St Barts Hotels :: Should You Follow the Reviews on TripAdvisor?
Monday, December 17th, 2007St Barts Hotels :: Eden Rock
When you're ready to book a room at a St Barts hotel, it can be tempting to check out TripAdvisor and follow other travelers reviews. I have used it, and often times, it works out really well. But, I caution you to not follow them too closely because often times, they're not quite as helpful as you think.
Here's one prime example of what I'm talking about. This information is not 100% reliable, and here's why:
- It's a complete mess. Take a good look at the list. The list intermingles reviews about St Barts hotels and St Jean hotels…..and the St Jean hotels have their own separate list over here. As you well know, St Barts is so small that it doesn't even make sense to make a separate list for St Jean. Overall, the list they provide is confusing and hard to read.
- It's not up-to-date. Number 5 on the list is the Christopher Hotel, which has been closed for the last 6 months, and I'm beginning to believe that it will never re-open.
- It's lacking reviews. I don't find that this list has enough review to make it trustworthy. Some hotels, like Francois Plantation, have 9 reviews, while others have 42, like the Guanahani. For major cities, such as New York, the first hotels on the list have hundres of reviews, so if there is a negative one here and there, it is much less likely to impact the overall score of the hotel. Plus, with so many to choose from, there is a major difference between the first on the list and the last; this is not so in St Barts. Because there are many fewer hotels, being last on the list is not considered shameful.
- It's hard to compare amenities. Some hotels on St Barts have only 5 rooms, like at Saline Cottages; on the other hand, the Guanahani have 75. Hotels like Eden Rock are really expensive. So, to use TripAdvisor, you have to understand that the rankings are really just a graded average. Be sure to know what your needs are and really read reviews to see if you can relate to what the other travelers are saying.
- Overall, the website is quite helpful, as long as you are careful. Guanahani does not deserve to be as low on the list as it is, but I checked in to that. There are still negative reviews from 2004 and 2005 hanging out there. It's time for TripAdvisor to take them down.
When you're traveling to St Barts island, it's always good to check around for a hotel, see which one most closely matches your wants and needs. Use TripAdvisor, but take their advice with a grain of salt and know that, as with most things in life, there is more to the story.
I often visit the Le Toiny for the Sunday brunch because it's the best on the island. The managers are very nice, service is traditional French style, yet not stiff. If you decide to lunch there, make sure to sit by the blue pool in the shape of a crescent. Le Toiny is part of the Relais & Châteaux, a posh French Association of Chic Independent Hotels.
This St Barts hotel oozes with glamor and luxury from the moment you step through the front door. It is a Luxe hotel, the only 4 star in the "town" of Gustavia. Small in terms of how many guests they can accomodate, this hotel delivers big on personal service.
Because of its size and its intimate setting, The Carl Gustaf is one St Barts Hotel that books up fast. Doing a quick check of rates via Expedia, I found a few rooms available for the week of November 18th starting at $1107 per night; you may have better luck with availability if you choose a mid-week stay. Or, travel next Februrary - they're still wide open for the week of the 10th with rates a little higher, but still reasonable; just $1505 per night. 
