With a full film schedule ahead of her, it's no wonder Jessica Alba took some time out in Caribbean paradise, relaxing on the shores of St Barts this week.The Valentine's Day star was spotted enjoying the beach shores with two friends, and was also accompanied by her husband Cash Warren. The fashionable actress, 31, was as glamorous as ever in a long floral caftan and a Stetson style fedora straw hat, both perfect for keeping cool in the sweltering sun.
With pristine golden beaches such as Saline and Gouverneur on the south coast and Colombier, which is easily accessed by boat, the French island of St Barts offers A-list celebrities a safe haven where they can relax and unwind. Supermodel Kate Moss has a villa here, and Sting, Paul McCartney, Simon Cowell, Jay-Z and Beyonce are just a few of the stars who holiday here. Tucked away from the demands of hectic schedules, it's perfect for the likes of mum-of-two Jessica Alba, who has just published her first book The Honest Life: Living Naturally and True to You and is to star in two upcoming sequels directed by Robert Rodriguez: Machete Kills and the highly anticipated Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, co-starring Bruce Willis and Josh Brolin.
After relaxing by the shore, the actress went shopping with her two friends. They would have headed to Gustavia, the island's small capital and port where mega-yachts line up, as well as hundreds of prestigious brands, plus some of St Barts' own, such as Patti and Poupette. Renowned for its gourmet dining and high-end designers, the tiny idyllic island – just six miles long – is home to more than 100 restaurants. In the capital, Bonito is flavour of the moment, the veranda offering the best seats in the house with breathtaking views of the harbour. Wonderful French cuisine can be enjoyed at another of the island's fine restaurants, K'fe Massai, or head to Do Brazil for some A-list people watching, from one of the three stories of the open-air eatery on Shell Beach.
Though the island receives visits from celebrities all year long, tourism reaches its peak around Christmas and New Year, when countless celebrities and moguls gather to celebrate in yachts up to 550ft in length. Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich never disappoints when it comes to his annual New Year's Eve party. To see out 2012 the Chelsea FC's owner outshone his previous extravaganzas by spending more than £5 million on 400 guests who had gathered at his 70-acre Caribbean paradise, the Gouverneur Bay Estate. Invites to the soiree thrown by Roman and his girlfriend Dasha Zhukova are the most coveted party invitation of the year, and in the past the soiree has featured performances from high-profile stars such as The Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce and Prince. This year's guests included Australian actress Melissa George, her music producer boyfriend Russell Simmons, and Star Wars creator George Lucas. The Kings of Leon graced the stage to help the A-list bunch bring in the new year.
