Picolo recommends · Hotel in St-Jean, St Barths
Tropical Hotel
From the pool on the slope you look straight down over the bay at St-Jean, and the beach is only a short stroll downhill through the garden.
The pool at Tropical Hotel hangs on the hillside, and from the water you see the whole curve of St-Jean bay below. The rooms are tucked into a dense, green garden, so it feels more like a private house than a resort.
On an island known for eye-watering prices, this is one of the more sensible places to stay. Guests rate it very highly, and the beach, shops and restaurants of St-Jean are a few minutes away on foot.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Tropical Hotel
We chose Tropical Hotel because it shows that St Barths can be done without a luxury budget. It is personal, quiet and has a view many larger hotels would envy.
You do not get a spa, a beach club or room service around the clock. The walk back up from the beach is steep in the heat, so this is not ideal if you have trouble with hills.
What you get
- Pool overlooking the bay
- Rooms in a green garden
- View over St-Jean
- Beach a short walk downhill
- Small and personal
A day at Tropical Hotel
- Morning
- A swim in the pool with the bay still in morning light.
- Midday
- Down the hill to the beach at St-Jean for a dip.
- Afternoon
- Back in the shade with a book and the view.
- Evening
- A short walk to dinner in St-Jean.
Location
St-Jean, Saint-Barthélemy, French West Indies
Open in MapsQuestions about Tropical Hotel
Is Tropical Hotel close to the beach?
Yes. The hotel sits on the slope above St-Jean, and the beach is a few minutes away on foot. The way back is uphill.
Is Tropical Hotel cheaper than other hotels on St Barths?
It is one of the better value options on the island. Prices are still high by most standards, but lower than at the large beachfront hotels.
Does Tropical Hotel have a pool?
Yes, there is a pool on the hillside with a view across the bay at St-Jean, which is the heart of the hotel.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
Our editors pick every hotel themselves, and most of them we have stayed at. No hotel can pay to be included or ranked higher. When you book through our links, Hotels.com pays Picolo a small commission. It never changes the price you pay, and it never decides what we write.
