®
Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone you might be starting to make plans for the holidays. This is a reprint of an article that was recently published on Fathom, Travel Beauty’s go-to resource for everything you’ll need while globetrotting. Fathom’s got it all: From the best places to stay, eat, visit and shop to essentials that you will want to have with you on the road. In October, Fathom devoted a week to the best islands in the Caribbean. Travel Beauty was asked to give a quick and dirty guide to one of our favorite places to visit, St. Barthélemy (otherwise know as St. Barths). Read on for your in-the-know guide to St. Barths.
——————————————-
How Do I Love St. Barths? Let Me Count the Ways
In between drugstore hopping around the world to findthe best global beauty products for her website, Travel Beauty, Alyssa Barrie Weiss makes time for island hopping around the Caribbean. St. Barths is her favorite, for so many reasons.
ST. BARTHS – There are special places that stand out in my mind as magical. Saint Barthélemy, better known as St. Barths, in the French West Indies, is one of them.
This tropical volcanic island offers breathtaking views from its steep peaks and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. This is a place where people go to unwind and disconnect from their everyday lives and it’s also where people go to be part of the scene and party with the rich and famous. (If you are one of them, make sure to visit Le Ti St. Barth.) Its lush scenery and old-world European ports and towns converge on one small island to create a one-of-a-kind vacation spot that remains blissfully untouched by towering hotel developments. You’ll never forget where you are: The French accent is very strong around here — in every possible way.
IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING
If you are in St. Barths for a day trip and short on time, head to Colombier Beach. Drive up the hill along the road parallel to Baie des Anges where you will reach a dead end. Park the car and hike 40 minutes downhill to crystal clear water and a secluded beach surrounded by jagged boulders. The hike through the tropical forest is a great workout, with lush vegetation and wildlife lining the winding path. A word to the wise: Bring sneakers and lunch. There is nothing at the beach. Of course, if it’s an option, you can also have your yacht pull directly into the cove .
WHAT TO DO
Hit as many beaches as you can. As opposed to other Caribbean islands, the beaches on St. Barths have their own personalities. These are my top picks:
Gouverneur Beach: My favorite. Behind you, there’s a view of the hillside, and, in front, it’s all blue skies and calm, clear turquoise water that goes on and on. There are no hotels on this beach, giving it a secluded feel.
Grande Saline Beach: A stunning beach of fine white sand adjacent to what used to be an old salt mine (hence the name). You won’t find any hotels here either (hence the deserted island vibe).
Shell Beach: One of the smaller beaches, named for the tiny shells that cover it. Dõ Brazil, a lunch spot right on the beach, has superb food, cocktails, and music.
Flamands Beach: One of the most tranquil on the island, overlooking the islands beyond St. Barths. There’s a lot here: the newly renovated Hotel Taïwana, villa rentals, and great restaurants.
For more on where to eat, drink, shop, and stay as well as how to plan the logistics of your trip visit Fathom and checkout the original article.
By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter: @AlyssaBarrie