Last month we gave you the inside scoop on St. Martin from one of our resident Caribbean experts, Project and Integration Manager Nick Guezen. Now we're checking in with Nick again as we head to St. Barts. If you're considering a trip to this elegant Caribbean retreat, don't miss our guide to the some of the best beaches, restaurants and villas in St. Barts.
My favorite excursion: Hanging out at Nikki Beach, in the late afternoon sun, mojito in hand, watching the planes land and take off. The beach has nice calm waters for our 18 month old to enjoy. Perfection.
My travel essential: A stack of business cards. I met so many interesting people during our short trip and every time I mentioned I work in the villa rental industry they always ask for a card.
My best night out: We kept it tame and stayed in for the most part. A great alternative to dining out is a spinoff from the famous Isola restaurant called Isoletta. Great takeaway gourmet pizzas!
I was not expecting: To eat at Isle de France two lunches in a row. We were going to try somewhere new but we couldn’t get the previous day’s experience out of our minds … so we went back.
My best drink discovery: Any of the cocktails at Isle de France – awesome.
Most memorable moment: Taking a wrong turn and driving up the steepest road on the island (at least it felt that way). As much as we thought the car was about to tip over backwards we made it out alive.
My favorite local treat: Anything from La Petite Colombe bakery. The main outfit is up in Flamands but don’t worry if you’re staying on the other end of the island because they also sell from a smaller location in Lorient.
I was pleasantly surprised by: How calm the water at Gouverneur Beach was. Last time we were there is was crashing down but this time it was calm enough for our little one to swim in.
Where to Stay:
With over 230 villas in St. Barts, this luxurious island is one of our top vacation destinations. Nick and his family recently had the opportunity to stay at Art, near Flamands Beach.
What I loved most about this villa was: Having all the bedrooms under one roof. This villa is newly renovated and a few minutes’ walk from Flamands Beach.
My favorite place to sip my morning coffee was: the upper balcony off the living room. It has amazing views of the beach, the sea, and the lush (no villas) mountain opposite where this villa is located.
I'll never forget this villa's: pillows and night-time lighting.
I would recommend this villa for: adults or families with kids old enough to swim because the entire pool is 5 feet deep. Of course, you’re also near the beach.
Something I think guests would like to know about this villa is: this villa is a lot more private than I would have expected as it’s part of a villa development (Roc Flamands).
A detail that made all the difference was: A/C throughout the house – main areas and bedrooms. The full Satellite TV package with movie channels was another bonus.
The best thing about this villa location was: the view, proximity to Flamands Beach and the incredible Isle de France restaurant.
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