Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France – Saint Barthélemy, Caribbean

This world-class hotel meets and exceeds all the international standards for luxury and service and tops all the glossy travel mags “Best” lists. As one of the exceptional Maisons in the Cheval Blanc collection, Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France – St-Barthélemy, Caribbean showcases the savoir faire of the LVMH Group (Louis Vuitton, Moët, Hennessy) and in keeping with their brand identity.

Anchored on gorgeous Flamands Beach, it is sexy and elegant and exudes the island’s signature ambience of casual sophistication. The brilliantly whitewashed main building, set just above the beach, houses nine rooms and three suites. It is here we see that iconic and frequently photographed breezeway framing an amazing snapshot of the azure sea. It’s breathtaking. We recommend the second floor accommodations for those who would rather see than be seen, but if you prefer the latter, the ground level will put you and your chaise lounge in the midst of all the action: the shimmering pool, the White Bar and the beachside restaurant, La Case de l’Isle – and all those beautiful people clinking glasses under beach umbrellas. It’s all so St. Barth. A tiny chic boutique offers teeny-tiny bikinis, pareos and movie star-worthy sunglasses.

As you would expect, the appointments are luxurious – 4-poster beds, lovely linens, French fabrics and fine art. The marble baths are sumptuous and sensuous.

The hotel’s sparkling jewels are four lavishly large Beach Suites, and the pièce de résistance is the pair of exquisite (3 bedroom) villas – the Flamands Villas. Both the Suites and Villas are just steps – across that sugar-sand beach – from the sea and boast a panorama of Flamand’s brilliant blue waters. Some of the accommodations include being looked after by a Majordome, Cheval’s dedicated butler.

“Across the way” – the hotel is divided by a sliver of a road that turns into a cul-de-sac – there are loads of room and suite options, including bungalow-style villas. Nestled among the bougainvillea and banana plants, they are deliciously private, and several have their own pools. A Cheval Blanc Spa is nestled in the lush gardens and their gym is outfitted with the latest Technogym equipment.

St-Barthélemy, Caribbean

In the treasure-packed Caribbean, St-Barthélemy (or, as it’s locally known, St-Barth) is a multifaceted jewel. This exquisite island blends French urban flair with a lush tropical landscape of soaring mountains, isolated stretches of sun-soaked, powder-soft sand, windswept cliffs, scrubby green hills, flowering gardens filled with bougainvillea, hibiscus and fragrant frangipanis, and turquoise bays dotted with myriad sailboats.

With such a dreamlike setting, St-Barth is, unsurprisingly, a destination of choice for the rich, famous and beautiful for its laid-back tempo, luxurious small-scale hotels, designer-label boutiques and outstanding restaurants. But although St-Barth is undeniably an expensive destination, all beaches are accessible, public and free, and activities from surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing, to sailing, diving and snorkeling are all possible here. If you visit outside of high season, you can score fantastic accommodation deals.