St Barth offers a unique Caribbean experience that combines French sophistication and elegance with Caribbean relaxation. The island maintains an intimate, refined atmosphere to those seeking an exclusive getaway, setting it apart from other Caribbean destinations. Now the question is, “where to stay” on this small, scenic, culture-rich isle in the French West Indies?
Prime St. Barts accommodations are scattered across all of the island’s distinct quartiers (neighborhoods or districts). Most of the island villas are tucked away in its hills, where they leverage the panoramic views and tropical trade winds—and provide the privacy many vacationers seek. However, we have several beach options, from being steps from the ocean, just a little path or a short walk away. For city-slickers, we even have villas and apartments in Gustavia close to many bistros and boutiques.
Each villa comes with its own special advantages and attractions. A villa in St. Barth can be a petite perfect-for-honeymooners bungalow or a luxurious twelve bedroom estate, large enough to gather with family and friends, and with every amenity you could wish for, with plenty of options in between.
In this guide, we’ll highlight the best places to stay in St Barts, and profile the most popular parts of the island to call a home away from home.
There’s no “wrong” place to stay in St. Barts. All of it is lovely, and given that the entire island is only 8 miles long and 1 mile wide (at most!), wherever you stay you’ll be a quick drive away from the popular beaches, restaurants and villages.
The following, though, are perhaps the most in-demand villages and districts to stay in.
Overview: The picturesque harbor town of Gustavia is often a natural choice for a vacation base. This lively — and very walkable — village wraps around a harbor on the southwestern coast. It isn’t a deepwater port, so you’ll see private luxury yachts instead of big cruise ships.
Best For: Shopping, dining, window shopping and architectural sightseeing, daytripping by yacht or boat — and just generally being in the center of it all.
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Overview: The beautiful and lively village of St. Jean is best known for its beachfront, the most popular on the island. This north-shore village also includes some of the best places to stay in St. Barts and some of the best places to eat and drink. From here you can rent not only beach chairs, but also wind surfers. The beach bars of St. Jean Beach are also known as the best sites for viewing the takeoffs and landings from the nearby Gustaf III Airport.
Best For: Beachgoing, watersports, plane-watching, shopping, wining and dining.
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Overview: The quartier of Flamands lies along St. Barts’ northwestern coast. Its long crescent beach is a prime attraction, among the best sand-and-surf spots on the island. The scenery is lovely, with headlands and offshore isles. And Flamands delivers top-notch beachfront accommodations, and fine dining. The footpath to the ultra private Colombier beach lies at the far western end of the quartier.
Best For: Beachfront dining, body-surfing/boogie-boarding.
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Overview: Colombier’s bold ridge occupies the far northwest of St. Barts. Scattered along both sides of its ridgeline you’ll find upscale villas overlooking the gorgeous bay of Anse de Colombier on one side, and Gustavia harbor on the other. The bay’s protected beachfront is an unspoiled treasure, hike-in or boat-in only.
Best For: Serenity, views.
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Overview: This laidback fishing village lies a hop, skip, and a jump northwest of Gustavia. A timeless feel pervades the neighborhood. Most residents here are locals, and traditional dories dot the hill-fronted bay. Villas here enjoy views of Gustavia’s outer harbor and the many yachts that are moored there. The quiet narrow beach and fishing pier add to the charm.
Best For: Experiencing a more traditional St. Barts vibe and enjoying uncrowded sands.
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Overview: Lorient lies on St. Barts’ north shore, overlooking the Anse du Lorient bay. The western side of the bay is excellent for surfing. And the calm waters and coral reefs on the east side draw swimmers and snorkelers. Across the street from the beach is a small village with two grocery stores, two restaurants and a patisserie.
Besides beachgoing, you can appreciate the intriguing history of the place. Lorient is one of the island’s oldest villages. And the church graveyard across the beach inters French rock-and-roll icon Johnny Hallyday.
Best For: Surfing, history, and sightseeing
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Overview: Sitting high above the sea, at the literal top of St Barts, lies the neighborhood of Lurin. This peaceful highlands area is home to dozens of spectacular villas. While not obvious to many first-time visitors, experienced travelers appreciate how convenient it is to stay in Lurin.
You can easily drive down into Gustavia or St Jean from this mountaintop area, or over to Gouverneur and Saline beaches.
Best For: Enjoying views of nearby islands like Nevis and Saba
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Overview: The quartier of Pointe Milou is a peninsula that juts out into the ocean from the northeast coast of St. Barts. From either side of the ridge that runs down the peninsula's center, you’ll get spectacular views of the ocean and the nearby islands of St Martin and Anguilla.
Pointe Milou is often rated the best place to watch the sunset, whether that’s from the terrace of your villa or the outdoor bar areas of the Christopher hotel.
View from Villa Cap Azur in Pointe Milou
Best For: Scenery, serenity.
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Overview: This residential quartier lies on the northwestern coast of St. Barts quartier between Flamands and St Jean.
Villas dot the hillsides, and all roads lead down to a narrow beach with a fine surfing area on the eastern end. Even if you’re not a board rider, it’s a blast to watch the rollers coming in and the surfers doing their thing against a postcard-perfect backdrop.
Best For: Surfing, sea-watching, tranquility.
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Take a virtual vacation and visit our portfolio of private villas to see descriptions, gorgeous photos and pricing. Our specialists would be delighted to guide you through the rental process. Use our chat feature or email [email protected].
Our St. Barts team of experts hand-select each villa. This ensures not only the most refined quality control but also guarantees we’ll be able to assist you every step of the way for your perfect St. Barth getaway with our firsthand knowledge.
Throw in the comprehensive concierge services we provide — from arranging transportation to pre-stocking your villa with provisions — and you’re set to enjoy an absolutely premium getaway on this upscale island.
Packing a great deal within a small footprint, St. Barts is an ideal destination for a Caribbean family vacation getaway.
There’s something for all ages, and plenty of onshore and island activities to occupy grownups and kids alike. Here are some of the best places to stay in St. Barts for family vacationers.
Villa La Plage, Lorient beach, St Barthelemy
Considering where to stay in St. Barts with the whole family crew? Consider these outstanding, kid-friendly villas, which include spacious quarters, crowd-pleasing amenities, and superb locations.
Scintillating sunsets, side-by-side strolls on white sands, charming French-Caribbean dining — romance comes easy on St. Barts. Upscale accommodations with an emphasis on privacy appeal to many couples. Below, explore villas ideal for lovebirds.
The one- and two-bedroom St. Barts villas for couples make note-perfect romantic hideaways. At WIMCO, we can enhance your honeymoon or any other romantic escape with services such as in-villa massages or meals prepared by a private chef.
If you desire the absolute best of accommodations in Saint Barthélemy, we’ve got just the ticket. The following St. Barts villas are the cream of the crop among “Jewel of the Caribbean” accommodations.
Elite villa living on St. Barts awaits you in WIMCO’s Special Reserve Collection. From gourmet dishes prepared by your own personal chef to straight-out-of-paradise private pools and terraces, these properties impress on every level.
With WIMCO taking care of all the details from start to finish — and ensuring you’ll experience exactly the kind of vacation you desire — you can’t go wrong.
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