Balenbouche is a wonderful experience, to see the plantation house preserved and be part of it for a few days was wonderful. We met Utta who runs the place and read the story of what happened here - her lovely daughters and her looked after us and took us to the 3 beaches. It was a fabulous couple of days and Debbies restaurant nearby is great.

All in all, kind of on the fence with this place. On the plus side, it's a beautiful location, charming rooms, and you can easily have your own private beach with decent swimming and you're close to the Pitans for day hiking trips, but a little over priced for what you're getting. On the downside, if you're not renting a car, it's very expensive to get cabs everywhere (though true for the whole island) and the staff treats you a bit more like a nuisance than a welcomed guest and is very unorganized. Be warned that they do not take credit cards, just paypal or cash. They failed to mention this before we got to the island where using paypal is very tricky and maybe some people travel with that much cash, but not us. They also failed to show us how to use the solar shower, resulting in a couple days of cold showers before we figured it out ourselves. While they do accommodate for vegan and vegetarian diets, don't really plan on eating there even though they "offer" it cause chances are they'll tell you "oh we're not doing dinner tonight" when you try to schedule it, regardless if you had already paid for it or not. I would recommend just visiting there for a couple hours, take some photos, but don't stay.

Located in the South, Balenbouche luckily is far away from the main tourist areas, but still in reach of some major attractions. We enjoyed the quiteness, the green, the simple but fantastic accomodation, the secluded beaches, and the warm and friendly hospitality.
Definitely recommended for everyone who wants to relax for a few days.

Balenbouche Estate is a gem in the sense that it is authentically caribbean. The grounds are lush. The accommodations are charming in the same sense. This is where one experiences the real West Indies. The meals were out of this world. Fresh, organic produce cooked expertly into very tasty dishes. My husband thinks I actually lost weight during this trip and it wouldn't be because I didn't eat enough (there was plenty) but because the food was so healthy and delicious (not like spa cuisine - just wholesome and yummy). The owners/staff are very welcoming and we felt comfortable immediately.
Balenbouche in no way resembles a large resort. I imagine that it is not the place for those used to the comforts of a resort. It's more for travelers who want to explore St. Lucia and feel that they are staying in a place that is part of that islands' history.
Even if you don't stay at Balenbouche, definitely go for a tour and/or a meal. While we were there, many groups and individuals dined and toured. One afternoon, there was a wedding and the setting was beautiful.
The purpose of my visit was an outdoor painting workshop. There is plenty to paint right on the estate. It is a great destination for artists.