Saint Barthelemy, more commonly known as St. Barts, has boutique hotels, mega yachts, high-end shopping, and plenty of private villas. Visit St. Bart's for a trip you'll always remember. This carefully selected St. Bart's guide will help you find the best villas, dining, and sightseeing options.
Saint Barthelemy, more commonly known as St. Barts, has boutique hotels, mega yachts, high-end shopping, and plenty of private villas. Visit St. Bart's for a trip you'll always remember. This carefully selected St. Bart's guide will help you find the best villas, dining, and sightseeing options.
St. Barts: A Luxurious Destination
Villa Ginger
St. Barts is a French-speaking Caribbean island renowned for its high-end vibe and beautiful beaches. St. Barts is a popular destination for the international jet set, and the island is filled with luxurious villas, restaurants, and boutiques, as well as yachts.
This little slice of heaven in the French West Indies is challenging to get, but that's part of its charm. Travelers who take the commercial way often travel by private plane or yacht, but those who do know that the reward, in the end, is well worth the effort.
Rent a villa
The most lavish and spacious accommodations on St. Barths are not hotels but enormous villas. Villas across the island can accommodate every size group, aesthetic preference, and budget (although the most expensive ones can cost up to $300,000 per week to rent). Since all of the hotels on the island are boutiques, St Barts villas offer more space and privacy, as well as a personal concierge who is available 24 hours a day and can help with everything from making reservations to planning trips to getting around.
Exceptional Villas is one of the well-known villa rental agencies on the island because of their history of working with A-listers and dignitaries and their vast profile of 200+ villas. Palm Beach, Ellena, Villa Ocean view, and Ginger, are among the most hyped villas on the island. Whether you require a babysitter for the evening, a tailor-made menu delivered daily, a personal shopper, or champagne upon your arrival, nothing is left to chance.
Things to do in St. Barths
Enjoy the beaches
There are 14 beaches in St. Barths, all of which have the coveted silky white sand for which the island is famed. Lorient is well-known for its excellent surfing, whereas Colombier is known for its tranquility. Saline Beach, Colombier Beach, and Gouverneur Beach are the only beaches on St. Barts with no on-the-beach restaurants or homes.
Saline Beach, sandwiched between two rocky bays with steep sides, is a popular destination for both locals and visitors thanks to its long, secluded stretch of beach and safe swimming waters. The island may be small, but it boasts many stunning beaches.
Charter a Yacht
While many visitors to St. Barths arrive on their superyachts, if you are staying in villas still have the option of renting a stylish yacht from companies like St. Barth Sailor and MasterSki Pilou. Take a boat or catamaran out for a sail and watch the sun go down.
Enjoy a variety of water sports, from snorkeling and diving to fishing and swimming. You can also hire a chef, butler, or catering service. Renting a boat is a fun way to explore the island and reach remote spots like Colombier, which is only accessible by boat.
Explore Gustavia, the capital
Gustavia is the main city and capital of St. Barts. It is in the shape of a U and wraps around the harbor. You can go window shopping at the many high-end boutiques and art galleries, dine at one of the many restaurants, book water sports with a local outfitter, visit the nightlife, or explore the ruins of Fort Gustave and Fort Karl. You can also visit the Wall House Museum and the Vieux Clocher to learn more about the island's history (the oldest building in Gustavia).
Shopping
Even though it may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of a Caribbean island, St. Barths is not a typical place. Shops including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Hermès, Cartier, Ralph Lauren, Roberto Cavalli, Prada, Bulgari, Chopard, Dolce & Gabbana, and Tod's can be found along Gustavia's main boulevard, which is also known as "Rue du Couturier."
A few local brands on the island, like Poupette and Lolita Jaca, make silky beach dresses in bright colors. Local boutiques catering to men, women, and children cover the streets of St. Jean, making it another fantastic shopping destination. And while you're here, you should pick up some new furnishings for your abode. Beautiful furniture, artwork, tiles, coffee table books, and more can be found at Sonia de Baya and Clic in Gustavia.
Dine at Maya’s
Since Maya and her husband launched their restaurant in 1984, many on the menu have stayed the same. Maya's serves up exquisite, locally caught seafood such as Dover sole, Lobster, and Mahi-Mahi, prepared in a French-Caribbean style. The seaside breezes and excellent wine list make for a memorable dining experience.
There's a reason Maya's has been a staple on the island for nearly four decades: the elegant atmosphere and the possibility of spotting a celebrity or two (depending on the time of year). If you can't get a dinner reservation or want to picnic on the beach, Maya's To Go in St. Jean is a great on-the-go choice for sandwiches and frîtes.