St Barths confuses you before something else, simply because of the different spellings of the identical name. Have you ever wondered whether St Barths, was in truth the very same as St Barts, or for that matter St Barthelemy. Effectively in that situation be reassured that all are 1 and a single are all.
St Barthelemy is element of the French West Indies just north of the lesser Antilles near St Martin/St Maarten and St Kitts and Nevis. St Barts is a tiny island getting only eight square miles in dimension, but like a lot of other tiny things this kind of as treasured stones it is hugely prized and high-priced which is why it has become a retreat for the wealthy and renowned., rock stars, pop stars, and even royalty.
This should not stop you from going simply because it is a stunning small island with lovely white sand beaches, turquoise sea, and pristine coral reefs, and however is extremely significantly far more akin to the South of France than the Caribbean.
The cause of program for this is the fact that St Barts and France have been closely linked for centuries and right up until this day it is even now component of the French overseas area of Guadeloupe. Oddly adequate St Barths was once one particular of Sweden's handful of overseas outposts virtually three hundred many years in the past, but other than the identify of its red roofed capital Gustavia number of reminders remain.
The main factor to do on a St Barths Vacation is to chill out on the beach, and despite the minute size of the island there are far more than twenty spectacular beaches. These variety from the bustling St Jean and Grand Cul de sac to the far more personal Grand Saline, Gouvernier and Flamands. If what you are seeking for is completely secluded bliss then go to Anse Colombier which can only be reached by boat or a half hour hike. You will find topless sunbathing, right after all inclusive honeymoon packages this is France in the Caribbean, so if it embarrasses you, then steer clear of Shell and Marechal Seashores.
The strong French connections also implies that site visitors would do well to be able to converse in French, and the currency is not the US dollar but the Euro. Apart from the language the most clear indicator of the French influence is in the cuisine, and it is remarkable to find out it has more than 60 gourmet restaurants. Another surprise is that several of the population is white and most residents are French Citizens.
There are significant restrictions now imposed on hotel building, so no hotels can now be built with in excess of 12 rooms and so the greatest hotel which is the Guanahani with 76 rooms will not ever be witnessed once again. There are no massive chain hotels on St Barths, and many men and women go for the really upmarket villas.