Roaring fires, frosted windows and of course, watching Cameron Diaz fall in love with Jude Law in The Holiday all have one thing in common; that’s right, it’s Christmas. The smell of a pine tree and pigs in blankets may just be on the cards again this year but, imagine swapping dark, cold winter nights for sunshine, the scarves for sundresses, and waking up on Christmas morning not to grey skies but to golden beaches and the sound of the Caribbean waves.

Christmas at St Barts looks and feels like this. Turquoise water and morning swims await in what could be your new Christmas getaway.

If you have never imagined a Christmas away from the normal traditions, or the usual settings then think ask yourself this; would you like the familiar joy of the festive season but in the extraordinary beauty of the Caribbean? You don’t have to answer straight away but we won’t fault you if you did.

Gustavia, the island’s capital glows with fairy lights and the shimmer of moored yachts glisten in the distance. The harbour hums with its designer boutiques – perfect for those last minute gifts – and visitors gather to watch the sun sink behind the sails. On Christmas Eve, churches hold candlelit services, while the island’s world-famous beach clubs — from Nikki Beach to Eden Rock — create their own kind of celebration. And for those seeking something more serene, Le Sereno and Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France offer elegance at its most refined, where every detail of the holiday is considered.

It may appear strange to even utter these words but, December in St Barts hovers around 27°C which means that beach hopping is an actual possibility. You could start at Saline Beach and move to Gouverneur where the soft white sands and gentle waves provide that tranquil getaway; it certainly makes a difference from darkness at 3pm and sitting down to watch The Great Escape… again.

But what makes St Barts at Christmas so alluring is that blend of glamour and intimacy. One moment, you can be swept up in the buzz of Gustavia – the Christmas village putting on a spectacle – or the sparkle of a New Year’s Eve firework display; the next, you can retreat to a hillside villa overlooking Colombier Bay, where the only soundtrack is the rustle of palm leaves in the evening breeze. It’s celebration and sanctuary, style and simplicity.

Because St Barts is small it captures a rare Island charm. The hotels and villas are limited, the demand at Christmas is extraordinary. By Christmas, the hurricane season has passed and the island is at its most beautiful, just as Europe grows cold. Being strategic about when to book is less about chance and more about striking when the opportunity comes.

So perhaps the question isn’t why you’d spend Christmas in St Barts, but why you wouldn’t.

Christmas is, after all, a time to spend with others, the ones you love and where better than on an island where the beaches are as white as snow only, no scarves or umbrellas are required!

Families still gather, champagne still flows, and long lunches stretch into evening — yet here, children race barefoot across white sand, and dinner might be lobster pulled straight from the sea.