St. Barts Smart Splurges

The island's first real hotel - and one of its best - straddles the eponymous promontory that cleaves St-Jean beach, and has been beautifully reinvigorated by Brits David and Jane Matthews. They purchased the property from Remy de Haenen (the first mayor of St. Barts) in 1995 and have since expanded the original house and bar into a collection of villas, suites, and cottages. All range in size and style (Jane Matthews pilots the resort's interior design), from quaint cottage rooms to sleek beachfront suites. Some of our favorite units, although, are those that pay homage to the rock's famous former guests like de Haenen's celebrity pals Howard Hughes, Greta Garbo, and Robert Mitchum. Standout suite Howard Hughes reflects the aviator's persona with curvy, aeronautical walls and killer panoramic views, not to mention three private balconies. Suite Greta Garbo pushes Deco glam to the max; both are located in what once were their original guest quarters. In late 2009, Eden Rock debuted its Villa Rockstar, a tricked-out 4-bedroom villa with its own pool and recording studio designed by Allen Sides, and featuring a vintage console favored by John Lennon (he used it to record "Imagine"). There are two fantastic - and super-trendy - restaurants, the Sands Bar (the mahi mahi with bacon is divine) and On the Rocks (try the mushroom ravioli and the veal fillet), helmed by Chef Jean-Claude Dufour. Plus, check out the onsite art gallery which has exhibited works from American artists Richard Prince and Will Cotton.

Compared to its stylish peers, La Banane is affordable, making its nine minimalist bungalows – all of which circle an irregularly-shaped pool – that much sweeter. Rooms are simple but chic, bathed completely in white except for a single tropical accent color, hence room names like Kiwi and Pomegranate. Casa Milano beds are draped in muslin and bathrooms open onto outdoor patios or gardens.

One of the last bastions of formal French dining on St. Barths is found in the romantic...more

Villas are not only the island's best value for families and large groups thanks to their spacious accommodations, but also the most convenient option (because most hotels are small, it is often very difficult to book several rooms near one another). Wimco rents out over 250 magnificent properties on St. Barts, including a heavenly hillside villa once owned by Liz Claiborne (Wimco's villa VGM).

2008 SMART LUXURY WINNER
In-the-Know Villas

Vacation villas have a reputation as hideaways for nose-in-the-air moguls. But the secret of villa rental is that they are incredibly cost-effective. Travel with friends or family, and suddenly a three-bedroom beachside vacation home can bring even the priciest destination within reach. Plus, villas often boast full kitchens, daily housekeeping, private pools, and sometimes extras like workout rooms and tennis courts.

Wimco Villas & Hotels has 1,600 properties throughout the Caribbean, from modest one-bedroom cottages in Anguilla to multibedroom megavillas in Turks and Caicos. Listings are refreshingly honest, noting when a pool or room is small orwhen there's too much noise.

On the French-inflected isle of St. Barts, the smallest room at iconic Eden Roc in the off-season is $631/night and jumps to $882 in the high season; at ultrahigh-end Carl Gustav, suites go for $1,470 during the winter. This is not a cheap destination. Or is it? Wimco's Villa SIB AMS is a spacious two-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a pool that rents for $3,990/week in the high season. That works out to just $285/night for each bedroom, and way more space than a hotel (plus nobody's crowding the pool but you and yours). Another bonus: Wimco's services, such as airport transfers, restaurant reservations, babysitters, and private chefs, are free of charge.

Great Value Alternative: Rooms at family-run Village St. Jean on St. Barts have stellar views. From $284/night; www.villagestjeanhotel.com

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Set sail for a full day of relaxation on either a private or a group charter with St. Barth's Marine Service. Choose to tour around the island or anchor in the quiet bays of Fourchue or Colombier. Take the time to snorkel, and be awed by colorful sea turtles, barracuda, and parrotfish. Let the boat rock you to sleep after a deck-top picnic (included on full-day tours). Reserve at least two weeks in advance during high season.