It's amazing what a subtle face-lift can do for the self-esteem. Take the BodyHoliday, an all-inclusive wellness/fitness resort situated at the northwestern tip of lush St. Lucia. This fall, it's proudly showing off $20 million worth of, ahem, enhancements.

Social hub the Clubhouse now sports a grand piazza with a blue mosaic fountain, infinity pool, and boardwalk promenade, furthering the resort's Mediterranean-by-way-of-the-Alhambra vibe. High-rollers can opt to stay in the swanky new penthouse suite. The stellar roster of daily activities, on the other hand, barely needed any work. You can still salute the morning with yoga, tai chi, or Pilates; try your hand at archery or scuba diving (a PADI-certified beginner's course is one of many included offerings); and then slough off the rigors of the day with a procollagen quartz facial at the skin clinic. In other words, full-body rejuvenation, no nipping and tucking required.

Photo: Courtesy of the BodyHoliday

 
If a tropical resort built on a cocoa plantation sounds like someone has dipped into your wildest dreams, we're just about to make your day. St. Lucia's newest arrival is Hotel Chocolat, the brainchild of two British chocolatiers. Go on, pinch yourself.

On this 140-acre, 18th-century plantation, you can learn the entire chocolate-making process, helping to harvest and roast the beans and, of course, taste the finished product. Or you could simply retire to one of the six cocoa- and cream-colored cottages with gauze-draped four-poster beds, ocean-facing chaise longues, and open-air rain showers. (Eight additional villas will open in October.) The restaurant takes its inspiration from the hotel's crop, with dishes like yellowfin tuna with cacao pesto. Talk about a delicious getaway.

Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Chocolat

 
There's no such thing as a free lunch. But there is such a thing as a free vacation--at least if you're a kid. Thanks to St. Lucia's new Go Bananas summer family program, luxe resorts like Coco Palm, Cotton Bay Village, and Discovery at Marigot Bay are inviting your offspring to stay, eat, and play for free.

We dig the idea of an island-wide program that goes beyond your average hotel deal to include perks like a special line to speed families through immigration and complimentary excursions such as zip-lining, horseback riding, and whale watching. And since St. Lucia knows who is paying the bill, they throw a little indulgence toward the parentals, including room upgrades and a complimentary night of babysitting. Happy parents, happy kids. We have a new contender for "Happiest Place on Earth."

Photo: Courtesy of the St. Lucia Tourist Board