Saint Barthélemy
Updated: 2 days ago
Saint Barthélemy: A Caribbean Paradise
Saint Barthélemy, also known as St. Barths, is a French-speaking Caribbean island known for its pristine white-sand beaches, exquisite cuisine, luxurious hotels and villas, high-end designer boutiques, charming local shops, and impressive mega yachts.
The best time to visit is in early December, when the weather is warm and pleasant, just before the holiday season brings an influx of tourists to the island.
St. Barths is a small island, so I highly recommend renting a car to explore at your own pace, as Uber is not available. Most destinations are only 10–20 minutes apart, regardless of where you stay. Hotels can arrange taxi services, but fares are often expensive and charged at a flat rate.
Getting There
There are no direct international flights to St. Barths, so you’ll need to connect through another destination.
One option is to fly into St. Martin, where you can take a ferry to St. Barths, with the journey typically lasting around an hour, or enjoy a scenic 10-minute flight on a small plane.
Alternatively, you can fly into Puerto Rico and take an approximately one-hour flight to St. Barths with Tradewind Aviation.
Where to Stay
There are many wonderful hotels to choose from on the island, but my personal favorite is
Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa
This intimate, luxurious hotel offers modern, spacious rooms with spectacular views of the ocean or the bay, complemented by lush garden surroundings. The hotel sits on a beautiful beach with crystal-clear turquoise waters, where you may even spot sea turtles while kayaking. The hotel provides kayaks free of charge, making it easy to explore the bay and enjoy the island’s natural beauty.
The service is exceptional, and the cuisine at the hotel’s restaurants is among the best I have ever experienced. Every detail contributes to an unforgettable stay.
Located approximately 15 minutes by car from downtown Gustavia, the island’s vibrant capital, Le Barthélemy is also conveniently situated for exploring the area’s best restaurants, designer boutiques, and charming shops along the marina.
Other HOTEL options to consider:
Hotel Christopher (it doesn’t have a beach only a pool overlooking the ocean)
Cheval Blanc
Eden Rock
Hotel Manapany
Le Toiny (the beach is not on property)
Arielles (opened in 2026)
RESTAURANTS
Tamarin (Drive 10 mins from hotel) - This hotel is by far my favorite and magical! The cuisine is delicious and the ambience is a lush garden.
Le Petite Plage in Gustavia (Drive 18 mins from hotel) This restaurant offers a dance party vibe with an amazing DJ on Thursday - Saturday in season
Le Cafe in Gustavia (Drive 20 mins from hotel) This restaurant has a piano player and singer so the vibe is swanky
Bagatelle in Gustavia (Drive 20 mins from hotel) This restaurant has a party vibe with DJ and dancing on the table
Black Ginger - This is a low key Thai restaurant in Gustavia
ACTIVITIES
Rent a boat for a few hours and see it by day or take in the sunset
Jet ski you can rent from most hotels and they typically have kayak and other water sports
Nature Hike
1. Colombier Beach Hike (20 mins drive from hotel) A popular 30-minute hike that starts at Flamands Beach and leads to a secluded white-sand beach
2. Pointe Milou Trail (7 mins drive from hotel) A 45-minute hike along the rugged coastline that starts at the Christopher Hotel
3. Natural Pools Trail (7 mins drive from hotel) A 30-minute hike that starts at the parking lot near Grand Fond and leads to natural pools for swimming and snorkeling
Shopping- There are two shopping areas on the island. One is a 10 mins drive from the hotel and only has a few boutique and art gallery shops. The primary area to shop is 20 mins drive from the hotel and is in Gustavia. That is where you will find high end shops, boutique and tourist shops. It is small so you can walk the whole area within an hour. There are many restaurants in that area and it’s pretty to sit and watch the boats at the marina.
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