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What To Know Before Traveling To St. Barts

By Amanda Gabrielli · On May 14, 2020


From the unique culture, cuisine, and landscape of the island, St. Barts offers the best tropical destination for your next luxury getaway. 

Whether you’re somewhat familiar with this charming island or you’re planning your first visit, here are a few key factors to take into consideration when traveling to this luxe destination!

Getting There

Plane flying in the clouds

The St. Barts airport can only accommodate smaller planes with capacities around 20 passengers as commercial air crafts require a longer runway and simply cannot land on the island. That being said, there are no direct flights into St. Barts, unless you decide to charter your own plane, otherwise, getting to St. Barts is quite easy!

The most common way travelers choose to get to St Barts is usually to jump on a connect flight via the neighboring island of St. Martin (Princess Juliana Airport) and then take a short 10-15 minute shuttle flight to your final destination. If you’re somewhat of a nervous flyer when it comes to smaller air crafts, there is also the option of a 45 minute ferry ride from Saint Martin to St. Barts as well. 

Getting Around

Interior of Luxury Vehicle

Seeing as the island is quite mountainous and many villa rentals sit perched on a cliffside with steep driveways, we generally do recommend renting a car when vacationing in St. Barts.

Additionally, many shops/restaurants are not commonly within walking distance, so having a vehicle at your disposal is not only convenient but somewhat of a necessity to get around comfortably.

You also won’t find much public transportation on the island as it is practically non existent and taking taxis can get quite expensive and add up quickly over time. Good news is, our amazing Concierge Team can take all the stresses away of looking into renting a car by booking one for you!  

Locations On The Island

The island of St. Barts

Deciding where to stay on the island will depend on how close you wish to find yourself to bars, restaurants and other amenities – however, given the small size of the island, you’ll never be too far from anything!

The west side (considered the more desirable side of the island) is where you’ll find the more developed neighborhoods of St Jean and Gustavia that are ideal for those wanting to stay in close proximity to the shops and restaurants. You unfortunately won’t find too many beachfront accommodations in St. Barts as most of the hotels and villas are nestled within the island’s lush volcanic hills or next to a secluded bay.

If you’re looking to explore the island, it will roughly take you about 20 minutes by car from one side of the island to the other (this again is why renting a car is essential if you want to explore!)

Costs

St. Barts is known as a destination where the rich and famous flock to so it’s no surprise that this island prioritizes the highest quality of life possible in all aspects, from accommodation and shopping opportunities to drinking and dining in the fine establishments that are offered. 

In general, St. Barts is an expensive island all on it’s own, so it is important to keep that in mind when planning your vacation to this pristine destination. 

Services Included

So you’re thinking of booking a villa in St. Barts and are wondering what services are included. Majority of the homes do not come fully staffed however if guests are looking for the added benefit of having a private chef or maid service included with their rentals, it can be added for an additional cost. 

Our expert Concierge Team can assist in many other additional desired services as well such as yacht charters and private drivers.

Activities

For all you laid back foodies, you’ll likely be impressed with the luxurious dining scene as St. Barts offers cuisine that is colorful, varied and exquisitely combines French cuisine with that classic island charm to deliver you nothing but the best.

If it’s beautiful beaches with bars and water sports that you’re looking for, the larger bays of St Jean and Grand Cul de Sac are an excellent choice, while total seclusion for lounging and more leisure water activities can be found at the beaches Gouverneur, Marigot, and Lorient. In addition, our Concierge Team can also arrange for you an exclusive day trip to Anguilla or Saint Martin.   

Frequent visitors to the island also enjoy hanging out at luxury beach clubs such as Nikki Beach, a well known beach club complete with pulsing music, mouth watering food, inspiring art, and haute-couture fashion—all with a magnificent backdrop of white sand and clear blue water. 

There are many other activities offered on the island such as hiking, horseback riding trails, outdoor yoga classes, submarine trips, boat tours, and last, but certainly not least, shopping.

 

Browse all our villas in St. Barts and get inspired for your next getaway!

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Amanda Gabrielli

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