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I have just heard of Les Saintes (also know as Isles des Saintes) that is part of Guadeloupe. It sounds very much like St. Barth in the 70's. Is any

StBartFan2

SBH Insider
Isles des Saintes

I have just heard of Les Saintes (also know as Isles des Saintes) that is part of Guadeloupe. It sounds very much like St. Barth in the 70's. Is anyone familiar with it?

Thanks,

StBartFan
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

people who I know who have gone there and know the ol St Barts before it was discovered by the masses say it is very much like the St Barts I first stumbled upon in 82....it's on our list of places to see....I'm afraid if I go there and all I hear is true.....I may never go back ro SBH....and part of me doesnt want that to happen....too many memories....
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

Les Saintes and St Barths are the only two islands with longterm economic histories in the caribbean that were not established and run on a predominantly slave economy. As such, much of the "infrastructure" and peoples of these two islands are European, without a history of an abused underclass.

I dont say any of this to make a political statement, but instead to paint a realistic picture. Many islands in the caribbean had large slave populations supporting an exclusively agrarian economy. And this was a false economy given that only a very small number made fortunes while the workers made nothing. With the end of the slave trade (thank God) many of these plantations and islands ceased to exist as important producers of these products. The islanders were then left with no money, no infrastructure, no education system and nothing to offer except beaches that would not be discovered for generations.

All in all, many of the islanders and islands - in some cases left to rot economically - have done remarkably well in such a relatively short time (a few generations) if you think about it.

St Barts and Les Saintes were the two "major" islands that were never based on slave economies (though each may have had a FEW slaves - depending on which history book you read). As such, there was never the same problem of large numbers of people whose economies collapsed with the end of the slave trade.

I have not been to Les Saintes but would imagine that it shares some of the features of St Barths:

1. French

2. Settled by immigrants who CHOSE to be there - hardy, rugged individuals who scratched a living out of those rocks

3. Never had large plantation economies with the subsequent collapse once the slave trade was outlawed

4. Built up slowly and piece by piece from within by the early generations

May be worth a trip. Anyone having any details, please advise.

Thanks.
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

Iles des Saintes is beautiful, lush & tropical with each Island different (there are 8 I think with 2 inhabited), Terre de Haut being the largest. Hard to get to, but just simply gorgeous. I am planning a trip back this spring as I am to Vieques to evaluate possibilities. The French in fact do compare Saintes to St. Barths before any of the development.

There is good info on Saintes, particularly at www.frenchcaribbean.com/AboutLesSaintes.html

I will be glad to give a detailed report after March/April.

Ric
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

Ric....I would be very interested in reading a trip report from there....any opportunity to turn back the hands of time is a welcomed one for us....let us know please?
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

Ric: We'd love a report upon your return. Roger and I have been considering Guadeloupe for a few years and in particular, Terre Haute. Looks absolutely breathtaking !

DebTor
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

I saw two things in the link provided by Ric that really increased my appetite to go there....no rental cars at all (scooters and bikes)and no cruise ship visits............
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

I'll be sure to get back to everyone. With as many enticements already noted you have to note the opposite as well...it's hard to get there, the vegetation brings more bugs, there is little to do, dining is rare, grocers, etc. even more rare and most travel is by small boat, on foot or scooter at best. BUT it is beautiful and significantly below the majority Hurricane Belt. Land is cheap and rentals inexpensive. More to come.

Ric
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

I'll be sure to get back to everyone. With as many enticements already noted you have to note the opposite as well...it's hard to get there, the vegetation brings more bugs, there is little to do, dining is rare, grocers, etc. even more rare and most travel is by small boat, on foot or scooter at best. BUT it is beautiful and significantly below the majority Hurricane Belt. Land is cheap and rentals inexpensive. More to come. Ric

I dont see any of those "opposites" as a bad thing...but thats me...have a great trip
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

In twenty years, which will look more like St Barth - Les Saintes or St Barth?

That is, we can take it as a given that Les Saintes will develop over time as most nice places do once they make the radar of the travelling world. And so perhaps Les Saintes is now St Barth, circa 1980. Does that mean that in 20 years it will look somewhat like St Barth does today? If so, find me a plot of land and let me puts my money down now.

I like St Barth today. I guess I am spoiled by not being spoiled. That is, by never having seen The Old St Barth, I really have no concept of what I am missing in The New St Barth. Even so, it seems that The New St Barth is just a lot more of The Old St Barth as opposed to something completely different.

I realize there are more people, more hotels, more villas, more traffic and all that. Even so, it seems that The Model itself has not changed. And that model is one of relatively quiet and conservative relaxation as opposed to high energy action 24/7.

Of course, there may be trouble on the horizen. We all glance down at Gustavia for Big Ships on our way to Gouverneur, traffic In Season can be unbearable, and The Saline Beach Golf Club could be a turn toward "civilization" that we all someday regret.

Even so, until high rise hotels, casinoes and the like go in, I think St Barth will just be more of what it is now, which is pretty special.

Having said all that, I am intrigued by Les Saintes, particularly the claim of cheap land. I would love to have a little slice of heaven to call my own. At this point, I am feeling a bit of an Euro pinch to own anything on St Barths.
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

IV

who knows what will look like what...there are so many variables which could effect that....i.e hurricane damage, global economy, the fickle and cyclical whims of the rich and famous, as well as, to a certain degree, the mainstream public, who are led like sheep around the world by the travel media, global terrorism (imagine the effect a loaded Caribbean bound 757 going down in flames would have)....all that makes it impossible to say what anything will look like.....but for us......whom ,by the time spring comes around, are so sick of tourists and people in general.....Isle De Saintes sounds like heaven...immerse us in nothingness and we are in a blissful state beyond words...... my wife who rarely ever curses, when she read Ric's description called me and said "f**k SBH - lets go there instead!".....and she likes SBH a lot!!!.....as to the differences of then and now.....let me just give you one very small example of how things change and you tell me how you would feel if it were you....there was a time when you could bring a book to Select in the middle of the day, sit in the shade of a banyon tree, read quietly, drink a few beers, and the only sounds you would hear would be the sounds of mellow conversations in the background,a little music perhaps, and the birds in the trees......now you get the non stop droning of cars and scooters roaring by, some without mufflers and loud boisterous conversations of, mostly american men , amounting to what at times seems like a pissing contest of who knows more about whatever the hell insignificant topic they are discussing.....and yes..we ve adjusted to all that change and simply find the quiet eleswhere.....but all the while with a little bit of resentment....anyway, Im thinking Isle De Saintes is in our future at some point in time soon
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

Les Saintes is probably more today like SB was in the early seventies. And the locals there have new laws in place protecting them against certain types of development as they are a simple people, mostly fisherman/shoppe owners, etc. and really don't care to see it commercially developed. When I go I will be looking into the safety, real estate, communications, economy, etc. and will gladly pass on what I learn. These land protection easements already prohibit certain developments on the smaller Islands totally...not bad. Ric
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

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.
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

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...

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
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

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?
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

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...
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

Kevin,

Check with Kate, she knows which of your years were the best on SBH and if a TDH schedule is indicated.
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

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.
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

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.
 
Re: Isles des Saintes

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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