The Carl Gustaf, located on a hillside in Gustavia overlooking the picturesque harbor, is a four-star luxury hotel close to gorgeous Shell Beach, restaurants and shops. Two weeks ago, they closed for major renovations. According to general manager Pierre-Alexander Maillard. "We are going to be enlarging the hotel as well as completely renovating the restaurant, bar, and lounge." The hotel will add a new four-bedroom suite over the restaurant as well as a small spa and boutique. The spa will have three treatment rooms for massage and other services along with a Jacuzzi. The hotel is scheduled to re-open on December 15, 2008.

The François Plantation, is also closing for renovations. Located on the northwestern tip of the island, high in the hills of Colombier, the four-star Hotel François Plantation is housed in typical St. Barth architecture with a wrap-around terrace and a pool surrounded by teak decks overlooking a beautiful bay. The restaurant, one of the most highly regarded on the island, closed on April 1 and the hotel will close on May 7. The renovations here will be to bring the hotel's sanitation system and kitchen up to date. The hotel will re-open in mid-November and has plans for additional improvements in the summer of 2009.