1. Arrival Tips
First impressions are permanent
A Saint Barth guest’s experience begins the moment they leave the airport at St. Jean — not when they step through your villa’s front door. Send a detailed arrival brief 48 hours before check-in that covers the full journey: which road to take from the airport, where to park, gate codes, door lock procedure, and the name and number of who to call if anything feels unclear.
Include a short map screenshot — the island’s winding roads and unmarked driveways have frustrated many first-time visitors. Specify whether taxis are available at the airport or whether guests should pre-book a transfer, and name your preferred transfer operator.
- Share gate code, door lock code, and alarm instructions in writing — never just by word of mouth
- Include a direct WhatsApp link to the contact person on duty on arrival day
- Pre-cool the villa in summer; pre-warm the pool where possible
- Leave a printed one-page “first night cheat sheet” on the kitchen counter covering Wi-Fi, AC, and the main appliances
- Provide the local SIM card carrier recommendation (Orange or SFR) for guests who prefer a local number
The best villa managers in Saint Barth record a 90-second welcome video walking through the property — front gate to pool terrace — and share it with guests before they land. It costs nothing and eliminates the most common arrival-day calls.
2. WiFi & Connectivity
Never let connectivity be the story
Reliable internet is now as fundamental as running water for premium guests. Saint Barthélemy’s connection quality varies significantly across the island — villas in Gouverneur and the more remote hillside locations are more exposed to outages than properties in Saint Jean or Gustavia.
Villa WiFi Setup Checklist
- → Dual-band router: 2.4 GHz for range, 5 GHz for speed near the device
- → Dedicated guest network (separate from villa management devices)
- → Simple, memorable SSID and password — avoid complex strings guests misread
- → Backup 4G LTE router (SFR or Orange SIM) for primary outages
- → Router reachable for remote reboot (smart plug on the modem)
- → QR code printout in the villa so guests connect without typing
Display WiFi credentials prominently — framed near the entrance or printed on the welcome card. Guests should never have to ask. With Séjour, your digital portal surfaces the network name, password, and a tap-to-connect QR code automatically so the right information is always one tap away, regardless of what physical printout a guest can find.
3. Best Local Restaurants & Beaches
Your curated island knowledge is a service
A personalised list of restaurants and beaches is one of the most valued extras a villa manager can provide. Generic travel guides cover Saint Barth broadly; what guests want is the list you would give to a close friend visiting for the first time.
Restaurants
- Shellona BeachToes-in-sand Mediterranean. Best lunch on the island. Book 2–3 days ahead.
- BonitoJapanese-fusion with panoramic ocean views over Gustavia. Outstanding cocktails.
- Le Ti St BarthThe island’s legendary cabaret dinner. Festive, theatrical, unmissable.
- Gyp SeaClifftop sunset cocktails above the bay. A St Barth ritual.
- Le Barthélemy RooftopRomantic fine dining overlooking Gustavia harbour. Reserve well in advance.
Beaches
- Gouverneur BeachSecluded cove, turquoise water, no vendors. Best swimming on the island.
- Colombier BeachOnly reachable by boat or a 25-min hike. Worth every step. Pristine and quiet.
- Saint Jean BeachIdeal for families and water sports. Lively village atmosphere nearby.
- Flamands BeachLong stretch of fine white sand. Excellent for early-morning swimming.
Share your personal preferences, not just the famous names. Guests remember the local fish shack you mentioned offhand far more than any Michelin-adjacent recommendation they could have found themselves.
4. House Rule Templates
Clear expectations protect the property and the relationship
House rules should be easy to read, easy to remember, and framed as information rather than a warning. A guest who understands why a rule exists is far more likely to follow it than one who feels policed. Here is a template adapted for Saint Barth luxury villas:
Villa House Rules — Template
- 01 No outdoor shoes inside the villa — shoe storage is provided at the entrance.
- 02 Pool hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM. No glass around the pool area.
- 03 Quiet hours: 11:00 PM – 8:00 AM. Saint Barth neighbours appreciate it.
- 04 Overnight guests: maximum [X] as stated in the rental agreement.
- 05 Events and gatherings beyond the rental party require advance approval.
- 06 Air conditioning: close windows and doors when AC is running.
- 07 Waste: blue bins for recyclables, black bins for general waste. Collection schedule in the kitchen drawer.
- 08 Villa towels are for indoor use only. Beach towels are in the pool cabinet.
- 09 Smoking: outdoors only, in designated areas. No candles inside.
- 10 Your concierge is available [hours] — see the welcome card for the direct line.
Adapt the template to your property and tone. A seven-bedroom estate will have different expectations than a two-bedroom garden villa — the rules should match.
5. Check-in / Check-out Best Practices
The moments guests remember longest
Check-in
- → Send all access codes by 10:00 AM on arrival day (or the night before)
- → Confirm check-in time is 3:00–4:00 PM and commit to it
- → Have a property manager or housekeeper available for the first hour
- → Walk through pool, BBQ, and main appliances on arrival — or record a video
- → Confirm the emergency contact number is saved in their phone
Check-out
- → Send a check-out reminder the evening before with a clear, short checklist
- → Specify where to leave keys and access cards (lockbox code if applicable)
- → Confirm taxi or transfer arrangement for airport departure
- → Check-out time: 11:00 AM — flag early flight guests can leave luggage until midday
- → Follow up with a warm thank-you within 24 hours
The best villa managers in Saint Barthélemy treat check-out as a relationship moment, not an administrative step. A brief, warm follow-up note — sent the day after departure — generates more repeat bookings than any marketing campaign.
6. Guest Welcome Ideas
Details that transform a rental into a memory
Welcome gestures in Saint Barth should feel effortless and personal — not corporate. The island runs on warm personal connections; your welcome should reflect that.
Personalised welcome note
Handwritten card with the guest’s name — a detail that takes two minutes and stays in photos forever.
Local welcome basket
Island rum punch or Rosé, fresh local fruits (guava, soursop, passion fruit), and a small chocolate.
Manager’s personal list
Your five favourite island experiences — the fish shack, the Sunday market stall, the sunset spot the tourists miss.
Pre-booked restaurant
Offer to reserve a table for the first evening so guests arrive with one fewer thing to think about.
Pool ready on arrival
Temperature set, fresh towels rolled, a chilled bottle of something waiting on the terrace.
Digital welcome portal
A QR code linking to the guest portal — WiFi, house rules, recommendations, and concierge all in one place.
Instead of scattered PDFs, WhatsApp threads, and printed binders that go missing, Séjour lets you deliver all of this digitally — your arrival brief, WiFi credentials, house rules, restaurant recommendations, concierge request form, and welcome note — in a single branded guest portal guests can access from their phone before they land. Setup takes one afternoon.