St Barts FAQ | Questions and Answers For Travelers
SBHonline and it's members have been providing insider advice and information about St Barts Island for almost 10 years.
We have kept many of the more frequently asked questions and answers about the island and listed them below.
If you want more information you can visit the
St Barts discussion forums
where you can find almost anything you want to know about St Barts.
What part of the island is best to stay?
Taking Pets To St Barts
Are there any resorts? All inclusive packages?
What is the legal drinking age
Sunbathing FAQ
Can I take home cigars / Alcohol?
Is it safe to walk alone at night?
Can you recommend and childcare / babysitters
Are there any golf courses on St Barts?
Are there any public tennis courts on the island?
Does anyone rent minibikes or scooters? Is it safe?
Can you recommend any caters or private chefs?
Are restaurants closed during the summer months?
Is St Barts safe from Hurricanes and storms?
Are the police strict?
What TimeZone is St Barts?
St Barts Island is in the (Atlantic Time Zone). One hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
Current time on St Barts Island is:
How To Get To St Barts Island (Open)
Transportation options to the island. St Barts Airlines | St Barts Ferry Services | St Barts Rental Cars
Visit the SBHonline
Getting To St Barts information page.
We list the airline services and ferry schedules of the islands service providers.
Getting to St Barts by Airline Service
Your first stop is San Juan, Puerto Rico airport (SJU) or St Martin airport (SXM)
Most international airports offer non-stop flights to San Juan or St Martin.
From there you will take a connector flight to St Barts.
- The flight to St Barts from San Juan Puerto Rico takes about one-hour
- The flight to St Barts from St Maartin or St Martin Airport take 15 minutes
Scheduled Flights leave regularly for St Barts with these providers
St. Barth Commuter | WINAIR | Air Caraibes
or you can schedule a private charter flight with
Tradewind Aviation.
Getting to St Barts By Ferry
From St Martin you can also take a ferry to St Barts. There are multiple daily trips, the ferry service from St Martin takes about 45 minutes.
St Barts Ferry Schedules
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St Barts uses the Euro € as it's official currency.
Here is a link to a Dollar to Euro Currency Converter It is a good idea to know the approximate Euro to US dollar exchange rate before you leave for your vacation.
Currency Conversion Sheet
Banks On St Barts
Bank hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8am - 12p (noon) and 2pm to 3:30pm
Banks are closed on weekends and French holidays. Banks may also close afternoon sessions on the day before holidays.
American Express Office
St Jean
Phone - 0590 52 97 06
Banque Francoise Commerciale (B.F.C.)
Gustavia - 0590 27 62 62
St. Jean - 0590 27 87 75
BDAF
Gustavia across from the Post Office
Phone - 0590 29 68 30
B.N.P (Banque Nationale de Paris)
Gustavia - 0590 27 63 70
Bred, La Savane
St. Jean - 0590 52 06 00
Caraibe Exchange Office
Gustavia - 0590 27 57 57
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US Dollars are widely accepted on St Barts
If you want to arrive on St. Barts with euros in hand, there are ATM machines inside of the St. Maarten airport terminal.
There are also ATM machines located directly across the street from the St Barts Airport
It is a good idea to contact your credit card company before you leave the US and advise them of your trip dates and destination so your use of the card on the island does not trigger security shut down.
Visa and Master Card are widely accepted on St Barts. AMEX is accepted at some but not all places. Discover Cards are not accepted on St Barts at this time but likely to change.
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Most St Barts restaurants do accept credit cards. There are a few places on the island that do not "Le Select"
many establishments do not accept AMEX or Discover so bring your Visa or Master Card.
Since restaurant policies are subject to frequent changes this is a good question to ask in the
St Barts Forums and get the latest information.
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Here are several St Barts maps with locations of the regions, hotels, and beaches.
There is also an excellent map of the island showing the locations of many of the St Barts restaurants.(courtesy of SBHonline members)
St Barts Maps
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This is a popular question especially for first-time St Barts visitors
An SBHonline forum post provides some helpful information comparing St Barts hotels vs. St Barts villas
St Barts Villa vs. St Barts Hotel?
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St Barts Island does not have the traditional "all inclusive" "mega resorts" that are common at most Caribbean vacation destinations.
There are a couple of hotels on St Barts that can be considered resorts,
Certainly The
Guanahani Hotel & Spa with 69 guest rooms,
beachfront location, multiple pools, restaurants, and on-site activities.
There are several St Barts hotels that have great high and low season special package deals that include room, activities, spa services, transportation, and even some on-site dining options.
Check the
St Barts Hotels Directory and look through the package deals. There are some good ones.
You can also create your own "All Inclusive St Barts Vacation". It requires a little more effort but in the end you will find that you end up actually producing a more personalized package and
spend less money than buying a traditional all-inclusive vacation.
Visit the
St Barts villa rentals directory or the
St Barts villa rentals from owners page, choose a villa, and plan and price your lodging costs and activities.
The
SBHonline forums are full of vacation planning information and you will find a very
friendly group of people who can help answer any questions you have about the island and fun activities.
St Barts on island Villa agencies are another great source to plan
a
semi all inclusive vacation. They all have reservation experts that know the island well and these companies are more than happy to help you pick a villa/hotel and plan reservations for
dining, activities, and transportation.
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A valid passport is required to enter St. Barths (as opposed to a certified copy of a birth certificate and a photo id). This policy has been in place for some time (see State Department Information Sheet - FWI. A visa is not required for US citizens until you plan to stay for more than 90 days. NO visa needed for citizens of the European Union, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Israel.
More Information:
St Barts Visa & Passport Information
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During the high season it is a good idea to make a reservation at any restaurant that will take them. You can review several of the restaurant
reservation and dress policies in the
SBHonline St Barts Restuarants Guide or you can go to the SBHonline forums and ask some of the members. During the off season reservations are not necessarily needed but still a good idea.
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It is pretty casual dress on St Barts. Breakfast/ lunch short pants and sandels are fine at almost any restaurant... for dinner there are
a few restaurants that you might want to step up one notch from beach attire.
Here is a forum thread discussing this topic.
Dress attire St Barts restaurants
St Barts Restaurants Guide
This guide has photos, hours of service, and reservation policies for many of the islands restaurants.
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Is it better to fly or take ferry when going to St Barts?
This decision is really personal preference but here are a few things to consider:
- The flight to St Barts from San Juan Puerto Rico takes about one-hour
- The flight to St Barts from St Maartin or St Martin Airport take 15 minutes
- The ferry service from St Martin takes about 45 minutes.
There are several ferry departures daily so this can make things a little more convenient based on your schedule.
The airport on St Barts is famous for its steep decline and short runway... this can make some air travelers a little nervous so flying might be a concern.
If you read through the
SBHonline forums you will find that most visitors do fly
with one of the St Barts airline services.
Flying will be more expensive than taking a ferry. Flights during peak season fill up so plan ahead.
Visit the SBHonline
Getting To St Barts information page.
We list the options and schedules of the transportation service providers.
Scheduled Flight Airlines
Private Charter Flights
St Barts Ferry Schedules
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Should I Rent A Car or Take Taxis on St Barts Island? (Open)
Car rentals are recommended when visiting St Barts. It is possible to schedule taxis and shuttle service's but having your own rental car
will make your trip a lot easier and provide you with the freedom to explore the island without time and scheduling constraints.
Here is a list of
Car Rental Companies on St Barts
Automobiles drive on the right side of the road,
and any valid drivers license is accepted on St Barts.
If you plan to use a taxi while on the island here are the phone numbers of a few providers:
St Barts Taxi's.
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Voltage Requirements in St Barts
When traveling to SBH from the United States, you will need to account for both a different electrical socket and a different voltage level. Electricity on SBH operates
at 220 volts. As such, to run U.S. appliances you will need a plug converter and if you intend to connect your laptop to a phone line, you will also need to acquire a modular telephone adapter (about $8).
WiFi is found in many villas and free WiFi is found in many establishments, mostly free of charge
Voltage Converter with Adapter Plug kit (item #EA260) - for use with small appliances (such as hair dryers) (most villas have hair dryers -- if you bring one make sure it is dual voltage)
Heavy-Duty Transformer 100 watt (item #EA261) - If you are bringing a laptop to SBH, you'll need a heavy duty transformer and an adapter plug
... all modern laptops are dual voltage
Grounding Adapter Plug D (item #EA23MDG)
(
Amazon is the best place to find these)
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What Are Some Fun St Barts Bars To Hang Out At Night For Music? (Open)
What are some fun St Barts bars to hang out at night for music and dancing?
BAZ (Bete a Zailes) bar in Gustavia is a very enjoyable evening.
The music is live and mellow, the crowd is fun, and the service is very good.
La Plage on St. Jean is another good venue for live music.
We've enjoyed seeing Papagayo there on a few occasions. Keep an eye on Le News for other live music acts.
Le Ti St. Barth in Pointe Milou is a popular spot later in the evening. You may choose to have a late dinner and stick around for the festivities,
or dine elsewhere, have a drink or two at BAZ, and dance it all off later at Le Ti.
Le Hot Spot in Lurin is another choice for late night.
Bear in mind a recent visitor wrote that he was denied entry because he was not wearing long pants.
Le Yacht Club in Gustavia is another night spot owned by the owner of Le Ti (Carole) that seems to attract an even later crowd.
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Bringing Children To St Barts (Open)
Here are some tips for kids... from an SBHonline forum member
Clothes and Sun Protection!
The sun is strong in the Caribbean so keep kids covered with light clothes and good sunscreen.
A blistering sunburn on a child will take the fun out of your vacation.
Beach/Pool Toys The beaches are the big attraction and you can find pails & shovels,
boogie boards and other beach toys as well as noodles, floats and pool toys at several stores.
In St. Jean: Casarina Surf Shop located across the road from Le Pelican Plage and in Lorient: the
toy shop located in Marche de LOasis Centre.. Some of the stores in Public also have beach toys.
Activities for/with Children - some options:
Renting a boat for a tour of the harbor and around the island, Snorkeling to look
at sea turtles in Lorient. Hiking at La Pointe Toiny with older kids. Collecting shells and
sea glass at Shell Beach & other places. Horseback Riding arranged
through Saint Barth Equitation at the Ranch des Flamands.
Making pottery at the Blue Gecko Studio in St. Jean is a great
rainy-day activity. Tel. 0590-27-97-31.
Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Museum in Gustavia is of interest to older kids.
Here is a Museum that suits all ages: Interoceans Museum -
Tel: 0590-27-62-97. Hours tend to be flexible but are published as:
Mon-Sat 9:00a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Entry fee: 3 Euros This marvelous little museum is in the home of Ingenu Magras in Corossol. Monsieur Magras is
fascinating & personally describes the wonders of his collection of shells from all over the world,
from every ocean and the seven seas. Approximately 9000 shells and examples of sea life are displayed here.
Kids and animals are a natural combination and taking an inventory of animal and bird life in St. Barth is a nice diversion.
St. Barth as an Animal Fair -
oh, yes, the birds and the beasts are there.
There are many examples in the Photo Gallery, especially some of the photos entered
in the Flora & Fauna contest. A fun game for kids is to name the different animals and birds, etc.
and even to count them as you explore the island. There are lizards, iguanas, cattle, horses in Flamands,
pelicans, peacocks, roosters, chickens, egrets, mourning doves, sugar birds, parrots, pipers and, of course, goatsmany goats.
Children Watching Children on Parade - If you are on the island around the time of
Carnaval, the Childrens Parade is a must-see. It is usually held on the Friday before Carnaval, starts about 2 p.m.
Location: The staging area is at the school near Shell Beach; the parade winds around the street at the back of the harbor and then finishes near the Goldfinger store. Good vantage points are near the Anglican Church or along the quay opposite Kudeta & La Cantina. The schools on the island participate, with each class selecting a theme (Knights, French chefs, Pirates, Indians, countries such as Japan, China, Greece have been celebrated---there is no limit to the imagination that these colorful outfits demonstrate).. The kids are all in costume---sometimes their mothers are, too. There is music and much merriment. Very informal and fun.
Children-Friendly Restaurants - Beyond the cook-at-your-villa option and take-out,
the most-frequently-asked question is: Where can we take the kids to eat?
Most restaurants in St. Barts are fine for well-behaved children
with the exception of expensive places such as Carl Gustav, Le Gaiac and On the Rocks. I have seen children
at these restaurants at times. And if your children are used to dining-out with adults, the Wall House very welcoming.
However, if the children are little and you are concerned about the kid-friendliness of the atmosphere,
here are some suggestions. Most of these restaurants either have childrens menus or will prepare dishes
such as pasta or a hamburger for kids who are finicky eaters (if you have any concerns, stop by and ask them ahead of time):
In Gustavia:
Le Bistro, La Creperie, Do Brazil, Eddy's, Kudeta, L'Oubli, The Palace, Le Repaire, Route des Boucaniers, La Saladerie, Le Select, Le Vietnam, Ti Zouk K'fe
In St. Jean:
Andy's Hideaway, Le Piment, La Plage,
In other areas
Le Bouchon, L'Espirit de, Le Grain de Sel, K'fe Massai, PaCri, Le Tamarin
Favorites, from the childrens perspective, La Saladerie and the Hideaway .
Kids love the ice cream & sorbet at La Creperie, Petit Deauville and Route des Boucaniers .
So, by all means bring the children and encourage them to become the St. Barth clientele of the future.
Just keep in mind and be respectful of the fact that, for many adults, the island is a romantic getaway place for two.
Read Full Post In The SBHonline Forums Click Here
Babysitting Services on St Barts
If you have the kids with you on your trip to St Barts you will may want a babysitter for an afternoon or evening.
Obviously this is a decision that you want to review. We list a couple of services that have been recommended by SBH members.
St Barts Babysitting Services
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We have a section of SBHonline listing many fun and memorable activities you can do while on the island.
You can also read through the forums to see what many visitors do while on their vacations.
Making Phone Calls To and From St Barts (Open)
Some insider information to help you make calls back to the home while you are on your trip. Calling to St Barts, Using mobile phones on St Barts, Pre-paid phone cards.
Top 10 Best Things About St Barts (Open)
SBHonline members and St Barts travelers share their top 10 lists, and favorite things about the island.
St Barts Snorkel and Scuba Diving Information
Get the insider information about where the best diving and snorkeling spots are, and the best guides to take you there.
- Island Diving
St Barts Snorkel and Scuba
- Featured Dive Company:
Plongee Caraibes
Another fun underwater viewing activity is to take the semi-submersible
St Barts Yellow Submarine Tour.
This tour departs from the ferry dock in Gustavia 11am and 2pm daily, and brings you through the Marine Park and around
Gros Ilets, towards "Les Petits Saints" were you will see schools of tropical fish, turtles, and the shipwreck of the fishing boat "Marignan".
St Barts Travel Tip
Villas on St Barts are almost all priced by the week and by the amount of bedrooms needed. You can often find excellent deals on
larger villas even though you may only need one or two bedrooms.
Have A Question About Traveling To St barts?
Send your question to
operations@sbhonline.com and we will get you an answer.
