Saint Barthélemy Travel Guide

Saint Barthélemy, also known as St. Barths, St. Barts or St. Barth, is a dreamy little island in the Caribbean known for its exclusive nature. A retreat for the rich and famous, St. Barths is world-renowned as a vacation hideaway for popular and wealthy celebrities.  Designers, singers, actors, politicians, media moguls, old money, and lots of new money can all be seen strolling the shores of this beautiful little island.  For a place that is only about 8 square miles, Saint Barthélemy has a lot to offer in luxury and privacy.

Independent, decidedly European, and stylish, St. Barths displays a culture that screams posh.  St. Barths has become associated with wealth, and the prices in the designer boutiques and eateries on the island reflect that.  The conversation can never be about finding deals in St. Barths – that is not what the island is known for nor what it strives to be.  The people of the nation – mostly descendants from French nationals and European expats alike – thrive in a luxurious lifestyle that they maintain for visitors.  One step on the island, and you know you’ve landed somewhere entirely different than most of the other places in the Caribbean.  

Reservation-only restaurants and private villas are the celebs hang out while the independently though unrecognizable wealthy walk about freely.  The residents don’t gawk – they are relatively removed from the media frenzy that surrounds celebrities in the home countries and indeed around much of the world.  This makes the freedom to vacation and just be that much more alluring for the people who must always be “on.”  

Yachtsmen love to dock on this pristine island.  Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Sint Maarten, Saint Barthélemy is also popular with those who want to take a day trip over to see the sites.  Shopping is the order of the day in this duty-free port, and while the prices are steep, the wares are beautiful.  If you enjoy beaches, there are 14 on St. Barths.  Marigot Beach is one of those beautiful locations in the world where you can swim and snorkel and be relatively exclusive at the same time.  

Saint Barthélemy prides itself on the gastronomic experience they give their visitors and, indeed, that they experience in their own homes.  St. Barths is an island of foodies – with so many choices available in the markets due to the heavy catering business done on the island, locals have access to many different ingredient types than those form other islands may experience.  The result is a gastronomical event with every meal.  

St. Barths screams exclusivity.  If you want to go somewhere with a slower pace and an heir of anonymity, this is the place for you.