St. Barthélemy (St. Barth) or the island of millionaires - St. Barth. Saint barthélemy - the most glamorous island in the Caribbean
General
St. Barthélemy, or simply St. Barth's Island Caribbean region, refers to the Overseas Territories of France. The island of millionaires, even billionaires, held personalities. The low percentage of natives to newcomers, as well as the high standard of living, makes living on this island comfortable. But on one condition - if you are ready to pay fabulous money to maintain your possessions, yachts and sometimes even personal aircraft.
How to get there.
First you need to fly to the island of Saint-Martin. They fly there from Paris, Amsterdam and from a bunch of American cities.
Make sure you have a French Overseas Territories Visa.
Popular two modes of transport for mere mortals from Saint Martin to Saint Barth by sea and air travel.
On the water cheap and fast on the catamaran Voyager 3 Dreamliner: http://www.voy12.com/en/bateaux.php
Departs from Marigot on the Island of Saint-Martin at 09.15, arrives in the port of Guadeloupe (Saint Barth) at 10.30 This pleasure costs 72 Euros in both directions. Return departs at 17.45 arrival after 45 minutes. You can buy tickets online or simply book by phone and pay in 2 directions upon arrival at the port.
Photo from their website
By air, on WinAir DHC-6 Twin otter aircraft, it costs $215 round trip.
Take off from St. Gustav airport
Departure from Princess Julianne Airport (Saint Martin), arrival at Saint Gustav Airport. I do not know the schedule, you can look at the website.
Arrival
From a distance, the island is just a mountain, though surrounded by beautiful palm trees, white sand, turquoise water and dotted with red roofs of elite households.
When arriving on the island, you must pre-book a car. Otherwise, there may not be cars in the rental office at the seaport.
We got stuck in such a story: right in front of our noses, the tourists took the last car. 
Embankment view
We caught a taxi, and having previously found out where another car rental office was located, we moved towards the local airport of St. Gustav.
Across the road from the terminal is Hertz, the choice is not great, but we found a BMW 1 series for 90 euros with insurance. 
Our convertible
Spotting
First of all, we found the end of the airport and began to shoot the planes taking off. From the far end of the airport, overlooking the sea, a beautiful view of the airport. Attention: the territory of the airport is not fenced and there is not even a zone that you can go beyond. The only sign says that planes take off here and everything is at your own peril and risk. 
Takeoff and landing of planes directly overhead, this is not Saint Martin, but there is a buzz: 
Beach
The beaches on Saint Barth are very beautiful, clean. Directly take pictures and on the desktop: 
Dinner
Having googled before the Departure about the Eden's Rock restaurant, we went to it. The restaurant is chic, I think the prices for the island are adequate, and the taste is just, as they say, "awesome". 
At the end, with a full flight, a waiter with a senior comes up to the people and asks if they liked everything.
Waiters are well trained and polite. Dinner for 4 for 200 Euro is justified!
Further trip, some spotting
The view from the top of the hill is magnificent
Cost of living
Luckily, we didn't have to spend the night there, as accommodation prices are probably among the highest in the world.
For example, I will give prices from another site:
http://forbes.kz/travels/sen-bartelmi
Return trip
We returned back in the same way - a catamaran.
The pharmacy previously acquired pills for sea rolling.
I have never seen such a sunset in my life! 
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From St. Petersburg to St. Barthelemy is also the cheapest and fastest way to fly with Vinair and Air France: a trip through the French capital lasts from 16 hours and costs from 1000 EUR one way.
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Transport Saint Barthélemy
There is no public transport in Saint Barthélemy. The only way to get around the island is by taxi. Parking lots are located at the airport of Gustav III and in Gustavia, you can also call a car by phone. A trip from the airport to the capital costs 25 EUR, to Grand Cu de Sac - 40 EUR, at night and on weekends rates increase by 50%. For lack of an alternative, tourists often ask taxi drivers to act as guides: the cost of a sightseeing trip around the area with driver's comments is 45 EUR for 45 minutes, 60 EUR for 90 minutes. If there are more than 4 passengers in the group, you will have to pay extra 8 EUR for each.
With land transport in St. Barth's a little tight, but with water things are a little better. Speed boats leave for the neighboring island of Saint Martin several times a day (transfer - from 64 EUR, schedule and tickets - on the official website of one of the carriers (in English)). If you wish, you can rent a yacht: the cost is from 1300 EUR per week, the pleasure of contemplating the picturesque landscapes from the deck of your own snow-white beauty is priceless, ask any of the local millionaires.
Rent a Car
Renting a car in St. Barthélemy is not an optional luxury, but a vital necessity: endless taxi rides will ruin even the wealthiest tourist, and you can’t get around the entire island on foot. The rental offices are concentrated at the airport, you can also book a car at the hotel: it will be driven right to the entrance without any problems. Both local (Maurice, Gumbs) and international (Budget, Hertz, Avis, Europcar) offices work in St. Barth. The rental price depends on the season: in summer a compact car will cost 23-35 EUR, a convertible - from 60, an SUV - 35-65 EUR per day, in winter prices can almost double. There are only two gas stations on the island: near the airport and in the Lorian beach area, both are closed on Sundays.
An alternative to a car is a scooter: the rental price is from 30 EUR per day, depending on the season.
Driving in St. Barth is an interesting experience: the roads are narrow, winding, with sudden sharp turns. The maximum allowed speed is 50 km/h. Traffic in the vicinity of the airport and Gustavia can be dense, but it does not come to serious traffic jams. Parking is free everywhere, you can leave your car in almost any convenient place, with the exception of the central metropolitan harbor: it is allowed to stand there for no more than 2 hours in a row.
Communication and Wi-Fi
Quality mobile communications on St. Barthélemy is excellent, but the services of providers are quite expensive, and connection takes time. The largest operators are Orange, Dauphine Telecom and Digicel. The first step is to install a special chip with a local number, which will be available within 24 hours: the France Telecom office in Saint-Jean or mobile phone shops at a gas station near the airport and in Gustavia will help you sort out the intricacies.
For international calls, you will need a SIM card from one of the operators. For example, Dauphin Telecom has tariffs that are connected without a contract: the cost is 25.90 EUR, calls within the overseas communities of France - 0.30 EUR per minute, to other countries - from 0.70 EUR.
There are coin and card payphones on St. Barth's. It is more convenient to call abroad from the second: cards of various denominations are sold at post offices, tobacco and newsstands and at gas stations. Free Wi-Fi is available only in hotels and some restaurants in Saint-Jean and Gustavia. Dauphine Telecom offers Internet cards with prepaid traffic (200-4000 Mb) starting from 5 EUR.
Saint Barthelemy Hotels
Hotels in St. Barth are more than comfortable, with impeccable service and a wide range of additional services. Housing for the most demanding taste can be found in Gustavia, and in all other points of the island. Most of the hotels (there are about 30 of them here) are small and cozy, aimed at wealthy tourists. Villas and bungalows with private gardens and swimming pools, equipped at the foot of picturesque hills or right on the beaches, are very popular. Almost all of them are rented for at least a week (in the high season - for two).
The mains voltage is 220 V, the sockets are French (type E), which do not require an adapter.
Holidays in luxurious St. Barth require serious investments: hostels and campsites have never been heard of here. The cheapest accommodation is offered by hotels without "stars" in Gustavia: from 310 EUR per day for a double room with a sea view. Prices in luxury "fives" 360-650 EUR per night (breakfast included). An alternative to hotels is apartments (from 480 EUR per day) or private villas (from 610 EUR per day). In the high season, housing becomes more expensive (although, it would seem, much more): rooms in "starless" hotels - from 350 EUR, in 5 * - from 650 EUR per day.
Money
The monetary unit of the country is the Euro (EUR), in 1 euro there are 100 cents. Current exchange rate: 1 EUR = 69.88 RUB.
The official currency of Saint Barthélemy since 2002 is the euro, but US dollars are also accepted almost everywhere. Banks are open from 8:30 to 15:00-16:00 from Monday to Friday, on Saturday - until noon, Sunday - day off. Currency exchange offices are open all week from 9:00 to 18:00, some exchange offices near banks are open around the clock. Hotels offer the least favorable rate, so it is better to look for a bank branch nearby.
Visa, Cirrus and MasterCard credit cards are used almost everywhere, but there are still establishments where you can pay only in cash. There are many ATMs on the island, cash is issued only in euros. It is advantageous to use traveler's checks in dollars and euros in St. Barth: in some stores, their owners are given a 20% discount. Tips (10%) in most restaurants are included in the bill automatically, in other cases, the staff relies on the generosity of customers. In a taxi, you can pick up change without a twinge of conscience: the prices are such that there is enough for tea.
How to avoid problems
Saint Barthélemy is the safest place in the Caribbean with a consistently low crime rate. Of course, there are always those who are not averse to profiting from rich tourists: pickpockets from time to time trade at the airport, at the Gustavia marina and not far from attractions, so it is worth remaining vigilant and keeping your wallet, documents and valuables under supervision. Moreover, safes are not equipped in all hotels: you have to rely only on yourself. But almost no one locks cars here: stealing them from the island is almost impossible.
Poisonous manchinell trees grow in the resort: touching their leaves or fruits can cause serious burns. For the peace of mind of tourists, locals mark them with red paint.
No vaccinations are required before traveling to St. Barts. Some health risks are posed by centipedes and mosquitoes that carry dengue fever. Most villas and hotels use the services of specialized companies that treat the territory from insects, but it is better to play it safe and take repellents with you. You can’t do without a protective cream at all: jokes are bad with the scorching tropical sun. Caution does not hurt in the water either: at a depth there are yellow-red fire corals that leave severe burns when in contact with the skin. Jellyfish are rare guests off the coast of St. Barth, but if an unpleasant encounter does happen, it is enough to rub the affected area with fine sand.
The beaches of Saint Barthélemy
Saint Barthélemy is ideal for beach holiday: the waters of the Caribbean Sea delight with cleanliness, landscapes - with photogenicity, and the coast - with grooming. The shores are mostly rocky, surrounded by small islands and coral reefs, but there are also sandy areas, occupied to varying degrees by spoiled holidaymakers. All recreation areas are municipal, free, but the entertainment infrastructure is far from being established everywhere.
The most beautiful beach in the south is Saline with white sand and turquoise sea. The way here is already a pleasure: you will have to get along a picturesque path winding through the rocks. There are practically no amenities, umbrellas and sunbeds - too: nothing prevents unity with magnificent nature. After soaking up the sun enough, you can “catch” a wave (they are sometimes very impressive here) or dine in one of the nearby restaurants.
The coast of Shell Beach is covered not with sand, but with small shells.
The most popular beaches are concentrated in Gustavia and Saint-Jean: there are hotels, restaurants, amenities and sports equipment rentals. For families with kids, the capital's Shell Beach is good with a gentle, and therefore absolutely safe entrance to the water. During the day you can hide from the burning sun under a canopy or a palm tree, in the evening you can admire the incredible sunset. By the way, Shell Beach is the most democratic and chaste beach on the island: nudists who feel at home on St. Barth visit it the least.
It is forbidden to swim in the Grand Fond Bay: underwater boulders and corals can seriously injure. Beginning windsurfers flock to the Grand Cu de Sac, where it's easy to learn to stand on the board in a bay protected by a coral reef. It is better for professionals to go to Flamant: local waves conquer only the masters. We recommend Gouverneur Beach to fans of solitude: here you can not only sunbathe in silence, but also look for legendary pirate treasures.
Diving
The main entertainment in Saint Barthelemy is connected with the sea: diving in the Caribbean waters (as well as fishing, catching a wave, dissecting on catamarans, and just swimming) is a real pleasure. Marigot beach is great for diving - a cozy bay with amazingly beautiful underwater landscapes. Novice divers prefer Grand Cu de Sac: it is shallow, there are almost no waves, but there is a minus - the water is not as clear as in other parts of the island. Flocks of tropical fish are found near Gouverneur Beach, turtles, rays and moonfish can be found on Petit Cus de Sac, and at night even lobsters and sharks. Pelicans have also chosen this quiet lagoon: they fish, teach their kids to fly and are not at all afraid of curious tourists.
In the capital and on the Grand Cu de Sac, there are several dive clubs offering dives with an instructor for 70-80 EUR.
The main audience of Colombier Beach are scuba divers who scare stingrays and sea turtles. And the most breathtaking views open in the waters of the marine reserve, marked with white buoys: exotic fish, reef sharks, lobsters and other inhabitants arrange a whole show surrounded by colorful corals.
shopping
Guests of St. Barth are experienced shopaholics: sellers know this and create all conditions for comfortable scattering of money. In Gustavia and Saint-Jean, luxury boutiques of big-name designers are open: it’s quite possible to dress up for dinner in a luxury restaurant. The center of attraction is the capital's embankment of the Republic with jewelry shops and fashionable salons of the level of Louis Vuitton and Cartier. The creations of Chanel, Hermes, Gucci and Prada are most profitable to buy in the multi-brand Laurent Effel, which is in no way inferior to Milan and Paris stores. There are also duty-free shops in Saint Barthélemy with a decent assortment of cigars, perfumes, clothes and elite alcohol. By the way, about alcohol: it is better to taste and buy it in the Absolutely Wine wine cellar, opened by a famous sommelier.
Prices in Saint-Jean are slightly lower than in Gustavia.
The most popular souvenirs from St. Barths are basketry (especially straw hats, beach bags and fans), paintings of idyllic landscapes, and seashell jewelry. They are sold in colorful shops scattered throughout the island, as well as in the market in Gustavia. Opening hours of shops on weekdays - 9:00-18:00 (from 12:00 to 14:00-15:00 everything is closed for lunch), on Saturdays - 9:00-13:00, Sunday is a day off. Duty free shops are open longer: until 19:00-20:00.
Cuisine and restaurants of Saint Barthélemy
The cuisine of Saint Barthelemy is reminiscent of French, only with Creole and African notes and island flavor. Here they actively use fish and seafood, but do not forget about meat. The main delicacies from it are wild goat "gut-colombo", fried in hot spices, rabbit stew with vegetables, and for the most daring - black pudding "boudin". The bird is also held in high esteem: tender turkey or chicken with rice and exotic fried pigeons are a must for tasting.
Seafood is a different story: they are simply delicious cooked at the resort. Gourmets should treat themselves to stuffed crab “otarne”, boiled octopus “shatru”, crab meat in white wine “matuto de coabes”, Creole fish stew, lobster brioches and spicy clam broth. The most outlandish treats - sea urchins, red snapper and turtle soup. The best tropical dessert is, of course, fruits: salads and fresh juices from papaya, guava, passion fruit, pineapple and tangerine.
Alcohol is not produced in St. Barths, but they more than compensate for this with a variety of elite wines from around the world.
The choice of fashionable restaurants is huge: talented chefs work tirelessly to serve dishes of local, French, Mexican, Indian and Chinese cuisines. The most popular establishments are concentrated on the sea coast, but you can eat delicious food in any part of the island. A light breakfast costs from 10 EUR, lunch - from 20 EUR, dinner with alcohol - from 50 EUR per person. In some eateries - for example, on the capital's Shell Beach - the average bill reaches 200 EUR for two. Most restaurants are open until 22:00-23:00, then the respectable public moves to trendy nightclubs.
Entertainment and attractions
The main historical sights of Saint Barthélemy are located in Gustavia. The Swedish defensive complexes are most impressive: in the ancient forts of Gustav and Karl, guardhouses, ammunition depots and other structures have been preserved. Architecturally of interest are the Governor's House and the presbytery dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The center of local religious life is the Anglican Episcopal Church: a neat building with a wooden bell tower surrounded by lush tropical greenery.
A walk to the snow-white lighthouse with a red top, similar to a life buoy, will be a special pleasure.
There are museums in Saint Barthélemy: in the capital - the Municipal Museum with an original collection of paintings and historical documents and "Eden" with works by contemporary artists. In the village of Corossol, the Ingenue-Magras gallery is open with shells, corals, stars and other exhibits raised from the depths of the sea. Outside of Gustavia, the village of Lorian is worth a visit, where French settlers first settled: neat streets and an old Catholic church seem to return to the distant past. Authentic settlements are partially preserved in Korossol. And on the mountain Morne-du-Vite is equipped observation deck with the most impressive panorama on the island.
Holidays and events Saint Barthélemy
The atmosphere of the holiday reigns in St. Barth all year round, but there are, of course, events celebrated on a special scale. First on their list are Catholic Christmas and New Year: rich people from all over the world come to the Caribbean Saint-Tropez to party in a big way. May 27th is Slavery Abolition Day, July 14th is Bastille Day.
But the most advanced public occupies St. Barthélemy during the festivals for which the island is famous. The main musical event is the January fest of jazz and classical music, which lasts for two weeks. World-class stars perform not in tired concert halls and not even in open areas: the ancient churches of Gustavia and Lorian become the stage for them.
In August, a three-day celebration of Caribbean music is held: famous and emerging performers from Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique and other parts of the region fill the air of Saint Barth with the sounds of reggae, salsa and Creole folk motifs. And April is marked by cinema: the most famous directors show their films and arrange master classes as part of the Caribbean Film Festival, established in 1996.
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And probably the most glamorous on our planet. There is only one city on the island (which is difficult to call even a city). Throughout the rest of the island, you will only find comfortable hotels and luxurious villas. And of course boutiques of the world's leading brands. It is no coincidence that St. Barth is called "millionaire's paradise", although it would be more accurate to call it "millionaire's playground". Everything is the best here. The richest and most famous vacationers. And their favorite toys: the most expensive villas, the most luxurious yachts and the most beautiful women. The restaurants have the most delicious food, and St. Barth's beaches are, of course, the whitest and most sandy.
Getting here is not so easy. Usually they fly from neighboring St. Maarten for a quarter of an hour in a small plane that provides beautiful, mesmerizing views while flying through the window, or directly from the cockpit! Alternatively, from the same St. Maarten, a 45-minute boat trip. Well, or, like some, on your own yacht. Despite the fact that the island was discovered by Columbus already in 1493 (and named by the great navigator in honor of his brother Bartalomeo), due to its small size, it remained unclaimed. Neither Spaniards nor pirates visited it. The shorter and simpler the story, the happier the people. This expression can be redirected in its entirety to St. Barth. Amazing story for Caribbean. No coffee or sugar cane plantations, no black slave imports from Africa, no major clashes between colonial powers. There is a completely unique fragment for the region - the base of the Swedish West Indies campaign here.
Tranquility, luxury, serenity… These words are only a small fraction of those praises that come to mind to those who have decided to appreciate Saint Barthélemy. Everything around is the embodiment of perfection, or at least as close to perfection as possible.
Being thus effectively a neutral territory, the island served all other players on the Caribbean map as a place of resupply and trade, due to which its prosperity began. In fact, the history of St. Barth, one might say, started only in the middle of the last century. David Rockefeller was the first to appreciate it and based here, who built a villa on the inaccessible northwest coast, just above Colombe beach, which has since become known as Rockefeller beach. Further, as if to keep up with Rockefeller, on the opposite side of the island, in La Gouverneur Bay, Edmond de Rothschild's property appeared. Ford's possessions soon appeared, and then all the others followed suit.
Of our compatriots, the first to settle on the island, who came all from the same France, was the famous choreographer and “defector” Rudolf Nureyev. Despite the fact that the outstanding choreographer has died, and the owners of the house have long since changed, his home is still known in St. Barth as “La maison de Noureev”. The island is also unique in that it seemed to be in the wrong place on the world map. In terms of atmosphere and mood, St. Barts most of all resembles the French Riviera, as if someone took and, cutting out a piece of it, threw it ten thousand kilometers to the other side of the ocean.
Saint-Barts is a French territory, or rather an overseas community of France. Unlike other Antilles, the entire population here is the descendants of Europeans, which can be considered an ethnographic curiosity for the region. The population of the island is constantly increasing, no one is emigrating towards the United States in search of a better life, as in many countries around. On the contrary, over the past couple of decades, the population of St. Barth's has doubled. Basically, this addition is world celebrities, their families and just rich people, usually from continental France. The level of literacy and well-being, respectively, is the same as in Europe, and perhaps even higher. After all, it’s absolutely impossible to meet at least one poor person here! Well, and to compete with French cooking, which fell under the fertile Caribbean sauce, it will certainly not be easy for any other cuisine in the world! On a very small (21 square kilometers) island, about seven dozen of the most exquisite restaurants will be found. Each of them will be a real discovery for gourmets, having their own dishes from the freshest products and some gastronomic customs. Well, and of course, the stellar composition of regular visitors. There are no special architectural and historical sights here.
The only city and capital of Gustavia (whose name refers exactly to the era of the Swedish presence) can be bypassed in half an hour, with all its churches and historical dilapidated forts. This is if you, of course, do not linger in one of the many boutiques. But the main attraction of the capital will be its Shell beach. As the name implies, this is the only non-sandy beach of the island, entirely consisting of the smallest white shells, even if outwardly far from the white sand and indistinguishable. It is not at all necessary to buy a souvenir here, for example, you can weave beads for yourself directly from the past material. However, it is the white beaches and their guests that are the main attraction not only of Gustavia, but of the entire island. Actively developing, as elsewhere in the Caribbean, diving, snorkeling, surfing and fishing. And of course, massage, water and spa treatments for those who come just to relax.
St. Barts is without a doubt considered the most prestigious and expensive holiday destination in the Caribbean. From glamor magazines and similar news, almost everyone knows about the island, but very few people really managed to visit there. For a long time, due to the high cost and popularity among the powers that be, booking a room in St. Barth's hotels was not an easy task. Especially on the eve of Christmas and New Year holidays. All hotels had their regular customers. Basically, visitors try to rent a villa for themselves, but they rent for no less than 6-7 days, and on holidays no less than 10.
It is easier to buy this villa than to deal with the reservation somehow every time! This is exactly what our compatriot Roman Abramovich did, who acquired a villa in the same area as the Rothschilds - next to La Gouverneur Bay. For Roman Arkadyevich, they are drawn here to New Year holidays his friends, as well as numerous representatives of domestic and world show business. With his purchase, our oligarch made a significant contribution to the tourist attractiveness of the island! Recently, the situation has become simpler, the number of hotels and rooms in them has increased, and for many it has become possible to fulfill their dream - to get to the fabulous glamorous island Saint Barthelemy!
How to choose a tour to St. Barthélemy
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We continue the series of Caribbean reports.
So, you ended up in Saint Martin, and not on a cruise ship, for a period of daylight hours, but in an honest way - having arrived by plane. Most likely you have at least a week left to spend correctly, agree. The option - to lie all week on Maho Beach is welcome, but it is much more interesting to visit the surrounding islands. In the vicinity you can find three fairly large and inhabited islands - Saba (territory of the Netherlands), Anguila (Great Britain) and St. Barth (France). And here it all depends - what kind of visa you have in your passport. They usually fly to Saint Martin with a French or Dutch overseas visa, I recommend immediately applying for a French one, because with this visa you can visit the most interesting island of the above - the island of Saint Barthélemy, as it is called officially. A piece of France in the Caribbean. Dream Island.
2. So, on the road. There are two ways to get to St. Barth - a short flight on a small plane, or an hour-long boat trip on a modern catamaran shuttle. If you decide to fly by plane, especially during the season, take tickets in advance, it’s difficult to take a day, they sort it out. For this reason, we decided to go to the island by sea. Ferries run from Marigot and from Phillipsburg, with new catamarans running from the first capital, the Voyager company (www.voy12.com). The first flight is at 9.15 am, back - at 17.15, which of course is a little early, it is better to fly back here by plane, on the last evening flight. The cost of a round-trip ticket is 67 euros, the duration of the flight is an hour - an hour and fifteen. On the way, it will seriously rock, if sea crossings are not your strong point, be sure to buy a remedy for motion sickness in a pharmacy, as an option - French Hepatoum Mercalm, checked - it helps a lot.
So, early morning, February 1, 2013. Our path lies on the other end of the island, in the town of Marigot, the capital of the French part of the island. It is from there that the ferries of our choice leave. An hour - and we are at the company's office. Easy to find - if you enter Marigot from the north, then immediately after the marina, on the right, on the corner there is a small office, do not get lost.
3. It is better to book tickets in advance via the Internet or by phone. Well, or, if you're lucky, buy on the spot before sailing. We were lucky:)
4. We took ice-cream beer, loaded on board, having previously passed through passport control. Strange, but true - they put a stamp in the passport, moreover, the territory of Guadeloupe.
The catamaran, turning its stern, turned around on a patch and rushed into the sea. in the Caribbean, yes.
5. The ferry is quite comfortable, there are two open decks, two halls. There is a business class lounge.
6. It's more fun on the open deck, splashes in the face do not let you get bored :)
7. On the way, the stewards offer light drinks, and when the ferry goes out to the open sea and the main fun begins - they smear some kind of menthol on the wrists of everyone who wants it - it helps from motion sickness, slightly. who does not help - those sachets :) full swervis. but we did our best, as the next picture shows - Estai and Togzhan enjoy the sea views.
8. Boats and yachts frolic around, just a mosquito fleet! But one of these villas on the hill is ours for a week :)
10. There are many uninhabited islands and reefs along the way.
11. The distance to St. Barth is 30 kilometers, and now we are approaching Gustavia, the capital of the island. On the mountain is an old fort.
12. here is the port of Gustavia
13. We unloaded on solid ground, hugged her, my dear, and set about reconnaissance of the area. They immediately made the mistake of looking for a rental car office elsewhere. Public transport? never heard of her, millionaires don't ride minibuses. There are taxis, but the prices are breaking where Paris is. So, do you see a man on the left in a T-shirt with the emblem of Hertz? Catch him, he's the one in charge of skeet here. It was then that I saw him in the photo. While we were clicking our beaks, all the cars were snapped up and we were offered to walk to the airport, where there is another rental office.
14. They didn't cheat. At the box office, a lone Frenchman was bored, perking up at the sight of such wonderful clients. At first, there was an idea to take such a crazy stool.
15. But they decided that this hybrid of a scooter and a Lamborghini looks too suspicious, and the bolivar can’t stand four, and it’s unreasonable to take two. Therefore, we settled on a battered BMW convertible - as the most appropriate for the moment.
The distributor surprised me - he did not even block the funds on the card, everything was on trust. Moreover, he took out a map and told in detail where it is better to go and where it is more interesting to swim. As for dinner, when he found out that we wanted to visit Eden Rock, he just rolled his eyes and breathily said that we were unlikely to find a table there. as practice showed the deluge - he was mistaken.
16. Oh well. Go, explore the island! The main driver was self-appointed Alimzhan (although I then drove a little along the serpentines)
17. So, actually the whole island. The population lives just nothing - about 9,000 rich people. Well, a third, perhaps, is the attendants, but in any case, the level of millionaires per unit area is off scale. The island is a resort just for them. Various glamorous reports about the stars on the island are excellently googled on the Internet. Well, for understanding - a map.
18. First of all - planes, as usual. And here is the airport
19. We go down to the beach, Baie de St. Bay. Jean
20. The strip is not fenced on this side, smoothly rolls down to the beach and dives into the sea
21. Amazing trust in vacationers!
23. It is very convenient to shoot airplanes. This, of course, is not neighboring Saint-Martin, there are no large liners here, but there is some charm here too. Pilots are not spoiled for attention here :)
24. However, taking off planes from the end is somewhat extreme to shoot - a complete feeling that now the belly will touch the lens :) In this picture, the board took off normally, and after it the pilot probably deliberately extended it to the end of the runway :)
25. The beach itself is also worthy of attention - white, clean, as, indeed, the rest of the beaches here. There was a windsurfing championship that day.
26. Dozens of bright sails filled the lagoon
27. Not only we shot here
28. While we were splashing in the waves of the Caribbean Sea, it was time for lunch. So let's check out Eden Rock? they say that stars of world magnitude deign to dine here. A certain Abramovich no-no comes here from his villa
29. This is not just a restaurant, this is a six-star bungalow complex. In principle, there are very few hotels in St. Barth, mostly villas are rented here, and for a long time. In Eden Rock, the price tag starts from 480 euros, other hotels are slightly cheaper. Now you understand that it makes sense to come here for a day, well, or take a tent with you :) Although, again, it all depends on you
30. View from the hotel balcony
31. Actually a restaurant. Haute French cuisine at its best. In fact, everything is very tasty! Prices, surprisingly, were not introduced into the trance, everything was within reason. Service at the highest level, as indicated in the glamorous report on the above link - this is not Paris, they are not rude here :)
32. Celebrities (in a word!) Was not noticed. Although, who knows, maybe a Hollywood actor was sitting at the next table, and the heiress of millions was sunbathing on the beach .. I still don’t know them in person :)
33. After dinner, we went further to conquer the highest peak islands. The roads are quite good, and, as Vinsky rightly noted in his report, there are no black zhigits here who like to stand in the middle of the road on their sod and talk nicely with a friend. Note that there are practically no blacks here, it's expensive, sir. Also, there are no, respectively, Negro settlements, so surprising me on Marten. Here everything is about the same level - expensive and cool, there is no poverty at all. But the roads are narrow :)
34. Climbed up, observation deck
35. Climb up and take your breath away from the beauty!
36. Rocks interspersed with small and very cozy beaches
37. The parapet is painted - what and from which side rises above sea level
38. Yachts rest in a quiet lagoon. Modest and tasteful :)
39. Ships gliding between the islands
40. Why not a postcard from exotic countries? :)
41. Beaches, by the way, are very different. From large and equipped with all the benefits of civilization
42. to small, domestic
43. But with nature, everything here is the same as in Saint-Martin, the main plant is various types of cacti
45. Pyalzh Guverner. It is clear why this collection of cans hangs at the entrance?
46. Not equipped with anything, only the sea, sand, rocks around the edges. But it's all top quality.
47. There are very few people on the beach, rest - I don’t want to! Clean, mind you! There are no janitors, no lifeguards, there are only sedate French and surprisingly civilized Americans.
48. There are also nudist beaches here, we did not go there. We also had enough experience on Saint-Martin, from where we ran faster than a fallow deer :) But French customs reign here too. Pourquoi pas?
49. Appreciated this beach too, good! and what waves here! But time is running out, the sun has long passed past noon, and there are still so many things to do! Let's move on. I am a navigator, I take out our crew on a paper map (GPS on hundredths decided to temporarily refuse). We drove into the very heart of the island, admired the valley and the pond named after Comrade Saint Jacques, even stood in a mini traffic jam
50. and suddenly left again for the airport. well, how suddenly, we are spotters or not spotters :) this time - its upper part. everything is strict here!
51. Airport in full view!
52. Planes come right overhead and dive down sharply to the runway! This photo, for some time now, is displayed in a quick Google image search for St. Barth among the first:) Vox Hello!
53. Landings are not always successful, sometimes it happens (video is not mine)
54. but the view from the side of the pilot (again, video from the network)
55. We remove small things, French women and Creoles on motorolas rush past
There are not so many elite islands on the planet, and one of them is Saint Barthélemy. The powers that be have chosen a piece of paradise for overseas residences, exotic pastime, luxury holidays. Why? Elementary: the divine Caribbean island is really the embodiment of Eden on Earth.
Saint Barthélemy on the map
Saint Barthélemy on a world map or detailed map islands can be viewed using the navigation buttons (+/-).
Often the name St. Barthélemy is shortened to St. Barts or St. Barths. There is an extraordinary curl of the West Indies in the northern region of the Windward Islands, belongs to France. Guadeloupe is located 200 km to the south, and another Caribbean neighbor is less than 20 km away.
Rocky coastline with stripes of beaches washes the Caribbean Sea. The maximum level above the water surface is 286 meters, the territory of the privileged site of the Caribbean is only 21 km², the administrative center is locality Gustavia.
Speaking about any type of recreation in St. Barts, you can safely add the prefix super, as vacationers here are special. However, some celebrities cannot be called guests - they are the owners of private property. For a simple tourist, the path to St. Barthélemy is thorny. First of all, because of the crazy prices for everything and everyone. Plus, it’s not so easy to decide on accommodation, since the booking process is complex, costly both in terms of money (well, there are no budget hotels, no) and in time. So the "unfortunate" moneybags have to acquire overseas square meters of exotic things in order to materialize on the coveted island at the first "I want".
How do the chosen ones rest? It depends only on their desires. In theory, the whole mix is a la Caribbean: golf, horseback riding on thoroughbred trotters, weekends on multi-meter beautiful yachts, underwater fishing or diving with equipment that costs more than the price of a car, topless sunbathing, bliss in gentle waves. Of course, top-class service: if restaurants, then gourmet, if boutiques, then branded, if service staff, then well-trained.
Modern millionaires know a lot about relaxation, and therefore strive for virgin nature. In an ecologically clean region there are no industrial plants, the Caribbean Sea is the cleanest, vegetation is rich, there are a lot of untouched corners.
No one on their own initiative has the right to build up, the potential owner receives permission only after long, sometimes dragging on for years, negotiations. But the result is worth it: a unique ecosystem intact. Yes and appearance Saint Barthelemy only benefits from prudent exactingness - the beaches are not fenced, even if they approach the very gates of the residences, none of the chic mansions rises above the palm trees, the island is literally buried in bright greenery.
Although there are no fresh water bodies, the vegetation is diverse: from the original cacti and flowering shrubs to spreading giant palm trees, fruit groves, lush forests.
A voyage to St. Barts is not to listen to an operatic tenor or go to a museum - this land is just for relaxation. Therefore, there are no special sights on it, unless, of course, the owners of the mansions and their guests are considered as such. Here are just a few:
- rockefeller. A sort of pioneer who rebuilt a mini-kingdom in the northwestern part of the coast. Actually, in honor of him since then the place has been called Rockefeller.
- Rothschild. He designed the residence a little later than his predecessor, and on the opposite coast.
- fords. Yes, yes, the very ones. From billionaires.
- Rudolf Nureyev. The first defector from the USSR, who settled on the fabulous shore. At home, he was enrolled in the shameful "defectors", but this, as they say, is a different story. By the way, the great dancer is no longer alive, and the estate has changed owners, but is still proudly called "La maison de Noureev".
- Sylvester Stallone. Cool Rambo owns several plots of land.
- Roman Abramovich. That's right, why fuss every time with a reservation, since you can have your own "scrap", which cost 90 million US rubles, on which there was a place for swimming pools, tennis courts, dining and dancing areas. And eminent guests were noticed at the hospitable Roman: Milner, Pozner, Yumashev with Dyachenko, Shvidler, and others.
Cape Eden Rock Showbiz stars, politicians, actors-actresses, titled athletes, bankers, businessmen, offspring of royal blood... And yet there are a few classic attractions: churches, a dilapidated fort, the village of Korossol, Cape Eden Rock, the most delicate shell beach Shell beach, airport with a mega-short runway.
When is the best time to go to Saint Barthélemy?
The temperature fluctuates little throughout the year, averaging around 26˚. The sea is tenderly warm both in summer and Caribbean winter. The most visited period is from December to April.
All the very best - nature, service, recreation, entertainment. Dream? Perhaps, however, for some it has already become a West Indian reality called St. Barthélemy. Albeit with a bit of snobbery...
