Here you will find all the essential advice and information you will need before and during your stay in St. Barthelemy.
The weather in St. Barths is generally good year-round. The dry season lasts from December through May, while heavier rains are expected between June and November during the hurricane season. Most visitors arrange a trip during the winter season from January to April, when there are also a handful of cultural and sporting events.
There are no direct flights to St. Barths and a change of planes will be necessary. From neighboring St. Martin/Sint Maarten, there are islandhopping flights into Aéroport Gustave III, St. Barth’s only airport. Scheduled flights are offered by Winair and St Barth Commuter, and Air Caraïbes. Tradewind Aviation flies from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Visitors can also charter a plane through these companies. Travelers from Britain may choose to fly via Antigua, from where chartered planes to the island are available. It is also possible to make the link from St. Martin/Sint Maarten by boat. Daily ferries are also available, but can be quite unreliable and taking one of these might entail an overnight stay on St. Martin. The Voyager offers daily ferry service between St. Martin, Saba, and St. Barths. Though expensive, boats are available for private charter.
Crime is extremely rare in St. Barts but it’s still worth taking sensible precautions such as securing your valuables.
No vaccinations are needed to enter St. Barths. For medical emergencies there is an Accident and Emergency department at the Hôpital de Bruyn in Gustavia. However, it does not have enough facilities to handle complicated procedures and patients are transferred either to St. Martin or farther afield to Puerto Rico.
Entry regulations are the same as in France and the European Union. EU travelers are permitted entry without a visa. US and Canadian citizens can also enter on a passport without a visa. Other nationalities should check with their local French embassy. An onward or return ticket is needed.
Glamorous St. Barths is a favourite destination for all sexualities and LGBT+ visitors are welcomed due to the accepting nature of the French culture. Discrimination based on sexual orientation is banned and same-sex marriage has been legal and recognised since 2013.
The official currency of St. Barths is the euro. Banks are located in Gustavia and St-Jean, while ATMs are found around the island. Some American cards may not work in the local ATMs so visitors must check with their bank beforehand. Credit cards are accepted at all establishments connected with tourism, and some restaurants may offer a choice of either paying in euros or US dollars.
The telephone system in St. Barths is overseen by France Telecom and other providers such as Orange Caraïbe, which offer good cell-phone coverage and Internet in addition to landlines. Cell phones can be hired through a handful of shops. St. Barths’ International Direct Dialing code is 590. This is followed by a nine-digit number that begins with 590 for landlines and 690 for cell phones. Local calls can be made by dialing 0 before the nine-digit number. Visitors bringing cell phones should check with their service providers to determine if they will work in St. Barths and if they will be subject to roaming charges.
Although quite expensive, hiring a car is the best option in St. Barths. Vehicles can be delivered to the respective hotels and returned at the airport on departure. Most car rental companies, such as Europcar and Turbe Car Rental, are at the airport. A local driving license is not required here. Taxis are not readily available, particularly after dark, and during high season they may have to be booked days in advance. However, many hotels have their own cars that pick up guests arriving at the airport or the ferry dock. There are taxi stands at the airport and at the municipal parking in Gustavia. There are no buses or other forms of public transportation.
There is an efficient tourist office, the Office du Tourisme, on the waterfront in Gustavia. Abroad, the publicity for St. Barths is handled through the various Atout France offices around the world. Many publications on St. Barths offer useful information on facilities and activities available here. Visitor information can also be found on the useful St. Barths Online website.
Atout France
St. Barths Online
Need to know St. Barthelemy
Euro (EUR)
Need to know St. Barthelemy
Atlantic Standard Time, 4 hours behind GMT and 1 hour ahead of EST
Need to know St. Barthelemy
French
Need to know St. Barthelemy
The St. Barths electrical system delivers 220 volts at 60 cycles through standard French sockets
Need to know St. Barthelemy
POLICE, FIRE, AND
AMBULANCE
Need to know St. Barthelemy
Water comes from a variety of sources and is generally safe to drink but if in doubt, stick to bottled water