Celebrating Christmas in St Barts: what to expect

St Barts is an idyllic place to spend your Christmas vacation. The Caribbean Island sees an influx of visitors at that time of year thanks to the hot climate and temptation to escape your responsibilities over the holiday season. Here’s what to expect if you’re there over festive period.

Where better to catch some winter sun than the exclusive Caribbean Island of St Barts? The temperatures at the end of December are high, but not stifling and there is little chance of rain, so you’re almost guaranteed good weather. That’s why it’s also the most popular time to visit. In St Bart’s they call the last two weeks in December ‘a plus haute saison’ and it’s also when many of the A-list guests and millionaire moguls descend on the island. So for that reason, it’s best to be prepared. 

 

Source: Saint Barth Tourisme

Where to stay 

Saint Barthelemy is blessed with so many stunning villas that you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to booking your luxury vacation rental. These are some of our favourite St.Bart’s rental properties for your Christmas vacation. 

 

Sunset

The perfect vacation rental in St Barts for a family of four, the Sunset Villa is a truly special place to spend your Christmas holidays. The tropical aesthetic has been designed to suit the lush surroundings and the highly desirable interiors stretch to the outside the property with a stunning infinity pool for enjoying the winter sun. 

 

Casa Paraiso 

Live in paradise at this luxury villa in Saint Barth. Villa Casa Paraiso is suitable for family and friends who seek a private and stunning getaway in the heart of Gustavia, close to the shops and lively nightlife. Equipped with a heated infinity pool, this freshly re-designed rental boasts everything needed to have a memorable Christmas vacation. The property even has a fitness room where you can work off the Christmas excess. 

 

What to do 

Shop ’til you drop

Even though St. Bart’s is small, it’s blessed with a number of fabulous boutiques where you can do your Christmas shopping. Don’t worry about bringing gifts from home, you can do all your Christmas shopping once you arrive at the best shops in Saint Barthelemy. From cigars to designer clothing, there is something for everyone, even the friends and family who have everything. 

 

Source: Saint Barth Tourisme

 

Visit the Christmas markets 

While these Christmas markets might not have the same wintery charm as the ones in Europe, they have their own unique festive atmosphere which make them a must-visit during your Christmas vacation. Shop for Christmas trinkets and handmade crafts from the many stall as you stroll around in the sun. It might not be the weather for mulled wine, but a cold glass of white will go down just as nicely. 

 

Source: Saint Barth Tourisme

 

Soak up that winter sun

There’s a certain novelty in being somewhere warm for Christmas that needs to be taken advantage of. So hitting the beach on every day of your holiday is totally acceptable. Saint Barth is blessed with so many beautiful beaches that you could go to a different one every day of your vacation and have your breath taken away at every single one. 

 

Source: Daily Saint Barth

 

Escape from the festive stress

It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of Christmas, with gift-buying and family dramas taking up most of your December. But use your holiday to escape from it all and truly relax. Even switch off your mobile phone for a couple of days. One of our favourite ways to relax is with a massage, so head to one of St Bart’s best spas for a day of relaxation and once you leave, you’ll be ready to face all that the new year throws at you. 

 

Source: Clarins

 

Look after yourself

The festive period is for over-indulging but if you make the effort to look after yourself on vacation, then you can head home feeling fit and healthy. St Bart’s is criss-crossed with dramatic hiking trails that will allow you to get closer to nature as well as do some exercise. And adventure-seekers will love all the water sports in Saint Barthelemy that they can take part in from surfing to snorkelling. Just remember to take some time out of all the celebrating to do some good for yourself. 

 

Source: Le Village

What to eat 

While many of the best restaurants in St Bart’s will stay open over Christmas, we prefer a more personal sort of Christmas lunch. Many of our luxury St Barth villas come with the option to have a personal chef cook at home for you. That way, you can eat what you want and still technically spend Christmas at home. A Much more personal experience than a restaurant. On New Year's Eve though, make sure to book a table for sunset cocktails at one of the best beach bars in St Bart’s so you can see out the year in style.