A healthy treat! Fitness classes from sunrise to sunset, but all the food and drink you could want – it’s no wonder this St. Lucia resort remains as popular as ever

My friend Neil and his wife are regulars at BodyHoliday on the north coast of St. Lucia. Or at least they were until their little girl arrived – because this family-run resort that has been around for almost 40 years is exclusively open to those aged 12 and over all year round.

“Do you have any suggestions about what you can do locally?” I asked Neil.

“Not really,” he said. “In all the years we’ve been here, I think we’ve only left here once.”

To each his own. But I don’t understand how people like Neil aren’t forced to see what’s going on outside the gates.

Maybe it has something to do with the years I spent in boarding school longing to wander more freely in the big, bad world.

Mark Palmer checks into BodyHoliday, a health retreat on the north coast of St. Lucia

Actually, the boarding school analogy works to some extent with BodyHoliday. There is a lot to do; you can learn new sports or brush up on old ones and chances are you’ll make some friends too.

Mind you, the food is a far cry from boarding school fare, with several restaurants including a pan-Asian restaurant called Tao (reservations recommended) and Cariblue Windows (reservations essential).

There are different categories of rooms, including some exclusively for singles. That seems like a nice gesture to me. Moreover, singles do not pay any surcharge – a very nice extra.

Plenty of choice: BodyHoliday offers a complete activity program. Above, guests enjoy a run on the beach (file photo)

Our log cabin looks down on the wide and inviting beach, with swaying palm trees, circling pelicans, and has its own plunge pool.

“Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you your mind back,” is the mantra, and it’s smart. It tells you that this is ostensibly a health retreat, with classes (all voluntary) starting at 7.15am with ‘Beach Fit’ and all day until 5pm with ‘sunset restorative yoga’.

But according to the General Manager’s welcome letter, pampering is also part of achieving a balanced holiday experience. So hallelujah, there is no shortage of food or drink and all-inclusive means beer, wine and spirits 24 hours a day.

‘There are different categories of rooms, including some exclusively for singles,’ says Mark

One of the big pluses is that everyone gets one treatment for every full day of their stay.

That’s why more than 40 therapists work in the enormous spa. I expected some gentle strokes using some tantalizing coconut oil, but I got nothing of the sort. My deep tissue massage on day one is indeed the best ever and halfway through I am screaming for mercy. No gain without pain.

With so much on offer, the atmosphere is purposeful, but I talk to an American with an even bigger belly than mine, who can barely move from his lounger while his wife mills about as if desperate to attend every class.

BodyHoliday has several restaurants, including a pan-Asian restaurant called Tao (seen here)

“I hardly see her during the day,” he says. ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder.’

BodyHoliday is approximately 30 minutes from the capital Castries and the Saturday market. To miss this is a dereliction of duty. All life is here, including chickens whose lives, on the other hand, will soon be over; wizened old men selling home-grown vegetables; rastas who deal in crazy things; baskets; drinks and lotions.

Also close to BodyHoliday is Pigeon Island, reached by a causeway built in 1972. The main attraction is Fort Rodney, built on behalf of Admiral George Rodney between 1779 and 1782, mainly to spy on French ships from neighboring Martinique.

Mark (not pictured) says one of the biggest benefits of the retreat is that you get a spa treatment every full day of your stay

It’s a steep trek to the top platform, where a few rusting cannons stand guard, but the panoramic view is well worth the effort.

St Lucians are gentle, polite and enriched with a lively sense of humor. Certainly, that’s what we like about the BodyHoliday staff. I have no doubt that this hugely popular holiday resort has attracted the attention of major corporations – but thank goodness the British owners have resisted the temptation to cash in.

That may be the case for a long time. It may not be the catchiest name, but BodyHoliday is homely, expertly run and great fun.