St. Barthelemy

Or St. Barth, St. Barths, St. Barts.. there are several nicknames for this most picturesque slice of France in the Caribbean, but once you touch down on the tiny and exclusive landing strip that abuts St. Jean beach, you know that you have ARRIVED.

Known for its beautiful beaches, turquoise sea, great food, and 5* boutique resorts (the largest has fewer than 70 rooms).. St. Barth exudes laid-back luxury, and my husband and I had an amazing time exploring here earlier this month.  Crime is almost zero, and the 8-square mile island is easily traversed in just 15 minutes, meaning you can hop in your rental Mini Cooper with the top down, pick up a picnic lunch with some rose, and enjoy a simple beach picnic under the sun at any of St. Barth’s 14 public beaches in just minutes.  (For extra fun, our rental from Cool Rentals came with a St. Barth party mix CD, which was really fun in setting the vacay mood as we cruised the island for the week, hotel and beach-hopping!  I brought the CD back with me, but ironcially, popping it into my car does NOT, as I had hoped, turn my Acura in the suburbs into a Mini Cooper in St. Barth.  Huge bummer.)

St. Barth is not cheap, but with the stronger dollar these days, and traveling in the shoulder season makes it a little bit more affordable!  The glitterati of the world descend upon St. Barth during high season from December-April, with festive season being especially popular among the jet set.  July and August see more families, and most hotels and restaurants shut down in September during hurricane season, reopening in October or November to prepare for the busy winter ahead.

My husband and I arrived on a 9-seater St. Barth Commuter plane from the neighboring island of St. Martin, just a 10-15 minute scenic flight.  There are also ferries available, but I think that “flightseeing” is the definitely the best way to arrive!  Over the course of one week, we stayed at several different hotels, and visited several others:

Cheval Blanc St. Barth Isle de France
Hotel Christopher
Le Guanahani
Taiwana
Eden Rock
Le Toiny

All of which are recapped in more detail down below, along with the EXCLUSIVE special perks my clients enjoy there!  There is truly something for everyone here, from more classically styled properties to more trendy.. from more adults-oriented, to family-oriented.  ALL have the most charming (and impossibly good-looking!) groups of staff, most of whom come from France.  Hundreds of private villas are also available to rent on St. Barth, and are not as expensive as you might think!  They may range from one-bedroom on up, and are a great option for groups of friends or families traveling together.  Of course, they include concierge and housekeeping service to make your stay enjoyable, and you could include a chef or butler as well!

Please continue on for my personal guide to St. Barth- the best places to stay, eat, and stick your toes in the sand:

Cheval Blanc St. Barth Isle de France

This adorable 40-room resort sits on the calm and long stretch of Flamands Beach, on the north side of the island.  Luxurious but not stuffy, secluded but not inaccessible, it is just 10 minutes by car from Gustavia (as most places are!)  It is made up of 1-3 bedroom beachfront rooms, suites and villas as well as garden and hillside sections whose rooms and suites are nestled into thick vegetation or offer great views of the sea.  Some accommodations come with private pools.  My top pick for honeymooners is a one bedroom beachfront suite (which comes with a private butler)!  For families, the Cheval Blanc has been known to bring in a mermaid to delight younger guests, or give older children a camera, and then create a scrapbook of the photos for them just before they depart.  As a special touch, the head of Guerlain created a scent just for this hotel, and it is used everywhere.. in lotions, shower products, candles, etc.  Heavenly, and I will always think of this beautiful place when I catch a whiff of it!

My clients enjoy the following exclusive Virtuoso amenities at the Cheval Blanc St. Barth Isle de France (for 2015):

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Continental breakfast daily, for up to two in room guests
  • (served in restaurant or via room service)
• One 80 EUR Spa services credit
  • (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
• Early check-in/late check-out
  • subject to availability

Eden Rock St. Barth

The upscale and design-forward Eden Rock, part of the Oetker Collection, was originally created as a private residence and then converted to a hotel in 1995.  Ten years later in 2005, the beach section with rooms and villas was introduced, which includes great accommodation options for families, as well as the infamous Villa Rockstar!  Overall, between the “rock side” and “beach side” the Eden Rock has 34 accommodations in 7 different categories.  Many have very different decor styles and “themes.”  One of the coolest suites I saw was the Howard Hughes Loft on the rock side, with a hip aviation theme, as well as spacious indoor areas and a wraparound deck.  One of my favorite suites for families is the Fontaine Suite, which includes an adjacent “cabin” and bathroom for children, as well as a large private pool with privacy wall and garden surrounding.

Of course, if you want to blow it out on a huge celebration (perhaps a milestone birthday or family gathering?!) there is NOTHING like the Villa Rockstar.  With 4 bedrooms, private pool, private recording studio (with the equipment that John Lennon recorded Imagine on), screening room, gym, kitchen, etc.. this place would be an INSANELY cool place to hold a celebration, customized to whatever you want!!  Decor, band, meals, you got it.  Simply amazing.  And one bathroom is made of entirely solid white gold tiles.

Eden Rock’s Sand Bar restaurant is THE place to enjoy lunch on the beach.  Relax and take in views of St. Jean’s turquoise waters.. and the Eden Rock’s impossibly good-looking beach staff – the men wearing white tees emblazoned with “Beach Boys” written across the back.  Not that I noticed or was staring looking.. I mean, I just heard that they are here.  From a friend.  Really.

On the Rocks is their finer dining restaurant, perched, as the name states, on the rock on the original side of the hotel.  They also have a great little bar that we enjoyed drinks in one evening, with great evening views of St. Jean bay.  Overall, I really loved the Eden Rock, as they have just the right amounts of trendy luxury mixed with a laid-back cool, which makes everyone from families to couples feel welcome.

My clients enjoy the following exclusive Virtuoso amenities at the Eden Rock St. Barth (for 2015):

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• American Breakfast for up to two in-room guests daily
• Welcome canape tray and bottle of Champagne
• Early check-in/late check-out
  • subject to availability

Le Guanahani

The Guanahani is located on Grand-Cul-de-Sac on the eastern end of St. Barth and is uniquely positioned to have two beaches, one calmer and great for children, the other (Marigot Bay) a bit rockier but great for snorkeling and diving.  Fresh off a multi-million renovation, the lobby and rooms are very tropical chic.. bright pops of color again white, retro touches like a minibar that looks like vintage luggage, and gingerbread trim on the pastel cottages.  It feels very breezy and classy yet whimsical and fun. Accommodations are scattered on the hillside and have varying views of the sea and accessibility to the beach and main pool area.  Some have private pools.  With the wide variety of different options available here, I would be happy to help you narrow down the best fit for your trip!

The restaurants onsite are fabulous- Indigo for breakfast and lunch, and Bartolomeo for dinner.  As well, as you will see below.. I offer my clients the exclusive benefit of one complimentary 3-course lunch or dinner at either restaurant, which is a HUGE value!!  A truly valuable perk.  Families are very welcome at Le Guanahani, as they offer a kids club for ages 2-12, complimentary non-motorized watersports (I saw some kids having a blast on the stand-up paddleboards!), tennis, etc.  As this resort is spread out, and they have a large, quiet adults-only pool in the spa area, couples are also very happy here.  Overall, Le Guanahani is a great choice for a variety of guests looking for larger resort amenities but in a smaller resort feel.  It is very easy to access the beautiful public beaches of St. Barth as well as shopping and dining in Gustavia from here!  They are all just 15 minutes or so by car.

My clients enjoy the following exclusive Virtuoso amenities at Le Guanahani (for 2015):

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Daily buffet breakfast for two
  • served in Restaurant L’ Indigo
• A complimentary lunch or dinner for up to two people per room
  • Served in Restaurant L’ Indigo once during stay, excluding alcohol, taxes and gratuities (dinner may also be taken in Le Barto)
• Welcome gift
• Early check-in/late check-out
  • subject to availability

Le Toiny

The 14-room Le Toiny is perhaps the most secluded resort on St. Barth.  Located on a remote hillside, high above the sea, sits this luxurious 5* property and St. Barth’s only Relais & Chateaux hotel.  Each accommodation has a separate living area and private pool, making it very romantic for honeymooners or couples getaways, which I would definitely recommend Le Toiny for.  Their fine dining restaurant, Le Gaiac, features innovative French cuisine in an open setting overlooking the main pool and hillside, with sweeping views of the sea.  It is one of the best on the island, and definitely worth a stop for a special meal, even if you aren’t staying at Le Toiny.  Le Gaiac is also known for its great Sunday brunches!  And a tip for Le Gaiac- enjoy sunset on their outdoor terrace while sipping on one of their famous Toiny Punch drinks before slipping inside for dinner.  As the property recently changed owners, some enhancements and decor updates are on the way, but only to make this exclusive 5* resort even more fabulous for its future guests!

My clients enjoy the following exclusive Virtuoso amenities at Le Toiny (for 2015):

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Continental breakfast daily, for up to two in room guests
• $100 USD Equivalent Food & Beverage credit,
  • to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
• Early check-in/late check-out
  • subject to availability

Hotel Christopher

The Hotel Christopher is located at Pointe Milou, a rocky point on St. Barth’s eastern shore.  What it lacks of a beach is made up for by the island’s largest hotel swimming pool, which is divine!  There are many chaises and daybed scattered about, some set in sand, if you really need to feel the soft stuff under your toes.  The pool is large and freeform, and even includes an expansive .6 meter deep shelf around one side.. which is perfect for small children!  For this reason, I think the Christopher is suitable for both families and couples, though we did see more couples on honeymoon here.  The Christopher has two restaurants, Mango being more casual and set outdoors on a sandy floor for lunch or drinks, and the other, Taino for breakfast and a fine dining experience in the evenings.

The setting of the Christopher is really lovely, with a lush pathway that cuts through the property, and a perfect spot for catching sunset.. the sun drops just off the horizon in the evenings, perfectly framed between the palm trees that fringe the pool.  Beautiful!  And as an added bonus, if you are planning a trip to the infamous Le Ti.. the Christopher is the closest hotel.  Le Ti is located just down the hill from it.  The Christopher more low-key than some other properties, and is the perfect choice for those wanting to experience St. Barth on a bit of a tighter budget.

My clients benefit from the VIP perks of my relationship with this property, generally including a nice welcome amenity.

Hotel Taiwana

The Hotel Taiwana is located on Flamands Beach, just a couple hundred yards down from the Cheval Blanc St. Barth Isle de France.  They share the same gorgeous stretch of sand, and their loungers are nearby to each other.  You can even see the Taiwana entrance from the Cheval Blanc driveway.  The Taiwana was recently renovated in 2013 and contains 22 rooms, varying in accessibility to the beach and pool as they are built up the hillside and range in size from 1-4 bedroom suites.  These include nine 2-bedroom suites, perfect for families!  This resort offers a more low-key 4* alternative to the 5* Cheval Blanc while on the same pretty cove of beach.

Recommendations

BEACHES:

Colombier – only beach on St. Barth not accessible by car.  It is a 30 minute hike from an access point about 5 mins drive from the Cheval Blanc

Gouverneur – my personal favorite beach in St. Barth is located on the southern part of the island and is very natural and private with pristine white sand

Saline – next to Gouverneur and a bit larger, also natural and pretty but is accessed from the parking lot by a long and somewhat rocky path

St. Jean – where the Eden Rock St. Barth is, and also the famous Nikki Beach.  St. Jean has clear, calm waters, perfect for swimming or SUP

Flamands – where Cheval Blanc and Taiwana are, wide beach with the finest sand.. calm water for swimming

DINING:

St. Barth is known for great food!!  This is, after all, a French island, oui oui!  So come hungry and with a few extra Euros to indulge, and remember that Europeans tend to eat later.. so if you don’t want to dine alone, don’t make a reservation before 7:30pm!

Le Ti – A St. Barth institution, a combo dinner/cabaret that can get raucous into the late hours.  Expect great food, sparklers, and dancing on tables into the wee hours

L’Isola – Delicious Italian food and homemade pastas in a romantic, candlelit setting in Gustavia.  The beautiful trendy people began arriving after 8:30pm.

Bonito – Classic dishes including fresh seafood and meats, in a gorgeous open-air hilltop setting overlooking Gustavia.  I hear sunsets here are stellar, but we arrived after dark.  Great crowd, trendy, pretty dining room.

Eddy’s – A favorite of locals and tourist alike, and honestly, the lowest priced meal we had on island.  Eddy’s is located in an almost hidden garden-like setting in Gustavia on the harbor.  The green papaya salad and coconut-crusted pork tenderloin were to die for, and a glass of wine was only 6 Euro.

Le Gaiac – Noted above, the fine dining restaurant at Le Toiny for a special experience!

Bartolomeo – Noted above, the fine dining restaurant at Le Guanahani.  It is set in a garden and features delicious food and wines.

Maya’s – An island institution that was sadly closed during my visit!  Instead, we picked up some Maya’s-To-Go, a separate little shop across from the airport, for a picnic

SHOPPING:

The best shops are in Gustavia on the east side of the harbor.  My favorite was Mademoiselle Hortense, the cutest little shop on the main street along the harbor, featuring adorable dresses and rompers made on island, from 200 Euro, as well as tops and shorts from France.  There are also many shops in the St. Jean area, just across from the Eden Rock and Nikki Beach.

I would love to help YOU plan a special trip to St. Barth!  Please see the contact page of this site to send me a note, or just email me {laura@hauteholidaystravel.com}.  Merci!

xo, Laura