Warmth · St Barts, Caribbean
Warmth, in December.
A small French island, a villa above the lagoon, and New Year in Gustavia.
For families who would rather end the year in warmth than in snow, St Barts is a small French island in the Caribbean with white sand, a harbour of yachts and an easy island pace.
Getting there
St Barts is reached through St Maarten, with a short flight into Gustaf III Airport or a ferry across. The island is small enough to cross in minutes, and most families keep a driver for the stay.
The villas
Most families stay in a private villa above one of the beaches, with a chef and staff, rather than in a hotel. Two we know well sit on the quieter eastern side of the island.
Villa Hemingway stands above the lagoon at Grand Cul de Sac, a short walk from the beach. It has open living spaces, an infinity pool and the sea in view from the terrace, which is where most of the day tends to be spent.
Villa Javacanou, at Marigot Bay, is more contemporary: clean lines, a private deck and the beach a few steps away. It suits families who would rather be in the water than above it.
Over the festive season, villas usually require stays of ten to fourteen nights and are booked well in advance. We will tell you honestly what is possible.
New Year in Gustavia
On New Year's Eve, the harbour at Gustavia fills with yachts. At midnight they sound their horns together as the fireworks go up over the bay. It is loud, and then it is quiet again.
New Year's Day is for the sand at Saline or St Jean, and nothing else planned.
The days in between
Lunch at Nikki Beach or Eden Rock that runs into the afternoon, a boat to a cove for the day, and evenings that start late. For New Year's Eve itself, some families take a yacht for the evening and watch the fireworks from the water. St Barts is good at doing very little, and doing it well.
