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Billy and I have never been to St. Barth. Since we have been staying on Sint Maarten and there was an express ferry available, we decided to go to the island of the "rich and famous" for a few days. The day before we were to leave, Billy walked to the Express Ferry Office to get our tickets. It was $230USD round trip for the two of us to take the ferry St. Maarten – St. Barth – St. Maarten which seemed reasonable enough.

Sunset Hotel on St. Barth

We arrived at Port Gustavia from Sint Maarten via the Great Bay Express ferry in 45 minutes. The crew member had been right in saying the ferry ride between islands was very rough – and it was rougher than Billy or I had anticipated. Now we were on a new (for us) island destination, and we couldn't wait to scope it out.

Bar de L'Oubli is located in downtown Gustavia, St. Barth which is part of the French West Indies. It has a wonderful close up view of the harbor, which makes it a favorite of sailors, locals and tourists alike. Since we had just finished a disappointing meal at Le Select, a famous Jimmy Buffett hangout, and L'Oubli was located right across the street, we thought we'd give it a go.

Le Select is famously linked to Jimmy Buffett, a frequent visitor, who performed free concerts for the bar’s 50th, 60th, and 70th anniversaries. Most likely you are familiar with Buffett's mega-hit "Cheeseburger in Paradise." This song was inspired by a sailing trip in the Caribbean on his boat Eurphoria, which went awry. Rough weather in the Mona Passage between Hispaniola and Puerto Rico led to a broken bowsprit and a diet of canned food and peanut butter.

St. Barth turned into a luxury destination with extravagant hotels, boutiques, and dining set to attract opulent clientele. Not to mention that Port Gustavia is a tax-free port. Now, everything on the island tends to the upscale tourist who want their privacy and are willing to pay for it.

About a kilometer from downtown Gustavia, is a unique and picturesque beach known for its distinctive shoreline covered with countless small seashells. Naturally, it is called Shell Beach. It's the only "in-town" beach and is easily accessible from the marina.

We are spending time on St. Barth, a luxury island destination. It's a place for the rich, the super rich, the legendary and the illustrious. On this day, we took the short walk from downtown Gustavia to have a little beach time and to check out a favored and fashionable restaurant called Shellona.

On the St. Barth Ferry, Returning to Sint Maarten

Our short stay in St. Barth was ending. We ate at interesting restaurants, watched sunsets, and swam on a perfect beach but now it was time to say goodbye and head on back to Sint Maarten. Checkout time at our hotel was 10am and our ferry was leaving at 11. It was a beautiful morning, and a short walk to meet the ferry.

We have a beautiful view of the Port of Gustavia from our hotel room in the center of town. We took a 45 minute ferry from Sint Maarten to St. Barth over very choppy waters. We found that taxis are very expensive and there is no public transport, and no Uber or BOLT to get around. Still, the island is very beautiful and manicured. To view on Rumble, click here.

Just a 10 minute walk from downtown Gustavia is this priceless beach in a protected cove. Gentle waves lap on the shell-covered sand where beach babes and families spend the day relaxing. The famous Shellona Restaurant is on this beach. To view on Rumble, click here.

St. Barth hosts famous brand name clothing and jewelry stores. Names such as Bulgari, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and others. The island is a luxury destination with Caribbean flavors.Walk with Billy down Rue de la Republique which runs parallel to the Port of Gustavia where our ferry landed the day before. Indoor/outdoor restaurants, the oldest bar on the island and Le Select of Jimmy Buffett fame. To view on Rumble, click here. 

We are in the protected cove of Shell Beach on St. Barth. Weather is perfect, water is clear, and one of the best restaurants in town is right on this beach. Billy shows it all to you.... But then there's one more thing! And he tells you about Yankee, the taxi driver. To view on Rumble, click here.

It's perfection. Ideal weather, clear waters, uncrowded beach... And then Akaisha photo-bombs Billy's carefully crafted video. She's laughing so hard, she can barely swim! Join us in this splendid moment of humor and beauty. To view on Rumble, click here.

The sun is setting over Port Gustavia and we have the best view from our hotel. Deep purple and blues paint the sky with the gold of the lights making a stunning setting. It's our last night before we return to Sint Maarten by Ferry in the morning. To view on Rumble, click here.

Beautiful morning on the island as we wait for the Great Bay Express Ferry to take us back to Sint Maarten. St. Barth is a luxury vacation destination for the rich, the super rich the famous and the illustrious to come visit. It's a very clean island and is run by the French. To view on Rumble, click here.

After a few days on St. Barth where we swam on a perfect beach and ate in upscale restaurants, we are now taking the Great Bay Express Ferry back to Sint Maarten. From here, we'll fly to Nevis, West Indies to stay in a spacious villa. See links below. To view on Rumble, click here.