A few weeks ago my very sweet husband whisked me away to St. Barth's for a little warm weather getaway. After the hellish winter Boston is having it was beyond nice to feel the sun on my skin and have some quality time with my man as I turned another year older. We first visited this enchanting island four years ago on our honeymoon and quickly fell in love with the cuisine, the people, the French West Indie culture and of course the beautiful landscape. We loved renting a little convertible for touring the island, visiting our favorite restaurants and just laying in the sun for hours on end with no plans. It was a blissful long weekend in paradise that I was so grateful to be taken too. Below are all the details of our stay that will hopefully be helpful if you want to make a trip there for yourself, I promise you that you will love it as much as we do!
During our honeymoon we stayed at Le Toiney where you can indulge in your own private villa and plunge pool. Breakfast is delivered and set up for you daily on your outdoor dining table without ever seeing a soul, oh and they do your laundry. It's pretty damn luxurious to say the least. I mention this tid bit simply for the reason that there are so many great places to stay on island and depending on what you are looking for there is a right place for you. For this trip we decided to try somewhere new as I wanted more of a pool scene where a heavy rotation of piña coloda's could be delivered to us while laying poolside. Hotel Christopher is where we ultimately decided on and had the most amazing stay. A lovely breakfast is included in your reservation and offered in their seaside restaurant. The beach bar and evening restaurant both had the most amazing food {I am still dreaming of the fresh mahi-mahi I ate everyday}.
Views from the hotel pool.
I am officially my fathers daughter and take photos of landscapes and plants. I was obsessed with the lime tree and cerise colored flowers outside our room. I forgot what living plants looked like.
On my birthday I was treated to a sushi lunch at Nikki Beach where we danced, watched a fashion show and sipped on rosé all afternoon. Best people watching ever! {oh did I mention they give you a bottle of booze punch with your check with shot glasses, needless to say - you have fun}
the sweetest birthday gift from my man - a mother of pearl charm with St. Barth embossed on it to go along with my Nantucket charm.
Quite possibly the most spectacular portion of the trip was a couples massage at the amazing seaside Sisley Spa where I had a life changing massage. I honestly never felt so relaxed in my life. If you do one thing on this island - go here and get a treatment. It's the best I have ever had.
I love the mix of modern hardware & rustic stone sink.
Private outdoor showers for pre and post massage.
Early evening walk to our room.
Sunset at Hotel Christopher
Colorful carribbean homes are spotted throughout the island, I love how this palm arches over the front door entrance.
Late lunch at Cheval Blanc, a beautiful resort that boasts a stunning beachfront property, pool and delicious restaurant. I personally loved that everything was decorated in blush & white colors. So feminine and inviting. Definitely a resort worth looking into staying at.
Entrance to St. Jean Beach where we watched planes coming and going all while drinking yet another delicious piña colada.
A cute shop in Gustavia where you can pick up some fun summer clothing.
Dine
I didn't capture snaps of every place or meal simply to just enjoy the moment but there are so many places that are worth mentioning. Le Gaiac located in Hotel Le Toiney is a delicious French restaurant where we celebrated the evening portion of my birthday. Order the truffle pasta that is made in a giant parmesan wheel at your table side, it's heaven. For excellent Italian go to La I'sola, the portions are very tiny but I imagine that is how the French stay so thin. The few small bites are worth every calorie. To have dinner on the harbor you must go to the über chic Bagatelle, not only is the food stellar but the people/yacht watching is something to be seen. More casual lunches took place at Mango at our hotel which had the most delicious mahi-mahi I have ever had. For a casual dinner, Santa Fe offers views of neighboring islands and had a laid back vibe. Dance and drink at Le Ti where you can spot celebrities or even a transvestite fashion show, it's wild and incredibly fun.
Hotels
I obviously would recommend Le Toiney and Hotel Christopher in a heartbeat. They are both fabulous but beware Christopher does allow children while Le Toiney has designated family times. Cheval Blanc looked lovely and offered a beach which is a luxury in itself on this small island. Eden Roc is great for beach access as well as proximity for walking to restaurants and shops. I am also very excited to see the new Hotel Barthelemey which opens this year!
Take me back!!!
{all photos taken by me during our stay}
