Your St Barts -Villa Rental in St Barths, Saint Barthélémy

Ligne St Barth is out to tickle your senses this holiday season with a new candle, "Noël à St. Barth 2007"

The new scent for Christmas is warm and spicy with just a hint of clove, nutmet and cinnamon.  Whether you spend your winter with snow on the ground or on the sunny beaches of St Barts, this candle will remind you of your cozy holidays celebrations of Christmas' past.  Opening gifts with your family in front of the fireplace, drinking hot cocoa from giant mugs, or sipping spirits.

Ligne St Barth has done an amazing job of producing a perfectly balanced blend of spices in this limited edition natural candle.  Kick off your shoes and light Noël à St. Barth 2007; let its delicious aroma  create the festive atmosphere.

All Ligne St Barth candles are handmade using coconut wax and are free of paraffin and animal extracts.  An exceptional blend of essential oils lends a natural and enjoyable scent.

On of the smallest in the world, Aéroport de St Jean, the airport of St Barts Island, is extremely busy because it is the only airport to service this 8-acre island.  Recently getting a facelift, the landing strip is only operational during the daylight hours.  Some might wonder why such a popular destination would have such a small airport, and why it would only run during the day, but this is an effort for us locals to keep our island quaint.  To open the airport up to giant international flights would take away from the peaceful luxury that St Barts currently offers.

St Barts Island :: Airport  ~ Photo Credit Linda Garrison     

However, if you want to travel into St Barts and you're flying on an international flight, you will likely head into St Martin first, and then it's just a hop, skip, and a jump over to our island.  Although the landing can be a little harrowing due to the flight path, the views are incredible.  As you cruise in  just 20 feet above the road, take a moment and wave to all the tourists who have stopped to watch your flight land.

Celebrities like St Barts, St Barts like fashion, St Barts has breat beaches …. so it is only natural that quite a few famous ads have been shot in St Barts.

Here, you will have a long glimpse of renowned female models such as Gisele Bundchen and Alessandra Ambrosio being photographed in St Barts. The shooting was made for Victoria's Secret Swim 2007 collection.

In the video, you can see the girls getting ready for the shooting, being shot, and then looking at the pics.

The main location used in the video is the natural pools of Grand Fond. These pools are surrounded by rocks, have transparent water, and are linked to the sea. It is a 15-minute walk from the Grand Fond road. I admire the models, because I know that the hike to the pools is sometimes hazardous, along the cliff. And there are some sea urchins in the bottom of the pools, so I  wonder whether the girls were wearing sandals in the water.

Other places in the video are: the pool of Le Sereno hotel, Gouverneur Beach, Saline Beach, and Gustavia.

Video: Victoria's Secret models in St Barts

Le Select is a gem in Gustavia that became famous without intending to do so.  A bar that is loved by both sailors and tourists alike, this is the place that St Barts villa owner Jimmy Buffet sings about in his ever popular song, "Cheeseburger in Paradise."  From the outside, it doesn't look like it has much appeal; however, saunter in a steamy evening when the sailors are in town for a boatload of fun (no pun intended!)

Holding the title of the oldest bar in town, it sits at the center of town, and is one of the few places in Gustavia that you do not need to make reservations.  Grab a burger and a beer and seat yourself.  Because of its location and its laid-back atmosphere, this is one of my favorite places to sit and people watch; by the way, between you and me, the Marius Special (double bacon cheeseburger) is delicious!

As the darkness falls, this bar usually rocks out with live music and many tend to gravitate here just to relax and socialize.  A lot of fun, Le Select is a Gustavia gem that shouldn't be missed!

St Barts Hotel :: Le Toiny ~ Arial View

Although the island of St Barts is small, this St Barts hotel seems to have found 38 acres of complete and total seclusion.  The Le Toiny offers 15 villa suites, each with its their own private pool and Plantation style furnishings.  The decor is such that is blends wonderfully with its natural surroundings, making the guests feel right at home. Teak chaise lounges with thick, comfy cushions sit upon beautiful hardwood floors; fall into your giant four-poster mahogany bed covered in crisp Frette linens. 

Le Toiny is located in the Toiny area of the island, and sets among only a handful of local houses.  Perched on the slope of Morne Vitet, it overlooks a beautiful cove of the Caribbean and is where "French savoir-faire meets West Indies casual, in a perfect blending of uncomplicated relaxation."

Here is a great video that showcases the beautiful Le Toiny:

                   St Barts Hotel :: Dining at Le Toiny

I often visit the Le Toiny for the Sunday brunch because it's the best on the island. The managers are very nice, service is traditional French style, yet not stiff.  If you decide to lunch there, make sure to sit by the blue pool in the shape of a crescent.  Le Toiny is part of the Relais & Châteaux, a posh French Association of Chic Independent Hotels.

Everyone should experience the Le Toiny, even if it is just once.  The luxury and service you will experience will be like nothing you could ever imagine.  Come experience St Barts at its finest; experience it the Le Toiny way.

There's a new St Barts Villa Rental Agency in town called the ImmoBarth Agency, owned by a personal friend of mine, Benoit Lorioux.  Benoit has worked for 2 years in another St Barts villa rental/real estate agency so he knows what he's doing.  He's got a great eye for beautifully designed houses and he's a great deal maker, so if you're in the market for a villa, he's the one to deal with.

Formerly known as Zingraf, the agency is located in a very chic part of Gustavia, one the harbor, in Le Carré d'Or, between Cartier and Vuitton.  The selection and quality of villas that they offer, both for rental or purchase, is exceptional and will delight anyone who is looking for luxurious accomodations. The next time you're planning a trip to St Barts, go to their website and browse their wide selection of villas. Then, give ImmoBarth a call; they'll get you set right up

Shell Beach is one St Barts beach that you don't want to miss.  Touting the recognition as the only beach"in town," it is within walking distance of Gustavia but is very rarely crowded. Originally getting its name from the shells that used to be all over the beach, the changing times have taken their toll on the beach and most of the hurricanes have washed the shells away.  However, it doesn't mean that this is not a beautiful bay on which to spend the day.

With flat, tranquil water, the swimming is fantastic and if you're really adventurous, there is a cliff on one side of the beach from which you can dive.  Beware! This is NOT for the faint of heart though!! I have done it once and do not feel the need to do it again.  Even if you choose not to take the plunge, you will inevitably see the local kids doing it.  Be prepared to grab your camera as this is one sight you'll want to capture on film!!                                                                                             

A big attraction on the beach is the creole bed; the bed belongs to the Do Brasil restaurant, the only building that is right on the beach. After soaking up the sun for a few hours, you should stop by for a bite to eat.  This three story open-air eatery is co-owned by local St Barts legend Boubou and French tennis champion, Yanick Noah. A cozy restaurant that is tucked in to the cliff side of the beach, the cuisine is Brazilian-Carribean-Creole-French fusion food, and the decor is jungle-chic. Romantic at night and lively during lunch, this is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat.  As an added bonus, It also provides an unbeatable view of the sunset.                    Sunset :: Shell Beach

Bad new for St Barts Island: The local authorities are about to declare a dengue fever alert for both St Barts and St Marteen (St Martin). Tourists should not worry, though: Dengue fever is prevalent in places such as Singapore and Rio and nobody panics!

Dengue fever is rare on St Barts, as our small island is much cleaner than most surrounding islands. Yet, this season has been very rainy and hot, helping mosquitoes mutliply.

What to do if you are a tourist: just use mosquito repellents containing DEET. They can be bought everywhere on the island, in supermarkets and pharmacies. Good ol' OFF contains DEET, so nothing spectacular needs to be used here.

I do not think that this wil have a big impact on St Barts. Sanitary conditions are among the best in the Caribbean, there are lots of qualified doctors on the island, and the local authorities will probably soon enforce a new mosquito eradication campaign. Been there, done that, don' t worry.

More about Dengue Fever on Wikipedia.

St Barts hotel news: I have just read a press release from a company called Exclusive Resorts that has selected St Barts hotels Le Sereno and Le Toiny in its Once in a Lifetime list.

First, when I finished reading the press release, I must say that I was not sure to understand what Exclusive Resorts did. Was it a deluxe travel agency? I looked up on their website to know more. The company defines itself as a Destination Club.

It's a whole new concept in vacationing—combining the privacy and spaciousness of vacation homes with the services and amenities of luxury resorts. Members can:

Enjoy the ultimate in vacation variety and value. Choose from a worldwide portfolio of residences, many with access to luxury resorts, that individuals could never amass themselves.

Relax in grand residences perfectly appointed for your comfort without being tied down to a single vacation home (and its expenses and headaches).

Expect the utmost in service and amenities, including round-the-clock concierge service and privileged access to private golf courses, spas, beach clubs and more.

Exclusive Resorts pioneered this innovative approach to luxury vacation travel and we continue to be the leading luxury destination club.

The company has introduced a range of products called "Once in a Lifetime". In the "Once in a Lifetime for Couples" line, our St Barts hotels Le Sereno and Le Toiny have been selected.

Well, I think that it is a great choice for couples with money:
- Le Sereno has recently been redesigned by French master Christian Liaigre, it sits just on the lagoon, the restaurant has simple but good food.
- As for Le Toiny, I would say that it is slightly more upscale and a bit stiffer (in a good way, service is the best on the island).

Picture of Le Sereno (credit: Exclusive Resorts)

Picture of Le Toiny (Credit: Exclusive Resorts)

St Barts Island is a great destination for skippers from the world over. An article by local resident Ellen Lampert-Gréaux in All At Sea sums up St Barts' appeal.

Ms Lampert-Gréaux knows St Barts very well. As an American who has married a St Barts man whose family descends from the first French inhabitants of the island, she has a very good eye on St Barts.

Here, she tells us about skippers ought to expect what when calling in St Barts. Here are some titbits from her article:

The Port of Gustavia, the island’s only marina, can handle boats up to 60 meters (180’) at the dock, while larger mega-yachts anchor out in the harbor and run their guests in via tenders.
In the height of the winter season, the docks are full, as are the limited moorings in the inner harbor, so boats of all sizes anchor further out and there is a continuous flurry of dinghies zipping back and forth to the dock.
Be sure to let the port office know that you have arrived—and when moving about the harbor, remember that the maximum speed is just three knots. Skippers should also be sure not to anchor in the entry channel to the port.

It is a beautiful sight to witness some of the most beautilful yachts in the world crowding St Barts' tiny Gustavia harbor. If you want to see these boats, the best times are Christmas, New Year's Eve and April for the St Barts Bucket. I was lucky to aboard a small ship during this year's bucket. The site for the 2008 St Barts Bucket (sister to the Newport bucket) is already live.