Photo Courtesy of Hotel Le Guanahani
The Hotel Guanahani & Spa is the largest luxury hotel on the idyllic island of St. Bart's, the only one that offers a complete resort experience, but with only 68 rooms and suites, the hotel manages to retain a sense of intimacy and charm.
With a Clarins spa, a Frédéric Fekkai hair salon, a fitness center, tennis courts and a kids' club, the hotel really does cater for every whim.
The design is a mix of French Colonial and Caribbean, with multi-colored cottages perfectly complementing the landscape. Each room has its own signature hue, large, comfortable beds and glass patio doors that offer sublime views of the sea. Ocean view suites are highly recommended, or you could try one of the prestige suites, many of which have private pools.
The hotel's focal point is the lounging area by the beach, which also has a freshwater pool and Jacuzzi, and a beach bar serving excellent food, where lunch is very much a scene. Le Guanahani sits on a peninsula, with one side facing Marigot Bay and the other side facing a reef protected lagoon, offering two beaches on which to revel in the white sand and warm sea. There is a wide selection of water sports on offer, from snorkeling to wind surfing and jet ski hire.
The hotel's fine dining restaurant, Le Bartolomeo, serves classic French cuisine in a tropical setting, with an extensive list of carefully selected vintage wines available - even when ordered as room service, the food was perfectly executed. For a more casual dining experience, Indigo restaurant on the beach serves both lunch and dinner where the menu is comprised of well-prepared dishes with a nod to both Creole and French classics.
Le Guanahani offers a great child-friendly resort experience, but manages to be elegant, romantic and effortlessly enchanting at the same time.
