St. John or St. Barts
 

My husband and I just graduated from Law School and took the BAR. We desperately need a vacation with plently of relaxation and great beaches. Although we would like to relax we are also adventurous and would like to do some activities as well. Based on this, where would you go ST. JOHN or ST. BARTS?

Depends what you are looking for. St. Barts is actually part of a Department of France. As such, it is white, French, good food, tres chic, good beaches. But not really representative of the true Caribbean, and only marginally scenic. The activities outside of the beach is shopping.
St. John is more lush, scenic, with some incredible beaches. 2/3 of St.John is National Park, with some interesting sights. Short ferry ride to St. Thomas for shopping and ferries to places in the British Virgin Islands. A really gorgeous part of the world. If you can afford Caneel Bay's prices, it is beachfront paradise at its best. On 170 acres within the National Park, with 7 tree-shaded white sand beaches, and wade-in snorkeling. No more than 24 rooms on any beach, romantic, views everywhere.

St. Barths is my favorite island in the Caribbean...it's beaches are prestine, the food fabulous, and the people kind and generous. It's mostly an island to go to for relaxation, although for activities, check out http://www.st-barths.com/guidepgs/sports.html and you'll find much to do, if you really want to be more adventurous. You will not be disappointed in St. Barths. It's just not possible.

I've been to St. John's and between the two, St. Barths is better in every way. Another great website is: http://www.st-barths.com/a_cam/index.html

Have a wonderful time!

Jill

Depends on what you want to do in terms of activities. We go to St. Barths every year, and do various activities (hiking, boat trips, snorkeling) that one would do on other islands, while also having great food (morning trips to the french bakery for a pain au chocolat that is nice and hot), great shopping, and hanging out on beautiful and secluded beaches. While I think the beaches on St. John are marginally nicer as a whole, I think the atmosphere in St. Barths can't be beat in the Carribean.

For more info on St. Barths go to www.sbhonline.com

Good luck planning.

Just to be a devil's advocate, I'd actually suggest Anguilla. The beaches are exceptional and luxury hotels abundant. You can also jump over to St. Martin for the day quite easily. But if it's activities, St. John offers more, in my opinion. There's also the issue of cost. The costs for a couple in Anguilla can be high, as can be the case in St. John. But St. Barts (particularly right now during the high season) is totally off the charts. The time of the year you are going is also an issue. If you want to go after May 1, then St. Barts becomes merely very expensive.

My husband and I both graduated from law school and took the bar during the summer of 2000. Three weeks after we took the bar, we got married and headed to St. John for our honeymoon. We had a fabulous time. St. John provided us with some much-needed relaxation and wonderful beaches. I can't speak to St. Barts or Anguilla (as the Fodor's editor suggested); however, we will be doing a split Anguilla/St. Barts trip in May. Please let me know if you have any specific questions about St. John. Congratulations on graduating from law school and best of luck with your bar results!

My husband and I spent our honeymoon in St. Barths April 2004 and we absolutely loved it. The only affordable way is to go in low season! We loved everything about it. I can't say we did too many activities besides lounge on the beach (Gouvenour is the best! No more than 10 people there at at time!) and try different restaurants. The food there is fabulous. If you do decide to go St. Barths, I would rent a villa since that gives you so much privacy. Try www.wimco.com. That's who we used. This is the only island we've been to in the Caribbean but I'm afraid to go anywhere else aas it might not live up to St. Barths!

We have been all over the Carribean, St Barts hands down, its just amazing. You can keep costs down, stay at Village st Jean, eat at places like Andys Hideaway, Pippirins Palace, and others, try the small place you will not be disappointed like Le Gloriette. The island is so Chic, little cars, girls in tiny dresses going back and forth to work on scooters, people visiting the beach on their extended lunch break in the afternoon, cheese burger in Paradise at le Select. Topless prevelant and no one has ever ever been nothing but very friendly to us, people in the supermarket actually remember us from year to year and say hello and chat with us like old friends. In the past 5 years we have been also to Tulum, Playa Del Carmen, Anguilla, Curacao, and St Matin, there is no place like St Barts.

Well, I have never been to St. John, so I can't say much about it, but I love St. Barts. I have been 3 times and hate to go anywhere else now. I have been to St. Martin, Aruba, Antigua, Anguilla, Mexico, Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands, and St. Barts is the best. I did love Angilla too though, but St. Barts is still my favorite. It is clean, quiet, has gourmet food, luxurious shopping, and great beaches. My husband and I do hike when we go and there was even a place that we hiked where we found a secret little cove to swim and lay out in. It is hilly and some of the roads are crazy to drive on, but it has great views and we love to explore. We would drive around and park and just find places to hike. We ended up finding private areas where other tourists never went too...actually even ended up finding the dump. It is expensive, but you can find little stores to pick up snacks during the day and there are a couple of burger places that are lower priced. They have incredible shopping with all kinds of unique little boutiques. It is also fun to drive around and look at all the great houses. We stay at the Tropical in St. Jean which is a great location and a nice hotel. There are fancier places, but we like being in St. Jean. It would definitely be relaxing because whenever we go it is quiet. The only bad part is flying in on the tiny plane, so we take a boat instead from St. Martin. Let me know if you have any specific questions about it if you end up choosing it!

I LOVE ST BARTH'S!!! Just hearing the name brings me to so many wonderful thoughts! The restaurants are so amazing....no other Carribean island can compair. The shopping is great too! Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, it is such a chic island. St Joh seemed more sleepier than St. Barths. The beaches are fabulous! Anguilla is a beautiful island as well, but I like the French better because they are more laid back when it comes to basically anything. We are going again next month! I can't wait!! Hope you have a wonderful vacation!