Vacationing in St. Barts

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from blogger, Anisa of www.twotravelingtexans.com

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You always hear about celebrities vacationing in St. Barts (more formally referred to as St. Barthelemy).  The island, which is a short ferry ride away from St. Martin, is known as a playground for the rich and famous.  So of course, when Katherine and I were in St. Martin, we decided we should do a day trip to St. Barts and see what all the fuss is about.

We did some research and felt like the Great Bay Express from Bobby’s marina (on the Dutch side of St. Martin) was the best option.  It was actually a pretty rough ride but luckily it only takes 45 minutes.   Some people refer to it as the “vomit comet”.  We sat on the upper deck and tried to enjoy the views while we were being rocked up and down.  If you are worried about getting seasick, there are also flights.  The airport in St. Barts is between the sea and a mountain, so I can imagine that the landing might be a bit scary.

We rented a car so that we would be able to explore the island at our own pace.  St. Barts is beautiful, with lots of greenery and mountains.  The driving was relatively easy although we did accidentally go down a street the wrong way once!

The beautiful and quiet Saline Beach
Photo: @twotravelingtexans

Our first stop was Saline Beach, which was absolutely beautiful.  The beach is a 5 minute walk from the parking lot.   The walk is very easy – no speciality footwear is required.  We were lucky to almost have the beach to ourselves, so we were able to both be in the water while our belongings were in a bag on the sand.  We carefully monitored the bag to ensure that no one was getting near it, and we didn't go too far out in the water.  There was one guy who was totally naked that decided to sunbathe on the beach (without a towel) which seemed odd to us, but we just carried on as we had faced similar situations in St. Martin.  If you do visit Saline Beach, you should be aware that it doesn't have any facilities.

The water at Saline Beach was just perfect
Photo: @twotravelingtexans

Our next stop was lunch.  We decided to splurge and visit Sand Bar, a Jean George restaurant, which is located at the Eden Rock hotel.  The setting was stunning, we sat with a view of St. Jean Beach.  From our table we could see the planes take off and land from the airport.  The food was excellent as well, although it was expensive.  After lunch, we walked on the beach and got in the water for a little bit.  Also, close by there is a location of the internationally known beach club Nikki Beach, which is a nice place to get a drink.

Truffle pizza at The Sandbar
Photo: @twotravelingtexans

Then, it was time to continue our drive.  We headed to the northwest part of the island.  The mountains were beautiful and the views of the ocean were just stunning.  So we stopped frequently to walk around and take pictures.  Then we decided to return the car and head back towards the ferry.

View From our drive on the northwest part of St. Bart
Photo: @twotravelingtexans

Since the ferry terminal is in Gustavia, there are some nice shops and places to grab food and drinks close by.  Before looking at the shops, we stopped in at Le Select, which is known for its burgers and as a great place for casual drinks.  Some people even think Jimmy Buffet's song "Cheeseburger in Paradise" is written about this place.  Then we visited shops along Rue de Republique, but it was more expensive than in St. Martin or the US.  Most places in St. Barts do accept both Euros and Dollars.

Nice view of the sun setting on our ferry back to St. Martin
Photo: @twotravelingtexans

Then after a lovely day of exploring a beautiful island, it was time to head back.  I was a little hesitant to get back on the ferry, but luckily the ride back was smooth.  I can understand why celebrities like to come to St. Barts, it really is beautiful and sophisticated.