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In a small area of St. Baths dubbed “Le Cul-de-Sac”, sits a whitewashed boutique hotel catering to those who understand and appreciate extreme luxury. As you wind through St. Barths twisty roads from the small airport in Gustavia, you come upon what looks like a dream, or a picture from a postcard at the very least. The elegant and incredibly designed Le Sereno meets you with a warm welcome and encourages you to unpack your bags, unwind and stay awhile.
Checking-in to Le Sereno is easy. A chauffeured vehicle meets you at the airport and delivers you straight to the reception desk where the hotel’s young and attractive staff gather your details and escort you down, layer after layer, landscaped gardens and wooden tiers which all lead to the oceanfront and garden bungalows. Mine, bungalow 9, featured an incredibly private garden engulfed in cactus, palms and hibiscus flowers. The front patio with lounge chairs and white candles captured my attention and drew my eye to the sliding glass doors which opened to my modern room. The bungalow featured a slew of textures. Rock, granite, porcelain, linen, cotton and wood – it all married beautifully to create an atmosphere of tropical chic – something the hotel has clearly grasped. The bungalow was well outfitted with a flat-screen television, ample closet space, a king-sized bed and open bathroom with a stone and glass shower – one that I barely wanted to leave while lathering-up before dinner.
As the sun set, the front desk called to inform me that dinner reservations had been made at the restaurant on site. Dressed in a denim oxford and casual white linen pants, I felt perfectly at home in the clean white space overlooking the moonlit waves rolling-in over the beach. The food throughout dinner from the house-made sushi to the impeccable miso glazed sea bass was outstanding. And, let’s not neglect the “hot from the oven” French baguettes served before the meal. It is a little slice of Paris – Caribbean style.
Le Sereno has made sure every guest will enjoy his or her time. With amenities like a white sand beach, staffed seaside cabanas, beverage and food service by the pool and both paddle boats and boards for guests’ use, there is nothing short of fun here. I chose to spend the entire day poolside gazing out over the crystalline waters with a detox green juice in hand. I stopped only to explore the waves with my paddle board – the perfect afternoon.
Service at Le Sereno is top-notch. There really is nothing they have missed. It is an experience that I can truly call “flawless” and one I will repeat soon. Go and stay for a few days to see what I mean. My only regret is that I did not stay longer.
