It was my final night in paradise, also known as the Cheval Blanc St-Barth. I had just returned to the Caribbean resort from dinner in town at Tamarin St Barth, a restaurant set in a tropical garden where greenery and cute local critters surround every table (I would know, a friendly frog jumped on my back during cocktails). Each evening, I’d discover a treat waiting for me in my room, whether a wellness Elixir Tea from the Maison’s “Alchemists” or a special setup to make my own beauty concoction with essential oils. I noticed tea on the bedside table and headed to the huge walk-in closet to begin the sad task of packing my suitcase. That’s when I spotted something else in the bathroom — a candle flickering over the tub. A piping hot bath magically was drawn for me. As I slipped into the water, I couldn’t help but smile and let out a laugh at how unbelievable the last few days had been.
It all started as I got ready to hop a Tradewind flight in San Juan to St Barths. (Scratch that. It actually started when I filled out my preference sheet for Cheval Blanc St-Barth, noting things like my robe size and ideal type of pillow — Hard? Soft? Feather? Foam?) At the airport, instead of suffering in long lines, I breezed through check- in and kicked back at the dedicated Tradewind lounge with snacks and a coffee. Aboard the eight-seater plane making the hour-long trip to St Barths I watched the boats lining the island’s coastline as the mountains came into view and got…well, first I got nervous over said mountains, then thrilled about my impending adventure. A quick 10-minute car ride later, I was greeted by smiling staff as well as my Majordome — suites and villas come with butler service — who whisked me away to my beachfront suite.
There are 61 spectacular rooms, suites and villas across the property with beach, garden or ocean views, some featuring private plunge pools. The rooms got a top-to-bottom revamp by interior designer Jacques Grange, who created an idyllic vacation atmosphere by mixing patterns, rattan furniture and quintessential West Indies charm. The décor, Christelle Hilpron, general manager of Cheval Blanc St-Barth, explained to me, “was designed as a cabinet of curiosities.” Meaning, she said, that “each decorative item has a story and reminds the guests about travels, whether it’s pottery sourced from Colombia, leather ottomans from Borneo or Aboriginal art displayed on the walls.” In my room, I was also struck by the amenities, like a Dyson hair dryer and Guerlain skincare waiting on the vanity. There was also a pair of pink flip flops (the Maison’s signature hue) and beach bag ready to go in the closet.
For my first full day in paradise, Cheval Blanc St-Barth created my ultimate itinerary: I hiked Colombier Bay with personal trainer Geoffrey Pain, and then enjoyed a private yoga session with world- renowned instructor Nicolas Legrez. Even though I’m no yogi, Legrez had plenty of patience as he guided me through The Yoga Reverie, an exclusive Guerlain ritual he created for Cheval Blanc St-Barth that combines yoga nidra and massage for a meditative, rejuvenating experience. Adding to the experience, it was set in the property’s lush gardens. Created by landscape designer Madison Cox, the mastermind behind the Majorelle Garden in Marrakech, the leafy oasis boasts over 120 varieties of plants and wildflowers (and a few turtles too).
The spa is also located in the garden, where I experienced a unique Guerlain treatment called the Secrets of India, which was guided by the rhythms of music for “new aura, a body and mind rebirth.” There was a striking set-up of over 15 Guerlain fragrances in the spa lobby, which is part of another bespoke ritual called the Guerlain Haute Parfumerie experience. “After a consultation that dives into a guests’ memories, striking emotions, tastes and personality, the Maison’s Beauty Experts select the perfect fragrance customized for you,” Spa Manager at Cheval Blanc Spa in St Barth Carole Renoux says, noting guests can also customize a bottle as a special souvenir.
When it was time to bask in the sun, Hilpron said it best: “The Maison’s private location on Flamands Bay allows guests to feel like they are in their own exclusive cocoon, with direct beach access.” What I loved most was bouncing between a lounge chair in the sand to my room’s private plunge pool, just steps away from one another.
Both dining venues on-site are also beach-facing and each has a pool. In the case of La Cabane, open for buffet-style breakfast as well as lunch, it’s quite literally on the sand (table choices are distinguished by the “deck” or “sand”). La Case is the property’s fine-dining restaurant by acclaimed chef Jean Imbert, who embraces a menu that boasts local herbs and flavors popular in Caribbean cuisine. Dishes are served on Dior plates — a nod to the LVMH-owned property. The fashion empire features the company’s portfolio of in-house brands (like Guerlain) in the boutique too — guests will find Emilio Pucci pieces and Dior shades on display.
At the end of my stay, I felt rejuvenated and relaxed, but also reflective: How could I continue experiencing this transformative sense of calm in my everyday life? As I surveyed the room for the final time feeling content, I noted all the things that might bring me back to this serene time and the memory of the waves lapping against me during dips in the sea. Luckily, I can take a whiff of the candle given to me as a gift at the end of my stay featuring the Maison’s signature fragrance Tropical Chic and its notes of ylang-ylang, pineapple, white flowers and sandalwood. Or maybe it’ll be as simple as resetting my posture, just as Legrez instructed me to do. Whatever the case, each time, I’ll be transported back to the tropics in my mind. But oh, how I can’t wait to return.
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