St. Barthélemy

St. Barthélemy, usually called St. Barts, is a small, hilly island of only about eight square miles and a French overseas collectivity. The harbor capital, Gustavia, is lined with luxury boutiques, restaurants and superyachts, and the island is a favorite of celebrities, especially over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Beaches like Saline, Gouverneur, Colombier and Shell Beach are beautiful and uncrowded. Arriving by plane is an experience in itself: the runway is short, and planes drop steeply over a hill and a road before touching down just short of the beach.

Photo: Originally uploaded at en.wikipedia by en:User:Evaneggers as en:Image:Stb.jpg via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Most visitors reach St. Barts from St. Martin, either on a short flight in a small plane or on a ferry of about 45 minutes to an hour. Only small aircraft can land on the island, so you will need to connect.

Getting from Jamaica to St. Martin usually means connecting through Miami or San Juan.

St. Barts could not be more different from Jamaica. It is French in language, food and style, very small, very safe, and very expensive, with villas, hotels and meals at some of the highest prices in the Caribbean.

The island even has a Swedish past: it belonged to Sweden from 1784 to 1878, and Gustavia is named after a Swedish king. There is no all-inclusive resort culture here. Instead, visitors rent villas, drive tiny cars up steep roads, and spend long lunches at beach restaurants.

• Watch the landings from the hill above the airport.
• Snorkel at Colombier, a beach reached only by boat or a hiking trail.
• Spend a day at Saline or Gouverneur, two undeveloped beaches.
• Walk the Gustavia harbor, then climb to the lighthouse and Fort Karl for the view.
• Have a long lunch at one of the beach restaurants in St-Jean.

December to April is peak season, with New Year's the busiest and most expensive week of the year.

St-Jean is the most convenient area, close to the airport, beach restaurants and shops. Gustavia suits travelers who want to walk to dinner and watch the yachts. For privacy, many visitors rent villas in the hills of Lorient, Pointe Milou or Flamands, often with pools and sea views. There are only a few small hotels on the island and no large resorts, so book early, especially for winter. A small rental car is almost essential to get around.

• Currency: euro; US dollars are widely accepted
• Language: French, with English widely spoken in tourist areas
• Driving: right-hand side, on narrow, steep roads
• Best for: luxury travelers, honeymooners and people who love French food

A day trip from St. Martin by ferry is the budget-friendly way to see the island. If you visit for a day, Shell Beach is an easy walk from Gustavia.