Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Miker: I hear you loud and clear. Having never sat around Select when only St Jimmy, Marius and a few others were throwing them back, I can only read the stories with wistful, though detached, interest.
Even so, I have seen similar growth along the South Carolina coast. Even in my lifetime the Isle Of Palms has grown from a VERY quiet little place that was "too far away" to get a lot of traffic into a bustling little seaside area. Having said that, it is still about the bestest beach there is, rivalled only by its smaller twin Sullivan's Island which may be even better.
So I am not unsympathetic to what you are saying. It now appears we have a few SBHOnliners who will pop into Les Saintes and give us all a report back here. Who knows, in a few years Kara may have a companion site, Les Saintes Online, repleat with all the usual suspects we find here arguing about air conditioned cases versus not and bemoaning the arrival of a fifth automobile on the island.
In any event, I get the impression from a lot of folks in this site that SBH is the best caribbean island they have ever found. If Les Saintes is also well received by Old Regulars from this site, then it is definitely worth a trip.
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Lauren
Reged: 10/10/02
Posts: 1332
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In the back of my mind, I am remembering that the Star Clipper and other large sailing ships disgorge their passengers by tender to Terre de Haut....and a quote from a passenger...
Quote:
Our favorite anchorage was among the Isles des Saintes, where we tendered into the little town of Terre de Haut. This lovely island boasts a breathtaking hike ("La Trace des Cretes") that concludes at the most beautiful strand of sand (Pompierre Beach) I have ever seen. The sleepy European-flavored town is lovely, and has several unusual (and reasonably priced) shops
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StBartFan2
Reged: 11/17/03
Posts: 103
Loc: NYC & Berkshires, Ma
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Thanks for all of the input re Isles des Saintes. It is now high on my radar screen. Perhaps both islands are in order when we return next January.
IV: Saline Beach Golf Course?
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KevinS
Reged: 07/23/03
Posts: 3415
Loc: Boston
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I have been visiting SBH for 19-20 years. For that entire time I have been hearing that Terre de Haute "is just like was 20 years ago".
I'm now into a range that I understand - my time must just be coming up on the TDH schedule. If I can just pick out which of my early years was the best on SBH then perhaps I can schedule a repeat on TDH. Wishin...
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gregb
Unregistered
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Kevin,
Check with Kate, she knows which of your years were the best on SBH and if a TDH schedule is indicated.
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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StBartFan: I am referring to the picture posted in the Outrageous and Humorous section of the board showing a man and woman hitting eight irons on Saline Beach.
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GayleR
Reged: 11/18/02
Posts: 1206
Loc: Toronto, Canada
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Visited TDH about 10 years ago. Very sleepy, few restaurants, no luxury villas (well there weren't then anyway). I didn't see the parallel at all, other than it's French.
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rick
Reged: 12/17/03
Posts: 27
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I continue to gather additional information on Les Saintes, Terra de Haut & Terra de Bas. Some interesting pics & older information from Phil Stripling at www.cieux.com/lesSaintes/index.html . Info is from 1996 & 2000.
More current pics & information being sent to me soon from the Captain of a Yacht headed there now. Will share as I receive.
Still planning to go there in early April or in June and will report info/pics then. Investigation thus far cautiously optimistic. The progress of Les Saintes parallels the Caribbean majority rather than how St. Barth progressed through the years, ie: lifestyle is more reggae/pirate than ever existed on SB. Just a first observation.
Rick
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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I have done some homework as well. While much of the population is french, the islands are no longer a secret to the yachting or small cruise world. There are only a handful of hotels on the island with Bois Joli and Auberge Les Petits Saintes (the former mayor's house) looking to be the best properties. It sounds as though you walk or motor scooter everywhere. Dining is somewhat limitted, pretty high end at a few places (particularly Auberge Petits) and perhaps more creole than St Barts.
Beaches are casually topless. Clothing optional runs hot or cold. A few years ago, one of the remote beaches was considered the official unofficial nude beach. About three or four years ago they started handing out fines for nudity but now there are reports that those restrictions have been relaxed.
While I never went to SBH back in the early days, it sounds as though Les Islets may already be more "happening" than SBH 30 years ago. By that I mean they are already on the map of a lot of day boaters and even small ships. To that end, there will be some traffic, though not like Gustavia on New Years Eve.
From what I have found, it sounds like a fun, laid-back type of place, a little more creole and caribbean than St Barths though I have not heard of reggae bands or steel drums greeting you at the airport.
I eagerly await your firsthand account.
Merci.
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Paul
Reged: 11/21/02
Posts: 55
Loc: New Jersey
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Right now there on Terre de Haut is not much there except beautiful beaches. Lodging and restos are few and far between. There's Le Bois Joli and Auberge des Petits Saints aux Anacardiers, very popular (and small). Also: no cars allowed, and you won't find English spoken anywhere near the extent you do on SBH. All in all, it's a nice escape and has a lot more going for it than does Guadeloupe itself. Another island of similar stripe is Marie Galante (except there, cars are permitted).
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Brian
Reged: 10/22/02
Posts: 594
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Ric, did you ever post a report from this trip?
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SELES
Reged: 03/15/03
Posts: 1826
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Not yet...more to come late August or in December. I want to be certain before I post too much of an opinion. Thanks for the patience. Ric
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