For St Barth, skip the ferry and fly out of the French side airport in Grand Case. You’ll save the Dutch side departure tax, and fares are lower. French-to-French protocols are looser, but bring your Passport and vax card.

St Barth can be outrageously expensive, or it can be no more expensive than St Maarten. It all depends on what you choose to do, and where you choose to go. Shopping at Diamond Genesis or Prada is one thing, shopping at Chamade or the Le Select shop is another. Having a beachside lunch at Eden Rock is one thing, grabbing a burger at Le Select is another.