Upon entering Villa BOM (BOM), you’re immediately seduced by the breathtaking sea view, and the warm, comfortable-yet-slightly-exotic feeling of the interior design. Although this luxury villa is the work of architect François Pécard, who has spent the past 30 years designing many of the most prestigious homes on St. Barth, there’s something about it that may briefly transport you to Bali. The property has graceful rooflines and open pavilions that bring to mind breezy South Seas bales, exotic wenge wood floors and a stunning black lava-tiled pool that rises up from an expansive wood deck and overflows on all four sides. But as you settle in under the whitewashed wood ceilings, it becomes undeniable that you’re in the Caribbean—in fact, in one of the finest vacation homes in the West Indies.

At least as appealing as that heated swimming pool are the calm waves of St. Jean Beach. Right outside a digicode-locked gate, a short set of stairs leads directly onto the sandy shore, and the layout of this rental property is ideal for groups who don’t want to all have take the same sort of swim.