The hotel’s new slate of wellness experiences offers guests the chance to revive their spirit from the inside out.

As this year’s “revenge summer” travel reaches its peak, everyone is looking for their own slice of paradise to retreat to before the season ends. If you’re still on the fence about when to find your piece of Eden, consider Cheval Blanc St. Barth—a beacon of relaxation and luxury with multiple wellness and fine dining options to complement your destination vacation.

Located on the coast of St. Barth‘s Flamands Bay, Cheval Blanc is the only hotel in the Caribbean with “Palace” distinction, and the reasons are clear. The Maison carries a storied history of bespoke service, Michelin-star cuisine, French architectural motifs, and more. However, the hotel’s new annual summer wellness initiatives champion the modern guest experience by providing various activities and treatments for visitors to enjoy to give their vacation a new heightened state of bliss.

Transportation

Before arriving, guests will need to book travel to the island. The Maison recommends Tradewind‘s easily accessible flights on both private and scheduled planes from San Juan (SJU), St Thomas (STT), Anguilla (AXA), and Antigua (ANU) to St. Barth’s Gustaf III Airport. Once you’ve arrived on the island, a private car will transport you to the hotel where the Alchemists (concierge) and Ambassadeurs await your arrival.

Rooms

Upon arrival, you’ll notice the Maison’s intimate feel. Unlike larger resorts, Cheval Blanc St. Barth only features 61 rooms, suites, villas, and bungalows. While the more spacious options are suitable for families, solo travelers, honeymooners, or anyone looking for a healthy dose of relaxation can rest assured that their stay won’t be crowded by neighboring guests.

All rooms include plush beds (always important on a relaxing vacay), private changing rooms, luxurious bathrooms, and a private terrace or balcony with a view of the gardens or beach, while some of the upper-level suites offer private pools and dining areas. In addition, many of the rooms, including all of the Ocean and Beach rooms/suites, have been redesigned by French designer Jacques Grange to showcase motifs of St. Barth‘s local island culture within a modern seaside landscape.

Wellness

Though you’ll be tempted to spend your stay soaking in the sun, salty beach air, and breathtaking views of Flamands Bay—which are all certainly deserving of praise—Cheval Blanc St. Barth has designed an itinerary of classes and experiences that guests can partake in during their stay as a way to achieve that full-body restoration for which we all strive on vacation. 

Yoga enthusiasts can enjoy private classes with world-renowned yoga instructor Nicolas Legrez. Utilizing his own education in Ashtanga, Flow, and Yin Yoga, Legrez has developed The Yoga Reverie, an experience exclusive to the Maison that integrates yoga, meditation, breathwork, and Guerlain beauty rituals.

One of the many new additions is a Barre class led by Julie Granger, the Maison’s Barre instructor in residence. The former Joffrey Ballet dancer is the founder of Brooklyn Barre, a New York City studio with a list of high-profile clientele specializing in muscle strengthening through a mix of ballet and pilates techniques. Granger holds scheduled sunrise yoga classes but is also available for private sessions in the afternoon for anyone seeking one-on-one instruction.

However, those interested in engaging their minds and bodies while also taking in the beauty of the island may enjoy a hike with Diana Bourel, founder of the Art of Self Care. After moving from NYC to St. Barth over 30 years ago, Bourel developed her signature form of wellness that combines yoga, spiritual counseling, and mind-body therapy. Through her hikes over the hillsides and to the remote shores of Colombier Bay, guests are invited to tap into the harmony of the lush surroundings and experience a true physical and spiritual reset.

With no shortage of options to choose from, guests may also enjoy personal training and hiking with Geoffrey Pain, pilates classes with Sandrine Riché, or Aquatic osteopathy sessions with Eva Greaux.

Beauty

While exercise can be a crucial part of restoring your body and mind, sometimes, the occasion calls for something a bit more relaxing—and horizontal. At the Cheval Blanc Spa, massage therapists and facialists offer an array of treatments, including customized facials and massages, backed by Guerlain beauty and skincare products. Guests can also enjoy their spa treatments in the garden under the pavillion.

In addition, the Maison has recently introduced the Guerlain Haute Parfumerie experience, curated by none other than Thierry Wasser, the noted perfume nose of Guerlain: This personalized fragrance experience with Cheval Blanc St. Barth’s Beauty Experts focuses on finding a scent that speaks to your own sensory memories and emotions. Through a quick questionnaire, the Beauty Experts can guide guests to the perfect scent that speaks to them as no other perfume has before.

Other amenities include personalized gifts or thoughtful accoutrements to your stay, courtesy of the Maison’s Alchemists, like Wellness Elixir Tea during turn-down service or a candle-lit bath in your suite.

Food

One of the best parts of any vacation is the cuisine. Both La Cabane and La Case, the hotel’s restaurant by chef Jean Imbert, offer innovative culinary creations to satisfy every craving throughout the year. However, as a part of the hotel’s Wellness Month initiative, naturopath Victoire Majorel has curated a menu of healthy—but no less delicious—dishes at La Cabane, the Maison’s beachfront restaurant.

For travelers planning to visit the Caribbean later this year, Cheval Blanc St. Barth will host renowned pastry chef Cedric Grolet from November 8-13 during the St. Barth Gourmet Festival.

In years past, travel has been a regular part of summer, but after two years of pandemic-induced travel restrictions and one too many unprecedented events, it’s time to pack up your beach bag and have a relaxing vacation that recharges your mind, body, and soul.