Wherever you are, I hope that you enjoyed the holidays. What a difference a year makes. I am happy to report that St Barth is back to its former self! The mega-yachts are back, and our villas are full. The boutiques are full of shoppers and the restaurants are doing so well that they must turn people without reservations away. We had to allow more time to get into Gustavia for dinner because finding a parking space was a real challenge. We did eventually find one every night and happily walked along the harbor to get to the restaurant we had chosen for that particular evening. Smart vacationers used our concierge services to book taxis for them – a very relaxing way to enjoy the evening.
Before the rush, I inspected some of our new villa listings and even stayed in two of them. We decided to try staying in Gustavia. I loved it! I could walk to my offices in 6 minutes flat. We strolled to one of Gustavia’s restaurants almost every night and walked around the harbor for exercise. Suite Paradis is a wonderful 3 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment located on the inner harbor above La Cantina. It is fully air-conditioned and well-equipped. The master bedroom, on the main floor, has a king bed and large en suite bath. Two more bedrooms are up a flight of stairs and share a bath. We loved sitting on the balcony people-watching, gazing at the boats and enjoying the sunset. It is a great choice for those who like to be “in town.”
We have many requests from people who want to come to St. Barth and insist that they must stay on the beach. Ninety percent of them have never been to St. Barth before, so they need to be educated as to why it is not important to do so. I always sing the praises of exploring the beaches and describe Gouverneur, Saline and Colombier beaches as being unspoiled and beautiful. Staying in the hillsides on this tiny island is the norm and, once they come here, they understand what I meant.
Don’t get me wrong, we do have some lovely villas that are on the beach, or walking distance to the beach, or on the water. We just listed the three Sable d’Or Residences that are situated in a gated area on the Baie de St. Jean and located on the other side of the runway. They are walking distance to St. Jean Beach.
So, here we are staying on the water at Villa Sable d’Or III, where guests can literally jump in for a swim or use the complimentary paddle boards from the front yard! I can see all the way across the Baie as well as the expansive beach from here. Guests can walk along the private road behind the villas and access a private area on St. Beach that is set up with lounge chairs. There is also a private tennis court (rackets and balls are provided) that is lit at night and a walking/jogging trail for guests to use, so, there is no excuse not to use them to stay in shape after dining at all of the fabulous St. Barth restaurants.
We can listen to the sound of the surf, sit on the terrace and dine outdoors, or sit on the chaise lounges. Other chaises with an umbrella are in our front yard. We can also sit on the lounge chairs on the private balcony off our en suite bedroom that is located upstairs. There is a guest bath on the main level. Villa Sable d’Or I is identical to this one. Villa Sable d’Or II is the same, but there is a second bedroom with en suite bath off the living area.
This year, we decided to skip the New Year’s Eve celebration in Gustavia and opted to dine at the Santa Fe restaurant instead. It was a beautiful evening and the place was full. David had his regular menu available which is very refreshing as most places have a Prix Fixe menu starting at well over 250 euros per person. And, get this, if you wanted to go to Nikki Beach, the prices STARTED at 5000 euros per person! Well, it did include a show with Mariah Carey.
David also had a special holiday menu that included, among other things, dishes with Foie Gras. I always wanted to try the Langouste Thermidor, but I have a small appetite. David chose the smallest one for me and now I am hooked on it. Steve opted for their signature Dover Sole Meunière one of my very favorites. We finished before midnight and headed home. I was surprised and delighted to see a display of fireworks right off our front yard!
I hope to see you on St. Barth very soon. You will love it.
Sunny regards,
Peg
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