It's not often that an article on a hotel will send me scrambling for pictures. But a recent article in the Ottawa Citizen had me curious to check out Jade Mountain in St. Lucia. Perhaps it was the quote in the article that claimed some people burst into tears when seeing their hotel rooms. What kind of place provokes this sort of reaction? The gallery below will give you some idea.

Jade Mountain offers 24 unique rooms that have just three walls and are open to the Caribbean on the fourth side. Each one also has its own private infinity pool that drops off into the distance. The rooms are designed with an open floorplan that even includes the bathrooms. The overall effect is one of tranquil luxury designed to encourage the guests to never leave their rooms. The living areas of the rooms are finished with more than 20 different species of tropical hardwood flooring and trims harvested in an environmentally correct way and the iinterior walls are finished in a crushed blush toned coral plaster quarried in Barbados. The flooring exposed to the weather is finished in quarried coral tile from neighboring islands. In room facilities include fridge, tea/coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board but no television, radio or telephone and guests are asked to refrain from using their cell phones in public. Daily rates for November 1 – December 19, 2008 start at $1250.

Even Trip Advisor's reviewers rave about this place. The only caveat is that getting there often requires a wicked drive through hilly terrain. You can also get there by helicopter.