Hotels
Best hotels in St Barths: nine places to stay by the beaches and in Gustavia
The morning starts with coffee on a terrace above a turquoise bay, and in the evening you eat French food by the harbour in Gustavia. St Barths is small, French and exclusive, and its hotels are small, personal and almost all on a beach.
This page contains affiliate links to Expedia. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
St Barths covers only around 25 square kilometres, with green hills and around 20 beaches. There are no big hotels here. Most have fewer than 50 rooms, and many are built as small houses or villas in gardens running down to the sea. The island is expensive, but the mood is relaxed, and you can drive from one beach to the next in fifteen minutes. The island was Swedish for almost a hundred years, and in Gustavia you still see Swedish street names and the old Swedish fort.
We have picked nine hotels in two areas and say who each one suits. All have a guest rating of at least 8.8 out of 10 and more than 50 reviews on Expedia. Our links go there, and the hotel is always chosen before the link. Some of the island's best known hotels, such as Eden Rock and Cheval Blanc, did not appear in our search with enough reviews, so they are not included.
Quick answer: where should you stay in St Barths?
To walk to restaurants and shops, stay in or near Gustavia. For a lively beach, stay in St-Jean. For calm water and children, stay by the lagoon at Grand Cul-de-Sac. For the most privacy, stay on Toiny.
Best for privacy: Le Toiny
Best on the beach: Le Sereno
Best view: Christopher Hotel
Best in St-Jean: Pearl Beach Hotel
Best near Gustavia: GYP SEA
How to choose the right hotel in St Barths
Beach first: choose the beach before the hotel. St-Jean has life and restaurants, Grand Cul-de-Sac has calm water, and Toiny has waves and peace.
Hire car: most visitors rent a small car. The roads are steep, but the distances are short.
Getting there: fly to St Martin and take a small plane or boat onwards. Many hotels meet you at the airport. From the UK you usually fly via Paris or the US to St Martin.
Restaurants: book tables well ahead in high season, especially around Christmas and New Year.
Season: many hotels close for a few weeks between August and October. Check the dates before you plan.
The pool
The pool and sun loungers at GYP SEA near Gustavia.
Gustavia, St-Jean and the north west
Gustavia is the island's small capital, with the harbour, restaurants and shops. Close by is St-Jean beach, with beach clubs, water sports and the airport at one end. Further north west are quiet coves such as Anse des Cayes and Flamands. Here you are close to everything, and can walk or take a short drive to dinner in the evening.
GYP SEA: calm near Gustavia
GYP SEA sits close to the harbour in Gustavia, with a pool, a garden, a spa and a restaurant. Breakfast and airport transfers are included, and guests rate the hotel very highly.
This is our pick near Gustavia, if you want to walk to restaurants in the evening and have a quiet pool by day. Walk down to Shell Beach, right by the town, and watch the sunset from there.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at GYP SEA
St-Jean
Pearl Beach Hotel on the beach at St-Jean, seen from the air.
Pearl Beach Hotel: right on St-Jean beach
Pearl Beach sits right on the beach at St-Jean, with a beach club, a restaurant and rooms a few steps from the sand. It is lively by day, with music and people coming for lunch.
This is our pick in St-Jean, if you want the beach and the life around it. The airport is at the end of the beach, and it is fun to watch the small planes land. Snorkel along the reef in St-Jean bay in the morning.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Pearl Beach Hotel
The pool
The pool with a view over St-Jean at Tropical Hotel.
Tropical Hotel: a small hotel above St-Jean
Tropical Hotel is a small hotel on the hillside above St-Jean, with a pool overlooking the bay and rooms in a lush garden. It is one of the better value hotels on the island, and guests rate it very highly.
It suits you if you want a personal, quiet stay with the beach and restaurants a few minutes' walk away. Take a book to the pool and enjoy the view over the bay.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Tropical Hotel
The pool
The pool among the palms at Hotel Manapany.
Hotel Manapany: on Anse des Cayes
Manapany sits on the bay of Anse des Cayes on the north west coast, with small houses in the garden, a pool among the palms and a restaurant on the beach.
It suits couples and families who want a quiet beach with Gustavia and Flamands close by. Drive to Flamands for a long afternoon on one of the island's finest beaches. The hotel is a few minutes from the airport and Gustavia by car.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Manapany
The beach
The beach at Grand Cul-de-Sac in front of Le Sereno.
Grand Cul-de-Sac, Pointe Milou and Toiny
The east of the island is quieter. Grand Cul-de-Sac has a shallow lagoon protected by a reef, with water sports and calm water for children. Pointe Milou sits high above the sea, and Toiny is the wild south east coast, with waves and few houses. The hotels here suit anyone who wants peace, nature and the sea close by.
Le Sereno: right on the beach at Grand Cul-de-Sac
Le Sereno sits right on the beach by the lagoon at Grand Cul-de-Sac, with simple, elegant suites in white and natural tones and a restaurant by the water. The mood is calm and relaxed, and many guests return year after year.
This is our beach pick, if you want to walk straight from your room into calm water. It suits couples and families alike. Rent a paddleboard and paddle out on the lagoon in the morning, when the water is flat.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Le Sereno
On the lagoon
Le Barthélemy on the lagoon at Grand Cul-de-Sac, seen from the air.
Le Barthélemy Hotel and Spa: elegant on the lagoon
Le Barthélemy sits on the beach at Grand Cul-de-Sac, with large rooms, a long pool facing the lagoon and a spa. It is modern and elegant, and guests give it one of the highest ratings on the island.
It suits couples who want full service with the beach right outside. Book a boat trip along the coast from the lagoon and see the island from the sea. The spa is a good alternative on a day of wind and waves.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Le Barthélemy Hotel and Spa
The pool
The pool with a view at Amnios St Barth in Grand Cul-de-Sac.
Amnios St Barth: small and better value in Grand Cul-de-Sac
Amnios is a small hotel in Grand Cul-de-Sac, with a pool with a view, a garden, a bar and a restaurant. It is a short trip from the lagoon and the beach.
It suits you if you want a quiet stay on the east side at a lower price than the beachfront hotels. Rent a car to get around the island, and have lunch by the lagoon.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Amnios St Barth
The pool
The infinity pool facing the sea at Christopher Hotel.
Christopher Hotel: a pool above the sea at Pointe Milou
Christopher sits on Pointe Milou, high above the sea, with a large pool looking out to the horizon and rooms with terraces facing the water. It is one of the best places on the island for sunset. The hotel also has a spa and a restaurant with sea views.
This is our pick for the view, for couples who want the sea in front of them all day. There is no sandy beach at the hotel, but St-Jean and Grand Cul-de-Sac are a few minutes away by car. Stay by the pool until the sun goes down.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Christopher Hotel
The terrace
The terrace and pool with a sea view at Le Toiny.
Le Toiny: villas with private pools
Le Toiny sits on the hillside of the Toiny coast in the south east, with suites and villas that have their own pool and sea views. The hotel has a beach club by the sea and a well known restaurant.
This is our pick for privacy, for a honeymoon or a special occasion. It is the island's most secluded corner, far from the traffic of St-Jean. Walk the coastal path at Toiny and watch the waves break on the rocks.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Le Toiny
When should you book?
December to April: high season. Christmas and New Year are the most expensive, and many hotels require several nights.
May, June and November: good weather, quieter and lower prices.
August to October: hurricane season. Several hotels and restaurants close for a while.
Frequently asked questions about hotels in St Barths
How many nights do I need in St Barths?
Five to seven nights is usual. The island is small, so one base is enough, but many combine it with a few nights on Anguilla, a short boat ride away.
Which beach should I stay on?
St-Jean for life and restaurants, Grand Cul-de-Sac for calm water and children, and Toiny for peace and privacy. Distances are short, so you can visit several beaches in a day anyway.
Are hotels in St Barths expensive?
Yes, St Barths is one of the most expensive islands in the world. May, June and November bring lower prices.
Do I need a hire car?
It is a good idea. There are few taxis, and a small car makes it easy to reach the beaches and restaurants.
Why is Eden Rock not included?
Eden Rock and Cheval Blanc are among the island's best known hotels, but they did not appear in our search with enough reviews, so we have not included them.