If you were traveling to St Barts, would you rent

Or do a tour. Have experience driving on left side of road. Want to spend time on a beach. What does the ones who've done this day trip say? Merci! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Roads on SBH are just like roads in Europe - drive on the right hand side.

The roads there aren't easy for a 1st timer. Our first time we hired a taxi and it worked out great. That was a long time ago, but if there are tours, that sounds good. You HAVE to see Saline Beach.

i highly recommend having a car on SBH...even when we've only gone on daytrips, we've rented a car for the single day...as has been said, driving is on the right hand side of road like the US (Anguilla is on the left side), and is no big deal...although i do recommend a small car <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Can you still rent the little Mini Mokes on St. Barts?
Years ago we had a blast driving around the island in one of these pint sized, open air little vehicles!

Hey, thanks. They do still rent those comskier. I found them when looking at rental cars. That would be fun! I am sorry, I thought St. Barts was left side, but I see its right. Ooops. Any other things we need to do while there or where to eat??
Merci!

Its been a few years since we rented a minimoke on St. Barths, but they were all standard transmission if that matters to you. The roads are steep and windy & fun to drive on.

not sure if you can still find a Mini Moke to rent, but Mini Cooper convertibles are de rigeur these days <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

Oops. Maybe electric car I'm thinking of. Anyone have experience with those?

In my opinion, I'd suggest the following for a day trip:

Other than the cost of renting a car, if you want to bop around to your own choice spots for the day, absolutely you can rent a car. It's not hard to drive there if you can deal with hills and narrow roads, get an automatic if concerned. Getting lost isn't an issue, very easy. Personally, a Suzuki Jimney (compact 4wd) is great. Easy to maneuver and if you get a rain shower, the 4wd is nice for getting around on the hills. Parking is mostly only an issue in Gustavia, and off season, I wouldn't worry.

We took a tour the first time we visited for a day trip many years ago, figured our time was too short to enjoy spots we wanted to visit (like Saline) so we bailed out and walked (mistake!).

Here's a thought, get a little of both sides of the St. Barts experience by spending a few hours on Saline, then spending a few hours at St. Jean beach (try Tom Beach Hotel beach), and get a the tropical paradise scene and the "scene". From there its an easy shot to get to either the airport or the ferry. (Again, if you can, I'd take the plane on St. Barths Commuter, it's so quick and not much more $)

Alternatively, as long as I'm spending your money, spend a night! There are a couple of guest houses that are reasonable. Then you won't feel so much time pressure and could still take the ferry to offset some of the cost.

We always extend our SXM trips with 4 days or so on SBH because its such a nice change of pace for us.

Have fun! Cheers!

I haven't checked the rental fleets in awhile, but there were a very few old Mokes around a year or so back. There are now brand new Mokes, which may be in the rental fleets. I'm betting they'll be pricey.

We have talked about spending a few nights in St Barths since we have been there once on a daytrip. Where would you recommend staying? Do you stay in town?

The only real choice to stay in town is the Sunset Hotel. It's not expensive as St Barth hotels go, and it's nothing fancy. Pass on the Pres'quile unless you like roughing it, and the Hôtel de la Collectivité is the town hall, not a hotel. The Carl Gustaf, the luxury hotel overlooking the harbor, has new owners but isn't expected to be back online until 2017.

Other places to consider away from town include La Normandie, Hôtel Le Village, and P'tite Morne. La Normandie is a small boutique hotel which is located a short walk from the beach in Lorient. Hôtel Le Village St Barth (formerly Village St Jean) is up the hill from the beach at St Jean. P'tite Morne is out near the west end of the island. Depending on the time of year, any or all of them may have minimum stay requirements.

We always stay at Fleur de Lune over by Saline and have become friendly with their lovely owners - good people. It's a little out of the way but since we generally beach it at Saline and always get a car, getting around is easy. Have heard nice things about Saline Garden Cottages and Normandie as well.

personally, my favorite beaches are Shell Beach and Colombier...Shell beach is right in the main town of Gustavia, but Colombier is only accessible by a 20-30 minute off-road hike, (or by boat)...beautiful beach with decent snorkeling...definitely worth checking out if you have the time

If you are a Jimmy Buffett fan, visit Le Select at the foot of Gustavia harbor - the home of the "cheeseburger in paradise". Not haute cuisine, but alot of JB photos (used to be one of his hangouts).

Thanks you guys. We are so close to our trip dates. Can't wait! Had anyone rented an electric car? Or seen one driven around. We like the looks of them! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

Mokes are no longer available as rentals on the island.

Definitely grab something with some grab and smaller is better.

The deductible on the insurance is $1,000 and most biting rocks do less damage than that.

Be super cautious backing in and out of tight spots and driveways. There are rocks everywhere.

The maid who takes care of a friend's villa on St Barth drives a 2-seater Gem. It has no doors, and can get messy if it rains, just like the Mokes. From what she says, it's not the greatest hill climber, but it will get there eventually.

A Daytrip To St. Barths Is Worth The Travel

While you are visiting our lovely island of St. Maarten and enjoying the tastes of France that only the St. Tropez of the Caribbean can bring you, you owe it to yourself to take a daytrip to our lovely island neighbor St. Barths. It is only 22 miles away and an air charter can get you into the capital of the island, Gustavia, in the shortest time so you can have the most time to enjoy all the sights, sounds, and differences of a Caribbean island that was originally a Swedish colony.

St. Barths has long been a winter haven for the rich and famous but that does not mean just ordinary folk cannot enjoy the natural beauty, the quiet island life, the pristine beaches, and the distinctly authentic shopping experience in St. Barths. Being already just 30 minutes away from one of the most spectacularly unique and sophisticated of the “French” Islands in the Caribbean means a daytrip to St. Barths is a must do for the Caribbean trip of a life time that you can brag about forever.

St. Barths is easily accessible and affordable if you come to St. Maarten by plane, cruise ship, or on your own yacht.

St. Barths is basically a reef. If diving and exploring for sea life is one of the items on your “bucket list”, St. Barths offers an infinite variety of fish, coral, and sea creatures that are unique to all the Caribbean. The fishing is superb as well. The island has a thriving surfing community and a yearly calendar of boat races that feature the fastest of sail boats and the tall ships of days long past.

The beaches on St. Barths still retain a pristine quality that is hard to find. Miles of beaches topped by rocky volcanic crags and a spectacular ocean view provide the perfect hideaway for a kindling of romance. The natural beauty of some of the most exotic and rarest flowers in the world makes the island a true Eden.

The 80 restaurants on St. Barths provide one of the largest varieties of cuisine in the Caribbean. The best of French food, local Creole delicacies, Asian, Italian and almost every type of cuisine in the world can be found on St. Barths. The wine list on the island is second to none.

Shopping is a change of pace on St. Barths. Hand-woven bags and hats made by local people are a treasure to everyone that visits the island. Naturally, all the best designers from all over Europe have a shop on St. Barths to cater to the rich and famous.

A daytrip to St. Barths from St. Maarten will astonish and delight you. The natural beauty, the red roofed houses, and the wonderful beaches, the variety of food, and the best shopping in the world make a daytrip to St. Barths one of the best things you will remember most from a visit to the Caribbean.

Terrance Rey

Hi kdskis2,

Saw your post on SBHonline.com and it inspired me to come up with this article. Hope it inspires you.

Terrance

We were there for a week a few years ago, stayed in a small 1 bedroom villa and had a rental car. Everything you have said about St. Barts is right on! It was well worth the trip, would we do it again, Probably. And we did not have to break the bank to stay there.

Oh yes, Terrence ....definitely. Thx! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Glad to hear it, LBI2SXM.
You're welcome to try it again. Second time's a charm! :-)

The New Jersey Sunday Record newspaper travel section, published an article about the writer's experience vacationing in Saint Bart's .it was very enlightening.

Thanks Bahston and Carlnsue for the recommendations for places to stay. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thanks.gif" alt="" />