Ike

My wife wants me to take her to St. Bart's or Antigua. I have researched all the nice SBH hotels but I know nothing about ANU. What about Curtain Bluff or Carlise Bay. Thanks.

ejcrowe

Interesting pair of islands you're considering. I personally love Antigua, but most people who have researched St. Barth and think it would appeal to them wouldn't necessarily love Antigua. Tell us more about what you're looking for in an island, what your price range is, what time of year you're traveling, and some specifics about your travel style and we can chime in with info.

Ike

We would be going in the summer of 2008 and our priorities are a very nice room, nice beach with some shade, a good spa, great food and a little shopping close by. We went to Anguilla last year and stayed in a beach front room at Cap Juluca. Something like this would be nice. We are going to One and Only Palmilla next month for our anniversary but our 25th anniversary is coming up in 08. I thought about Isle de France or Curtain Bluff in Antigua. I have studied St. Bart's enough to know what's there but know nothing about ANU. Thanks.

doug_stallings

You also want to be looking at Jumby Bay in Antigua. Curtain Bluff offers a more intimate upscale experience that's not quite so isolated.

But in my opinion, you'd be wasting your money on St. Barths in a hotel. While there are some truly outstanding small hotels, I just don't think you get enough for your money there, and you really need to be Nicole Kidman--rich to be able to afford and enjoy the Isle de France. People in the know rent a lovely small villa (there are even one-bedroom villas) and do it on their own at greatly reduced summer rates, but you have to be willing to accept that a lot of the top restaurants and nightspots are closed then. I don't think that's the experience you are looking for.

If you choose a hotel in St. Barths, go in June, before a lot of places close down.

waring

The mega-rich thing is a bit of a myth, and picking the "Best Hotel in the Americas", sixteenth best in the world is a bit misleading.

If you can afford the Cap Jaluca you have a very wide choice on St Barts.

The Emeraude Plage is on fashionable St Jean Beach as is the Tom Beach, and The Baie Des Anges on Flamands, all reasonably priced.

Doug is correct, you do get more bang for your buck in a villa.

August is quiet, but there are still many Europeans coming. There are more than enough restaurants and night spots open than you could possibly visit.

At this time of year, even the BIGGIEs

Ike

Thanks Doug. What about SBH in May? I know Isle De France is high but I will only be there 5/6 days. I can afford that. I think my wife would like the "European" feel in SBH but I started looking at ANU and like the looks of Curtain Bluff. What's your opinion of Carlisle Bay and Jumby Bay. We stayed at Little Dix and Caneel Bay which are Rosewood properties. My favorite hotel in the U. S. is Mansion on Turtle Creek by Rosewood. Thanks.

Gayle

Congratulations on your upcoming 25th anniversary.

We've been going to St Barths for 21 years, twice a year. Though we are villa people, we have stayed at IdF, Guanahani and Eden Rock over the years.

If you are the type of people who enjoyed CJ in Anguilla and One and Only properties then I highly recommend St Barths. It is an easily traversed 8 square mile island with a very European, sophisticated flare and very different from Antigua. It is similar in feeling to the south of France but with beautiful, as opposed to rocky/pebbly beaches. There is little to no crime, unemployment or poverty. There are no all inclusives, golf course, casinos, rum/jump-up boats, steel drums or reggae or typical Carribean culture.

IdF is not prohibitively expensive after April 15. It is located on a beautiful and quiet beach.

Of the islands 80+ restaurants only about half a dozen close in the summer months (in fact I can only think of 4 at the moment). A few more close in September. But the island caters to European vacationers in the summer and just about everything is open for business.

For lots more information on St Barths check out www.sbhonline.com and Happy Anniversary.

Gayle

P.S. May is a lovely time on the island. We always go in May for 2-3 weeks. The sales (les soldes) are on in all the shops, the island has slowed down a bit and the beaches are blessedly uncrowded.

doug_stallings

I'd definitely second May as a great time to go to St. Barths, but I still hold that the villa experience is superior to the hotel experience there. At Guanahani, for instance, the cheapest room is about $400 per night in May, but when you look at suites, prices go up to $700 and more. Eden Roc is slightly more for a basic room. For about the same price, you get an oceanview villa at Jumby Bay, but the price is all-inclusive.