We decided to give St Barths another try this time by air.
This time by air using St Barth Commuter outof Grand Case. The flight over was smooth and you fly right over orient Beach and Club Orient. We could see they raked some seaweed this morning to create a wide entry path into the water. The flight takes about 10 minutes and the landing is neat and smooth. Great pilot.
We rented from Sixt and car was ready on arrival. The roads on SBH are steep, really steep and narrow. We used WAZE ap to navigate. Dont think we would have found anything looking at a map.
To start, we went to Saline Beach. As you approach there is a trapped water basin that really stinks but we kept going and arrived at a parking lot with a handful of cars. You have to walk up a steep path with rocks. Not handicap accessible for sure. The fitbit had the heart rates up high. At the peak you reach sand and then downhill to the beach. The beach is beautiful blue and the sand is very fine. There were only a few people at either end and no one in the middle where the path brings you to the beach. We flipped a coin and went left may e 75 yards and laid down our towels.
Its hot. The sand blows the fine sand evry once in awhile and it is not pleasant. It would be nice to have chairs and an unbrella and drinks.
We stripped down but were the only ones. We got in the water to wash off the sand and the water is nice and clear. You can see through the waves as the crest. But it was hot and sandy and so we headed out.
We went to JoJoBurger and they did not have food yet so we had a water and a Carib for 10E. Still hungry we left and headed for Grand and Petit Cul de Sacs. We found em but didnt look like any great place to park amd settle on a beach so drove through Marigot and then headed for GouvenorsnBeach. Steep roads descending to and there was valet parking only so we flipped around and left.
This time we ended at Shell Beach. Valet parking again so we took it. 15E or $18 for the day. They had a restaurant but were booked for the day. Many empty beach chairs but they were booked for the day. Money talks. So we plopped on the shelly beach for 45 min to an hour. Several yachts must of bought up all the chairs. No breeze. Hot. A few topless here.
Got back in the car and headed to St Jean Beach. We took the valet again from Park and Chill (run the parking show everywhere on island possibly) for same price and went to newly reopened Nikki Beach Restaurant and Bar. This place was really hoppin with ultrachic people and a fashion show. 2 entres and 4 Carona ser us back an even 100E.
Walked a few minutes and sat in Eden Rock beach chairs for 100E. Killed the rest of our time.
Put some gas in the car and took her back to the airport.
If I go back I would fly over for sure from Grand Case and take a cab to Eden Rock or Nikki Beach and park it. Just too much tourist stress,narrow steep roads that were fun to survive once, and people working hard to look good but didnt look very relaxed on their vacation.
