Bee Travel
RockResorts provides luxury accommodation
CHRISTINE HICKS- USTA Travel
On my first cruise, my second foray into the Caribbean, we stopped at St. Thomas. Lovely as that island is, even more impressive was the view overlooking Caneel Bay on St. John, a RockResorts property.

Laurance S. Rockefeller "discovered" Caneel Bay (the bay) while sailing in the Caribbean in 1952 and oversaw its pristine development, bringing power and facilities to the island. His vision gave rise to RockResorts in 1956, a company dedicated early to the conservation of indigenous wilderness, while pampering guests. That commitment to the natural habitat included the purchase of 5,000 acres surrounding Caneel Bay. The land was donated to the federal government, which created a national park out of it. Caneel Bay (the resort) is still there, now operated by Rosewood Resorts. Besides the St. John, V.I., property, there were others such as Little Dix on Virgin Gorda, the Grand Teton Lodge in Wyoming and the Mauna Kea on Hawaii.

The luxury brand that was RockResorts was sold and is now a division of Vail Resorts Hospitality, though it never lost sight of its mission. That's to provide world-class accommodation in spectacular locales through the United States and Caribbean.

On my most recent Caribbean cruise, our shore excursion took us through St. Lucia's Pitons. Our bus made an otherwise unremarkable pit stop midway up the mountain. Just a few steps away I found a killer view of a bay resort below. Its pristine beaches were picture-framed with fringes of lush vegetation and palm trees, a siren's call to return here and relax in unspoiled paradise. The marriage of blue skies, green mountains, calm bay and empty beach is an impossibly beautiful combination.

While I can still envision that place (and continue to research it, for I stupidly didn't ask about the name of it at the time), in the meantime RockResorts has opened at Rodney Bay, St. Lucia. It wasn't the paradise I peeked at, but with an 800-foot private beach and a choice of 80 moorings to park your yacht, it's certainly a worthy alternate. If memory serves, RockResorts prices can resemble a Buffalo mortgage payment. Take heart. The Landings St. Lucia has "Inaugural Season Special" rates starting at just $225 per night in a one-bedroom residence (per night, double, excluding taxes, gratuities or any meals). For a RockResort - in April, in the Caribbean - that's a steal. Of course, you'll have to put up with a little construction sand while phases three and four are being built. Still, prices will never be this low again for this resort. The one-bedroom unit is a 950-square-foot one-bedroom suite with a fully equipped kitchen, dining and living area, five-fixture bath and a view of the marina. It sleeps up to three comfortably. The two-bedroom residence sleeps up to five, with rates from $350 during this first season.

RockResorts are back. Look for Run Cay Resort Marina in the Bahamas in 2010 and the Eleven Biscayne Hotel and spa opening in Miami in early 2009.

(Christine Hicks-Usta has enjoyed more than 30 years of globe-trotting as a member of the travel industry. Direct questions to her at Bee Group Newspapers, P.O. Box 150, Buffalo, NY 14231-0150.)