Area Daily: Boutique Spa at Hotel Carl Gustaf in St. Barths

With the economy as it is, there are still plenty of villas for rent on St. Barths this winter, and hotel and villa rates are plummeting back to the reach of mere mortals. So why not escape for a little rejuvenation. When you’re not soaking up rays on the beach, treat yourself to a massage at the new Boutique Spa at Hotel Carl Gustaf, which debuts December 15th when the legendary hilltop hideaway re-opens its doors after a multi-million dollar makeover.

The chic new spa is a bastion of calm, offering a full menu of beauty treatments sur measure (using specialized products and techniques specific to your skin type), passed down from the legendary Carita sisters of Paris (who treated the likes of Catherine Deneuve and Paloma Picasso).

Perched above Gustavia’s sparkling harbor, the spa’s “HydroZone” gives you plenty of opportunity to partake in H2O’s natural healing properties by indulging in the double Hammam; an Essential Oils Shower (combining water and aromatherapy); a foot Pebble Bath (where smooth stones massage and rejuvenate tired feet); and an Ice Fountain (for alternating cold dips from Jacuzzi or steam-room sessions). Top that off with an outdoor pool for strength-building swims or serene snoozes on a chaise lounge, and private treatment rooms, each with an outdoor deck, where you can wind down with a luxurious massage al fresco. Ahhhhh!