All that glitters clearly isn’t gold, and former Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel learned that lesson the hard way during a recent luxury Caribbean getaway to St Barths.
Frankel revealed she contracted a bacterial infection on her face while vacationing on the French overseas territory with her 15-year-old daughter, Bryn Hoppy.
The 55-year-old shared the health update in a TikTok video posted to her 3.4 million followers.
The video, which has amassed more than two million views, was captioned: “POV: You left St. Barths three days early and brought home a bacterial infection,” with Frankel jokingly adding, “Allergic to St Barths.”
In a separate Instagram video, Frankel explained that this was the second time she had experienced a bacterial infection after staying at what she described as a “nice hotel or rental home.”
She claimed both she and her daughter developed pus filled bumps across their faces.
The reality television star said her infection only cleared up after taking “strong” antibiotics.
Frankel said this will be the last time she experiences the problem.
“I am going to develop a solution to this. People always talk about how could you take a bath in a hotel room, how could you sleep on the sheets? Disgusting,” she said.
“I came home early from my trip. That wasn’t the only reason but certainly it was a factor. I don’t every break out. Mess. Disaster, look at under my eyes. Bathroom towels, sheets, all of it they hold bacteria it’s vile.”
The bacterial infection wasn’t the only issue Frankel faced during her time on the luxury island.
St Barths, which has a population of just over 11,000 people, sees a dramatic surge in visitors, particularly ultra-wealthy travellers, during the final week of December.
The island becomes a hotspot for lavish New Year’s Eve celebrations, complete with superyachts and exclusive beach club parties.
In a January 4 Instagram post, Frankel described the end-of-year scene as “the Hunger Games of holiday socialisation.”
She said many people often leave what was supposed to be a relaxing trip tired because of all the events they attend.
Despite her criticisms, she noted that the trip still held meaningful moments.
“I still found moments that really mattered,” Frankel wrote.
“I spent special time with friends and my love, Bryn, and rang in the new year in a way that felt genuinely meaningful, surrounded by good people.”
Frankel, who has visited St Barths several times in the off-season and once before during the busy end-of-year period, said the island has lost some of the family-friendly charm she once enjoyed.
She ultimately pointed the finger at influencers, suggesting their presence has spoiled the overall vibe of the island.
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