Villa Millésime

Art and games fill Villa Millésime, and a hot tub adds to the fun for a group. The villa stands high on the hillside above Saint-Jean, in a garden setting with neighboring villas, and it gets good sun and privacy. A wide view reaches over the bay to the hotel on its rocky point. The beach and reef lie below the village, with green hills and offshore islands around. For a lively villa in Saint-Jean, St Barts, it has plenty to keep everyone busy.

White pavilions with gray shingle hip roofs are arranged around a central pool on a rectangular plan. Stone clad walls meet steel and glass stairs, and a floating spiral stair adds drama. Wide wood decks connect it all. Inside, wood floors run under white beamed vaulted ceilings. Wood slat screens divide spaces, and mirror ball pendants hang overhead. Big sectional sofas carry pop art cushions, and wine posters decorate the walls. The large living room connects to a gourmet kitchen in wood and stainless steel. Both open to the deck and pool. A sectional sofa faces a widescreen TV. The long dining table has yellow chairs and ocean views, and there is a dedicated wine cellar.

The large heated pool sits on a wood deck with a row of six loungers. A hot tub waits in a skylit courtyard, and covered areas hold outdoor dining and a lounge. Lawns and gardens wrap around the house. Ping pong and foosball keep game time going, and there is a BBQ too.

Up to 10 guests sleep in five king bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. One of them opens straight onto a private plunge pool. Walk in wood wardrobes give plenty of storage. Bathrooms have large stone feature walls with double basins and glass showers. The interior measures 3,229 square feet, with air conditioning throughout. A safe and satellite TV are included.

Saint-Jean has plenty going on, from the beach clubs on the sand to the restaurants in the village. Also on the shortlist: Villa Belvédère, with 4 bedrooms for up to 8 guests and a long dark tiled infinity pool above St Jean bay.

Families or groups of up to 10 who want extras and room to play will find them at Villa Millésime. A soak in the courtyard hot tub at this villa in Saint-Jean, St Barts is the easy way to end a day out on the island.