St. Bart’s Guide: Planning Your Trip

If you're looking for the most luxurious Caribbean vacation possible, St. Bart's can't be beaten.

Imagine mixing the opulence of an elegant Parisian hotel with the natural beauty of a tropical island and what you get is St. Bart's.

While the island is generally considered a haven for celebrities and the super-rich (Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani, and Giselle are just a few examples of frequent visitors), with some expert advice and planning ahead, you can visit this unique paradise for yourself price of the neighboring islands of the Caribbean.

Saint Bartholomew, as the island is officially known, is an overseas territory of France.

So while it may not feel like you are in Europe, the island is technically part of the EU.

We hope you enjoy watching this video about Your Guide to St. Bart's

Source: Monica Walton

Planning Your Trip

The Best Time To Visit

Although temperatures do not fluctuate much throughout the year, the best time to go to St. Bart's is the mid-season, from April to June.

Winter is the most popular time to visit and hotel prices reflect the high demand.

In summer and fall, it is moderately hot, but it rains and hurricanes are more likely.

Tongue

The official language of Saint Bartholomew is French, although Antillean Creole is also a recognized language.

Since tourism is the main economic factor on the island, English is also widely spoken.

Badge

Although Europe is thousands of miles away, the currency of Saint Bartholomew is the euro.

Moving

The best way to explore the island is to rent a vehicle. As most of the island's roads are single lanes with hairpin bends, smaller vehicles or scooters are generally the preferred vehicles.

Don't go for anything big and bulky.

Travel Tip

If you want to experience St. Bart without breaking your budget, consider taking a day trip to the island from St. Martin.

It's easy to get to the neighboring island by a short flight or ferry, and it's much cheaper to stay in St. Martin than in St. Bart's.

Things to Do

Unsurprisingly, the unspoiled beaches of São Bartolomeu are the ones that attract the most visitors.

People come to St. Bart's to isolate themselves, and in St. Bart's you can walk to the beaches where you can be the only one there.

As many parts of the island are protected, there are few better places to snorkel and dive.

It is also a hotspot for high-end shopping, thanks to the duty-free shops and well-to-do clientele.

• St. Bart's has all kinds of beaches, from the conveniently located Shell Beach to the more remote Colombier Beach, which can only be reached by boat or in 30 minutes on foot.
• Shop at Ligne St. Barth, a cosmetics store that specializes in high-quality toiletries.

If you want duty-free prices on international brands, you will also find stores such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Hermes, mainly in the capital Gustavia.

• The coast of Toiny, on the east side of the island, is covered with jagged rocks, cliffs, and caves.

It's not ideal for sitting on the beach, but it's fun to explore, especially if you're snorkeling or snorkeling.

What to Eat and Drink

The dining options at St. Bart's may seem more like being on the Champs Elysees in Paris than on a tropical island.

Gourmet restaurants with French names and haute cuisine are some of the most popular restaurants, and you might even be sitting at a table next to an international celebrity.

However, not everything is fine dining. There are also restaurants like Mayas to Go, serving artisan sandwiches made with fresh Caribbean ingredients to pack up and take to the beach.

Since most accommodations are villas or suites with full kitchens, many visitors take advantage of vacation time to cook.

Stop at one of the local markets to enjoy fresh fish, hot baguettes, meat from the butchers, or colorful Caribbean produce.

Where to stay

If you are heading to St. Bart's, the biggest expense is where you are staying. Staying true to the island's focus on seclusion, most visitors stay in a private villa for maximum privacy, usually with a dock to park their yacht.

There are no large resorts on the island, and even the largest hotels only have around 50 rooms.

The island has many options for luxury and romantic getaways, but finding something that is considered "moderately priced" is a challenge.

Keep in mind that winter is the peak season and the most expensive time to visit, especially during the holidays when celebrities are on vacation.

If you are looking for a deal, the mid-season, April to June, is when you are most likely to find it. In late summer and fall, many parts of the island close during the off-season.

Getting There

Privileged guests arrive in St. Bart's by private jet or personal yacht, but if you don't have one of these available, you'll have to find other routes.

St. Bart's airport has a short runway and cannot operate commercial aircraft, so you will have to fly to a nearby island.

The closest is Princess Juliana International Airport in Saint Martin, and from there it is a quick flight or a 40-minute ferry ride to St. Bart's.

Culture and Customs

Although the island of Saint Barthélemy is better known as St. Bart's to English speakers around the world, the locals call it St. Barth's.

And while the island is undeniably French today, it was actually a Swedish colony for nearly a century.

The only vestige of its Scandinavian past is the name of the capital, Gustavia, in honor of King Gustav of Sweden.

Tips to Save Money

Avoid traveling during peak winter season, when celebrities flock to the island and prices skyrocket.

The low season can be more humid than other months, but temperatures are still ideal for enjoying a beach vacation.

Since most accommodations include kitchens, you can avoid eating out by cooking in your room.

It may seem like a chore you don't want to do on vacation, but shopping at local food markets and preparing fresh ingredients is part of the allure of St. Bart's.

If you are not chartering a private yacht, most of the activities on St. Bart are completely free.

All the beaches are public, so you don't have to pay to use them.

You can even get to the most exclusive beaches by hiking, another great way to spend your time that doesn't cost a penny.

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