7 days in St Barths- Somewhere quaint to stay?
 

For our honeymoon we will be doing a week in Anguilla -having a more luxury, pampered style vacation. The following week we would love to go to St. Barths - I know it's an expensive,upscale island however we would like to spend slighlty less (maybe $250-350/night) and have the accomodations a little less fancy and more down to earth - with out being too generic... like a hotel with 100's of rooms or an upscale big resort. Something quaint. <BR>Hopefully I'm being somewhat clear?!?! <BR>Any input would be a big help! <BR>Thanks!

Try La Banane <BR>http://www.st-barths.com/la-banane/index.html <BR>Depending on when you're going it might fit the bill. <BR> <BR>Or Tropical Hotel http://www.st-barths.com/tropical-hotel/index.html <BR> <BR>or try a cottage http://www.st-barths.com/accomodatio...ttagerent.html <BR>Le Manoir looks very nice <BR> <BR>Have fun!

Ive been going to St. Barths for 15 years. My favorite place to stay is Manapany. It is the best place on the island. Two other places I would recomend are Guanahani and Carl Gustaf. I f you have any other questions feel free to email me back. Hope you have an amazing time.

When are you going...high season/low season? It makes a big difference as far as prices. Also, St. Barth doesn't have any high rises with 100's of rooms. Most of the hotels have around 10 to 20 rooms.

We will be going in May. Thanks for the info. I guess I knew there weren't any big hotels on St Barths- I was just trying to explain the feel of what we definitely didn't want. Thanks so much!

You should contact St. Barth's Properties and consider staying in a villa. It would be a change from your accomodations in Anguilla. <BR> <BR>We stayed in Villa Mimosa, a one bedroom villa, high over the ocean with a great pool and deck near Goveneur. A villa is a great way to do St. Barths.

Check out www.wimco.com, if you haven't already. In Aug. 99, we booked a 7-night package at Eden Rock through Wimco. Eden Rock was an amazing hotel. It's really expensive in the winter, but I think the rates might be reasonable in May. Also, if you call Wimco, the people there are very knowledgeable about St. Barts.

Yes the Wimco agents are knowledgeable, but also cranky, short tempered and can't be bothered with too many questions or details. The agents at St. Bart properties are much nicer, even though their villas aren't as nice as Wimco's. <BR> <BR> <BR>

The Eden Rock hotel is an "amazing" hotel?!? Compared to what -- the Four Seasons on Maui, the Four Seasons on the Big Island, the Ritz-Carlton on Maui, the Four Seasons on Nevis, the Ritz-Carlton on St. Thomas?!? "Amazing," indeed! PLEASE!!!

Doug - Whoa?!! We're talking St. Barths here and the Eden Rock is a fabulous small hotel. You can't compare St. Barth to Hawaii. It has a totally different ambience about it and it is a tiny island. And "Ritz Calton on St. Thomas"....comparing anything in St. Thomas to St. Barth is like comparing Paris to Harlem. By the way, have you even been to SB?

St. Barths to Harlem? Your racist attitude is unaccepptable. Been to Harlem lately? Maybe you should check it out before you speak so unkindly.

I agree Anya, and you are not the first to make the comment about Wimco's agents being cranky. They can hardly be bothered with answering any questions. You'd think they'd change their tune because their reputation isn't great.

Jean, <BR> We have rented villas twice, once from Wimco and once from St Barth Properties. St Barth Properties are easier to deal with. I think a villa is the way to go in St Barths, we love the privacy and convenience of a home particularly if you have a private pool. Our 1st trip was in 1994 and we spent a week on Anguilla and a week in St Barths at villa MAG - a great trip! <BR> <BR>If interested, our trip report is on Caribbean Travel Roundup web site - www.caribtravelnews.com. <BR> <BR>The hotels I did check into were Village St Jean (up the hill from St Jean Beach) and Emeraude Plage which is beachfront and next to Eden Rock. These are more moderately priced than what you are looking for but might fit the bill. <BR>Have fun, Jamie

Anon -- okay, perhaps the hotel comparison was a bit unfair since all of the ones mentioned are larger, more luxurious resorts. BUT, I still maintain that the Eden Rock is still unimpressive and looks like an old barn. I have stayed at the Guanahani and found it quite nice although the standard rooms are definitely unimpressive there as well! As for St. Thomas, I do agree with you and would never go back but the Ritz nevertheless is a wonderful property! Ditto for Nevis -- would never go back!!

Just interested, why would you never go back to St Thomas. I was considering St Thomas and St John for next years hols. Am curious as to why you would not return. <BR>Thanks <BR>angela

Hotel Le banane!!!!!! Not only was it charming and serene but chic as well! The service is great, the breakfast is divine and the pool is beautiful. I was there in July and fell in love with the place despite its perhaps, midleading name. Truly fabulous!

Thanks so much for all of the input. We are now leaning towards renting a small villa for the week. Should we look for one right on the beach - though more expensive? All the villas I have found appear to be set up in the hills with gorgeous views and a pool but no beach - Is it a big deal to have to drive to the beach every day? <BR>Also, since we will be in a villa doing our own cooking- we're looking forward to walking to some gocery stores to buy our own things - Are the prices really expensive for meat and produce etc....? Is there a good way to go about food shopping on the island?? <BR>Once again Thank you!

Personally, we prefer staying up in the hills where the views are breathtaking. It's not a problem to drive to any of the beaches. Most are within about 10 minutes from anywhere. <BR> <BR>You asked about walking to a grocery. Unless you happen to be staying very close to a market, it's not that feasible to walk since the roads are very narrow, winding and hilly, expecially if your villa is located high in the hills. <BR> <BR>We don't usually do much cooking while we're there except for breakfasts so I can't help you much with grocery prices. I will say that the prices for breakfast items are higher than at home, but not outlandish.

Jean I have never been to St.Barts, but a few years ago on Anguilla at Cap Juluca I met a wonderful travel writer. We were discussing where to stay and she said the BEST place to stay in St. Barts is to rent a villa! One of these days I will give it a try!

Jean, <BR> <BR>I just back from St. Bart's yesterday. We stayed at the Village St. Jean - which was very nice. We booked our accomodations through St. Bart's properties and found they were very helpful. VSJ is very pretty, has a great view and an open air kitchen. I would not call it luxury - but it was very nice and so were the people who ran it. Hope you have a wonderful honeymoon!