Cheval Blanc
Owned by the international business group LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy), Cheval Blanc is located in the paradisiacal island of St. Barth in the French Caribbean, where the tropical breezes are imbued with refined French style. Its 40 rooms, suites and villas have spacious terraces and gardens. Some of them look directly at the beautiful Baie des Flamads Beach. The most famous accommodations are the Beach Suite with two bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and a terrace with a hot tub overlooking the bay. Also popular, the Flamands Villas are located directly on the beach`s white sands, with personalized service, three bright bedrooms and bathrooms, a large living room, kitchen, private gym and home-theater. Each villa has its own private butler.
Cheval Blanc’s gastronomic offer is distributed between Culinary Break, La Case de L’Isle, Le White Bar, La Cabane de L’Isle, La Cabane de L’Isle Bar and Carte Blanche.
The exclusive restaurant La Case de l’Isle is the most attractive corner to enjoy first class cuisine. From breakfast to dinner, this open-air restaurant serves delicious French-inspired dishes created by the executive chef Yann Vinsot.
In the heart of the hotel’s tropical garden, the Cheval Blanc Spa features four treatment rooms, a hammam and an outdoors relaxation pavilion. The firm Guerlain has created a wide range of massage products, as well as facial and body treatments specially designed for Cheval Blanc. Read about other luxury hotels in St. Barth.
Misool Eco Resort
South of Raja Ampat, in Indonesia, there is a private island called Batbitim. It is located on an archipelago of uninhabited islands, surrounded by a protected marine environment of great biodiversity that is a paradise for divers. In this peaceful enclave, circumscribed by crystal white sands and blue sea, we found the Misool Eco Resort, which offers diving holidays and unique relaxation along the coral reefs. The resort`s capacity is limited to 40 guests only and has a ratio of three employees for each guest. Staying at Misool Eco Resort contributes directly to supporting numerous conservation initiatives, and provides sustainable employment opportunities for the local people.
The villas have fascinating names such as Utara, Nasnoos Wakachom or Tabisasu. They are built on stilts over the sea with tropical hardwoods recovered and milled on site with their own portable sawmill. The rooms are meticulously designed to ensure comfort, privacy and sustainability, and have Balinese-style outdoor bathrooms, air conditioning, hot and cold showers, mini-bar and a safe. All the furnishings and accessories are handmade. The restaurant is located on the beach under the shade of coconut palms and provides a wide variety of Asian and Western cuisine, with a focus on fresh, local and organic dishes. Misool`s spa offers natural products created locally, as well as traditional Indonesian massage and body wraps using their home-grown aloe plants and freshly harvested banana leaves. ■
