Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barths

The arrival on St. Barths is an adventure in itself. The small plane makes a final dive, almost skimming the mountainous terrain, after which gently touches down on the short runway of Gustaf III Airport, positioned between the mountains and the beach.

The thrill of landing is only the start of a magical journey through this Caribbean paradise, a haven cherished by ultra-high net price individuals from around the globe.

With our passports stamped and comfortably seated within the van, it didn’t take long until we reached our long-awaited destination: the Rosewood Le Guanahani.

Although it was late within the day, we still had time to explore the various amenities of our mega suite and luxuriate in the sunset painting the sky with divine colours. Our accommodations were so cozy that we opted for what I consider to be one in all mankind’s biggest inventions: room service.

Wake as much as the magical sound of the waves and open your eyes to a wide ranging scene: the wind sways the encircling vegetation and the marginally rippled Caribbean Sea. The view offers different shades of blue of the water and the green of the mountains, a spectacular sight. Breakfast, served on the suite’s terrace next to a tempting private pool, sets the tone for an unforgettable day.

Located on a non-public peninsula in the gorgeous northeast of St. Barthélemy, Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth is a special place. We selected it firstly of May to loosen up in style before an eventful week in New York, notably with the legendary Forbes Brasil Party.

We stayed in the brand new Bougainvillea Suite, a three-bedroom bungalow-style suite strategically positioned inside this 18-acre resort, offering total privacy in a secluded garden, a big private pool and intensely convenient access just steps from the restaurant and the wonders of the ocean. At 180 square meters, the Bougainvillea is one in all 10 Signature Suites among the many 66 on the property.

Rosewood Guanahani reopened on November 18, 2021, after a four-year closure and a whole renovation following the devastating hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. The architecture by Washington-based firm David M. Schwarz Architects and the inside design by Miami-based Luis Pon Design Lab boast excellent natural lighting and absolute comfort. The French-Caribbean heritage is obvious within the hotel’s colours: turquoise inspired by the local sea and lavender harking back to the South of France. The generous space and the authentic Caribbean architecture developed with subtlety and elegance are what strikes first-time visitors to the resort most.

Where to start out: St. Barth is positioned within the northeastern Caribbean, south of Anguilla, belongs to France and covers 9.7 square miles. Christopher Columbus appeared here in 1493 and decided to call the island after his brother, the cartographer Bartholomew Columbus. The first French settlers landed in paradise in 1648 and invested in cocoa cultivation. The British conquered the island in 1744, but only stayed for a short while. In addition to the French, the Swedes also made history on St. Barth – it’s the only Caribbean island that was a Swedish colony for nearly 100 years (1784 to 1878). This happened because Louis XVI gave the island to the Swedes in exchange for trading rights in Gothenburg. During this time, the capital of St. Barth was renamed: Gustavia, in honor of King Gustav III of Sweden. In the last century, the island’s inhabitants (now just over 11,000) were declared French residents in 1946. Today, tourism accounts for 90% of the local economy.

When you finally manage to go away the suite, the large query is: which beach must you go to first? The dilemma is that Rosewood Le Guanahani has two amazing beaches on its private peninsula, one on all sides: Marechal Beach (west) and Grand Cul-de-Sac Lagoon (east). Both lie inside the Grand Cul-de-Sac Bay nature reserve. The lagoon side is right for non-motorized water sports (kayaking, swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, snorkeling) and swimming. No matter which side you select first, you will find yourself on a path planted with bougainvillea, hibiscus and palm trees.

The hotel’s common area also features two inviting pools. One of them is the infinity pool on the Beach House with stunning views of the Grand Cul-de-Sac lagoon, ideal for guests with children, and is positioned on the approach to the beach.

The other is the adults-only Sense Spa pool. Speaking of spa, it’s an excellent idea to decide on a treatment upon arrival. The St. Barth Sensory Experience, for instance, lasts 90 minutes and uses various massage techniques to loosen up muscles and relieve stress and mental fatigue.

Tennis lovers will get their money’s price: a man-made grass court and impeccable lighting ensure great fun even within the evening. Professional trainers can be found for personal lessons. Those who cannot do without training even when traveling to paradise have access to a well-equipped gym. Those preferring mountain climbing outdoors can stay up for sensational routes on the island. The routes are led by hand-picked local specialists from the hotel team.

You can walk to Colombier Beach and in addition visit the natural pools of Petit Cul-de-Sac. With 15 trails on the list, there are great options for shorter and longer hikes, whether you are experienced or not. It’s price – really – taking the automobile to explore beaches further afield: Governor and Saline are stunning.

If the island offers unbelievable panoramic views from land, imagine boat trips from the ocean. One of essentially the most memorable experiences was setting sail from Gustavia harbor on a stupendous catamaran within the late afternoon and witnessing one of the vital beautiful sunsets I even have ever seen. The variety of luxury boats anchored in St. Barths illustrates the profile of the local visitor, who has many reasons to dock here.

The experiences at Rosewood Le Guanahani reach an exceptional level, especially when it comes to gastronomy. At the Beach House St. Barth restaurant and the Mélangé bar, guests are invited to a feast for the senses.

At Beach House, the cuisine is inspired by the Mediterranean and infused with the colourful energy of the Caribbean. While you wait on your meal, you will probably be mesmerized by the spectacular views of the beach. Dinner suggestions include tuna with cherry tomatoes and capers and T-bone steak from Creekstone Farm within the USA, accompanied by a menu of exclusive cocktails. The recent restaurant offers three different environments, including a captivating area on the beach.

Mélangé, alternatively, positioned by the pool, presents creations by the talented bartenders of the home, ideal for various moments: day, night and after dinner. For lovers of nightlife, St. Barths offers a large selection of restaurants and entertainment options that rival essentially the most exclusive luxury tourism destinations on this planet. In my opinion, the key of the success of this unbelievable island lies in the right combination of the relaxed and complicated Caribbean style and the tremendous dining offered in extremely elegant settings.

With each passing day, the need to remain longer on the island grows, making the departure even harder and reinforcing the understanding that we must return soon. With the sunshine soul and good humor of the Rosewood Le Guanahani, I admired from the window the breathtaking view of the geography of St. Barth shrinking within the vastness of this cinematic sea. As the dreamlike landscape fell behind me, I assumed concerning the final destination of a series of flights. I used to be refreshed and prepared for per week in New York that may be filled with strong and unforgettable emotions.