Almost a year after Hurricane Irma left a trail of devastation across the Caribbean, many of the region’s top hotels are emerging from extensive refurbishments to welcome in a new era. One of the first to reopen is Belmond La Samanna in St. Martin, which is set to welcome guests from December 10, following a top-to-to refresh that has seen all 83 guestrooms, the spa and all restaurants, bars and public spaces brought back to life by London-based interior design firm Muza Lab.
The Caribbean itself has been the inspiration for the new-look interior colour palette, with pastel hues in blue, green, pink and peach contrasting with the whitewashed exterior and terracotta tiled roof of the resort. Natural elements such as corals, shells and botanical prints have been incorporated throughout the redesigned spaces, including the beachfront Baie Longue Bar, which is named after the mile-long stretch of beach it overlooks.
Happily, Le Cave Wine Cellar has been fully restocked and resumes its place as the largest private wine cellar in the Caribbean, and French restaurant Trelis returns to remind diners of the island’s French heritage and status as one of the region’s culinary capitals. Hilltop spa treatments at La Samanna Spa using products from French brands Sisley and Pure Altitude are conducted by candlelight, bringing a dash of romance to this gorgeous Caribbean hideaway.