Three of my favourite things to do in St Barths

St Barts is a French Island, and it is no surprise that the food in St Barths is one of the best things the island has to offer.

22:51 17 June 2019

1. The Famous Hike to Colombier Beach
   
   

Colombier beach offers a white sandy landscape that much quieter than any of the other beaches on the island, making it a hidden paradise. However, to get to Colombier beach, you need to earn it!

You can only get to this beautiful beach by foot or boat, which makes it more worthwhile once you get there as the views are so breath-taking. There are two ways to get to the beach, the difficult path and the easier path. I would suggest the more difficult path for the more adventurous type as it takes a bit longer and is a lot steeper so it wouldn’t be suitable for younger children or those with restricted mobility. The longer path starts higher up in Colombier, and you will encounter the occasional mountain goat or iguana but important to note these are harmless and great for photo opportunities.

Halfway through the hike, you will come to a rocky overlook with the most breath-taking view, and you will you need to find an opening to make your way down to the gorgeous beach. The shorter path, which is approximately 30 mins, starts from the end of Flamands beach and is much shorter in length. It is also much flatter in comparison and would be suitable for older children and the elderly that are more active. I had a wonderful swim on my visit to the beach. The water was so warm, and it was the perfect beach to have a picnic as the majority of the time, you will feel you have the entire beach to yourself.

Tips:

• Go early in the morning before it gets too hot and makes sure to bring water to ensure you keep hydrated.
  
  
• Also, don’t forget the sun cream and make sure to wear suitable shoes such as hiking shoes or sneakers.
  
  
• Avoid wearing sandals and flip flops as some parts of the hike can be rocky etc.
  
  
• Bring a small picnic to enjoy when you get there and don’t forget the camera!
  
  

 

2. Shopping for Style
   
   

One of my favourite things to do is park the car in Gustavia and check out all the wonderful shops the capital has to offer. I get such a buzz from checking out all the latest fashion. St Barths have some of the most beautiful boutiques plus all the world knew designer labels such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton. St Barths is a shopping paradise, especially if you love designer shops and chic island style. I also love to sit in a café in Gustavia, and just people watch. The style is incredible on the island, and everyone is dressed to impress with the latest styles. St Jean also has several boutiques that are worth checking out and are within walking distance from the Eden Rock Hotel. St Barths is considered the best for shopping in the Caribbean, and the best thing is that it is duty-free, so it is a must when visiting the island.

 Tips:

• Travel in May or mid-October to avail of the best annual sales
  
  
• Stores usually close from noon to 3 but open until 7 pm most days
  
  
• Don’t forget the credit card!
  
  

3. Dining French style

St Barts is a French Island, and it is no surprise that the food in St Barths is one of the best things the island has to offer. The island has a passion for fine dining, which pushes the chefs to be creatively inspired. Many of the restaurants thoughtfully create their dishes like a piece of art. St Barths is a gourmet paradise with all its impressive variety of restaurants, all of which are as good as the next. It is difficult to find anywhere on the island that doesn’t serve delicious food. It is not only French food that is popular on the island, but the restaurants also offer Italian and Asian dishes at most restaurants so if you are a fan of sushi and pizza, you won’t be disappointed.

My favourite is trying anything with seafood as you know it is the freshest you can find usually caught that morning and a lot of the restaurants create creole type dishes which are amazing and like nothing, I have tasted anywhere else in the world. There are so many restaurants on the island and not enough time, so the best thing is trying new places on every visit. When eating out at some restaurants on the island, they have mini fashion shows on certain days at lunch where models debut the new styles that the local boutiques have which our guests love. It is great to be able to shop and lunch with friends and family at the same time.

Tips:

• Bonito – French restaurant for a special night and they also serve delicious cocktails
  
  
• If you love Thai food – try Black Ginger in Gustavia
  
  
• Nikki beach on a Sunday for their themed lunch party is great fun
  
  
• Le Ti restaurant for a party while dining and bring your dancing shoes
  
  

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