St. Bart's - Guanahani or Isle De France?
 

Hi,<BR><BR>We are going to St. Bart's on our honeymoon, in June 2003, and we can't decide where to stay. Please advise on any and all suggestions! Thanks.

Go to sbhonline.com its a site dedicated to SBH

Both hotels are excellent. Isle De France is on Flamands Beach which can be windy at times but the hotel and restaurant are 5 star. Guanahani is on the other side of the island and made its own beach out at the point. You can't go wrong with either one.

Isle de France usually gets the better reviews between the two hotels. The surf at Flammand's baie is usually pretty rough and windy but the water at the Guanahani is so calm that it's nearly stagnant and there tends to be a lot of seaweed in the water there. Guanahani, even though it's small, generally has more of a large resort feel while the Isle de France has a more intimate atmosphere. <BR><BR>Follow previous poster's advice and visit www.SBHOnline.com. It's strictly a St. Bart's forum.

Isle de France is a beautiful hotel right on Flamands Beach. We stayed there in May in a garden bungalow that was very private and beautiful. (You can read my very detailed review at www.cieux.com under We're Back) It has a great restaurant with a nice breakfast buffet. There are two pools, one above the beach the other in the garden area between bungalows which is always quiet and very private.<BR><BR>We have stayed at Guanahani many years ago and didn't like the beach at all, or the property. It feels closed in compared to Isle de France. We do however enjoy going there for lunch by the pool.<BR><BR>Have a wonderful time on SBH!

Check out this website. First we Americans are bashed for not being accepting of nude beaches, now we're being accused by a French person who claims American nudists on St. Barths are ruining the island. Aren't the French people *known* for nudity? We just can't win!<BR><BR>http://www.cieux.com/nudity.html

I don't know what to tell you. It just worked for me.

First, both of them are excellent places. Isle de France is, along with Le Toiny) one of the 2 best places on the island. It is a quieter place than Guanahani with less activities, and will have far nicer (gorgeous, in fact) accommodations and service. It is also on Flamands beach, which has surf that can get a bit rough at times but is pretty, swimmable and never crowded. Guanahani has more activities &amp; facilities, less privacy, accommodations that are nice but don't approach those of Isle de France, and is located where you have a choice of ocean beach (Anse Marechal) which is nice but small or a protected lagoon (Grand Cul de Sac), which is so tame it's dull.<BR>If you want some place with a bit of activity around you choose Guanahani. If you want elegance, lots of quiet and privacy, choose Isle de France.

Isle de France-no contest!