St. Barths/ St. Barts or any other name may be used for this island; it’s a small luxurious island in the Caribbean region. It’s well-known for its luxury, high-class way, and cost of living; celebrities and many rich people often visit St. Barts. It’s common to spot billionaires taking a dip on the beaches of St. Bart or partying on their private yachts. Crystal clear waters lure water sports enthusiasts to jump in or just lay out on white sand for an afternoon. Fresh water is scarce on the island, so to manage it, they have several desalination plants or large cisterns built into villas and hotels to collect rainwater.
The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus.
Before traveling to Saint-Barthelemy, you would want to know its origin and discovery. In the year 1493, famous explorer Christopher Columbus came across this Caribbean island and named it after his brother Bartolomeo. The French were the first to capture the island and form a colony, however in 1784, the French decided to sell the island to Sweden. Swedish changed the name of the capital to Gustavia after the name of Swedish king GUSTAV III. In 1878, France repurchased the island and gave it under the administration of Guadeloupe. However, the island still contains various Swedish landmarks and appellations, such as Swedish streets and town names.
Gustavia is the main city of the island.
The red-roofed capital of Saint Barthelemy, Gustavia, is founded on the coast of a stunning bay. This lovely city is quite famous for its restaurants, cafes, and markets that offer delicious sandwiches, mouth-watering desserts, and naturally-found salads. Apart from high-class dining, you will also find duty-free shops selling everything from Havana cigars and French perfumes to Italian designer clothes and fine wines. Here, if you are looking for locally made items, there are 200 shopping options. There is a Historical Museum, an old church with a bell tower, and Vieux Clocher. Saint Barthelemy’s capital has a lot to offer to you.
Celebrity’s Getaway
Many celebrities have made St. Barthelemy their favorite vaccation spot due to its luxurious stay and high-end amenities. Although St. Bart is an exclusive gateway, its glamorous vibe beckons famous persons, including Jay-z, Beyonce, Gwen Stefani, and Derek Jeter. Sunbathers often spot them having the time of their lives, as it’s a simple destination away from the noise of the city. Travel to St. Barts to get autographs of your favorite personalities, with a chance to eat in the best restaurants in Gustavia.
The tiny runway of the tiny airport
St. Barts’s’s tiny airport will help tourists land on this beautiful island. Locals name the airport “Gustaf III Airport” because its history dates back to King Gustav III of Sweden. This Airport’s runway is very tiny, like the one you may have seen on YouTube videos of crazy plane landings. The runway leads to a beach, which means sunbathers have a chance to see the newcomers landing on the island. Due to its size, only small planes can land in Saint Barthelemy. Moreover, it’s operated for charter flights from its neighboring St. Maarten, Antigua, or San Juan. No direct flights are available at this airport from the mainland to the island.
Water is a scarce resource on the island
This volcanic island experiences 300 sunny days every year. With very little fresh water, Inhabitants on the island are forced to adapt to desalination plants or large cisterns. Villas and hotels usually build large cisterns as a way to store rainwater. If we talk about the west coast, it’s much drier with shrubs and cactus presence. However, the east coast is flourishing with tropical vegetation like floral species.