St. Barths

Real Honeymoon | October 12, 2011

St. Barths is one of my favorite Caribbean islands and so I was super excited when Camm & Liz decided to celebrate their honeymoon there! Here’s what the newlyweds had to say about their trip.

Where did you go?
St. Barth’s

What resort did you stay in?
Hôtel Le Toiny

Why did you decide this honeymoon spot & how did you come to this decision?
Camm and I had a few “absolute musts” when our hunt for the perfect honeymoon spot began:  Caribbean, beautiful beaches,  amazing food, and escape.  St. Barth’s had instant appeal because I speak French, and it is known as a culinary jewel in the Caribbean fusing Creole, French and other worldly flavors.  We chose it, and Hôtel Le Toiny, because it provided the seclusion and relaxation we craved but would still be easy enough to venture out for a night on the town or adventures on the water.

What was your favorite part about Hotel Le Toiny?
Just one favorite?  Then we’d have to say the private luxury of our villa suite.  From our own pool and patio, you could see nothing but palms, cliffs, and waves carrying the occasional surfer.  The villa was so well appointed as an ultimate getaway, it felt like home the first night.  Small touches including turn down service, his & hers flip flops and slippers, unlimited bottled water, and complimentary laundry services (returned the same evening, folded & wrapped in tissue paper) really spoiled us and put the resort experience at the top of the charts.  I have to say the service went hand-in-hand with our enjoyment of the resort.  Whether it was recommending a dinner spot or reserving a sunset cruise, the staff was gracious and helpful without fail.  Breakfast served each morning by our private pool—the figurative cherry atop our bungalow.

What did you like about St. Barths?
We liked St. Barth’s, in part, because of what it wasn’t.  There is no Señor Frog’s on the corner and no feeling like you’re on the wrong side of town.  We loved it since it wasn’t over-commercialized or catering to people with kids.  As for Toiny, the neighborhood we stayed in, it was outside of the hustle and bustle of the bigger villages of St. Jean and Gustavia.  After exploring all day, it felt wonderful to retreat to a quieter side of the island.

Did you receive any special honeymoon amenities or upgrades?
As soon as we arrived at the hotel, we were upgraded from a Junior Villa to a full-sized Villa Suite.  Awesome!  This meant our pool was more than just a puddle, our bathroom was palatial, and our honeymoon all the more special.  Also in the room to greet us were mini coconut pound cakes, fresh fruit, and chilled champagne.  On our last night, there was a copy of the hotel’s annual art book with a parting note from the managers.  A beautiful keepsake to share with friends.

If you could have changed one thing about your trip, what would it be?
We only rented a Mini Cooper for two days.   If we had a do-over, we would have booked a car ahead of time for the whole week.  While it was nice to go out a few times and not worry about driving, taxis in St. Barth’s are sparse and a bit pricey.  Even though St. Barth’s is a small island, it is spread out, and the flexibility of the car would’ve been nice to have all week.  Oh, and we backed into a retaining wall once…wouldn’t do that again!

If you had to pick just one, what would be your favorite honeymoon memory?
When I asked Camm his favorite honeymoon memory, he replied, “The food!”  More specifically, his favorite dish was a rich bowl of truffle-infused mascarpone potatoes.  Those were part of a fabulous meal we ate at On the Rock, the restaurant in the Eden’s Rock resort.  For me, the champagne sunset cruise will forever stand out in my mind.  While we just paid for a group tour, we ended up having the 60-foot catamaran all to ourselves!  Emmanuel, our captain/guide/champagne pourer, was entertaining and knowledgeable.  The sunset was a little cloudy, but still it was a magical two hour trip we will never forget.

Looking back, is there anything you would tell other couples planning their honeymoon?
Imagine what you would do on the “perfect day” together.  Then, go somewhere you can do that!  We had done some research on our own and through AAA, but in the end we were much happier with Katie’s recommendations.  Use an agent who knows the area you’re interested in and who is responsive   Next, set up a honeymoon registry.  Many of our wedding guests loved the idea, and it enabled us to enjoy the food and activities we wanted.  Lastly, enjoy your escape!

What 3 words would you use to describe your honeymoon?
Food.  Fun.  Love.

Interested in going to St. Barths for your honeymoon? Contact us!