WIMCO St Barth Properties: The Insider Key to a Seamless Villa Vacation
Luxury villa rentals with 24/7 island-based concierge, right across from the airport.
Why Go
On an island where the difference between a good trip and an unforgettable one comes down to who's answering the phone at 7pm on New Year's Eve, WIMCO's on-island team is the quiet secret behind many of St Barth's most polished stays. Their office sits directly across from the arrivals gate at Rémy de Haenen Airport in La Savane — meaning the first friendly face you see after that famously white-knuckle landing is often the one handing you keys, a chilled bottle of rosé, and a plan for dinner.
The Experience
WIMCO isn't a hotel — it's the rental agency and concierge outfit behind hundreds of the island's private villas, from cliff-hugging modernist retreats above Gouverneur to classic gingerbread cottages in Colombier. What sets them apart is the on-island staff: real people who have personally walked every villa, know which pool loses afternoon shade first, and can tell you whether the road to your gate is passable in a Mini Moke after rain. Booking with WIMCO gets you daily housekeeping, linen service, pre-arrival provisioning, and a dedicated concierge who handles restaurant reservations at Bonito or L'Isola, arranges private chefs and captains, coordinates yacht day-charters, and rescues you when the boulangerie is out of pain au chocolat by 9am. Their portfolio spans studios to eight-bedroom estates, so it works equally well for a honeymooning couple in a one-bedroom above Lorient or a family compound taking over a Pointe Milou villa for Christmas week.
What to Try
Ask your concierge to build a 'first 24 hours' plan before you even board your flight — a pre-stocked villa fridge from Marché U with the rosé you actually drink (not the default case), a sunset table at Shellona or Tamarin, and a Mini Moke or Suzuki Jimny already parked at the villa. For longer stays, request the 'off-menu' villa list — WIMCO reps often know about new listings and last-minute price drops that aren't up on the site yet, especially in shoulder season (May and November).
Insider Tip
Don't book restaurants yourself for peak weeks (Christmas–New Year, February school break, Easter). St Barth's top tables — Bonito, Orega, Bagatelle, L'Isola — are held on a relationship basis, and WIMCO's concierges have standing allocations. A DIY OpenTable attempt will be met with silence; one email to your concierge two weeks out gets the reservation. Same rule applies to a Nikki Beach daybed on a Sunday.
The Practical Stuff
Office: La Savane, directly across from Rémy de Haenen Airport arrivals, Saint-Jean, 97133 St Barthélemy. Reservations & concierge: +1 401-849-8012 (US), +1 888-814-5477 (toll-free). US office hours Mon–Fri 8am–7pm ET, Sat 9am–1pm ET (extended to 5pm in high season); on-island concierge available 24/7 during your stay. Peak weeks (Dec 20–Jan 5) book 9–12 months out and require full-week minimums; shoulder season (May, June, Nov) offers 20–40% lower rates and better villa choice. Payment via wire or credit card; damage deposit standard. Book flights via St Maarten (SXM) with the 10-min Winair or St Barth Commuter hop — WIMCO can bundle it.
Pair It With
- A fleur de peau — Saint-Jean boutique a two-minute drive from WIMCO's office — perfect first stop after check-in for the resortwear you forgot to pack.
- 6e SENS Massage Wellness — Ask your concierge to book an in-villa massage from this Saint-Jean wellness studio on your first afternoon to reset from the travel day.
- Abyss Restaurant Guide — Casual, walkable dinner option near the airport for arrival night when you don't want to drive the hills to Gustavia yet.
- Absolute Hot Yoga Gustavia — Early-morning class pairs well with a villa stay — a low-key ritual before beach days, easily worked into your concierge-planned week.
- 4 Sea Zone St Barth Guide — Boat transfers and day charters WIMCO's concierge can bundle for a Colombier beach picnic or Île Fourchue snorkel run.
