Start with a beautiful beach & water. Cushioned loungers & umbrellas. All the beach towels you could want. 2 pools. Tennis. Fitness room. A restaurant with a view. Room service. Oversize bathrooms. California King-size beds. Crisp linens. Plenty of space.

The Hotel St. Barth Isle de France has all the right amenities & services included with its 33 rooms, suites &bungalows. Everything here is offered in a discreet way. You get the intimacy of a small hotel. But also the privacy, because of the way it is designed...spread out in a lush, garden setting. With its luxuriant palms and tropical shrubbery, the grounds offer a cool respite from the hot, Caribbean sun.

You can stay beachfront. In a room or suite. But beachfront is not as private as the garden rooms or bungalows. We love the accommodations that are a little further afield, connected by "floating" wooden-walkways. Like #18. These detached bungalows are nestled among banana trees, bougainvillea & other well-manicured plants.

But our favorite bungalow is located on the hillside. With a view of the water & its own private pool, it's set into its own shady enclave. Though a bit further away & more uphill, the hillside bungalow is about as intimate, private & lush as it gets here.

Though the Isle de France is spread out, every type of room has good proximity to all the hotel offers. You won't mind the couple of minutes it takes to meander down a path to the bar. The hotel's tropical setting invites strolls. It's part of the charm.

Located in the Flamands area of St. Barts, it has a prime spot on one of the island's prettiest beaches. Combined with the hotel's luxuriant natural surroundings, the Isle de France is very special. Not at all like some other hotels on St. Barts, that "live" a dry, rocky lifestyle.

You can book the Isle de France directly But we recommend St. Barts Properties (toll free 800-421-3396) for handling your hotel & private villa reservations on the island, with no hassles. St. Barts Properties will arrange everything you need for your stay at the hotel: airport transfers, a car rental & the best "package" for your stay at the Isle de France.