The French-speaking island of St. Barth’s – or to be precise, Saint Barthélemy – has long been a glamorous year-end playground and the destination of choice for the owners of mega-yachts, the fashion industry elite, entertainers, athletes and their entourages. The Leeward Islands tropical paradise is the stuff of dreams. But the 2017 hurricane season was brutal, with a string of named storms wreaking havoc on many parts of the Caribbean, including this lovely island. So what will become of this year’s holiday season? Will New Year’s Eve in St. Barth’s still be the number one place in the world for a glittering celebration? We asked our far-flung correspondents to investigate, and here’s what they reported back. It’s the latest intelligence we have on what you need to know if you’ve planned (or were planning) a stop in St. Barth’s this winter. Of course it could change, but this is what we know for now.
The headline is that many of the island’s restaurants and beaches are either already open or planning to re-open at the beginning of December. The expectation is that many of the usual mega-yachts will be in the harbor exactly as in prior years. Those not staying on a yacht, however, will find most of the luxury 5-star resorts and hotels closed for the winter season.
Hotels and Resorts:
- Closed for the season, re-opening in March 2018: Hotel Christopher
- Closed for the season, planned re-opening in summer 2018: Eden Rock; Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France; Le Guanahani
- Too early to confirm re-opening date: Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa; Hotel Le Toiny St Barth; Le Sereno
- If you want to explore the options for renting a villa, St. Barth’s Properties is good place to start your enquiries
Beaches:
- Opening by December: Tom Beach; Petit Morne; Le Village St. Jean; and Baie de Anges
- Re-opening in summer 2018: Nikki Beach
- Opening date still to be determined: Shell Beach, Colombier, Saline Beach
Restaurants and Nightclubs:
- Already open or opening soon for the winter season: Black Ginger; Bagatelle; Mayas; Le Ti St. Barth; Tamarin; L’Isola; and Orega
- Re-opening in March 2018: Bonito
The restaurants we checked all suggested a direct phone call to confirm your reservations to ensure that all will be as expected when you arrive.
All of the hotel sites we checked reported that all of their staff members were safe and accounted for, and all provided phone numbers or email addresses where you can get more detailed information about re-opening plans.
In the meantime, for this holiday season, our insiders tell us that while some yachts will certainly return to St. Barth’s, others will head to Grenada and St. Lucia as an alternative this year. Martinique will also likely be a spot for several New Year’s Eve parties that would otherwise have be held on St. Barth’s or on yachts in Gustavia Harbor.
Relief efforts continue throughout the Caribbean, and St. Barth’s-specific fundraisers are being held in some major cities with large populations of yacht owners. If you’re so inclined, there are many ways to help. The spirit expressed by all was that St. Barth’s is determined to rebuild and to be ready to welcome visitors as soon as possible in 2018. Their determination is inspiring, and we know they’ll get this job done.
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