’s design and mission. Butlers provide the highest level of intuitive, always unintrusive pampering from arrival to departure.
The expansive suites blend indoor and outdoor spaces into one. Handcrafted mahogany beds look out on private plunge pools and decks where outdoor showers, coconut palms and hammocks-for-two add to the relaxed island feel, making a perfect spot for in-suite spa therapies, moonlit suppers, and the choice of au naturel freedom.
The resort is ideally located just minutes from Hewanorra International Airport on Saint Lucia’s southeast coast and is easily accessible to the island’s world-famous attractions.
With winter coming, and Canadian sunseekers and snowbirds plotting their escapes, Travel Industry Today checked in with hotel manager Chris Chin and resort VP of sales and marketing Natalia Greene for the latest on the resort, and to discover how Chin’s recent walk-through video on Tik Tok and YouTube attracted a whopping 1.9 million viewers (and climbing). Here’s what they had to say:
Q: When guests arrive at Serenity for the first time, what do you notice about their reaction?
Chin: The first thing I notice when they get out of the private transfer from (the airport), is just an exhale. Within five minutes of leaving the airport, they arrive to a welcome coconut water (with the option to add rum), a scented cool towel, and a completely different place. That exhale that I hear: ‘I’ve found my Serentiy!’
You’ve been part of the Serenity experience from the inside. What is it about this resort that you personally love?
Chin: I love the personal feel. With only 36 suites our team has time to get to know the guests and not just follow a process. I’m really proud of the team – the staff here are our biggest asset and they bring St. Lucian warmth, hospitality and luxury service, so the experiences feel natural and never rehearsed. Guests often come as visitors and they leave as our Serenity family.
Serenity is a very intimate resort; how do you think that changes the experience for guests?
Chin: We get to know the guests first of all; we learn how they like their coffee, what they’re celebrating, whether they prefer quiet or conversation. So, that’s what it is. We really get to give them that personalized butler service and service overall.
The butler service is such an important part of Serenity. What are some of the little things the butlers do that guests really appreciate?
Chin: They just remember who you are. They address you by your name. So, it’s very personal. They know what you like to drink. They know when you like to get your room serviced. And there’s all the coordinating that they do, from dining and excursions to spa treatments. They think of everything, they anticipate your needs, so it’s a huge part of the stay.
Is there a particular butler request or guest experience that has stuck with you over the years?
Greene: After a long day touring, you might call your butler and say, please prepare my bubble bath – an aromatherapy bath that I can soak in after I get back from my tour and have it ready with a bottle of bubbly next to the tub. Also, when the couple’s celebrating a honeymoon or an anniversary, we have these gorgeous heart-shaped floating trays that go into the plunge pool.
Our team also loves to help our guests plan a unique proposal and over the years we have assisted in many across the resort and even on a private catamaran cruise.
Serenity is known for its relaxed approach to luxury. How do you see that come to life in the guest experience?
Chin: It’s personal and unforced. The surroundings, dining experience and services are refined. And guests never feel like they have to put on airs to enjoy it. So, a couple can dress for an elegant dinner at The Greathouse then the next morning have an in-suite casual breakfast and enjoy the quiet nature of their suite.
For couples who want to enjoy the resort, what are some of your favourite things for them to do?
Chin: Oh, just everything. I want them to have a bit of adventure, a nice balance of activity plus relaxation time and intimate moments. A lot of the activities we have are curated for the couple, so we want them to create memories. We have sushi making, paint and punch, and wine pairing classes. We crafted all these little touches creating moments for them, so they can remember it and remember their time at Serenity in the years to come.
Greene: And don’t forget the beach. The butlers will pick guests up at their suite in a golf cart and shuttle them to their very own private beach cabana, which is prepared for them with their preferred beverages and their afternoon lunch (or private dinner). The beach cabanas are really beautiful, private, intimate spaces with flowers and amenities that really bring St. Lucia into the equation, like coconuts that are already cut and shaved. And you know you can’t help but be romantic in a private beach cabana or a private pool cabana that’s been staged just for the two of you.
For those who just want to relax, what does perfect day look like at Serenity?
Chin: I would say wake up late, have breakfast delivered to their private butler box. Enjoy the afternoon in their plunge pool, swinging in their hammock under the trees, taking an outdoor shower. And then they can order room service at any given time, including the nice heart-shaped floating tray that Natalia mentioned earlier. Then they could even finish off the night with an in-suite butler dinner. We have the Suite Sensations chef’s dinner where one of our chefs comes to the suite and cooks live in front of our guests. A Netflix and chill kind of evening after that where we could also run a nice bath for them at the end of their day, just so they can end the day in pure relaxation.
What would you encourage couples not to miss during their time in Saint Lucia?
Chin: Saint Lucia in general is very romantic and the perfect place to find unforgettable adventures. We have Couples Escapades, which are private tours around the island with a driver who encourages our couples to set the pace and timing of each stop. We have some stunning landmarks. A must see is definitely the Pitons. Everyone loves to see them, whether it’s from the sea or if you choose to take a hike and go to the top of Gros Piton. For the more adventure-seeking couple, the Soufriere Experience takes you to the botanical gardens, our beautiful waterfalls and the sulphur springs and mud baths. These are always a must-do on everyone’s checklist that visits Saint Lucia.
Honeymoons and special celebrations are an important part of the Serenity experience. What do you think makes this such a special place for couples marking an important moment together?
Chin: It’s the entire experience, from the butlers to the 5-star service in The Greathouse to the privacy that guests experience. Everything that we do allows our guests to find connection effortlessly. Pretty much every touch point guests go through during their day reminds them that they’re here and enjoying and celebrating life in one of the most beautiful islands in the world.
Guests have the privacy and intimacy of Serenity, but they can also enjoy the restaurants, activities and amenities next door at Coconut Bay…
Chin: Yes, your retreat is in Serenity, but you get to play at Coconut Bay all day if you want to. A lot of our guests do love the Jerk Tree House Restaurant, the Lazy River and all of the à la carte restaurants. Our Paradise Beach Bar with hammocks in the water is a fun stop for an afternoon. It’s really close to our beach cabanas, so, you can hang out there then take advantage of water sports at the Surf Shack. It’s a nice change of pace from Serenity that’s just steps away.
If a travel advisor asked you, “What kind of couple should I send to Serenity?” what would you tell them?
Chin: Any couple in love. Any couple that’s looking for quiet luxury, not pretentious, and looking to reconnect and enjoy one another while being taken care of by the warmest and most hospitable staff on earth.
Greene: (But) keep in mind if your clients are looking for 24/7 entertainment with a club-like music scene, that is not the Serenity guest, and it’s not the Serenity experience.
If you could give a couple one piece of advice before they arrive at Serenity, what would you tell them?
Chin: Leave at least one day unplanned. The best memories sometimes come from doing absolutely nothing. And don’t be afraid to ask your butler for anything you can dream up, because our team really cares, and they want you to find your Serenity in Saint Lucia.
And advice for travel advisors making a booking?
Greene: Keep in mind that Serenity’s travel agent incentives are very different from Coconut Bay’s with higher earning potential, so for Canadian travel agents, they need to know that regardless of which tour operator they book with, Air Canada Vacations or WestJet Vacations, they earn up to $100 bonus rewards per seven-night booking, as long as bookings are registered on SerenityRewards.com.
NEED TO KNOW
For rates and reservations, call Serenity at Coconut Bay toll-free from North America at 877-252-0304, email serenity@cbayna.com or visit serenityatcoconutbay.com.
Check out Chris Chin’s Serenity at Coconut Bay tour video on Tik Tok and YouTube here:
https://www.tiktok.com/@serenityatcoconutbay/video/7640488185692179726