Endless sunshine, high-end shopping, gourmet food scene, and an ultra luxury oceanfront hotel in St. Barths? Sounds like a fool-proof formula for an amazing Caribbean trip! I had the pleasure of staying at the Cheval Blanc St. Barths during low season in one of their best suites. Although the Cheval Blanc portfolio often goes under the radar in the mainstream luxury hotel sphere, they provide arguably some of the most superior accommodations and service levels in the industry. My stay at the Cheval Blanc will show you exactly what I mean!

Location

The island of St. Barthelemy (St. Barths) is notoriously difficult to get to. There are no direct flights from the US to St. Barths because their airstrip is tiny. Most people fly into either St. Maarten (SXM) or San Juan (SJU) direct from US hubs (JFK or MIA being the most popular) and then taking an island hopper (small prop plane) to St. Barths (SBH). There’s also the option of the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barths but I wouldn’t recommend it. I found the 40 minute ride to be quite choppy, crowded, and not luxurious at all.

On my visit to the trendy island, I took a Britten Norman Islander 2 prop plane from Anguilla to St. Barths. A little caveat here – I’m not the biggest fan of flying despite having been on hundreds of planes in the past. There’s something about getting on a little prop plane with 8 seats and no other passengers that gives me a little anxiety. The plane ran with two pilots, a father-son duo, who assured me that they want nothing more than to get home in time for dinner. Funny and reassuring!

The actual location of the Cheval Blanc is on the northwest part of the island in the Flamands area, just in front of coveted Flamands Beach. I love this part of the island because you’re only 5 minutes from the airport, 10 minutes from downtown Gustavia, and 6 minutes from the trendy beach clubs in Saint Jean. The property is exceptionally large for the island and is split between lush hilly jungle, and the gorgeous beachfront.

First Impressions

As I arrived at the entrance of the Cheval Blanc, I was promptly greeted and offered a refreshing wet towel and glass of champagne before being escorted past an incredible sculpture, The Constellation of Pegasus by Jean-Michel Othoniel. Check-in is an absolute breeze. Staff was at the ready to take my bags to my room and the manager came out to shake my hand. Within 5 minutes I had been greeted and attended to several times and I could already tell the service was going to be excellent.

Across from the outdoor reception area is the walkway to the garden rooms located on the hilly jungle side of the property. Right next to the reception desk is a long hallway that leads to the Instagram-worthy pool overlooking Flamands Beach. The excellent fine-dining restaurant on property, La Case, is located just next to the pool. As I’m escorted to my room by my butler (note that butlers are a Cheval Blanc staple), I walk by the pop-up boutique and reach the end of the walkway. Here is where the day time restaurant, La Cabane, is located along with a bar, another smaller pool, and small beach area.

I tend to describe Cheval Blanc as understated French luxury with an emphasis on quality, refined contemporary design, and impeccable service. This property is no different, and each room is built and designed with the highest quality in mind. Despite having the option of garden views or ocean views, there are no bad rooms on this property.

Rooms

Cheval Blanc St. Barths has 61 rooms, suites, and villas spread over several acres on a quiet part of the island. The property feels incredibly spacious, and in my experience I saw more staff than guests walking around on any given day. My butler had been telling me how much I’m going to love my room during our brief tour of the property, and when he opened the door my jaw nearly fell to the floor.

I was upgraded to the gorgeous Beach Suite, a one bedroom oceanfront suite with a private infinity pool and direct beach access. The suite was a generous 1,300 square feet with a separate living area, a walk-in closet, and a large bathroom with a standing tub and separate shower. The terrace was the showstopper with a large glass sliding door leading to the expansive deck with a bistro table and the infinity plunge pool. These suites can either be on the ground floor or the first floor, and I particularly enjoyed the additional privacy from having a suite on the first floor.

There is a room category suited for everyone at this property, and I would recommend working closely with the reception team to determine the best rooms for guests. There are so few rooms and categories that guests tend to book the same room every year. For guests who prefer a more quiet, private, and secluded stay, their Hillside Bungalow Room is the perfect option. For older couples, I would recommend avoiding the Tropical and Garden Rooms as the terrain is hilly in that area. The Ocean Rooms are a splurge, but well worth it and located near the bars and restaurants.

Amenities

When I say the Cheval Blanc has impeccable service, I don’t mean just having your bags delivered to your room on time. The amenities provided at any Cheval Blanc are exceptional, and this particular property did not disappoint. For in-room amenities, I was provided several fresh French pastries from madeleines to chocolate chip cookie bars, cake pops, and a bottle of champagne on ice. The mini bar is fully stocked with beverages and snacks which can be tailored to your liking prior to your arrival. During turndown, a special evening amenity consisting of a homemade bottle of spiced rum was left for me along with a note explaining the significance of this amenity.

One of the things I love most about this property is their thoughtfulness around every amenity. For example, during turndown service I come back to my sunglasses resting on a lens cloth and my laptop charging cable organized and secured with a branded CB velcro wrap. The champagne bottle I had left opened magically had a CB branded stopper keeping the bubbles fresh, and these little details elevated my stay significantly. I’m not even mentioning the plethora of bath amenities, including a complimentary Guerlain skincare kit. Anything you need, the hotel can provide it.

In terms of amenities on property, there is no shortage here. The Cheval Blanc Spa, which uses Guerlain products, is well-known on the island. There are only 4 treatment rooms so it’s highly recommended to book in advance. There are two pools and beach chairs with service on Flamands Beach. For the active travelers, an outdoor yoga pavilion and an indoor fitness center are readily available. While there is no kids club on property, the hotel is family friendly with kid-sized bathrooms, slippers, and kiddie treats. The concierge and butlers will go above and beyond to make any family arrangements happen.

Restaurants

As previously mentioned, there are two restaurants on property: La Cabane and La Case. There is also The White Bar which is an all day bar serving up interesting cocktails by the pool. Even if you have clients staying elsewhere on the island, I highly recommend arranging lunch at La Cabane or dinner at La Case on at least one of the days. The atmosphere of both restaurants are classic St. Barths with great vibes and amazing food.

I dined at La Cabane for breakfast and lunch, and I believe breakfast is reserved for in-house guests only. Breakfast was a combination of buffet style with incredible fresh baked pastries and a small menu with hot dishes. La Cabane is situated beachfront so guests are able to enjoy breakfast while staring at the turquoise blue ocean. Lunch at La Cabane is a different vibe entirely, with upbeat house music playing on the speakers and more chatty friend groups funneling in. This restaurant is a great option for a trendy lunch with friends by the beach.

For dinner I dined at La Case, the property’s fine dining restaurant headed by famed French Chef Jean Imbert. La Case is located by the entrance of the hotel by the main pool, and it should not be missed. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating, with the latter portion offering gorgeous sea views. The menu is distinctly local Caribbean cuisine with French inspiration, and many of the ingredients were sourced locally or on nearby islands. Do not miss the incredible wine recommendations from the sommeliers, they know exactly how to elevate your dishes. The food was fantastic, and my favorite dish was dessert: a play on “lime in the coconut” with coconut ice cream, coconut cake, roasted coconut flakes, lime curd and zest all housed in a cute coconut shell. An aperitif of spiced rum was a lovely night cap to end the evening.

Recommended Guests

I recommend the Cheval Blanc St. Barth for any couples or families looking to splurge for an ultra-luxurious stay on the island. The hotel is not showy, it’s understated luxury for those who appreciate discretion and excellent service overall. The accommodations are modern and Instragram-worthy, and the butler makes sure you’ll never need anything. The entry level price point during peak season is high, about 1,500 – 2,000 EUR starting per night but the rate is well worth it.

Overall, I absolutely loved my stay at Cheval Blanc St. Barths and I can see why my clients do as well. Many of the guest base is made up of repeat travelers who book the same room every year. St. Barths never gets boring as a destination as there are always new restaurants, new beach clubs, and opportunities for shopping.

Have you ever stayed at a Cheval Blanc? If you’ve been to St. Barths before, where did you stay? Let me know your experience in the comments down below!