Saint-Barthélemy: the French art of living under the Caribbean sun

Located in the north of the Caribbean arc, 15 minutes by plane from the island of Saint-Martin, this jewel is appreciated for its sublime beaches, crystal-clear waters and upscale tourism.

This French Eden, with its reputation as an island of billionaires, looks like a postcard with its unspoilt nature and sumptuous landscapes.

Two famous lines, taken from French poet Charles Baudelaire’s “L’invitation au voyage”, perfectly describe the atmosphere on the smallest island in the French West Indies.

Here, all is order and beauty

Luxury, calm and pleasure.

The island may be famous for its luxury boutiques and the superyachts that anchor in Gustavia’s roadstead, but it is nonetheless an ideal destination for a relaxing break.

Don’t hesitate to rent a car, then set out to conquer it: coves, typical villages, traditional huts, cliffs, natural pools and many other jewels will fill you with wonder during your escapade.

If the Big Blue is in your DNA, you’ll be seduced in the blink of an eye by this jewel of the Lesser Antilles.

Discover the seabed, tour the island on a jet ski, let yourself be carried away by the waves on a kite surfing trip, marvel at the beauty of the landscape on a catamaran: the island has no shortage of stimulating water activities.

The Seabob, an underwater electric scooter, is a must-try.

Saint-Barth has everything to please visitors eager for the pleasures of the sea. Each beach is unique and full of treasures, in the heart of a remarkably preserved natural environment.

Here are a few beaches to discover:

North of the island. Close to the capital Gustavia, the sublime beach of Saint-Jean is separated into two parts by the Eden Rock hotel, close to the famous Nikki Beach Saint-Barth, renowned for its ambience. The area is home to numerous restaurants, boutiques and hotels.

West of the island. Colombier beach, located in the middle of the nature reserve, is a paradise for snorkelers. This haven of peace is only accessible by boat or footpath.

North-west of the island. Flamands beach is the largest in Saint-Barth. Fine sand, turquoise water, no one can resist it. The Cheval Blanc St-Barth palace has also succumbed to its beauty.

South of the island. The charm of Gouverneur beach should leave you breathless. In the heart of nature, tranquillity reigns supreme. Legend has it that the pirate Monbars hid his treasure nearby.

South-east of the island. Beautiful and wild, La Saline beach is the second largest beach after Flamands. Known for its ancient salt marshes and bird population, it can be reached by a short footpath.

A stroll through the streets of the capital Gustavia, famous for its red-roofed houses and luxury boutiques, is a must.

Magnificent views await you at Fort Karl, located on a rocky outcrop near Shell Beach, and at Fort Gustaf, famous for its lighthouse and cannons.

Shell Beach is unique with its shell-filled sand. Located five minutes from Gustavia harbor, it is appreciated for its sunsets and atmosphere. The Shellona beach restaurant is a must.

There’s no shortage of hiking opportunities in St. Barths. One of the wildest is Grand Fond, with its natural pools.

Head for Corossol, a typical fishing village home to the traditional “dory” boats. You’ll also discover a number of craft activities, including the weaving of hats from latanier leaves.

Let yourself be enchanted by Pati Guyot’s acrylic paintings in her Saint-Jean gallery. The painter also created the popular logo St. Gallen St. Barth French Indies.

In Gustavia, stop off at the boutique-workshop Les petits carreaux. Véronique Vandernoot, who specializes in painting on ceramics, is the creator of the panels at the entrance to the beaches.

Looking for an original gift you won’t find anywhere else? The Kalinas & Tainos boutique in Gustavia offers handmade Tahitian and Australian pearl jewelry. You’ll be able to take home your own custom-made jewel.

It would be a shame not to visit the neighboring islands of Anguilla and Saint-Martin/Sint Maarteen. Prickly Pear and îlet Pinel are a must-see.

Last but not least, Lorient has become a place of pilgrimage for fans of rocker Johnny Hallyday. An opportunity to pay your respects at the French singer’s grave.

The runway at Saint-Barthélemy-Rémy-de-Haenen airport is short: only small planes can land there. You’ll need to fly from Toronto or Montreal to Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten.

Air Transat, Air Canada, WestJet and Sunwing serve the destination on certain dates. If you’d like to use your Aeroplan points to travel to Sint Marteen, please note that there are no direct flights between Montreal and Sint Marteen with Air Canada. In economy class, the flight starts at 12,500 points one way, according to the points predictor.

Once at Princess Juliana International Airport, you can choose between several airlines to reach Saint-Barth. The flight, which takes just 15 minutes, is well worth the detour! You can also take off from Grand-Case Espérance airport in Saint-Martin.

For those who prefer to travel by sea, there are several options for getting to the port of Gustavia: by ferry from Philipsburg in Sint Maarten, or from Marigot in Saint-Martin. The journey takes about 45 minutes. Several companies also offer a private water cab service.

For getting around the island, you’ll find cabs and car and scooter rental agencies in Gustavia or at the airport. There is no public transport in Saint-Barth.

From sumptuous villas far from the public eye, to charming hotels with panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea, to hillside bungalows in the heart of nature, you’re sure to find the accommodation you’re looking for.

Luxury hotels include :

To save on a hotel in Saint-Barth, you’ll need to turn to credit card travel points. This is the only way to reduce the cost of your stay in paradise, with the exception of hotel promotions.

Let’s take Membership Rewards points from American Express: if you manage to accumulate 80,000 points, you’ll receive an $800 account credit.

The procedure is straightforward: once you’ve booked with your credit card, log in to your online account, then apply your points to your travel purchase.

To easily accumulate travel points for your next vacation, all you have to do is take an interest in welcome offers from credit cards, while maximizing your daily spending to accumulate even more points.

And if you don’t want to pay the 2.5% foreign currency transaction fee, don’t forget to choose a card with no conversion fees, such as the Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card.

For villa rentals, consider Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy. You will need to spend a minimum of 71,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for one night, on certain dates.

The platform offers a wide choice of villas ranging from 120,000 to 160,000 points per night, usually including a swimming pool and sumptuous panoramic views.

The Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program enables members to collect and use points. There are several ways to earn cash, including using a Marriott Bonvoy credit card or staying at a Marriott Bonvoy property.

By choosing to pay with your Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card for a villa stay, you could also take advantage of this promotion and earn bonus points.

Are you new to the world of points? If so, we suggest our beginner’s guide to better understand the benefits of points.