Authentic St. Barths
Having close family roots in the island, my experience with St. Barthelemy is very different from most reviews and blogs you’ll find on the internet. Whenever I hear or read anything about St. Barths, I realize how little is actually known about, or appreciated from, the island. The most popular experiences I hear about are the classic plane landing (c’mon, get over it), exclusive Eden Rock hotel, and the high-end shops including Bvlgari and Roberto Cavalli (what, you don’t have those in NY?).
But before the island became so popular among the rich and famous, to me, it was just… beautiful, fresh, liberating, humble St. Barths. For generations, the island had been inhabited by families whose stubborn love for it built it -and protected it- preferring simplicity to the hazards of the outside world. Today, many newcomers have arrived in search for opportunity filled with posh ideas for new business development, however, they find themselves doomed to disappointment. While living in St. Barths is easy, making a living is not, especially if you’re not a native.
So what’s my idea of enjoying this French jewel? Personally, the most wonderful things St. Barths has to offer are the beaches and that islander- French-creole vibe that makes it so irresistible. With this in mind, I’ll be taking you through a fully enjoyable one-day tour of St. Barths.
The best way to get around is by renting a car. Grab a map, and start your
day early by heading down to Gustavia’s Shell Beach, where you can have breakfast right on the beach at Do Brazil restaurant. Although the restaurant opens at noon, the Snack Shop is open from 8am and offers a variety of sandwiches, salads and fruit cocktails that can help you start the day off perfectly. Shell Beach carries its name in honor of the impressive layers of shells that used to cover practically the entire shore, but since hurricane Luis in 1995, the amount of shells on the shore are considerably less. But that doesn’t matter. Once you’ve spent your morning basking in the Caribbean sun and swimming in crystal-clear, turquoise waters, you’ll forget I ever mentioned the shells!
day early by heading down to Gustavia’s Shell Beach, where you can have breakfast right on the beach at Do Brazil restaurant. Although the restaurant opens at noon, the Snack Shop is open from 8am and offers a variety of sandwiches, salads and fruit cocktails that can help you start the day off perfectly. Shell Beach carries its name in honor of the impressive layers of shells that used to cover practically the entire shore, but since hurricane Luis in 1995, the amount of shells on the shore are considerably less. But that doesn’t matter. Once you’ve spent your morning basking in the Caribbean sun and swimming in crystal-clear, turquoise waters, you’ll forget I ever mentioned the shells! 
By mid-morning, you can start dusting off the sand and go strolling through Gustavia, St. Barth’s “capital” and port. You can visit the museum and the churches to learn more about the island’s history, or you can go shopping. You’ll find a variety of shops of all types, souvenirs, perfumes, clothes, natural home-made soaps, spices, bathing suits and even some furniture!
After some walking around, you’ll probably be hungry again, but at this point I have 2 suggestions for lunch in Gustavia. The first is Le Select, the coolest burger joint in the West Indies. 
Located right in the middle of town, this casual, open, corner snack shop & bar is famous for its burgers and even inspired singer Jimmy Buffet for his song “Cheeseburger in Paradise”! The burgers are good, and the experience is one of a kind. At the bar, try an ice-cold Carib, a ti-punch or a planteur. It’s open from 12pm –1:30pm and opens again at 6:00pm though, so budget your time well.
Located right in the middle of town, this casual, open, corner snack shop & bar is famous for its burgers and even inspired singer Jimmy Buffet for his song “Cheeseburger in Paradise”! The burgers are good, and the experience is one of a kind. At the bar, try an ice-cold Carib, a ti-punch or a planteur. It’s open from 12pm –1:30pm and opens again at 6:00pm though, so budget your time well. 
My second suggestion is a different take on St. Barths: the French aspect of its culture. Head to the ferry port and you’ll find Le Repaire, a fresh, comfortable restaurant where you’ll find a simple but varied and exotic menu that includes pasta, meats, fresh fish, lobster, cocktails and sorbets (note: try the chocolate cake!). It’s open everyday from 7am to midnight and it also offers breakfast at 7am; note that it closes on Sundays during the month of June. 
If you have small children and like to take it easy, head out to Lorient beach, where you’ll find one of St. Barths’ best kept secrets. This is usually where the locals come with their families for beach picnics and such. You can stretch out, go paddling, or –hey! Go surfing! Yep, Lorient beach is also surfer friendly, since the central side of the beach is rougher than the left-hand side, which is the more family-friendly area.
If you get hungry again, outside Lorient beach is my joy, my gem, my loving Jojo Burger. This joint is practically iconic, and if you have a love for a mean barbeque, I suggest you don’t hold back!
That settles option 1.
Option 2 is my favorite, though.
If you want more activity and like water
sports, head further out to Anse du Grand Cul-de-Sac, where you can engage in wind surfing, kite surfing, kayaking, jet skiing and –check this out- you can even go deep sea fishing with fisherman Patrick LaPlace. Of course, if your thing is sunbathing, you’re welcome to do that too! If you want to grab a bite to eat again, you can check out the Hotel Guanahani’s O’Corail Restaurant, also located right on the beach. 
The afternoon is very good for a nice sight-seeing drive around that part of St. Barths. Exit Grand Cul-de-Sac, and follow the road through Petit Cul-de-Sac, Marigot and the impressively beautiful Grand Fond, where you’ll be able to appreciate native living – the heart of St. Barths. In this area, you’ll find a cute, roadside wine & gourmet food shop called Absolutely Wine, and if it happens to be a Saturday between 5:00pm and 8:00pm, you’ll get a free Wine Tasting!
When it comes to St. Barths nightlife, I go
tta be honest, I would personally head right back to Le Select for some ice-cold beers and live music! However, if you’re looking for more of a club experience, check out Ti St. Barths, a self-proclaimed “Caribbean tavern” located in Pointe-Milou, the “Beverly Hills” section of St. Barths that is popular for its theme evenings, fashion shows, live DJs, and after dinner customers dancing on the tables!
tta be honest, I would personally head right back to Le Select for some ice-cold beers and live music! However, if you’re looking for more of a club experience, check out Ti St. Barths, a self-proclaimed “Caribbean tavern” located in Pointe-Milou, the “Beverly Hills” section of St. Barths that is popular for its theme evenings, fashion shows, live DJs, and after dinner customers dancing on the tables! 
Of course, this could all be done in one day, but you can always stretch it out over a couple of days! There’s still so much to see – the beauty and relaxation of nude-friendly Anse du Gouverneur, the satisfying hike to Anse du Colombier, or even a boat ride around the island! No matter what you choose for your St. Barths vacation, taking the time to enjoy its beauty and acknowledge its unique, native culture is what you’ll eventually take back with you. Remember, you can always go to Paris for a Parisian experience, but there is only one St. Barthelemy, and only one St. Barths experience!
-------------------------------- Note: Many of the images are owned by Hellolidays and Hello-StBarth.com. I suggest you visit Hello-StBarth.com! It’s one of the best St. Barths sites I’ve ever come across.
Also visit:
Azuvilla , St.Barths Talk (restaurant hours), WheretoStay.com (reference site, search hotels, and more), Absolutely Wine, Winair (fly to SBH!)
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