Happily, the Nixon clan had planned an escape to St. Martin and St. Barths long before the meteorologists were predicting record-setting snowfalls, so while the blizzard was a-buzzing we’ve been happily ensconced upon more tropical shores.
We spent two delicious nights at the La Samanna Resort & Spa on St. Martin, an Orient-Express property that straddles the border between the French and Dutch sides. La Samanna is a terrific retreat, very throwback in its style with wonderful, whitewashed architecture spilling down to the sublime Baie Longue with its cerulean waters and powder-soft strands. Of course, I sipped plenty of rose wine as I sat poolside and caught up on the latest potboilers on my Kindle. We dined at nearby Bamboo Bernies upon innovative sushi paired with lascivious libations (aka adult beverages) and danced the night away at Tantra Nightclub & Sanctuary. We wandered through the streets of charming Marigot, the capital of the French side, and sipped yet more “du vin” at the charming wine and gourmet food store Bacchus where we met the Dutch side’s Minister of Tourism, Frans Richardson (a charming man!). Later, we savored La Samanna’s gargantuan bathtubs and supped in the hotel’s open-air dining room with waves crashing below.
And then it was off to St. Barths via the ferry from Oyster Pond, a 40-minute hop over to SB’s main town of Gustavia. J’adore, j’adore St. Barths, and it has become an annual pilgrimage for our family. Of course, it’s sort of wicked expensive, but everything is top-notch and fabulous. We have rented a wonderful villa at the far end of the Anse des Flamands beach—and it’s the perfect location for getting out to explore. Night fall found us sipping cocktails at our friend Benjamin Fabbri’s glorious Hotel La Banane, one of my most favorite hostelries anywhere in the world. La Banane truly defines chic in my book. As we sipped champers, musician Soley played wonderful Spanish tunes upon his guitar, and we all rocked out to Gipsy Kings in the magical setting. From there it was on to dinner at stylish Le Sereno where I feasted on grilled fish by the beach.
And that was only Day One in SB! Lots more to come…
Top photo: The exterior of La Samanna, the chicest resort on the isle of St. Martin.
Center photo: Here's a bedroom at La Banane. I could simply live here.
Bottom photo: The glamorous, mid-century modern lobby at La Banane where hunky owner Benjamin Fabbri serves as host.