Have you ever dreamed of sipping cocktails at a beach bar while rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous? Or of sinking your bare feet into the sand while indulging in five-star luxury? Perhaps you’ve longed to escape to a place where Caribbean vibes meet French sophistication.

If so, look no further than Saint Barthélemy—better known as St. Barts (or St. Barths, depending on who you ask).

Tucked away in the shimmering turquoise waters of the Caribbean, St Barts is a sun-drenched and carefree playground for the ultra wealthy. It is a place where multi-million dollar mega-yachts outnumber fishing boats, and where champagne flows as freely as the ocean breeze.

Saint Barthélemy–The Billionaire’s Island

Tiny St. Barthélemy is a charming Caribbean island characterized by rolling hills, secluded coves, and white-sand beaches. Part of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, it lies southeast of St. Martin and north of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Politically, St. Barts is an overseas collectivity of France, having separated administratively from Guadeloupe in 2007. The island’s strong ties to France are evident in its language, cuisine, and use of the Euro.

Despite its small size, St. Barts has earned a global reputation as an elite tourism destination. Celebrities and billionaires flock to the island for a low-key Caribbean escape, especially during the winter holidays.

In Gustavia, mega-yachts dot the harbor, and name-brand designer stores line the streets. Known for luxury villas and fine dining, this stylish island has often been compared to a Caribbean version of St. Tropez in France.

Day Trip from St. Martin

If, like me, you don’t have the cash to splurge on a full St. Barts vacation, you can still enjoy the island’s stunning scenery and beaches with a day trip from the more affordable nearby island of St. Martin.

We visited St. Barthélemy as part of a DIY island-hopping adventure that included St. Kitts, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Martin. Our day trip gave us about eight hours to explore St. Barts—enough for a brief but comprehensive self-guided tour around the island.

To reach St. Barts from St. Martin, you can either take a ferry (like we did) or fly into the island’s tiny airport.

• By Ferry

A ferry connects St. Martin and St. Barts multiple times a day. The often-choppy 45-minute ride runs between Philipsburg in Dutch St. Maarten and Gustavia, the capital of St. Barthélemy. It costs 60 euros each way. You can find the schedule at stbarthferry.com.

The ride from St. Martin to St. Barts is nicknamed the “vomit comet” due to rough waters, though the return trip is often much smoother.

• By Plane

While the ferry is the cheapest option for a St. Barts day trip, some travelers choose to fly—either for convenience or for the thrill of landing at Gustaf III Airport.

The airport on St. Barthélemy is among the most unique in the Caribbean. It has an extremely short runway of about 650 meters (around 2,100 feet). Because of the surrounding hills and the airstrip’s proximity to the beach, planes must make a steep descent over a ridge before landing. Only small aircraft and specially trained pilots are permitted to land here.

Even if you’re not planning on flying into St. Barts, it is worth stopping by the airport for a photo. The short landing strip sits right up against St. Jean beach, making it look as though the runway leads directly to the sea.

Best Things to See in St Barts

Like most Caribbean destinations, St Barts is famous for its white sand beaches and warm, inviting waters. The island’s beautiful beaches—ranging from secluded coves to windswept shores

Gustavia Town

While most of our fellow St. Barts day trippers spent their afternoon window shopping in Gustavia, Dan and I chose to rent a car and explore as much of the island as possible. As a result, we didn’t have much time to explore Gustavia’s shops and restaurants.

Still, at the end of our day trip to St. Barths, we got a taste of the town while waiting for our return ferry.

Gustavia is known for its upscale atmosphere. Along its narrow streets, you’ll see designer boutiques, art galleries, cafés, and fine dining restaurants. Gustavia’s red-roofed buildings give the quaint town its own signature charm, while its marina serves as a hub for sailing and yachting in the northeastern Caribbean.

The capital of St. Barts was named after Gustav III, during the period in which Sweden controlled the island from 1784 to 1878.

Today, sky-high prices are pretty much the only similarity you’ll find between Scandinavia and St. Barts.

Colombier Beach

Often considered the prettiest beach in St. Barts, Colombier sits on the northwestern shore of the island and is entirely backed by greenery.

Because it does not have road access, visitors must reach the beach either by boat or by hiking scenic trails from nearby areas.

Two main paths lead to the beach: one beginning near La Petite Anse and another descending from a viewpoint above the Colombier district. La Petite Anse Trail provides the easier route, while the steeper hilltop trail offers sweeping views of Colombier Bay on the way down.

We chose to access the beach via the steeper route and found it quite manageable, despite carrying a three year old on our shoulders.

The waters of Colombier Beach are warm and gentle and well worth the hike. Lack of direct access has helped preserve Colombier’s natural beauty.

With soft white sand, clear turquoise water, and lush green surroundings, the bay feel blissfully free of commercialization and development.

Flamands Beach

While we didn’t visit Flamands Beach per se, we saw some beautiful birds-eye views of its ivory crescent during our hike to Colombier Beach.

The large sweeping Plage Flamands is among the island’s longest. Despite being home to the chic Cheval Blanc St. Barth Hotel, The resort’s understated presence makes the beach feel seem somewhat untainted by development.

The waves at Flamands Beach tend to be rougher than those at Colombier or Grand Cul-de-Sac, so while the beach is ideal for long walks and sunset-viewing, swimming conditions are variable.

Grand Cul-de-Sac Beach

Unlike the more open Atlantic beaches on the island, the reef at Grand Cul-de-Sac creates calm, gentle water that makes the bay ideal for swimming, wading, and paddling.

Grand Cul-de-Sac lies at the center of St. Barts’ watersports scene. Kitesurfing and windsurfing are popular here, thanks to steady trade winds that blow across the lagoon.

Several beachfront resorts and restaurants line the shore of Grand Cul-de-Sac, including Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Bart and Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa.

We didn’t spend any time at Grand Cul-de-Sac Beach and just saw it briefly while passing by.

The beach didn’t particularly stand out to me in terms of beauty, but the calmness of its waters made it particularly appealing for swimming with kids.

Saline Beach

Large and sweeping, Saline Beach is among the most beautiful on St. Barts.

You can reach Saline Beach via a short walk over sand dunes from the nearby village of Grande Saline. At the end of the path, the beach opens up to a swathe of sand and clear turquoise water.

Unlike many other beaches on the island, Saline is completely backed by scenery. There are no hotels, restaurants, or condos directly on the shoreline, nor is there much shade.

The waves from the Atlantic Ocean can sometimes be stronger here than on other parts of the island, which adds to its dramatic beauty. Rougher water means that swimmers should take extra precautions and monitor conditions, however.

We visited Saline Beach in May and encountered some sargasso seaweed. The Caribbean’s seaweed season peaks in the summer and mostly affects the beaches on St Barths’ Atlantic side.

Saint Jean Beach

Located just east of Gustavia, the ivory sands of Saint Jean Beach line a wide crescent-shaped bay. The bay is divided into two sections by the small headland known as Eden Rock.

Because the water is generally shallow and gentle, St. Jean Beach is a popular place for swimming, paddleboarding, and snorkeling.

The large beach sits directly in front of the Gustaf III Airport. For aviation enthusiasts, it provides a perfect place to watch planes takeoff and land.

Along the shoreline of St Jean Beach, you’ll find stylish clubs, restaurants, and boutique hotels.

Where to Stay in St Barts

If you’re a cost-conscious traveler wanting to stay overnight on St. Barts, your best bet is to rent an apartment or studio. Rooms for rent can be found for as low as $200 per night, though $400+ seems to be the norm. Options on the more affordable end of the spectrum include the Tourterelle Garden Room and Le Bungalow Gypset.

For travelers without budget constraints, the island delivers some of the most elegant rooms in the Caribbean. The Tropical Hotel St. Barths boasts colorful rooms, a garden-like setting, and Michelin ratings. Le Barthélemy Hotel and Spa and Le Sereno are likewise good options, with beautiful beachfronts, luxurious pools, and the signature St. Barts elegance.

When to Visit St Barts

Like much of the Caribbean, the best time to visit St. Barts is from December to April, during the dry season. The island is especially popular during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

For lower prices and quieter beaches, the shoulder season of late April to June is excellent. We visited during the month of May, and encountered near perfect weather.

Low season on St Barts is from July to October. Summer and fall means lower prices, but it also increases your chances of encountering hurricanes, business closures, and sargasso-covered shores.

*****

With its soft ivory sands, crystal clear water, and stylish elegance, it is no wonder that St Barthélemy has garnered a reputation for being the Caribbean’s most exclusive escape.

But while St Barts may be a popular destination for the rich and famous, our visit proved that you don’t have to be a billionaire to enjoy the island’s laid-back vibe and sun-drenched shores.

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