Elite Traveler Spring 2019

ISLAND LIFE

CHARTER A PRIVATE BOAT To see the island in all its glory, have your villa or hotel concierge set up a private catamaran or yacht rental for a day of fishing, diving or snorkeling in the surrounding turquoise waters. There are plenty of reefs with flourishing marine life around the island, including Colombier Beach (which is only accessible via a half-hour hike or boat), as well as just off the shore of Shell Beach. stbarthsailor.com WATERSPORTS Each side of the island offers different activities in the crystal- clear water. St Jean is ideal for beginner kitesurfing and leisurely paddleboarding; beginner surfers head to Lorient and Anse de Cayes (there’s a small surf school on Lorient where you can take private lessons); and Pointe Milou, Petite Anse and Anse Toiny are where the serious surfers come to play. Spend a day deep-sea fishing, snorkel or rent jet skis and cruise the perimeter of the island. caribwaterplay.com

SHOPPING St Barths has classic

luxury shops fromHermès to Cartier, but it’s the local style and flair that bring a certain je ne sais quoi to the

island. St Barths style is nothing without Poupette , known for printed silk dresses that must be worn for a day of dancing at Nikki Beach. Or, spend sunny days lounging in gauzy sets from Sunday's paired with a colorful straw bag. Lolita Jaca ’s beach cover-ups and kimonos with handmade beaded details are a dream. Hartford carries the quintessential men’s St Barths uniform: soft linen shirts and brightly colored pants. Be sure to take home a piece of St Barths from Donalé , a French-Caribbean home decor store, or exclusive pieces from Clic . poupettestbarth.com, hartford.fr,

lets loose, and even the most unassuming folk will get swept up in the hedonistic frenzy. Nikki Beach St Barth is a terrific party on the island, as is Le Ti , a restaurant that starts with a burlesque show, then becomes an all-out party after dinner. Bagatelle is perfect for dinner, but the real party starts around 11pm, when you’ll see bottle-service performances and magnums of Dom Pérignon poured more frequently than water. For later nights, Casa (Nikki Beach’s Gustavia outpost) is open until 5am, and St Jean’s intimate Modjo nightclub is known to party into the wee hours of the morning. nikkibeach.com, tistbarth.com, bagatellestbarths.com

From left: The St Barth

lolitajaca.com, clic.com, sunday-saint-tropez.com PARTY

Yellow Submarine among the sailing yachts; Nikki Beach

The table-dancing tales are true: St Barths is a place where everyone

Villa Wake Up Unlike most villas on the island, the 16,145-sq-ft Wake Up has direct beach access from its prime location just off Flamands Beach. It has three levels with six bedrooms, living area, kitchen, office, cinema, sauna and hammam, massage room, gym, staff quarters and a courtyard screen for watching movies under the stars. The ultra-modern decor features a calming color palette of neutrals and dark, smoothed wood, all complemented by marble and travertine. Artwork by local St Barth artist Kay Quattrocchi hangs throughout. Weekly rate from $150,000. Contact Wimco, Stiles Bennet, president, stiles@wimco.com, +1 401 849 8012, wimco.com

VILLA VACATION

Palmier Royal Estate This sprawling 13-bedroom estate is without question the largest and most opulent villa on the island — if you can even call it just a villa. Located within a private gated neighborhood, Mont Jean, it’s a three-part compound with three pools, mountaintop views and direct beach access via a private road. The first compound has two master bedrooms, two kids’ rooms, a kids’ pool, staff quarters and a kitchen, while the second compound contains the spacious living area and kitchen (including an alfresco dining table). Finally, the third has two master bedrooms, two king bedrooms and a gazebo with ocean vistas. Each is connected through greenery-lined pathways. Weekly rate from $200,000. Contact St Barths Properties, PegWalsh, president, pegwalsh@stbarth. com, +1 508 528 7727, stbarth.com

Villa Neo Tucked in the hills overlooking Baie de St Jean, Villa Neo is a contemporary six-bedroom villa split into two stories with some of the best views on the island. It’s available through Eden Rock Villa Rental, meaning you can access Eden Rock hotel amenities, such as the Jean-Georges Sand Bar and priority access to its private beachfront. It’s hard to imagine you’ll ever need to leave though, with a 108-ft infinity pool, hammam, cinema, gym and even a private nightclub. But if you get a little stir crazy, have your butler book you a beach or boat picnic at the secluded Colombier Beach. Weekly rate from $125,000. Contact Eden Rock Villa Rental, Marie-Gabrielle Berthelot, reservations manager, mariegabrielle.berthelot@oetkercollection. com, +590 590 29 79 99, edenrockvillarental.com