Saint-Barthélemy, also known as St. Barts, or St. Barths, is a small volcanic island in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. It sits between St. Kitts and St. Martin and is about 22 miles (35 kilometers) from either.
To give it a context, St. Barts is like a little piece of the South of France or Monaco in the Caribbean. Its town is delightfully French, with cute shops, bistros, and bars catering to all types, the kind of place where visiting billionaires and local sun-kissed beach bums share bar space.
St. Barts typically gets over 300 sunny days a year, making it a draw for affluent American and European sun-seekers. The quaint island has around 14 beaches, all of which have white sand and are accessible to the public.
St. Barts is the famed playground of A-listers from around the world. Beyonce, The Kardashians, and even Elon Musk have chosen to vacation on this island paradise where Caribbean charm meets French Riviera chic. A stroll along the super yacht-filled harbor during the season reflects the island's clientele.
Like the French Riviera, St. Barts offers exceptional dining and shopping. You'll find familiar luxury brands and local boutiques where you can pick up bathing suits and resort-wear essentials while on the island.
An old French communal rule decrees that no building can be taller than a palm tree. Consequently, there are no massive resorts. Most tourists choose to stay in one of many stylish St. Barts villas.
St. Barts is divided into 20 Quarters, and each has exceptional beach options, so no matter where you stay, you'll always be close to beautiful Caribbean waters, ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
Whether you want beachfront or to be tucked away on the hill in a private enclave, there is a villa that will meet your needs and tastes. Exotic Estates St. Barts villas are always in high demand. Why should billionaires have all the fun - book your A-list getaway today!
Getting to St. Barts
Getting to St. Barts or Saint Barthélemy can range from a mild hassle to fabulous, depending, frankly, on your means. Saint Barthélemy is not served by jets, but the island does have a small airport that supports scheduled prop flights from other Caribbean islands and, of course, private planes. This certainly serves to keep the island free from mass tourism and adds to a sense of exclusivity.
In addition to the small airport, there is a ferry that runs from St. Martin several times per day, and, of course, there is the option of taking your private yacht into the harbor. Again, it's a question of means.
Bring Your Passport
When traveling to St. Barts or other Caribbean islands, even by ferry, expect to be treated as if you are arriving in an international port. St. Barts is a territory of France, and as such, you are essentially entering France when you go to St. Barts. You will be asked for your passport, so please be ready to bring it with you to board the ferry or other mode of transport.
St. Martin to St. Barts Via Ferry
On a recent tour of Exotic Estates' villas in the Caribbean, the team took the ferry from St. Martin to St. Barts.
Voyager Ferries
Getting to St. Barts from St. Martin is easy via the Voyager Ferries, which operates a high-speed ferry with travel times ranging from 30 minutes to a little over one hour, depending on whether you leave from the French port (Marigot) or the Oyster Pond on east side of the island. The schedules can fluctuate so always check to see if your boat is on time!
NOTE: Potential rough seas – warning for those prone to motion sickness
The seas are rough most days (with the winds coming from the North Atlantic), so those who suffer from seasickness may want to take a flight instead. It's a relatively short hop from either St. Martin or Puerto Rico.
Business Class on Ferry
The ferry does offer a business class, located in a small, clean, air-conditioned indoor cabin on the upper deck of the boat, close to the captain's bridge. There were outlets, but you will need a European adaptor.
Flying Into St. Barts
There is no nonstop service between the US Mainland and St. Barts. There is, however, regional service via WinAir and St. Barth Commuter Airlines, as well as helicopter service from St. Martin.
Essentially, you will need to fly to either Puerto Rico or St. Martin; note that there is additional service from Antigua. For US travelers, the easiest place to connect will be Puerto Rico or St. Martin, as scheduled air service connects both destinations from several US cities.
WinAir is certainly a big player down in the Caribbean, and you can check out their website here. https://www.fly-winair.sx/
Exotic Estates Team on Regional Flying: While we did not fly WinAir to St. Barts, we did use regional operator LIAT for a hop from St. Martin to Nevis and found them quite professional and comfortable, operating a larger ATR prop jet on the short route.
Yachting to St. Barts
Perhaps no other way is more "St. Barts" than pulling your own yacht or sailboat into St. Barts's pristine harbor at Gustavia. Let's just say visitors here like to make an entrance, with impossibly big boats sitting out in the harbor like floating mansions. If you can name a massive celebrity, royal, or bon vivant, chances are they've made an entrance here.
When you're planning your visit to St. Barts, here are the general rules:
- If anyone in your group gets seasick, avoid the ferry service and fly to the airport via plane or helicopter.
- If rocking boats are okay with you, the ferry service is convenient and allows you to enjoy a day getting acclimated to the Caribbean vibe in always fun, always friendly, St. Martin. Figure on a couple hours transfer time at least to get yourself from St. Martin (SXM) to the ferry terminal.
- If you want to arrive in style – bring your own yacht and slip in next to the rest of the gilded set.
Regardless of how you get there, St. Barts is unique: while it is decidedly upscale, it also has a relaxed vibe. It does not try to put on airs; it's simply a beautiful little island that has found its place among the rich and famous.
Where to Stay on St. Barts
St. Barth, or St. Bart's for many English speakers, is a small island in the French West Indies. Like Capri, it draws a tony, trendy crowd each season due to its legendary beauty and swanky beach lifestyle.
Also, just like Capri, St. Barthelemy is small, less than ten sq. miles, but it feels much bigger because it's so hilly and craggy. There is the main port, Gustavia, where the best restaurants and bars are clustered, and then there are the sections, or Quarters, on the other side of the hill to the east, the north, and the south.
Because of St. Barts' orientation, some areas on the island offer fab sunset views, while others will give you more morning sun. Some areas boast long sweeps of beach home to world-famous hotels and Riviera-style beach life, while others are downright quiet and 'neighborhoody.'
Then there are spots with a more remote feel, and visitors should not be surprised to see them enjoying the sun and sea au naturel. Mind you, all of these different sides of St. Barts are within short distances of each other.
Even as a visitor, you quickly adapt to the size, and short distances become more significant. After hanging out on St. Barts for a few days, a 15-minute drive can seem quite long!
Here is a guide to choosing the zone that may be right for you.
Gustavia – St. Barts
If there is a downtown, a heart, a capital of St. Barts, it is Gustavia. This is where the main harbor is, where visitors arriving by ferry from St. Martin or private yacht slip into town. It's also where most of the eating, dining, and shopping – and partying - gets done. If you want to stay close to where the action is, to where the Kardashian-type crowds will get into trouble, consider staying near Gustavia town.
Corossol – St. Barts
Looking at the map, Corossol is close to Gustavia, on the southwestern side of the island. A map belies the topography, which is very hilly indeed, so it's by no means just a straight shot from town. The hilliness helps to keep this little spot cove-like and private.
What's nice about Corossol is its historic nature as a local fishing village. While there are some modern dwellings precariously and impressively etched into the upper slopes, the waterfront is dominated by simple homes; these are the cottages of the area's longtime residents, many of whom made their living on the sea. At night, you can walk by and still see fishing nets hanging on the walls of some of the cottages. A saint sits atop a large boulder here, a memorial for fishermen.
If you want to get away from the trendy party set, this little beach is a great spot for an afternoon swim. Also, because of its orientation, you'll even be able to catch a sunset here. We did, and it was marvelous!
St Jean – St. Barts
The next area we'll discuss is St. Jean. St. Jean/St. Jean Bay is just over the saddle of the island from Gustavia, on the north side of St. Barts. The beach is adjacent to the airport, so planes can fly quite low over the western end. There are no big planes here, though, so there is no worry about noise from big jet traffic.
Besides being a fun area with convenience stores, little markets, cafes, and boutiques, St. Jean is famous for its grand beach and the Eden Rock Hotel. Surprisingly, St. Bart is a fun little surfing destination during the right swell, and you'll see surfers out at St. Jean on a regular basis. It can get quite fun, and there are surf shops here (our Concierge should also be able to hook you up).
We liked St. Jean because it felt like a neighborhood unto itself, meaning you didn't need to go into Gustavia if you didn't want to, as the local shops and the big mall across the street from the airport have everything you can possibly need, including a supermarket to stock up your villa!
Saline Beach – St. Barts
Heading south on the island, Saline is another special area on St. Barts known for its sense of remoteness. Even though nothing is far from away on this island, Saline feels somewhat remote.
The area gets its name from its original role in salt production; you can still see the salt ponds as you approach (above). The beach is quiet, the water is Caribbean blue, and a nature reserve stretches along one end. This leads us to our next dramatic home.
Gouverneur St. Barts
The gorgeous area of Gouverneur is located at the southern point of St. Barts. This area is next to Saline and just beyond Lurin. What is striking about Gouverneur is its beach. Indeed, it is a stunning stretch of sand home to billionaires. Lucky for you, you can stay above the beach and look down on the entire epic from a lofty perch in utter comfort.
Anse des Cayes – St Barts
This little neighborhood is just over the saddle of the island, to the north of Gustavia. Driving from Gustavia, you climb to the top of a hill and bear left at a roundabout that takes you up and over to the neighborhood. It's a nice spot because the airport and St. Jean are just as close as Gustavia.
Also, right in front of the airport is the largest shopping mall on the island, making it an essential spot to stop and purchase items for your villa. The island's largest supermarket is located there, so it's easy to run over to the shops from your villa in this area.
Many of the homes in Anse des Cayes sit over a gorgeous sweep of beach, which is often barking with waves. It's a favorite spot for surfers, but it can be rocky, so perhaps not the best swimming beach.
It's lovely for walking, and there is a little liquor store just down by the water. However, this little spot feels quiet and neighborhoody, and we loved its position, which made it close to town, the shops at the airport mall, and the beaches at St. Jean and Lorient.
Anse du Petit Cul de Sac – St. Barts
Located on the far eastern side of St. Barts is the area called Petit Cul de Sac. You're only 15 or 20 minutes from Bulgari and Cartier in Gustavia, but it feels a world away. In this section of the island, the ocean waves can be strong. There are some spas and activities to be enjoyed here, so you may not find any reason to leave Petit Cul de Sac!
These are just a few spots to spark St. Barts vacation ideas. Lurin and Lorient are also nearby and offer something special.
Contact us today, and we'll connect you with a luxury Exotic Estates St. Barts Vacation Rental!
