Mr & Mrs Smith

Mr & Mrs Smith have just returned from an anonymous review trip to this St Barths boutique hotel, and as soon as they’ve unpacked their beach bags, a full account of their stay in the Caribbean will be with you. In the meantime, just to whet your wanderlust, here’s a quick postcard from Eden Rock…

Such luminaries as Greta Garbo, Howard Hughes and, er, 50 Cent have all stretched out on the beach at St Jean, one of the most Bounty-ad beautiful swaths of sand in St Barths, and it’s all thanks to one boutique hotel – Eden Rock may have seen more celebrities in attendance than Elton John’s birthday party. The former home of the mayor of St Barths, adventurer, aviator and general maverick Rémy de Haenen (who certainly had an eye for a good beach), Eden Rock has evolved from a luxury home on rocky outcrop to a higgledy-piggledy hodgepodge of houses peppered across St Jean’s idyllic beachfront. Each one is colourfully and uniquely styled, with features such as Phillipe Starck bathrooms, private Jacuzzi terraces, and acid-hued furnishings that tread a fine line between baroque and bohemian just on the right side of kitsch. It’s almost enough to distract you from those flawless ocean views. Transplanting the glamour of St Tropez to the tropics, Eden Rock has the rich and rarefied air of an exclusive members’ club – make sure you’re on the guest list.