The little French West Indies island of Saint-Barthélemy, more often referred to as Saint Barths, is most notably known for being the place where the rich and famous go to get away from it all. Why they choose this island becomes clear the moment you set eyes on Gustavia Harbor.
During “peak-season,” December through mid-April, Port de Gustavia is filled with dozens upon dozens of luxury mega-yachts and sailboats that can’t help but make you think, “This place must be exceptional for these people to want to vacation here.”
The island is surrounded by the clearest turquoise blue water and the palest colored sand, ultimately creating the most breathtaking beaches. The terrain is made up of mountains and hills, giving celebrities that feeling of seclusion, if they so desire.
Getting to Saint Barths can be a little tricky if you don’t have your own yacht. Even larger private jets can fly directly to Saint Barths. The easiest way to get there, especially if just for a day trip, is by way of Saint Maarten (although I hear Anguilla is another option).
From Saint Maarten, you have two relatively affordable options to choose from. The first, and most expensive way, is by air. You can catch a 20-minute flight with Winair, a Saint Maarten-based Airline Company located at the island’s largest airport, Princess Juliana International Airport (SXB). A one-way ticket from SXB to SBH (the only airport on Saint Barths) will run you approximately $140 on the day of. A roundtrip ticket leaving and returning on the same day will run you approximately $250. On average, flights leave for Saint Barths 17 different times a day during the peak season and as few as four times a day during the extremely low season, September and October.
You can get to Saint Barths for a little cheaper if you choose to go by ferry, but you should beware of the rough waters of the open Caribbean Sea (especially if you tend to get any version of motion sickness). It can be really intense. There are several ferry companies offering different things, such as high-speed or luxury, but if you just want a safe trip for a great value, choose Great Bay Ferry. Located at Bobby’s Marina in Phillipsburg, Great Bay Ferry offers one way tickets for as little as $65 and only $70 for a roundtrip day trip. Just make sure you avoid buying them online. The online service almost charged
me $40 extra per ticket.
Once you arrive to Saint Barths the first thing you should do is roam around the lively capital, Gustavia. There you’ll encounter locals and European vacationers eating, shopping and just enjoying the weather. Stop in the corner café and island staple, Le Bar de L’Oubli, for brunch, lunch or just a cocktail and enjoy the atmosphere. The open-air bar is located right in the middle of it all, making it the perfect place to get a feel for the island. When you leave there, take a stroll up and down rue de la République to find global high-end stores such as Dolce and Gabbana and Hermés, as well as local stores such as Human Steps and Lei’l.
The one store you cannot miss while there is the new exotic Prada store, located on the same street. In an attempt to set this store apart from the more than 600 others worldwide, the company, more specifically, Mrs. Prada herself, has infused designs of a 1950s-inspired tropical paradise with the heritage of the brand to create an experience for shoppers. The banana leaf wallpaper, antique wood finishes and bold black and white floors are a huge shift from the brand’s usual chic and neutral approach. Although the ready-to-wear collection is not available at this location, accessories and footwear are, as well as a few vintage and location-specific resort wear pieces. The store’s visual merchandiser says Miuccia Prada is very hands-on with this store, going so far as to refer to it as her baby. It’s clear that a lot of attention has been given to this store and sales show that the decision to make this store unique is paying off.
In deciding where to stay on this island, you have tons of options. Lots of people choose to rent villas or single-family homes, as people who visit tend to “holiday,” staying weeks at a time. In addition, there are seven five-star hotels on the island. The most popular one (and the one I’d recommend, especially to first-time visitors) would have to be, without a doubt, Eden Rock, St. Barths.
Eden Rock is a private, luxury resort located maybe 15 minutes from the airport. Sure the fact that it was literally the first hotel built on the island may have something to do with why it is the most famous, but having a Michelin-starred chef Jean George run the hotel restaurant menu and having Villa Rock Star (a high-priced suite equipped with a full studio created so that artists can record while they vacation) help to secure its significance on this island. The resort is located atop a hill that looks over a scene straight out of a travel magazine and is owned and operated by a private company. It offers guests 34 totally different units, with
15 of those being suites.
The property has a lot for visitors to do and experience. During the day you can snorkel around the island, viewing the vibrant coral reef and sea life that surround the resort in the clear blue water that falls hundreds of feet deep. The resort also has a boat that offers day trips to Saint Maarten as well as other excursions. You can also work out in the state of the art fitness room (fully equipped with a personal trainer for hire), relax at the world-class spa that only uses products local to the Caribbean or han gout in the courtyard. There is a fresh juice bar on-site and a private beach outfitted with umbrellas, couches and beach beds. At night, enjoy an award-winning dinner at On the Rocks, and then stick around to dance to the mix of whichever mega-accomplished DJ they are currently calling their in-house DJ.
Usually the property requires a one-week stay, but that can be negotiated during the low season when rooms start at $800 a night. However, the time surrounding Christmas and New Year’s Eve, their highest season of the year, requires a two-week minimum stay (booked one year prior), with rooms starting at $1,500. But I’d be amiss if I said those prices are “extremely out of line.” Although I only stayed in one suite, it was obvious that each of them offer a lot. On top of its exceptional on-call service, that room had two private pools, a view of the ocean from the bedroom and bathroom, a soft king-size bed, a steam shower and a private garden area to roam. I was in heaven! That particular suite required a minimum of three nights starting at $2,300 a night but can be up to $6,000 per
night in the high season.
I truly fall in love with Saint Barths every single time I visit. It’s the one island in the Caribbean where you want to see and be seen.
Megan Pinckney (@shadesofpinck) is a retired beauty queen turned lifestyle blogger who loves exploring the world and writing about it.
