Growing up on the west coast, my family typically opted to take the “easier” beach vacations in Mexico and/or Hawaii, due to their relative convenience in relation to Los Angeles. A quick 2-hour flight will get you right to Baja, or a direct 5-hour trip to Maui. As I grew older, I wanted to explore more of the tropical beach destinations in the Caribbean since I didn’t spend much time there as a kid or teenager, so when I got the invitation to visit St. Barth’s (also known as St-Barth, St. Barths, and Saint Barthélemy) I automatically said yes, despite the knowledge of how difficult this little island in the French West Indies was to get to. Before I get into that, I would like to start off by saying that the journey is well worth it. I fell in love with St. Barth’s and would go back again in a heartbeat.
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How to Get to St. Barth’s
Figuring out how to get to St. Barth’s can be really overwhelming, especially because there are no direct commercial flights there from the United States. No matter where you are coming from, east or west coast, you will have to take at least 2 flights before you land in paradise.
There are a few ways to get to St. Barth’s, some easier than others. I learned a lot on my first trip there between speaking to avid St. Barth’s goers to doing my extensive research on the topic. My goal is to always have the quickest, most convenient travel day possible because no one likes a 24+ hour travel day.
You can either fly into St. Barth’s, or arrive via ferry. From what I have been told, the ferry should be your last resort option. The water can be choppy, you have to lug your luggage onto the boat, and it takes 30-45 minutes versus a quick flight. The ferry would be appealing only to those who are really scared of small planes and/or booked their trip last minute and all the puddle jumper flights are sold out. The two ferry companies are Voyager and Great Bay Express.
So let’s talk about the two better flight options.
Option 1: Book your flight using Google Flights, Kayak, Expedia, whatever your search engine of choice is. You can search JFK – St. Barth’s, LAX – St. Barth’s, etc, and have your entire trip on one itinerary. This is really helpful because your luggage will be checked all the way through to St. Barth’s, no matter how many layovers you have. My route from Los Angeles was LA — EWR — St. Martin — St. Barth’s. With this, my luggage was checked all the way through to my final destination, thanks to United’s partnership with the puddle jumper airline, WinAir.
*A small hack I learned from a fabulous new friend from NYC I met on my flight from Newark to St. Martin was to use a service called EASYWAY. EASYWAY is like a VIP transportation company that will help you navigate on both sides of your transfer from the St. Martin airport to St. Barth’s airport. The lines can be long in customs at the St. Martin airport (they are on a laid-back, Caribbean timeline) so this service will have you skip the line, get through security as a VIP, and make sure your bags are on your puddle jumper flight to St.Barth’s. They will even deliver your bags to wherever you are staying on the island.
Option 2: I did not take this option, but according to my friends who have been many times, this is a great route. Book a flight to San Juan from the U.S., and then book a separate 45-minute flight on an airline called Tradewinds, which is semi-private. This is a more expensive option, but a bit more comfortable than the tiny WinAir puddle jumper planes. Flying into San Juan doesn’t require clearing customs (since San Juan is a US territory) and the San Juan airport is apparently more comfortable and organized than St. Martin (I will take their word for it, because the St. Martin airport was… a little bit of a sh*t show.)
When to Visit St. Barth’s
Late November to mid-January is the high season. New Years is the peak time to visit, when everyone descends onto the rather small island from all over the world. Prices are the highest, and you most likely have to book months in advance to get reservations for hotels, restaurants, flights, etc.
As you get into late-January through early May, it is a little less crowded but still in season. I went in late March and thought it was perfect all around, it had great energy yet wasn’t wall to wall people wherever we went, and the weather was fantastic (in the 80’s every day).
Visiting any time between June – early November is dicey, as it gets to be hurricane season and many hotels close for the entire month of October for maintenance.
Where to Stay in St. Barth’s
Again, like the transportation to the island, there are a few options of how to do St. Barth’s. You can stay at a hotel, rent a villa, or stay on a boat. What I gleaned from my time there was if you are traveling as a couple or small family, a hotel is a great option. If you are with a big group of friends or your family is bigger, renting a villa is the better option. I cannot speak to staying on a boat/yacht, but, if that is an option for you, that sounds pretty nice.
I personally stayed with a big group of friends in a beautiful villa overlooking Baie de St. Jean. The view was breathtaking, we had a lot of privacy and space, and our own pool.
I, of course, visited many of the hotels on the island and quickly discovered which ones I wanted to stay at when I returned. There are a variety of luxury hotels to choose from, but these three seem like the most popular, best options in my opinion.
Cheval Blanc: This hotel is one of the most beautiful hotel’s I have seen, thanks to it being owned and operated by LVMH. It’s right on the beach, and in a great location. The grounds are impeccably landscaped, the food is fabulous, and there is a lot of privacy. I would say this is a great option for a couple seeking a romantic St. Barth’s experience.
Eden Roc: This is one of the trendier hotels, with a very global crowd of guests from all over the world. It’s in the center of town, right on the sand, and has great overall energy. It’s more of a party scene, so this would be a good option for a group of friends.
Hotel Le Toiny: If understated elegance, privacy, and great service is your thing, Hotel Le Toiny is a good choice.
Le Sereno: This property is super chic, like a private sanctuary with one of the most iconic pools on the island.
Hotel Christopher: Hands down the best place to catch the sunset in St. Barth’s. It’s a beautiful property with a great pool overlooking the ocean, however, there isn’t a beach (it’s rocky) and it’s a little out of the way from the center of town. This hotel seems like a good option for families.
Where to Eat & Drink in St. Barth’s
I didn’t have one bad meal in St. Barth’s. Being a French territory, the people on the island certainly know and love food. From an energetic dinner party vibe to romantic dinners on the sand, there’s something for everyone in St. Barth’s. There are so many places to choose from, and unfortunately (or fortunately) I will have to return to try more!
Nikki Beach: Go for Sunday brunch. It’s lively and fun.
Beach Club at Le Toiny: Laid-back, casual place for lunch.
Pearl Beach: Great for Saturday lunch.
Shellona: A beautiful restaurant/bar right on the beach. You can sit at a table, or on the beach and have full service.
Bonito: Beautiful people and amazing food, great for dinner.
Tamarin: Tropical garden vibe with very unique cuisine and an extensive wine list.
Bagatelle: I would suggest this for a drink spot over dinner. It is definitely a party scene, and fun on Friday nights.
L’Geurite: A trendy restaurant with Mediterranean food, Wednesday nights are “the night” to have a dinner reservation.
La Petite Plage: If you are looking to dance and party, this would be the place. It’s more of a restaurant-turned-nightclub, and the later it gets, the rowdier it gets. Think champagne with sparklers and dancing on tables.
L’Isola: This was my favorite restaurant in St. Barth’s. Owned by the same people as one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles, Via Veneto, it has a classic Italian-meets New York feel. The crowd is lively, there is live music, and the food is fantastic.
More Tips for St. Barth’s
Rent a car: Unless you’re planning to stay put at your hotel (which is perfectly pleasant, especially if you’re on a romantic vacation) you will need a car to get around the island. Taxis are hard to come by. Most people opt for renting smaller cars, as the streets can be narrow and windy and it’s a great way to explore the island. My personal favorite for St. Barth’s is a classic Moke.
Go hiking: This is something I did not do, but wish I had. There just was not enough time. I was told by numerous people to hike Colombier, which is a beautiful private beach only accessible by foot or boat.
Shopping: When I say this may be some of the best shopping in the world, I mean it! There are so many stores, both boutique and designer, filled to the brim with unique pieces that a lot of the time are exclusive to St. Barth’s (meaning you can only find them there, nowhere else!) On top of the unique selection, it is technically “less expensive” to purchase designer items in St. Barth’s because they are tax-free, so about 20% cheaper than in the US. If that isn’t a good reason to buy the bag, I don’t know what is.
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