Story by Ken Panton
Photography by David Lewis Taylor

Long regarded as a pinnacle of understated resort luxury, the Hotel Guanahani & Spa, location on the renowned island of St. Barts, is an exceptional destination that combines an oasis of French luxury with white sands, breathtaking views, delectable dining, and an incomparable ambience. Perched on the end of St. Barts' Grand Cul de Sac Bay, a great snorkeling site, the resort faces Marigot Bay and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the natural landscape has been left in tact and the resort's 68 guestrooms, housed in colorful plantation style bungalows, are carved into the bluffs that rise from the waterfront and each are surrounded by tropical foliage and flowers. The smaller bungalows offer lovely garden and bay views and the larger bungalows, many featuring private pools, are complete with ocean views.

The distinctively French Caribbean style is conveyed with the use of bright tropical colors on the exterior of the buildings and inside the guestrooms the dark wood floors, crisp white linens, and the gentle mixing of neutrals and natural upholstery is vividly enhanced with tropical color accents. The spacious bathrooms are arranged within free flowing spaces and they include deep soaking tubs, double basin vanities, and a collection of Frederic Fekkai and Clarins amenities. Many of the larger suites have been recently upgraded with more minimalist open plan, designed to give more separation between living and sleeping spaces.

Regardless of where you find yourself at the Hotel Gaunahani & Spa a certain luxurious comfort prevails. Visitors indulge themselves with the privacy the resort's design affords each guest and they take comfort in knowing that their every demand and desire will be surpassed upon request. For the ultimate in jet-set luxury, both the Marigot Suite and the La Villa Suite are standouts and butler service is available.

The stellar offerings at the Hotel Guanahani include the utilization of the vast talents of Chef Guy Martin. Esteemed general manager Marc Thézé has extended this current partnership with Martin to broaden their collaboration. Chef Guy Martin will work as a consultant for the food and beverage outlets at the hotel and he will oversee the in-room dining menu as well as the menus at the property’s gourmet restaurants, le Bartoloméo and L’Indigo. Martin has been recognized has one of the rising stars of the French culinary landscape over the past decades, opening two restaurants, Sensing, in Paris and most recently in Boston. We enjoyed a delicious multi-course dining experience in the lush dining garden at le Bartoloméo complete with excellent wine and after dinner cocktails at the warm and inviting bar. Breakfast and lunch, at the poolside and bay front L’Indigo is an island casual affair with a decidedly cosmopolitan flair.

Wind surfing, waterskiing, snorkeling, and other activities are available for active guests while those choosing a relaxing retreat could not wish for more stunning surroundings. Needless to say, a day at the beach can indeed be tiring. Thankfully world-class relief is nearby, at Guanahani’s handsome and pampering Clarins Spa. Centered on the stunning spa pool, complete with a lounge for pre and post treatment relaxation, the treatments all feature Clarins smoothly pure products and include massage techniques from India, Thailand and Japan. The Spa’s salon offers manicures, pedicures and hair styling featuring Frederick Fekkai products.

With world-class dining, a Spa, and many other amenities on property as well as hard tennis courts and a fitness center, it is easy to see why this resort, surrounded by stunning beaches, is like no other. It is a place where you can do everything or nothing – in style! The concierges can arrange island tours and even set up island shopping tours, an outing not to be missed. For years St. Barts has been the playground for the ultra-rich. Private yachts dock for the season, and the sound of the surf is only interrupted by the distant hum of private planes overhead.

The Hotel Guanahani & Spa is a destination for the young jet-set and the super-rich-at-heart that enjoy luxury and delight in creating vacation memories that will last a lifetime. Getting to St. Barts is easy on Delta Airlines to Princess Juliana Airport in nearby St Martin, and then via private air taxi to St. Barts. The Hotel Guanahani is then a picture perfect ten-minute drive from the airport. For more information about the Hotel Guanahai & Spa and the most up to date packages visit www.leguanahani.com and for travel info visit www.delta.com.