The jet set crowd has long had a love affair with the understated Caribbean beauty and chic French flavour of St Barths. Effortlessly opulent and undeniably stylish, at just eight square miles the island packs a punch, with white sands, designer boutiques, fine dining and ultra-luxe hotels. Peak season brings mega-yachts, Melissa Odabash bikinis and an exclusive Champagne lifestyle. Home to over 20 stunning beaches, this is a destination where Parisians come to lounge and the rich and famous show off their golden tans.
If you can tear yourself away from your luxury hotel, Flamands Beach on the northwest shore is the best on St Barths. Wide creamy sands merge with rolling surf and bright blue seas for fantastic swimming, tranquil sunbathing and oceanfront dining straight from the tank at La Langouste. Sugar white Gouverneur Beach is an idyllic cove that’s perfect for snorkelling and Saline Beach has calm waters and beautiful sands. Learn how to sail at St Barth Yacht Club, bodysurf at Anse des Cayes and windsurf at Lorient. For a slice of seclusion take a catamaran to Colombier Beach, or for a day with the locals follow the 'it' crowd to St Jean for stylish bars, beachfront hotels, crystal clear waters and iconic Nikki Beach. The airport runway ends here and it’s a great place to spot small planes jetting in for the spine-tingling St Barths landing.