1. Parties
These terms govern the relationship between Blueshore (Entrepreneur individuel, SIREN 903 437 317, Route de Pointe Milou, 97133 Saint-Barthélemy, publisher of Luxury Villas St Barth, hereafter "we" or "the company"), acting as booking intermediary between the guest and the owner of the villa, and the guest placing the reservation.
The contract of rental itself is concluded directly between the guest and the villa owner, under French law and the standard rental agreement governing private accommodation in Saint Barthélemy.
2. How a booking is made
Bookings are placed through one of three channels: the chat on the home page (Reservation Desk), the contact form, or WhatsApp. The booking is considered confirmed only after:
- You receive a written quote with the specific villa, exact dates, total price, and payment schedule.
- You sign the rental agreement (digital signature accepted).
- The first installment is received in our account.
Until those three steps are complete, no villa is reserved on your behalf.
3. Payment schedule
Standard payment structure for villa rentals in Saint Barthélemy:
- 30 to 50% of the total at the time of booking (varies by villa and season)
- Balance due 60 days before arrival
- Refundable security deposit paid 30 days before arrival or on arrival, returned within 14 to 30 days after departure subject to standard inspection
For peak weeks (Christmas, New Year's, February school holidays), some villas require full payment at booking. The exact terms are stated in your written quote and rental agreement.
Accepted payment methods: bank transfer (preferred for bookings above €10,000), and in some cases credit card with a processing fee. All amounts in Euros (€) unless otherwise stated.
4. Cancellation policy
The simple version: free cancellation if you cancel 90 days or more before the start of the stay. After that, the owner is owed the rental.
4.1 More than 90 days before arrival
Free cancellation. Any amounts already paid (including the booking deposit) are refunded in full. We process refunds within 14 days of written cancellation.
4.2 Less than 90 days before arrival
The owner is contractually owed the full rental. In practice:
- Amounts already paid are non-refundable.
- Any balance still due under the original payment schedule remains payable.
- If we successfully re-book the villa for some or all of your dates, we will refund a corresponding pro-rata amount (this is best effort, not guaranteed).
- You can sometimes apply paid amounts as a credit toward a future stay within 12 months, at the owner's discretion.
Cancellations must be communicated in writing (email or WhatsApp message confirmed in writing). The effective date of cancellation is the date we receive the written notice.
4.3 Strong recommendation: travel insurance
Given the financial commitment, we strongly recommend a cancel-for-any-reason (CFAR) travel insurance policy, typically 8 to 12% of trip cost. This covers most reasons that could prevent your stay.
5. Force majeure (hurricanes, government restrictions)
If a named hurricane causes an official evacuation order or makes the villa demonstrably unhabitable during your stay, you are entitled to:
- A full refund, or
- A credit for a rebooked stay at equivalent value within 12 months.
Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November, with August through October being the most active. Hurricane risk is real but most years pass without disruption.
Government restrictions (entry bans, lockdowns, mandatory closures) affecting your ability to travel to Saint Barthélemy trigger the same protection.
Force majeure does not cover personal circumstances (illness, change of plans, work schedule), regional disruption (general aviation strike) unless it specifically prevents access to the island, or weather that does not rise to the level of a named storm with official advisory.
6. The villa and the stay
The villa is delivered in the condition described in the quote. Standard inclusions are housekeeping, pool and garden maintenance, linens, towels, Wi-Fi, and utilities. Optional staffing (private chef, butler, additional housekeeping, security) is billed separately and arranged through our concierge.
The guest is responsible for:
- Respecting the maximum occupancy stated in the rental agreement.
- Treating the property and its contents with care.
- Reporting any issue to the on-site manager within 24 hours of arrival to allow a reasonable remedy.
- Any damage caused during the stay (covered by the security deposit; excess damage invoiced separately).
Events and gatherings beyond the registered guest count must be declared at booking. Many villas have specific policies on parties, music levels, and event hours.
7. Taxes and additional charges
Local tourism tax of 5% of the nightly rate is collected by the villa and remitted to the Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy. Cleaning fees, typically €1,500 to €5,000 depending on villa size, are itemized separately on the quote. Optional staffing is invoiced per day at rates disclosed in advance.
8. Concierge services included
Every villa booking includes the personal concierge throughout the stay: airport transfers, car rental, restaurant reservations, private chef sourcing, yacht charters, water sports, wellness, and any custom request. These services are arranged at the actual provider rate, with no markup added by us unless explicitly stated.
9. Limitations of liability
We act as booking intermediary. We do not own or operate the villas. Our liability is limited to the diligent performance of our intermediary role: providing accurate property information, processing the booking, coordinating the arrival, and assisting during the stay.
The villa owner remains responsible for the condition of the property and the performance of the staff. Issues affecting your stay are addressed through the on-site manager (named on the rental agreement) with our support.
We are not liable for: weather conditions during your stay, delays or cancellations of flights or ferries, performance of third-party suppliers (restaurants, chefs, boats), or losses resulting from guest negligence.
10. Privacy and data
Your personal data is processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
11. Governing law and disputes
These terms are governed by French law and the regulations applicable to private rentals in Saint Barthélemy. Disputes will be resolved through good-faith negotiation in the first instance. Failing amicable resolution, the Tribunal judiciaire de Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe), which has territorial jurisdiction over Saint Barthélemy, has exclusive jurisdiction.
For consumer guests resident in the European Union, the mandatory protections of the consumer's country of residence apply where they are more favorable than these terms.
12. Updates to these terms
These terms apply at the time of booking. Subsequent changes do not retroactively affect confirmed reservations.
Last updated: May 2026.