Aboard a twin-engine mini-plane, which nearly grazes the summit of Col de Tourmettes on approach, before making a bumpy landing on the beach at Saint-Jean. Then rent a Land Rover, book a suite in a luxury hotel, or reserve one of the colonial villas nestled in the hills among blooming bougainvilleas. 

Every day, swim at a different beach, dine at a different restaurant, and don’t bat an eyelash if Beyoncé, Jeff Bezos, or Heidi Klum sit at the next table. St. Barth is the meeting place for the elite. And this is no surprise – it rarely rains, and consistent trade winds keep temperatures below 30 degrees Celsius. 

On the Rue de la République in the tiny island capital, Gustavia, you’ll find the boutiques of Prada, Bvlgari, and Louis Vuitton side by side. There are 22 picturesque beaches, including the expansive Saint-Jean Bay, where the glamorous Eden Rock Hotel rises, and right next to it, the trendy Nikki Beach Club. Or the Grand Cul-de-Sac, sheltered by a coral reef, where guests of the luxury hotels Le Sereno and Guanahani relax. The beaches of Anse de Saline are idyllic and undeveloped, while the Anse de Colombier can only be reached by boat or after a 30-minute walk. In the early evening, everyone meets at Le Select, a Caribbean joint with a cosy garden. 

For dinner, one goes to Eddy’s Ghetto, a hidden spot with French-Creole cuisine, or to the newly opened La Petite Plage by the harbour, featuring sandy floors and the cuisine of Parisian three-star chef Éric Fréchon.

Hotels

Cheval Blanc St. Barth

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The former Hotel de France has always been the grande dame of St. Barth hotels. It is located on Flamands Beach and was completely redesigned by star-designer Jacques Grange, now shining in a simple, elegant, carefree Boho-Riviera style.
Baie des Flamands, chevalblanc.com

Le Sereno

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Designed by Christian Liaigre, this chic design hotel is considered the most elegant address on Saint-Barthélemy. It offers 39 minimalist suites, three large villas, and a very trendy beachfront restaurant with a lounge at Grand-Cul-de-Sac Beach.
Grand Cul-de-Sac, serenohotels.com

Restaurant

Tamarin

Many guests arrive at sunset to enjoy the Blue Hour with tapas, surrounded by banana plants, lanterns, and water lily ponds. Chef Jérôme Lebeau serves a delicious lobster tart and tuna with ginger, honey, and passion fruit.
Route de Saline, tamarinstbarth.com