I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s Island Guide on St. Barths! Now here is the fun stuff- beaches, food & drinks! So here’s the lowdown on our favorite beaches, restaurants & bars of St. Barths.
Beaches: St. Barths itself is only 8 square miles, but there are approximately 20 plages (beaches) and even more anses (coves) that will literally take your breath away and are all within 20 minutes of each other (at most). I’ve never seen water so clear!
Bring along your own towels, chairs & an umbrella. Also see if your hotel can put together a picnic for you! (Le Toiny does this!) Or you can do what we did and stop by a local market to grab a few snacks and drinks for the day. As always, don’t forget sunscreen!
- Anse de Grande Saline: A favorite of the locals, this beach is ideal for swimmers. The beach is a 10 minute walk up a rocky trail, so be sure to wear the right shoes for the trek.
- Anse du Gouverneur: This was our favorite beach, hands down. It’s very secluded and serene. There’s also good snorkeling and legend has it that pirates’ treasure is buried in the vicinity. You can park your car right next to the entrance to the beach and while it’s a little farther than other beaches, it is totally worth it. There’s not much else around this beach in terms of restaurants or other services, so plan accordingly.
- Baie de St. Jean: This was another favorite beach of ours. The site of the notorious Nikki Beach and right next to Eden Rock Hotel, this area is filled with beachside restaurants, shopping, sunbathing beauties, windsurfers, and day-trippers who tend to arrive on rather large yachts. You can rent chairs and umbrellas at La Plage or Nikki Beach for about 20 euros for the entire day.
Restaurants: Like the beaches, the restaurants on St. Barths are plentiful to say the least, with more than 80 to choose from!
- Le Gaiac: Delicious cliff-side dining at Hotel Le Toiny. They announce special menus on their Facebook page. Beautiful ocean views from the restaurant. They also have a great Sunday Brunch that many people say is the best on the island!
- Eddy’s: Behind a wrought iron gate sits this open-aired tropical garden dinner setting, known for their French-Creole-Asian infused cuisine and notable daily specials. The restaurant is really hidden from the street and unless you know where to look, you’ll walk right past it….
- Le Ti St. Barths: This is the dinner hot spot in St. Barths and we had an absolute blast when we were there! It’s guaranteed that someone is dancing on the tables by the end of the night! The famous full-moon parties and season openers and closer parties are legendary to say the least. We were lucky enough to be in town for the Moroccan Season Closer Party where belly dancers danced around the restaurant towards the end of the meal and had everyone on their feet once they had eaten dessert. Your best bet for determining the night to go to Le Ti is to ask around. Once you’ve figured out the night to go, make reservations for a semi-late dinner, so there’s no lull between dessert and dancing.
- Bar de l’Oubli: Referred to as the “corner bar,” Bar de l’Oubli is across from Le Select and is a great place for pre-dinner drinks. You’ve got to try the waiter’s special martini (strawberry puree, vodka, pepper & champange – deliciousness in a cup!).
- Casa Nikki: The place to be on the weekends! This is a fun restaurant & bar right on the beach!
- Le Select: Said to be St. Barth’s “original hangout,” it was this burger bar that inspired Jimmy Buffett’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
- Le Yacht Club: Advertised as a private club, this is THE place to be on Friday and Saturday nights. With white comfy sofas, a bumping DJ, and a delicious pannini/crepe bar for late night snacks, it’s the ultimate night out.
- Le Piment: Across the street from the famous Nikki Beach, this is a delicious lunch spot. Their paninis are a must!
There are plenty of other great places in St. Barths- these are just a few we came across and enjoyed.
Interested in going to St. Barths? Contact us!
Also be sure to enter the Ever After Honeymoons & Secrets Resorts & Spas GIVEAWAY! Click Here!
After a slew of St. Barths Hotel Features (check them out here, here, & here!) I am ready to pack up and head back to the island! So I’ve put together a little island guide for anyone headed that way. Below, you’ll find insider info on getting to St. Barths, getting around the island, what to bring, what to expect and when to go to this island paradise.
Getting There: St. Barths is home to the second shortest runway in the world. There are no direct flights to the island. The best bet is to fly to one of the larger islands nearby (I recommend St. Marteen) and take a small plane or ferry from there to St. Barths. If you’re not the most confident flyer, I would recommend the ferry option. Landing in St. Barths is a rush, to say the least.
- The Great Bay Express: Daily ferries from Bobby’s Marina in St. Marteen to St. Barths.
- Master Ski Pilou: Private boat charters.
- Winair & St. Barth Commuter: These are two popular airlines for shuttle flights from St. Marteen to St. Barths. The flight from St. Marteen is a short 15 minute flight and planes hold no more than 15 passengers. Be sure and tell the gate agent at your starting destination that you are connecting with one of these carriers to see if your bags can be transferred for you, then you won’t have to claim and then recheck your bags in St. Marteen
Getting Around: Only 8 square miles wide, with one “main road,” it’s hard to get lost on St. Barths. I highly recommend renting a car.
- Taxis: two words – scarce & expensive. Taxi fares are 50% higher from 8PM to 6AM nightly, Sundays, holidays, & during high season. They are also pretty difficult to get a hold of.
- Car Rental: Once you get to the island, there are car rental options at the port & the airport. You can also request a rental car at your hotel and they will arrange to have one brought to you (they also sometimes negotiate their own rates that are lower than what you might get if you arrange for the car yourself)
What to Bring & What to Expect: There are a few things that I found pretty necessary for travelers to make sure and bring with them when traveling to St. Barths…For everything else, check out our St. Barths Style Posts (here & here).
- Money: The currency on the island is the Euro. You will get the best exchange rate by getting cash from an ATM. ATMs are about as scarce as taxis… so try and get cash while you’re at the port, airport or downtown.
- Electricity: There are European outlets. So bring converters with you, or check to see if your hotel provides them.
- Bugs: As with any Caribbean island, there are mosquitoes, so pack some insect repellant. My favorite is Off! Smooth & Dry Insect Repellant- it’s not nearly as greasy as the regular kind and smells better too.
- Tipping: Restaurants will have an automatic 15% service charge added to every bill, so in accordance with common French practice, it’s best to leave an additional 5-10% more in cash, even if you’ve paid by credit card. Most taxi drivers don’t expect a tip.
- Timing: The majority of shops and restaurants are closed from around 2-4pm daily. A lot of places are closed on Sundays as well, so be sure to plan accordingly. Also dinner is served much later in European countries, as well as on St. Barths. You will have to ask your server for your check when you have finished your meal.
When to Go: St. Barths has a high and low tourist season and they also have a hurricane season.
- High Season: The highest tourist season in St. Barths is over the holidays (November-January). Rates are higher during this time than any other time during the year. Book far in advance if you want to visit during these months.
- Hurricane Season: Late August through October.
- Spring & Summer is a great time to visit because it isn’t as crowded and the weather isn’t as unpredictable as it can be during hurricane season. What’s more, prices on the island typically drop quite dramatically after March.
Check back tomorrow for tips on beaches in St. Barths and where to eat! Also, don’t forget to enter our fabulous Secrets Resorts & Spas Giveaway!
The last hotel we visited was the Hotel Eden Rock. I just loved this place!! It is such a cool property and has so much history. It’s been a hideout for big shots and celebrities since the 50’s and 60’s, and the hotel staff goes out of their way to ensure every guest is treated as such.
Eden Rock was one of the first hotels on the island of St. Barths and was originally the home of a famous Caribbean aviator & adventurer, Rémy de Haenen. Once the word got out about this island paradise, however, the Eden Rock estate became an escape for Rémy’s Hollywood friends throughout the 50s & 60s. The hotel was eventually bought by a British couple who took Rémy’s private estate and transformed it into a secluded 34-room boutique beachfront hotel. If you’re looking for the elegance and sophistication of the French Riviera with a relaxed, Caribbean, family feel, Hotel Eden Rock on St. Barths has your name written all over it.
Eden Rock has a little bit of something for everyone. Literally. Not only does the hotel have these beautiful rooms, it also has these gorgeous villa suites, one of which, the Villa Rockstar, has it’s own screening room & recording studio with the mixing console that was used by John Lennon to record the iconic “Imagine” album. Everything you need for a Caribbean getaway, right?
Fortunately, while it’s nice to dream about escaping to a place like Villa Rockstar, Eden Rock offers rooms for the more average traveler but still makes guests feel as if they are just as VIP as the guests staying in Villa Rockstar.
Another thing I love about Eden Rock is the in-house art studio. Every 3 months or so, Eden Rock brings in a new artist to showcase their work and use the beauty of the island as inspiration for upcoming and current projects. Fun, huh??
Even if you don’t get the pleasure of staying at Eden Rock, it’s basically imperative to stop by Eden Rock for lunch or dinner if you’re staying on St. Barths. The Sand Bar is ideal for lunch or a late afternoon snack/happy hour, but the real gem is On-The-Rocks. Literally perched “on the rock,” each table has spectacular views of St. Jean Bay. I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that it is one of the most romantic spots for dinner on the entire island.
Eden Rock is the iconic St. Barths hotel stay, luxurious, unique, and stylish.
Interested in stay at Hotel Eden Rock? Contact us! hello{at}everafterhoneymoons.com
Also, don’t forget to enter our awesome giveaway! Click here for details!!
In honor of the launch of our new website and blog, I am SUPER pumped about our EVER AFTER HONEYMOONS & SECRETS RESORTS & SPAS GIVEAWAY!! We are giving away a FREE 3-night stay at ANY Secrets Resort & Spa of your choice!!! And did I mention that each property is all-inclusive?! So all food & drinks are included as well!
Entering is extremely easy too! Just click here and follow the instructions and you will be automatically entered to win! Want to double your odds of winning??! Tell all your friends!! Follow us on Twitter @EA_Honeymoons & @SecretsResorts & update your Facebook status using your customized link and for every friend you get to enter, your chances of winning will be DOUBLED!! (This special link is generated when you enter the giveaway on Facebook and will help us keep an eye on all the people you get to sign up!)
By entering our giveaway, one lucky winner will get to choose one of these fantastic Secrets Resorts & Spas properties to escape to!
Aren’t these properties just amazing?!? I am so excited to see who wins and where they decide to go!! The winner will be announced NEXT FRIDAY (September 16, 2011) & you can enter as many times as you want until then! So hop to it and tell all of your friends!!
Fine Print/Guidelines: Winner will receive a 3-night stay at the Secrets Resort & Spa of the winner’s choice, including resort taxes. Airfare, airfare tax, & transportation are not included. Accommodations are for two adults (at least 21 years of age). Winner can choose to upgrade to a higher room category upon check-in, at an additional cost. Black out dates include,but are not limited to, Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, New Years, & Presidents Day. Certificate of prize is non-transferable and holds no cash value. Ground transportation, room charges incurred, spa treatments, incidentals, & all other additional expenses are not included. The resort will attempt to accommodate winner’s preferred itinerary, but all specifics thereof will be at the Sponsor’s sole discretion. Travel must take place within one year of prize award date (September 16, 2012).
Happy Friday everyone! How’s everyone enjoying our new blog??! Have you checked out the site too?? I’m so excited it has finally launched! We have lots of fun and exciting things in store! Be sure to check back next week for an amazing surprise!
Heading out to St Barths? Here are some suggestions of fun things to bring along with you!
Coverup – Earrings – Hat – Bag – Maxi Dress – Bikini – Bracelet – Sunscreen – Hair Product – Bug Spray – Bronzer Mist – Gadgets Case – Wedges – Nail Polish – Evian Spray – Mascara – Lip Stain
Interested in going to St. Barths? Contact us! hello{at}everafterhoneymoons.com
