by Shannon Boone

Created on: July 31, 2010   Last Updated: September 28, 2010

The Caribbean island of St. Barthelemy , also commonly referred to as St Barths or St. Barts, is a relatively small island in size, spanning a total of only 8 square miles.  Although small, chic travelers come to this island so that they can experience a different type of life than they are used to, one of simplicity.  Most vacationers appreciate that they can "lock away" modern technology, and enjoy this tranquil slice of paradise.

St. Barthelemy was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493.  At the time, the native Caribs called it Ouanalao, but the islands was renamed Columbus.  He renamed it Bartholome, after his brother.  In 1648, the first French colonist came to inhabitate the island, claiming it for France.  But, this group was soon wiped out by the Carib natives on the island.  Another group later came to settle on the island in 1694 from Normandy and Brittany.  This group had much better luck than the first group and was able to prosper.  In 1784, the island was given to Sweden in exchange for trade rights in Gothenburg.  From that time, the island thrived as a shipping and commercial center until the 19th century, eventually however, things took a toll for the worse.  Earthquakes, fires, and hurricanes brought financial ruin to the island, so in turn, many of the residents that populated the island fled to newer lands that they felt they could thrive in.  At that point, Oscar II of Sweden decided that there was no more use for the land, so the island was sold back to France August 10, 1877.

Getting to St. Barths

There are no direct flights into St. Barths.  Not even private jets are allowed to fly in, so getting to the island may seem to be a bit of a hassle, as visitors to the island must fly to another island, and then catch an island-hopper plane onto the island.  The most common route is to fly into St. Maarten, and then take a 10 minute flight into St. Barths.  There are also ferries from St. Martin, but the schedules are more based to accommodate day trippers, so advanced planning is advised.

Getting Around St. Barths

A large majority of hotels on the island offer free airport transfers, but if a transfer is unavailable, there is a taxi stand at the airport.  Fares are unmetered, so it is best to agree on a set price before taking off to your destination,  Also, taxis are much scarcer at night, and an absolute must if you are staying in a villa,

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