# Hip Retreats for the Affluent St Barts Villa Rentals By Fashion Fox | Published 2007-10-31 | Luxury Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/renting-st-barts-villas-is-top-trend-among-the-rich References: [yourstbarts](http://yourstbarts.com/renting-st-barts-villas-is-top-trend-among-the-rich/) & [yourstbarts](http://yourstbarts.com/renting-st-barts-villas-is-top-trend-among-the-rich/) St Barts is well-known among trend setters as a place to go to between Christmas and New Year's Eve. But do you know why renting a villa in St Barts has been ranked by an American Express survey as a trop trend among the rich? Several reasons for this: - it is a small island that is super safe (unlike many of the surrounding island of the Caribbean) - it is French, which means great food - it is influenced by the American work ethic, which means great service (unlike the rest of France) - it boasts beautiful villas with breathtaking views - it is like a small village where you happen to stumble upon your friends, such as Jimmy Buffet, Jon Bon Jovi, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Gisele Bundchen, Wall Street bankers, fashion designers, etc. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.9/10 - Popularity: 36% | Activity: 44% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Luxury](https://www.trendhunter.com/luxury) > [Ultra Luxury](https://www.trendhunter.com/ultraluxury) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Luxury Villa Rentals:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a platform that offers unique and luxurious villa rentals in popular vacation destinations, catering to affluent customers. - **Safe Caribbean Islands:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop technology solutions that enhance safety measures in Caribbean islands, making them more attractive for tourists. - **Combining French and American Influences:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a fusion of French and American cultures in the hospitality industry, offering unique experiences and services to customers. ### Who This Affects Most - **Travel and Hospitality:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Revolutionize the travel and hospitality industry by offering exclusive and personalized experiences for high-end travelers. - **Real Estate:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Transform the real estate industry by specializing in luxury vacation properties and offering unique rental experiences to affluent customers. - **Safety and Security:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advanced safety and security solutions for tourist destinations, ensuring a secure and worry-free experience for travelers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Luxurious Caribbean Island Packages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aurora-anguilla.md) - [Luxurious Holiday Escapes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/escape-packages.md) - [Curated Holiday Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bahia-beach-resort.md) - [Romantic Carribean Hotel Stays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/harbour-village-beach-club.md) - [Unique Resort Vacations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allinclusive-by-marriott.md) - [Ultimate Adults-Only Resorts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/margaritaville-island-reserve.md) - [Luxe Artist Residency Resorts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lena-evstafieva.md) - [Kid-Friendly Beachfront Stays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rosewood-little-dix-bay.md) - [Indulgent Tropical Sanctuaries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sls-baha-mar.md)