St. Barths' first hotel opened in the 1950s on the craggy bluff that splits Baie de St-Jean. Extensive renovations and an expansion in 2005 raised it into the top category of St. Barth properties. Each of the hotel's 35 unique rooms, suites, and villas is tastefully decorated and luxuriously appointed with plasma satellite TV and high-speed Internet. New, large bathrooms have either deep soaking tubs or walk-in showers; all have loads of fluffy towels and Bulgari suds. The six beachfront villas built on the property are magnificent and sleep up to eight, with full kitchens and beautifully appointed modern living areas. Stunning bay views and great service are uniform. In 2008 the resort added enormous (two- and three-bedroom) super-deluxe villas, each with two private pools, an art gallery, butler service, private cinema, and use of a Mini Cooper. One, called Villa RockStar, even has a full recording studio. The breakfast buffet, included in the rate, is terrific, and the on-site restaurants are first-rate and deserving of a visit. Pros: chic clientele; beach setting; can walk to shopping and restaurants. Cons: some suites are noisy because of proximity to street.
Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip