St. Barth's Begins High-Season with 3 Hotel Renovations Complete

All of the guestrooms were renovated at The Hotel Carl Gustaf, the 14-suite luxury property located on a hill overlooking Gustavia Harbor in St Barths, during the hotel’s annual closure in September and October. Overseen by French designer Isabelle Blanchère, all one- and two-bedroom suites were refreshed with new flooring, new furniture and accessories, all new soft-goods and a new lighting scheme. The individual private outdoor areas were updated as well, including replacing the tiles in the individual plunge pools and outdoor furniture.

The floral and striped motifs were replaced with natural, textured fabrics in three different color schemes (greys, chocolate brown and aubergine). Rattan and wooden furniture was replaced with soft, casual-yet-elegant pieces that invite relaxation and evoke a luxurious beach house feel. Sight lines were changed and enhanced by adding a taller high-top table made of ceramic and teak, which affords views of Gustavia Harbor below while dining.

Ms Blanchère used Elitis fabrics (French) and Paola Navone-designed (Italian) furniture in the redesign, as well as carpets and accessories from Designers Guild. Italian-designed Marazzi ceramic tiles was used for accents. The Hotel Carl Gustaf’s last renovation project took place in 2008, which included the addition of the four-bedroom Royal Suite and Boutique Spa as well as the full renovation of Victoria’s, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant. Nightly rates start at 590€ in low season for a 1-bedroom suite, and include breakfast and round-trip airport transfers.

The five star Le Sereno Hotel & Villas in St. Barth is a laid-back luxurious playground for families and the fashionable elite this season with the unveiling of Family Suites, an exclusive bespoke tote bag by Anya Hindmarch, the launch of a new spa treatment by Ligne St Barth available only at The Spa at Le Sereno, a pool bar and in-room offerings. An idyllic island hideaway on the Grand Cul de Sac, Le Sereno debuts Family Suites – a combination of two adjacent one-bedroom suites to create a magnificently expansive “home away from home” ideal for families and groups. Understated, chic and spacious accommodations, rates for a two-bedroom Family Suite start at 960€/night (approximately $1,240/night) in low season and 1275€/night (approximately $1,650/night) in high season. Family Suites come complete with a kid-sized dining area on the beach and special island-themed surprises to delight the youngest of guests.

Catering to its fashion-forward guests, Le Sereno introduces the latest addition to its line of luxury travel accessories created in collaboration with British handbag and luxury goods designer Anya Hindmarch. A large gray canvas tote is the newest item in the Anya Hindmarch Bespoke Collection for Le Sereno, which also includes a white canvas tote featuring a custom-designed artwork of the island, a leather folio, gold jewelry case and a Be a Bag capturing the essence of St. Barth in a printed satin wash bag. The customized goods are available to guests who book one of the three Villas at Le Sereno with full access to the amenities of the five-star hotel.

Le Sereno invites guests to retreat to its intimate and tranquil Spa at Le Sereno, which features an extensive menu of facials, body wraps and massages exclusively using Ligne St Barth products and techniques. Completed November 2011, the indoor/outdoor Spa is anchored by an oversized waterfront treatment pavilion with a subtle sea breeze and breathtaking views of the Grand Cul de Sac. Be whisked away to a world of serenity with The Spa at Le Sereno’s new signature Coconut Massage featuring coconuts picked from Le Sereno’s on-property coconut palms. The Coconut Massage is a 60-minute exfoliating and deeply nourishing body massage using fresh coconut slices and warmed, pure avocado oil to stimulate circulation and tone the skin. The treatment concludes with a soft scalp massage leaving the hair shiny and well-nourished.

Guests will also enjoy a new pool bar at Le Sereno’s infinity-edge pool overlooking the turquoise waters of the Grand Cul de Sac. Signature beverages and cocktails include Rosé; the Sereno Mojito made of Grey Goose vodka, mint leaves, lime and freshly crushed strawberries; and the Yellow Basil, a refreshing mix of Ketel One vodka, pineapple and lemon juices, and a hint of fresh basil. A destination where everyone is a VIP, new amenities at Le Sereno include beverages in the in-room bar. Le Sereno reveals a tech upgrade in all 37 suites and the three Villas with new electronics, including flat-screen televisions and Bluetooth music players, and in-room technology that elevates the guests’ stay to an unsurpassed level of experiential luxury. Hard and soft goods renovations include new outdoor furniture throughout the Hotel & Villas and bathrooms remodeled with teak in the Grand Suite Plage and black granite in the Suite Terrasse.

As the first Relais & Château property in the Caribbean to receive a Grand Chef distinction, Hotel Le Toiny is known for its exceptional cuisine and famed Restaurant Le Gaiac. Continuing its commitment to culinary excellence, the hotel launched a major restaurant refurbishment project this July, reopening the refreshed space this fall for guests to enjoy Michelin-starred Chef Stéphane Mazières’ Creole-accented gourmet French fare. The million-dollar renovation is the first for Restaurant Le Gaiac since its 1992 opening. The project updated all interior and exterior spaces, including the restaurant’s scenic infinity pool. Floors were redone in natural beige limestone reminiscent of the sand on Le Toiny’s private beach, while the pool was lined in anthracite lava stone and reflects the colors of a river bed. A small sitting area with a large library, business corner and upgraded bar offers a place for guests to relax before and after meals, and a large window provides views of the kitchen from the restaurant for a chic island feel. A Family Table was added in the restaurant to encourage conversation and offer guests a place to join together to sample the day’s menu suggestions. The restaurant’s design echos the November 2011 refurbishment of the hotel’s private terraces and pools, and the décor now provides an island chic feel with soft colors in aqua blue, beige and soft grey. The menu continues to offer Le Gaiac’s beloved French cuisine, with a more simplified presentation showcasing three main elements in each dish.

Along with the renovation project, Hotel Le Toiny also welcomes new restaurant manager Pierre Grall. Formerly the Maitre D for Alain Ducasse at the Essex House in New York, Pierre brings years of experience in managing Relais & Chateaux Grand Chef restaurants, including the Thomas Henkelmann-led Homestead Inn in Connecticut.

Where to Stay: St Barthelemy Luxury Hotels, Resorts & Villas