We stayed at La Dauphine Estate Great House for 5 days in early April, following 9 days at the Villa Beach Cottages. A very special experience in a unique private Estate setting. Tropical fruit trees within reach of the porch. Estate Manager Francis visits each day to chat. Resident housekeeper Antonia is an excellent cook and can prepare great local meals. A great complement to our stay at Villa Beach. Lots of local attractions a short drive away. Roads are a challenge for a North American - but hey, we were on vacation and needed to slow down! Take lots of reading materials for "hammock time".

Imagine yourself living in an exquisite estate house surrounded by a riotous growth of banana, grapefruit, cocoa, palms and tropical flowers. Bananaquit and Antillean-crested hummingbirds flit from branch to flower and bird songs fill the air. Morning coffee or tea on the porch is a treat for the senses.

La Dauphine Estate offers visitors the unique opportunity to experience life on a working plantation. The main estate house is open and airy, framed on three sides by fabulous porches filled with rocking chairs. Furnishings (local to St. Lucia) are true to the time and the island. Antonia, the estate housekeeper, is gracious and warm. She loved sharing (and we loved listening to) the history of the house and grounds.

The location of La Dauphine makes it an ideal jumping off place for all of the sites and desinations on the Soufriere end of the island. Rent a car (Colin can rent you one), and be sure to visit Dasheene Restaurant for lunch (you will have a magnificent view of the Pitons), the beach at the Jalousie Hilton, and the Sulphur Springs.

Our time at La Dauphine was all too short. Most of our stay on St Lucia was at Colin Hunte's other property in Castries (Villa Beach Cottages), another fabulous place. When we return to the island, we will schedule more time for La Dauphine. The experiences are very different at the two properties, but both helped to make our stay complete.

Just returned last night from La Dauphine. We couldn't have been more spoiled by Antonia the Innkeeper/Cook. Not only can she whip up some local cuisine, she can tell you how to get anywhere on want to go, or do any activities you wish to do.
The house is very nice, has everything you need. We had the whole big house to ourselves, but it can sleep about 10 comfortably. The trail in back is amazing. The front porch was our favorite place to swing in the hammock or enjoy a meal.
Everything was very clean and well managed. Where else can you pick just about any friut you want from your own porch? The night sounds were beautiful to lull you to sleep.
Everyone at the plantation is very informative and helpful, we had a great time and would recommend La Dauphine to anyone.
My favorite thing was that all of the windows and doors can be left wide open so that you feel like you are always having a breath of fresh air.
Oh! they are adding a pool sometime this year too!

Well it's like a jungle setting, but you can still see the road from the front porch. What a thrill, to stay in this great house from 1890. Everything suggests the great history from that era. You are surrounded by fruit trees of all kinds, grapefruit, lemon, banana, cocoa bean. The greatest is the monster grapefruit that can be picked from the veranda - the sweetest I've ever eaten. Hike the trail behind, to the top of the hill and think you have come to another world, quite unlike most of the island you have seen.

Sleep in a 4 poster bed, complete with fine mosquito netting (for effect, not actually needed). Prepare meals if you like, eat inside or on the wide veranda surrounding the house on 3 sides, complete with a number of hand carved rockers, chairs, couches and tables. Or, have Antonia prepare creole meals for you. Really great.

Oh yes, necessary additions were made from 1890, like a complete kitchen, bathrooms, shower, etc. So there is no roughing it in this exquisit house. A really great getaway. We were two, but there are beds and sofas and kitchen utinsels for ten or more.