The Best Resorts in St Barts for Every Traveler

A reef out to sea means the Grand Cul De Sac resembles a giant swimming pool when the light hits right, and the shallow waters glow bright blue. Located right on St Barts’ longest beach, Le Sereno is well-known in luxury circles, due in part to its sister hotel in Lake Como. The lagoon, brimming with tropical fish and coral, sits right in front of this hotel, designed by late French interior designer Christian Liaigre. Each of Le Sereno’s rooms aims to make you feel calm – white interiors are interrupted by carefully placed jolts of colour. Expect pre-loaded iPods in rooms, chocolates on your pillow, villas with butler service, an indoor/outdoor spa, and fine dining. Divine.

The comfort of a hotel, combined with the privacy of a villa; if you want resort convenience but don’t want to have to make small-talk with Pat and Alice next door every time you leave your room, Toiny’s suites offer the perks of both. Each of the 22 villa suites on the hillside above Anse de Toiny have a pool, terrace, kitchen or kitchenette, and access to the Beach Club. Reached via private shuttle, it features a bar, boutique and beachfront swimming pool shaded by sea grape trees, although it should be noted the club is also open to non-guests. There’s full restaurant service for lunch and dinner, with European-inspired cuisine by chef Jarad McCarroll.

The people. The poolside. The chic interiors. The ambience at the Christopher – it’s so darn cool. Just a 15-minute drive from the airport, on the north side of the island, this resort pulls off that effortless chic vibe that’s so hard to do. Pops of orange from the beach towels, curtains, chair cushions, and bed throws shine through the boxy balconies, dark stone, palms, and grasses that lead down to the lagoon-shaped pool and ocean. There’s no beach, but the resort still feels connected to the sea. Book into the Sisley Spa, for its ocean-facing treatment rooms, with outdoor showers. Opt for a Deluxe Terrace room, run the taps in your freestanding granite bathtub, and take in your uninterrupted sea view.

The seasoned traveler knows the best beaches can only be reached by boat or foot. That’s certainly apt for Colombier, a moon-shaped bay surrounded only by green hills; it’s an excellent sunset spot. Have the sand to yourself by taking a 20-minute hike down from this hotel located not on the beach, but high in the hills. Car hire is a must if you want to venture from the quirky chic of this boutique resort, where bright clapboard rooms with open-rafter ceilings feature hanging chairs, shell-lined mirrors, and shades of acid-pink to blazing-orange. The hotel’s restaurant has a strong reputation across the island – start the day right with the rum-infused French toast.

The island’s largest hotel, owned by luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, has those special touches that make the simple decor, tasteful dark-tiled pool, discreet but attentive staff, feel more than the substantial sum of its parts. Maybe it’s the bespoke scent that’s detectable throughout the hotel. Perhaps it’s the subtle splashes of a signature pink on glassware, towels, cushions; it’s all incredibly well thought through. Rooms are varied, with some right on the sand, others on the hills overlooking the beach. A beach bag and flip flops, tablet and fresh flowers provided in each room also adds a special touch. The spa, which uses Guerlain products, includes a garden pavilion.

This hip 1970s hot spot just five-minutes from the airport, has been reimagined by French hotelier Anne Jousse as an eco-resort, right on the beach. Think solar panels, chemical-free water in the pools, handmade-only furnishings and only electric cars allowed on the property. In fact, a fleet of e-cars is available to rent, with each room having its own parking space and recharge station. The rooms themselves – some fronting the beach, others on the hill with expansive sea-view decks – embrace traditional Caribbean architecture, with a modern twist, imagined in shades of pepper red, turmeric yellow, and ultramarine blue. Lift the shutters above the roll-top bath and let the ocean breeze sweep through. Take part in free yoga and Pilates on the sunny deck.

Watch the planes make their infamous landing on the short runway at nearby Gustaf III Airport, located near Pearl Beach. The small jets often make a low descent over the water but are more of a spectacle than a nuisance. With a beach-side restaurant and regular live music, Pearl can be a lively spot, but the 14 rooms – some on the beach, others in garden settings – offer a peaceful retreat. The decor in some rooms is a little more on the traditional side, with dark wood and tile touches. Others are more breezy, in pine and hues of blue. If you need more space, the two-story, three-bed villa is a roomier option.

Kayak the gentle waves of the lagoon under moonlight at this eco-focused resort located on its own peninsula. When you’re somewhere this beautiful, to protect as well as enjoy it becomes a duty. Le Guanahani sits within the reserves of Grand Cul-de-Sac, and doesn’t just pay lip-service to being environmentally friendly. The property has worked with internationally recognised biologist Dr Deborah Brosnan, to develop a plan for preserving the land and sea around the hotel. This includes using desalinated seawater and ecological detergents. The water is then reused to irrigate the bougainvillea, hibiscus and palm-filled gardens. If water sports aren’t your thing, choose from three restaurants, two pools, two beaches, tennis courts – or head to the spa.

Get your camera ready and take the narrow back road to La Baie de St Jean, the island’s largest bay. If you get tired of spotting the tropical fish under the lagoon, people watch instead on the streets of St Jean with its boutiques, restaurants, and bars. You won’t need a car to be among the action if you stay at Le Village, which, having welcomed guests since 1969, is something of a local landmark. Still run by the same family, many of the guests themselves have been returning for 20 years or more. Rooms are a mix of ‘old St Barts’ and modern. Pick a traditional room for old-school charm; these small timber cottages use natural cross ventilation, have terra cotta floors and are furnished with West Indian Mahogany wood. Of these, La Case at the highest point of the hotel has the best views and a patio hot tub, surrounded by white picket fences.