This is great info - thank you so much! Yes, 100€ seems to be the standard everywhere this time of year for transats we are finding, with GypSea charging a bit more for the matelas (but no bottle service minimum). I think we aren't going to risk the wild crowd as we'd most likely be there over the weekend. I've asked elsewhere in the thread but would love any insight you might have for nice low key places to spend the day on Sundays (is every place pretty packed or is that mostly a NB tradition?) Thank you so much again!
Beach tips for newbies?
- Thread starter Dani
- Start date
This is great info - thank you so much! Yes, 100€ seems to be the standard everywhere this time of year for transats we are finding, with GypSea charging a bit more for the matelas (but no bottle service minimum). I think we aren't going to risk the wild crowd as we'd most likely be there over the weekend. I've asked elsewhere in the thread but would love any insight you might have for nice low key places to spend the day on Sundays (is every place pretty packed or is that mostly a NB tradition?) Thank you so much again!
Wow - that is a scene, for sure. Agree that I wouldn't have enjoyed this. We might wander by one day for drinks should the mood hit us, but I think we will skip it this time around. And for those who were wondering about my "Mykonos in August" reference see Jeanette's photo ⬆⬆⬆ - just add a soundtrack of an earsplitting DJ and a lot of yelling. :wink2:
Thank you to everyone for all of the great information. This has all been so, so helpful!
Right now we are booked at Shellona, Nao (thanks tgdallas!), and Gyp Sea for lunches two days each (we are creatures of habit and don't want to jump from place to place too much), with arrangements for transats tbd day of, it looks like. Cost for two chairs with towels and umbrella at each is 100€. We are still thinking we might just rent from Caribe or Hookipa for the week and plant ourselves wherever the spirit moves us, but I'm wondering though if just outright buying loungers and umbrellas wouldn't make more sense rather than the cost of renting for the week? (I realize that the proposition of saving money on chairs might seem a bit weird when measured against our willingness to spend hundreds on transats at beach bars but there you have it.) Any recommendations where they sell those sorts of things?
Thank you again to everyone!
Right now we are booked at Shellona, Nao (thanks tgdallas!), and Gyp Sea for lunches two days each (we are creatures of habit and don't want to jump from place to place too much), with arrangements for transats tbd day of, it looks like. Cost for two chairs with towels and umbrella at each is 100€. We are still thinking we might just rent from Caribe or Hookipa for the week and plant ourselves wherever the spirit moves us, but I'm wondering though if just outright buying loungers and umbrellas wouldn't make more sense rather than the cost of renting for the week? (I realize that the proposition of saving money on chairs might seem a bit weird when measured against our willingness to spend hundreds on transats at beach bars but there you have it.) Any recommendations where they sell those sorts of things?
Thank you again to everyone!
KevinS
Senior Insider
The newest beach spot is Le Rivage, located in the former La Gloriette location on Grand Cul de Sac. The menu is upscale Italian. They also have transats available on the beach. They were slammed when I was there in November, but it was not a party scene like Nikki. Pricey. Free valet parking. Not a sparkler to be seen. I have no idea on the cost of transats. Their email is reservations@lerivagestbarth.com .
Tiffany
Senior Insider
Toiny Beach Club is beautiful and low key, but not very swimmable. Nice for walking and wading in the water. Spending the day by the pool at Christopher Hotel is also very tranquil.
Bart -my real name-
Senior Insider
I'm going to break with most of the recommendations including your own(!) and say, (for the most part) forget about the hotel lounge chairs and rent some backpack beach chairs. This will allow you to use them on any beach including the natural, unspoiled ones.......Saline, Gouverneur and Colombier, which to me are the best beaches.
My strategy was always hit the beach early (around 9am) and stay until it's too hot and you need a break. Then go to a restaurant for long and leisurely lunch out of the sun, and hit another beach/pool in the afternoon when the sun is past peak.
You should definitely plan for a morning at Gouverneur and a lunch or two at Santa Fe. It's just up the hill from the beach and the food and views can't be beat. You can do a similar thing with Colombier.......hit the beach in the morning and then go to a restaurant on Flamands for lunch. If you do Saline, you can have lunch at Grain de Sel and walk there right from the beach. No need to move your car!
For the natural beaches, there are obviously no food/bars, so take a half or 3/4 filled water bottle and stick it in the freezer at night. Fill the rest with cold water in the morning and you'll have ice cold water for your time on the beach.
My strategy was always hit the beach early (around 9am) and stay until it's too hot and you need a break. Then go to a restaurant for long and leisurely lunch out of the sun, and hit another beach/pool in the afternoon when the sun is past peak.
You should definitely plan for a morning at Gouverneur and a lunch or two at Santa Fe. It's just up the hill from the beach and the food and views can't be beat. You can do a similar thing with Colombier.......hit the beach in the morning and then go to a restaurant on Flamands for lunch. If you do Saline, you can have lunch at Grain de Sel and walk there right from the beach. No need to move your car!
For the natural beaches, there are obviously no food/bars, so take a half or 3/4 filled water bottle and stick it in the freezer at night. Fill the rest with cold water in the morning and you'll have ice cold water for your time on the beach.
If you go to Nikki on Sunday and do 12:30, it is apparently a lot less crazy than the photo seems to suggest. Maybe it is the time of day we went the last 2 times where it was way more calm. Quite frankly, I have never seen the beach packed like that even in 20 years. Most people sit at a table or have beds or transats on the beach in little groups like in a club. There were a few people doing silly things like posing in the water for the photographer but people were definitely not standing around packed like sardines.
sandypants
SBH Member
+1 for Toiny Beach Club for lunch. They drive you down to the beach club, and the view down is spectacular. Leisurely, low key, feet in the sand lunch. You can rent their transats, but there’s also an area with couches, chairs, tables, and umbrellas you can hang out by the heated pool you can use. Lunch at Cheval is also really nice….with a fashion show 
Jeanette
Senior Insider
That photo is an anomaly - even for a late Sunday afternoon. I am wondering if it was a group from a wedding. I had never seen Nikki Beach like that - even on a Sunday. Neither had my daughter, which is why she sent me the photo.
You used the word "Wild." I wouldn't call NB wild on Sundays. It is a fun, happy party scene. I take my kids (26 and 28) and we have so much fun together. From photos and videos I've scene from the last few weeks, Nao Beach has a similar scene on the weekend. Seles and Bagatelle do, as well, but in the evening for the late dinner seating.
If I can give you any advice, don't overplan. You may wake up one day and feel spontaneous or fall in love with one beach over another. Leave a few days for serendipity and plan a few others for ease.
There are a few tough reservations that need to be made well in advance (NB on Sunday is one, for sure), but you'll be fine planning others a day or so in advance.
maryella
SBH Insider
I rented a backpack chair at hookipa last year for 2 weeks. I also bought one of their study umbrellas and the sand screw to keep it in the sand during windy days. All worked out well. Also did not pay for any transats when we had lunch at le barthlemany, chevel blanc, guanahani and le toiny,
Planning ahead is smart, especially during busy times. While you might be able to get chairs day of, having a backup plan will give you peace of mind. Being polite and tipping the beach staff can help secure a spot. If you're looking for quieter beaches, check out Nikki Beach and Lil Rock during off-peak hours, or ask locals about less crowded spots. Local vendors usually offer chair and umbrella rentals, so you can ask around once you’re on the island. Buying your own foldable lounge chairs and umbrellas is also a great idea for flexibility. Also, don’t forget to take a microfiber towel; I recently brought one from GMA on a beach trip, and it was perfect.
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