St. Barths..Ile de France or Guanahani?
Nov 13th, 2005, 11:40 AM
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St. Barths..Ile de France or Guanahani?
Hi! I am considering my summer 2006 vacation in St. Barths. I am trying to decide between Ile de France and Guanahani. I typically like upscale, limited children around, great food, spa, nice beach, etc. What are the areas around both of these hotels like? Can anyone recommend any particular room(s) at these resorts? I will have a rental car. As well, I speak fluent French, and would prefer to be at a place less "American" so I can practice my French! Thanks everyone!
Nov 13th, 2005, 12:24 PM
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They are both very nice properties. The beach at Isle de France is much nicer and it is a little more upscale. I would pick Isle de France over Guanahani. There are other restaurants within walking distance to Isle de France, La Langouste which is wonderful. The spa is very nice at this resort as well. Flamands beach is one of the best beaches on the island.
Really you cannot go wrong with either property. St Barths is fantastic.
Actually I leave for St Barths on Friday! I am very excited.
Really you cannot go wrong with either property. St Barths is fantastic.
Actually I leave for St Barths on Friday! I am very excited.
Nov 15th, 2005, 05:52 AM
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Can someone tell me, please, what snorkeling is like on St Barts? I assume it's nowhere near as good as on St John, for instance, but is it sort of ok? I mean off-beach snorkeling-- not the kind where one has to take a boat out. We've been to so many other places in the Cribbean and have always wanted to visit St Barts, but snorkeling is our main pleasure and we've suspected we'd be disappointed on that score. Thanks for in-put.
Nov 19th, 2005, 02:30 PM
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St. Barts is not a great place to snorkel. We did some off Flamands beach near Ile de France, and also St. Jean beach near Eden Roc. Both were so-so. If snorkeling is really your passion, try someplace else. Have you been to Turks and Caicos? At Coral Gardens resort on Provo, snorkeling off the beach is wonderful. The reef starts about 5 yards from the shoreline and is in very good shape. There are also large turtle grass beds where you can see lots of large hawksbill turtles most of the time. The beach there is wonderful -- glistening white and powder soft. We have traveled all over the Caribbean and it is one of our favorites.
Nov 29th, 2005, 04:29 PM
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I'd agree, Isle de France is the nicer hotel of the two on the pretty beach at Flamands. The only issue with both of them is that in summer when it's a little warmer, in our opinion it's better to be a little higher wherever you are on the Island where you can get a little breeze. We stay on the Flamands hillside above IDF in a private villa, Flamands Blue, and walk down to the hotel spa.
Snorkeling? SB has excellent places:
Colombier beach, Marigot, and to nearby Isle Forchue by 1/2 day on one of the sailboats.
have a great trip!
Snorkeling? SB has excellent places:
Colombier beach, Marigot, and to nearby Isle Forchue by 1/2 day on one of the sailboats.
have a great trip!
Nov 30th, 2005, 04:14 PM
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We just returned from 2 weeks in St Barths. We rented a villa. It was interesting we only saw 1 person snorkeling the entire time, and we went to many different beaches. The water was really rough compared to how it normally is and most people were surfing!
