Gustavia is the main city of the island, named after the Swedish king. The city was founded on the shore of a convenient bay, in the harbor of which exquisite yachts are moored. Gustavia is a charming village with red-roofed houses inspired by the Swedish past.

Gustavia is famous for its first-class restaurants with panoramic views, piano bars right on the seafront and duty-free shops where you can buy Havana cigars, French perfumes, Italian designer clothes and fine wines. On the beaches and in the restaurants of the city you can meet some Hollywood celebrities.

The magnificent Caribbean island invites you to a luxurious vacation that will be remembered for a long time by pleasant impressions.

Coordinates: 17.89805600,-62.85305600

Saint-Jean beach

There is beautiful white sand, a sandy bottom, there are practically no strong waves. Saint-Jean is ideal for families with children, long walks along the beach. There is a water sports center Carib Waterplay, and Jean-Michel, the owner of the establishment, gives windsurfing lessons. There is also a rental point for catamarans, windsurfers, kayaks.

Saint-Jean actually consists of 2 beaches, which are separated by the famous Eden Rock Hotel. To the right of the hotel is Pelican Beach, a very peaceful place where you can sometimes see sea turtles. The famous Nikki Beach restaurant is also located here. To the left are numerous villas and hotels, as well as the La Plage beach restaurant at the Tom Beach Hotel.

Fashion shoots are often held on Saint-Jean.

Coordinates: 17.90428200,-62.83978200

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Lorian beach

Thanks to the reef that separates the beach from the open sea and protects it from strong waves, there are good conditions for swimming. From here you have a breathtaking view of the reef and small fishing boats. Take sunscreen with you because there is no way to hide in the shade. Surprisingly, this beautiful place still remains unknown to most tourists.

This uncrowded beach is a favorite place for all local and visiting surfers. White sand, waves and a colorful house of a surf school - the best memory of the holidays.

Coordinates: 17.90710500,-62.82325300

The Grand cu de Sac beach is the quietest of all the beaches on the island and is ideal for families with small children. It is shallow here, the water is warm, but not as clear as on other beaches. The Grand Cu de Sac is shallow and there are no waves at all.

Here are the famous hotels Le Guanahani and Le Serano. It is an ideal place for practicing water sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing. There is a diving club and jet-sky rental.

Coordinates: 17.91016800,-62.80371600

Flaman beach

It is a beautiful and long beach with white sand and a good sandy bottom. There are often strong waves on this beach, so sometimes it can be scary to swim. Flaman is not suitable for swimming with small children. The far end is very popular with bodyboard and skimboard enthusiasts.

Flaman is home to the upscale Saint-Barth Isle De France and Taiwana hotels, as well as 2 restaurants where it's a pleasure to sit with friends over a long French lunch. The beach seems to have a leisurely pastime.

Coordinates: 17.91912100,-62.85715600

Marigot beach

It is a small, calm bay with a narrow coastline, fine gray sand and a coconut grove. Marigot beach is suitable for those who prefer diving. Even if you have never dived under water with scuba gear, but only dream about it, looking for a suitable place, then consider that you have already found it. Marigot is the perfect place to explore the underwater world of the Caribbean.

serene bay, interesting beach, majestic palm trees and the mysterious beauty of the Caribbean Sea - all this causes reverent admiration and delight.

Don't forget to bring sunscreen, drinking water and a hat.

Coordinates: 17.91035400,-62.80875200

Colombier beach

This beautiful, large and uncrowded beach can be reached in a few minutes by boat, yacht or by a small path in the rocks overlooking Petite Anse (20 minutes). Colombiers is an ideal place for snorkeling and fins swimming. Here you can see sea turtles, stingrays, starfish. Be careful, as there is no possibility to hide in the shade on the beach.

Colombier Beach is also known as Rockefeller Beach due to the fact that once there was a villa of the Rockefeller family.

This place is perfect for those who are looking for solitude. Colombier is the least visited beach. Here you will not meet more than 5-10 people. Usually they are scuba divers.

Coordinates: 17.92330100,-62.86853500

Saline Beach

This is a magnificent beach, the most "wild" and the most beloved among the locals. Go down to sand dune You can only follow the path in the rocks. It will take about 5 minutes and it is better to put on shoes. Take sunscreen with you because there is no way to hide in the shade. There are often quite strong waves on the Saline. It is also a favorite beach for nudists, especially in the early morning.

There are a few good restaurants in front of the beach park, but be prepared for the occasional bad smell coming from the salt fields right in front of the restaurants.

Between the beaches of Tuani and Saline in the Grand Fond area there is a mini-cove that local surfers call Wachine Machine. This is a bewitchingly beautiful, but very dangerous place.

Coordinates: 17.88747700,-62.82212400

The most popular attractions in Saint-Barthelemy with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit the famous places of Saint-Barthelemy on our website.

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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

The quality of mobile communications in St. Barthélemy is excellent, but the service 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 Barthelemy is ideal for a beach holiday: the waters of the Caribbean Sea delight with cleanliness, the landscapes are photogenic, and the coast is well-groomed. 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 designer boutiques with big names are open: it is 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 down: neat streets and an old Catholic church seem to return to the distant past. Authentic settlements are partially preserved in Korossol. And on the Morne-du-Vite mountain there is an 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. The first on their list is Catholic Christmas and New Year: the rich 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.

"Forget about Courchevel (writes "Ekspress-gazeta" and "Kompromat.ru") - once considered fashionable and prestigious ski resort no longer in favor. Now only middle-class businessmen and seekers of wealthy husbands rest there. All the rich and famous are now flying to the Caribbean island of St. Barts for the New Year holidays. There, on a blessed piece of land, Hollywood stars and famous athletes, black rappers and world magnates who made their fortunes have chosen their place in the sun. And - more recently - the Russian elite. With a light hand Roman Abramovich, who bought himself a fashionable estate on the coast, Russian speech on the streets of the capital of the island of Gustavia now sounds almost more often than English.

St. Barts (or St. Barthélemy)- a kind of "reserve" of billionaires: the island is lost in the Caribbean Sea, you can get to its shores only on a yacht or a small plane. The local runway is so short that the private jet of Abramovich, who is known to love large sizes, simply does not fit into it.

In order to get to the island of St. Barts, you need some serious money. St. Barts is the most expensive island in the Caribbean, both in terms of hotel prices and the level of prices on the island itself. Taxi drivers on the island joke: if you have enough money to get here, it's not a fact that you have enough money to take a taxi.

The island is located in the northern part of the Lesser Antilles. The name of the island was given by Christopher Columbus in honor of his brother Bartolomeo. The island is a former French colony and belongs to the French overseas territories. Saint Barthelemy Island located 200 km north of Guadeloupe, near (less than 20 km) from the island of Saint Martin, in the northern part of the Leeward Islands. The shores of the island are rocky (but there are also sections of beaches), surrounded by small reefs and several islets, the central part of the island is hilly. The climate is tropical, the temperature almost does not change.

The island is called the "Caribbean Saint Tropez" and it is the favorite destination of stars from all over the world. The two most expensive hotels on the island - Eden Rock and Ile de France - are frequented by Paris Hilton, Penelope Cruz, Michael Douglas, Bon Jovi, Robert De Niro, Bradd Pitt, Johnny Depp and Tina Turner.

There are very few hotels on St. Barth - almost all Hollywood stars come there on their boats. The largest ships are in the port of Gustavia, a small town on the island.

Russians make record deals with housing in the Caribbean

Source: newsru.com

Russian citizens are making record deals in the Caribbean real estate market, shelling out tens of millions for villas. At the same time, buyers from Russia rely on hotel operators. Having bought a house in the Caribbean, customers can use the hotel infrastructure for free, Kommersant FM reports, citing a Knight Frank report.

According to realtors, 85% of Caribbean property buyers are foreigners. Most of the transactions are made by clients from the USA and Latin America. Russians account for 5%. However, these are the most expensive options. Wealthy clients are attracted to the Cayman Islands, they are the sixth largest banking center in the world and the first in the jurisdiction of hedge funds. Most often, residents of New York and Miami buy real estate there. The Russians choose the Dominican Republic and the island of St. Barthélemy.

In the Dominican Republic, the price of an apartment in the economy and business class segment will start from 100 thousand to 1 million dollars. Branded projects, such as Donald Trump's, which is being built in the Dominican Republic, are much more expensive. As for Saint Barth, here we are talking about the segment of $5 million and above. Knight Frank also has information about $90 million deals that took place on this island. A lot of people buy on the company, while the company can be registered in the same place, in the Cayman Islands, and it is extremely difficult to determine the beneficiary.

The interest of Russians in real estate in the Caribbean manifested itself in the mid-2000s, when many people discovered the Dominican Republic for themselves and bought villas managed by hotel operators there. The owners of such real estate can use the entire hotel infrastructure for free, from the beach, the pool to the golf course. The maintenance of the villa costs 2-3% per year of the value of the property, experts explain.

Meanwhile, the authorities of the Caribbean Islands are reluctant to grant residence permits to foreigners. Although there are exceptions. Among them, Saint Kitts and Nevis is a state in the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea, a member of the British Commonwealth. You can get a residence permit, and in the future citizenship, by investing at least $0.5 million in the island's economy. There are two options - buy real estate there or invest $500,000 in sugarcane plantations.

Saint Barthélemy is a French overseas possession in the Caribbean. The total area of ​​the island is only 25 sq. km, about 9 thousand people live here. Saint-Barthelemy lies near the island of Saint-Martin and 200 kilometers from Guadeloupe. The capital, the city of Gustavia, was founded by settlers from Sweden in the 18th century. Most of the population are Europeans, besides them live mestizos, blacks and mulattos.

Saint Barthélemy on the world map

This small island is of volcanic origin and is surrounded by small reefs and small islands. The shores of the island are rocky, but there are areas with good beaches. There is no water on the island, there are no rivers and streams.
Saint Barthélemy lies in the tropical climate zone, where the weather is hot and sunny almost all year round. The climate is arid, most of the island's territory is desert land overgrown with cacti. The island became famous only thanks to its wonderful beaches.

The island is completely focused on tourism, oligarchs and celebrities from all over the world come here. All conditions for recreation and sports of the highest class are created here. This is a very expensive resort.
The main advantage of the island is its snow-white beaches, picturesque bays and excellent conditions for diving, golf, fishing and yachting. Wonderful beach holiday can be combined with horseback riding around the island and a comfortable stay in luxury hotels and villas.

Saint Barthélemy map in Russian

There are about 30 hotels on the island with excellent restaurants offering expensive gourmet Italian, French and Asian cuisine for every taste. This is a favorite vacation spot for millionaires and Hollywood stars, entertainment and cultural life on the island continues all year round.
Of the twenty-two beautiful beaches, you can choose any one to your liking, in coastal waters there are all conditions for diving, surfing, snorkeling and active sea ​​recreation. Helicopter tours are available. You can visit the colorful village of Colombier, visit the Montbar grotto, where, according to legend, pirate treasures are hidden.
The Ingenue-Magras Museum has a unique collection of shells. The Art Gallery will please with its exhibits. Many people visit the old estate of La Manor and climb the picturesque Morne Vitiers mountain. Bright and colorful events, carnivals and festivals, firework shows and concerts with the participation of famous singers and musicians are held here all year round.

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 that you immediately apply 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. Having had dinner, we went further, to conquer the highest peak of the island. The roads are quite good, and, as Vinsky rightly noted in his report, there are no black horsemen here who like to stand in the middle of the road on their treadmill 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