Exploring St. Barts
St. Barts has a small airport (SBH) that is served by regional commercial aircraft and charters. Most visiting aircraft carry less than twenty passengers. The short airstrip is at the base of a steep hill ending directly on the beach. Departing planes fly right over the heads of sunbathers, who are prudently advised by small signs not to lie directly at the end of the runway. The nearest commercial jet airport is on the neighboring island of St. Martin.
Ferries to and from St. Martin are the only other option for arrival unless you're coming by private charter boat. To rent a car in one of the seven rental agencies in St. Barts, you'll need a valid drivers license. There's a 24-hour gas pump at the airport; otherwise, there are two gas stations on the island, both closed on Sunday and with slightly erratic operating hours during the week.
Besides eating and lazing on the gorgeous beaches, visitors can take advantage of duty-free shopping at the boutiques in Gustavia and St. Jean, where collections of French and Italian fashions and designer jewelry will satisfy even the most discriminating tastes. As in France, many shops close for a long midday meal and then re-open until about 7:00. A unique souvenir is the latanier palm straw that's delicately hand-woven by island women into beautiful baskets, handbags and broad-brimmed hats. Shopping on St. Barts runs the gamut from simple to world class, but the cleanliness and quality of service are uniformly excellent.
The climate is ideal, with temperatures generally ranging from 76 to 82 degrees. All of the beaches are public, and topless bathing is common. The beaches have lyrical names like St. Jean, the Anse des Cayes, Colombier, the Anse des Galet, Corossol, Lorient and Toiny. All are breathtakingly beautiful. St. Barts is a natural marine reserve, making it a destination for snorkeling and scuba diving.
