St Barths is a Caribbean overseas territory of France along with other islands such as Martinique, Guadeloupe and St Martin.
The island is small consisting of only eight square miles but is a hotspot for top celebrities and A -listers.
Often times many persons wonder if St Barths is also a US Virgin Island. In this article we clarify this along with sharing some travel tips for this amazing Caribbean destination.
Is St Barths a US Virgin Island?
St Barths is not a US Virgin Island but an overseas territory of France. Martinique, Guadeloupe and St Martin are the other Caribbean islands that are also dependencies of France. Alternatively, the US Virgin Islands consists of four main islands being St Croix, St Thomas, St John and Water Island.
Where Is St Barths Located?
St Barths is located in the Northern Caribbean region approximately 15 miles Southeast of St Martin. The best time to visit is between the months of January to May when the weather is dry as opposed to the latter part of the year as the island is situated within in the hurricane belt.
Do You Need A Passport To Visit St Barths?
Yes, a valid passport is required for entry and exit from St Barths as well as proof of return ticket.
What Is The Country Code For St Barths?
The country code for St Barths is +590
Is St Barths A Good Place To Vacation?
St Barths is the perfect destination for persons seeking privacy, exotic French cuisine and amazing white sand beaches.
Saline beach is one of the most visited for its silky soft white sand and blue crystal clear waters.
It truly gives you the feeling of tranquility, remoteness and exclusivity.
In addition to phenomenal beaches, St Barths is one of the Caribbean islands ideal for foodies.
Some of the key restaurants to visit for fine French dining include Eddy’s Restaurant and Orega.
The island has also gained a reputation as being one of the best Caribbean islands to visit in December as there are numerous parties and elaborate firework displays to mark the Christmas festivities and to ring in the New Year.
As a result, many celebrities and yachts often flock to the capital city of Gustavia for the Christmas season.
Travel Tips For St Barths
.As an overseas department of France, the official currency of St Barths is the Euro which is managed by the European Central Bank.
Bank notes are available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euro dollars. Alternatively coins are available in 1 and 2 Euro dollars and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent pieces.
US dollars as well as major credit and debit cards are widely accepted by businesses around the island.
The official language of St Barths is French. Nevertheless, English is widely spoken by natives.
The island is located within the hurricane belt with the last hurricane to impact the country being Irma. This caused severe destruction and devastation to buildings and infrastructure.
St Barths is an excellent destination for luxury shopping. International brands such as Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Gucci have a retail presence.
There are ferry services available to neighboring islands of St Martin and Dutch Caribbean island of St Maarten. From these islands, there are onward connections via ferry to St Kitts, Saba, St Eustatius via Makana Ferry Services.
Additionally, there are also connections from both St Martin and St Maarten to Anguilla.
Gustaf III Airport is only suitable for smaller aircrafts and is known for having an extremely short runaway. International travelers visiting St Barths generally connect through the Princess Juliana Airport in St Maarten.
Final Thoughts
We hope that the information stated above was valuable as you prepare to visit St Barths.
Peradventure, if you are traveling to the island during the Caribbean hurricane season which begins June 1 to November 30 annually, it is prudent to consider travel insurance in the event of interruptions, cancellations or delays.
Need More Information?
We trust that the information contained in this post was helpful.
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Check out the following articles linked below for more information about St Barths.
Living In St Barths (Pros & Cons Fully Explained)
Best Currency for St Barths ( Travel Tips Included)
