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Where to Stay on St. Barts Island (SBH)
St Barts island is unique in the Caribbean, a quiet paradise with one small city wrapped around a picturesque harbor, 22 uncrowded white sand beaches, dozens of excellent restaurants and cafés, and a friendly French population that welcomes visitors who respect its relaxed and understated ways.
When thinking about where to stay in St Barts, there are a couple of key questions a visitor to SBH should ask themselves.
• Vacation on the beach or hillside?
Many people vacationing in the Caribbean look for a villa rental or hotel directly on the beach. St Barts island, however, is very different than most Caribbean islands. Being "on the beach" is not as easy, or as important. Why? First, the "best" beaches (generally considered to be Saline beach and Gouveneur beach) do not have villas or hotels on them, their appeal is that they are largely undeveloped. Second - the view. St Barts is very mountainous and the villas and hotels that are not on the beaches are generally perched on hillsides with incredible vistas. The view from these locations can be truly spectacular. That said, there are some terrific villas and hotels directly on the beach. For those that like the ocean to be mere steps away try St Jean beach or L'Orient beach.• Stay in a quiet location or within walking distance to shops and restaurants?
St Barts is a mountainous and curvaceous island that you will need a car to navigate as there is no public transportation. This is not the type of place where you will hole up in your resort for a week venturing out by cab once or twice. No matter where you stay, you'll want a car to drive to the beaches, the restaurants and the shops. Exploring is part of the St. Barts experience. You can get anywhere on the island in about fifteen minutes. If having shops and restaurants within walking distance is important to you, look for lodging in villas or hotels in Gustavia or St. Jean.• St. Barts Villa Rentals and Hotels
The primary type of vacation accommodations on St Barts are private villas which are available to rent by the week. There are approximately 300 private villas for rent in all price ranges, from one bedroom villas on the beach to six bedroom villa compounds overlooking the ocean. Villas represent about 70% of the available rooms on the island. Villa rental agencies give you the best selection, and can arrange to have your villa provisioned in advance of your arrival. The island of St Barts has 22 intimate hotels, ranging from small 5 star hotels complete with gourmet restaurants and spa services to more affordable accommodations.•How to Decide?
The forums are a great place to get more information on your lodging decision. Tell people what criteria is important to you and how much you want to spend and you'll in all likelihood get some great suggestions.• Resources:
St Barts Villa Rental Agencies These companies specialize in renting private villas on St Barts, and several have a broad selection to choose from. Most will also handle car rentals, provisioning the villa in advance, setting up restaurant and watersport reservations, and will also make hotel reservations.
Villas for Rent Directly From Owners - A listing of villas available for rent directly from the owners
Featured St. Barts Hotels - A listing of featured hotels on the island.
St Barts Travel Planning Specialists- Travel planning specialists will help you arrange every aspect (or a special detail) of your St. Barths vacation, including villa and hotel arrangements.
Discussions Forums - Search for information about the St Barts villa rental or hotel you are interested in or post what you are looking for in an ideal accommodation and get input from the insiders.
Map of St. Barts Island - A very simple map to give you an idea where everything is located. A more detailed map is coming soon so be sure to check back.
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