There are certain trips that stay with you long after your tan has faded and your suitcase has been unpacked.

Trips that subtly shift something in you.

Trips that remind you how good your body can feel when you actually give it what it needs.

For me, The BodyHoliday is exactly that kind of place.

And when a holiday leaves such an impression that you find yourself spending the next twelve months mentally planning your return before you’ve even landed back home, you know it’s something special.

That’s exactly what happened after my first visit in May 2025.

I travelled to St Lucia with my friend Cheryl for a week of sunshine, fitness, beach time and complete reset. We arrived not entirely sure what to expect and left wondering why every holiday couldn’t feel like this.

So exactly a year later, we did what any sensible wellness-loving, spicy margarita-drinking women would do:

We went back.

Why We Returned

If you’ve never heard of The BodyHoliday, it’s not your typical Caribbean all-inclusive.

This isn’t the kind of resort where people spend ten days horizontal by the pool with a bottomless piña colada in hand (though if that’s your thing, no judgment – and yes, the cocktails are excellent).

The philosophy here is built around four pillars:

• Relaxation
• Therapeutic Care
• Exercise
• Nutrition

It’s a wellness resort, yes, but not in the intimidating, celery-juice-and-silent-retreat sense.

There’s no pressure. No preachiness. No performative “wellness culture.”

Instead, there’s this wonderfully balanced ethos that says:

Move because it feels good. Rest because your body needs it. Eat beautifully. Have the cocktail. Book the massage. Dance at the piano bar.

It’s wellness without obsession.

And that’s precisely why we came back.

The Journey: London to Paradise

We flew direct from London Gatwick Airport to Hewanorra International Airport with British Airways — a smooth enough journey, though as anyone who has travelled to St Lucia knows, landing is only part one of the adventure.

The island’s international airport is located in the south, while The BodyHoliday sits up in Cap Estate at the far north.

The road transfer is just over two hours and “winding” is putting it politely.

The kind of roads that make you reconsider every life choice if you’re prone to motion sickness.

Which is exactly why we once again opted for the helicopter transfer.

And honestly? It’s worth every penny.

There’s something wildly exciting about stepping off a long-haul flight and straight into a helicopter, lifting over St Lucia’s lush green mountains, coastline glittering below, and getting your first proper glimpse of the island from above.

Within minutes we were touching down in Castries, followed by a quick 20-minute drive to the resort.

And then — finally — we arrived.

First Impressions (Again)

Some places lose their magic on second visit but walking into reception felt like returning somewhere familiar rather than checking into a hotel.

We were greeted by smiling concierge staff and handed one of their signature ginger-pineapple health juices — sharp, refreshing, and exactly what your post-flight body craves.

Then came Dwayne, who cheerfully whisked our bags away and escorted us to our sixth-floor garden-view rooms.

A quick note on the rooms: they’re elegant rather than flashy. This isn’t over-the-top marble-and-chandelier luxury. It’s calm, comfortable, maintained, and intentionally understated.

After a quick refresh, there was only one logical next step.

Cocktails.

The Ritual Begins: Spicy Margaritas at The Clubhouse

The first stop was the Clubhouse Bar at The Pavilion Clubhouse.

And yes, our spicy margarita tradition resumed immediately.

There is something deeply satisfying about beginning a wellness holiday with tequila.

Balance, after all.

Drink in hand, sea breeze drifting through, and that unmistakable Caribbean golden-hour light settling over the resort, it felt like we’d stepped right back into our happy place.

Dinner that first evening was at The Pavilion Grill, where I had grilled mahi mahi that was genuinely outstanding.

Perfectly cooked, delicately seasoned, fresh in that way only island seafood can be.

We kept things low-key and headed to bed early.

Because if there’s one thing you learn quickly at The BodyHoliday, it’s this:

Morning starts early.

And trust me, you’ll want to make the most of them.

The Main Event: Movement, Movement, Movement

This is what drew us here in the first place.

The activity programme at The BodyHoliday is, frankly, ridiculous.

In the best possible way.

You could easily do something every hour from dawn to dusk and still not try everything.

Our self-imposed challenge was to fit in two to three activities each morning, leaving afternoons gloriously free for beach time.

This usually looked something like:

• 7am Walk (fast & uphill)
• Mid-morning pilates
• AquaFit before lunch

Then beach.

Then lunch.

Then massage.

Then more beach with cocktails.

A hard life.

AquaFit

This deserves more respect.

It sounds gentle.

It sounds easy.

It is neither.

We laughed our way through most sessions with the bodyguards (Look out of the classes run by Deano, Darren or Shaquel).

It’s low-impact, high-energy, and ridiculously fun.

Mobility and Pilates

A game-changer.

These sessions became some of our favourites because they balanced out the more intense workouts beautifully.

There’s something incredibly restorative about dedicating time to movement quality, flexibility and recovery (Hiley’s mobility was great & Mindy/Deno’s pilates were our favourite).

Your body notices.

A Surprisingly Addictive Golf Lesson with Edwin

One of the unexpected highlights of our stay was taking a golf lesson with Edwin at the resort’s golf academy.

Now, neither Cheryl nor I arrived in St Lucia harbouring secret ambitions of joining the LPGA tour, but one of the joys of The BodyHoliday is how it nudges you to try things you’d probably never book on a typical beach holiday.

Set against the impossibly lush backdrop of St Lucia’s northern coastline, the lesson felt far removed from the often-intimidating atmosphere that can surround golf. Edwin immediately put us at ease with his calm, patient teaching style and the kind of easy humour that makes learning something new feel fun rather than frustrating.

He expertly broke down the fundamentals — grip, stance, posture and swing technique — in a way that was simple enough for complete beginners to follow, while still making us feel like we were making genuine progress.

Of course, there were plenty of wildly ambitious swings, a few spectacular misses, and more than one moment where we were convinced the ball had developed a personal vendetta against us.

But then came those magical few clean strikes — that deeply satisfying crack as club meets ball perfectly — and suddenly we understood why people become completely obsessed with the sport.

What made the experience particularly special was the setting. Practising our swing surrounded by tropical greenery, with warm Caribbean air and sea views in the distance, was about as far from your average driving range as it gets.

It was yet another example of what The BodyHoliday does so brilliantly: blending activity, challenge and enjoyment in a way that feels effortless.

Safe to say, by the end of the lesson, Cheryl and I were already debating whether golf might need to become part of our lives back in London. Whether our local driving ranges are quite as idyllic as St Lucia’s is another matter entirely.

The BodyStats Assessment: The Unexpected Highlight

One of the smartest things we did was book the BodyStats assessment again.

This comprehensive health and fitness evaluation measures everything from body composition to flexibility, cardiovascular fitness and functional movement.

It includes assessments such as:

• Resting heart rate and blood pressure
• BMI and body composition
• Waist circumference
• Peak expiratory flow
• Functional movement screening
• Cardiorespiratory fitness
• Strength and endurance testing
• Flexibility

And because we’d done it in 2025, we had direct comparisons.

I won’t pretend I wasn’t slightly nervous.

There’s nowhere to hide when data gets involved. But seeing measurable improvements across multiple markers was hugely satisfying. It’s one thing to feel fitter. It’s another to have evidence. That comparison alone made the assessment worth doing.

Cariblue Beach: The Afternoon Reward

After all that activity, the afternoons belonged to the beach.

And what a reward it is.

Cariblue Beach is genuinely stunning.

A serene crescent of golden sand framed by tropical greenery, with calm, crystal-clear water that shifts between turquoise and sapphire depending on the light.

The kind of beach that makes you involuntarily say, “This can’t be real.”

Most afternoons were spent alternating between sun lounger, sea, and watersports.

The water is so calm and there’s something deeply therapeutic about floating in warm Caribbean water after a morning of squats and hill walks.

Lunch: Wellness Without Sacrifice

One thing The BodyHoliday gets very right is food.

“Wellness resort cuisine” can sometimes translate to tiny portions and joyless salads.

Not here.

Lunch was usually either delivered straight to our loungers (dangerously convenient, big shout out to Orlando, who was our favourite server at the beach – he took very good care of us) or enjoyed barefoot at The Wellness Café.

This became our regular spot.

Fresh smoothies, healthy wraps, bento boxes, vibrant salads, tropical fruit, protein bowls – everything feels thoughtfully prepared and genuinely satisfying. (But yes, I did need to add a bit of extra salt & hot sauce).

When we fancied something more substantial, we headed to Cariblue’s buffet.

And this is where The BodyHoliday completely redefines what buffet dining can be.

Forget limp lettuce and mystery casseroles.

This is beautifully presented, fresh food.

I became mildly obsessed with building giant salads piled with:

• Beans
• Chickpeas
• Tomatoes
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Fresh greens
• A piece of perfectly grilled fish

Peak holiday lunch.

Evening Dining: The Culinary Rotation

Each night offers a different experience, which keeps things exciting over a longer stay.

Tao

Probably our least favourite. The concept — East meets West fusion — sounds promising and the sushi was genuinely excellent. But the rest felt slightly underwhelming compared to the standards elsewhere.

Not bad. Just overshadowed.

Cariblue Windows

My personal winner.

This restaurant rotates through five tasting menus weekly, each inspired by different culinary styles. We went on seafood night and it was exceptional. As a pescatarian, having multiple thoughtfully prepared fish courses felt like absolute luxury. Elegant, beautifully paced, and consistently delicious.

The Pavilion Grill

Relaxed, beachside, easy. Fresh fish, grilled skewers, vibrant salads, simple healthy dishes.

Exactly what you want after a long active day.

Cariblue

Dependably excellent with broad à la carte options and including vegetarian and vegan choices.

And Wednesday’s West Indian buffet with steel band entertainment is pure Caribbean joy.

The Friday Beach BBQ: The Crown Jewel

If you visit, do not miss Friday night. Seriously. The beach BBQ is the standout dining experience. The sound of the sea. Warm Caribbean night air. Live entertainment… it is just perfection.

And an endless spread of grilled seafood, beautifully prepared local dishes and vibrant salads. It manages to feel both special and completely relaxed. The kind of evening that reminds you why travel matters.

The Secret Ingredient: The Atmosphere

What makes The BodyHoliday exceptional isn’t just the facilities. It’s the energy of the place. There’s this quiet collective positivity that’s hard to describe.

People are there for different reasons:

• Fitness resets
• Recovery
• Rest
• Celebration
• Personal challenge

And somehow it all coexists beautifully. No one is judging how many classes you take. No one cares if you spend all afternoon horizontal. You can be intensely active or gloriously lazy.

It’s your holiday. That freedom is what makes it work.

Why the Second Visit Was Better

Returning meant we arrived knowing how to maximise the experience. We knew which classes to prioritise. Which restaurants to book. Which cocktails to order. Which afternoons should be spent doing absolutely nothing.

There’s something lovely about removing the uncertainty and simply settling into the rhythm. And perhaps most importantly, we could appreciate how much we’d changed since our first visit.

Comparing our BodyStats results, noticing increased fitness, feeling stronger in classes we’d found harder the year before — it gave the whole trip a deeper sense of progress.

It wasn’t just a repeat holiday. It felt like a continuation.

Would I Go Back Again?

Without hesitation.

In fact, I’m already mentally calculating when….Because The BodyHoliday isn’t just a holiday, it’s a reset button.

It’s the rare kind of travel experience that leaves you feeling genuinely better than when you arrived – physically, mentally, emotionally. You return home rested but energised. Relaxed but motivated. Indulged yet somehow healthier.

That’s not easy to pull off.

Most holidays ask you to choose: Relaxation or activity. Indulgence or wellness. Luxury or purpose.

The BodyHoliday somehow gives you all of it.

And after two unforgettable stays with Cheryl, one thing is certain:

This little corner of St Lucia has officially become our place.

Same week next year?

Don’t be surprised if we’re there again.

Spicy margaritas in hand…