St Barts Island - Frequently Asked Question About Travel to St Barts

Most villas and vacation rentals in St Barts have a 3 pm check-in time on arrival day, however the villa may be available before that time so check with your pre-arrival or on-island. Check out time is 12pm on the day of departure. You can request a later check-out time if the villa does not have an arrival that day.

St. Barts is a very relaxed island and apart from not entering shops in bathing suits, the unwritten dress code is casual-chic, especially at lunch. For dinner, even in the nicest restaurants, casual wear is welcomed – for women a casual dress or skirt will do, and for men khakis and button down shirts are fine. In fact jackets and ties would appear out of place. The St Barts style is casual but smart.

We strongly recommend that you rent a car, which will enable you to explore the island, visit the gorgeous beaches and dine around – all of which will be vacation highlights. You can drive from one end of the island to the other in only 20 minutes. There is no public transportation in St Barts, very few taxis, and no Uber or Lyft service, various types of convertibles, SUVs, jeeps and enclosed sedans are available for rent by the day in St Barts. Due to limited supply, we suggest you let your pre-arrival concierge know your preference for a rental car as far in advance as possible. For those evenings or long lunches when you prefer not to drive, we can arrange for a private driver service to provide transportation.

St Barts is located in the Leeward Islands of the Eastern Caribbean Sea. The climate is temperate and dry. There is a brief rainy season in the fall. You can access the most up to date weather information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Yes, there are banks with ATMs in St Barts, and you can use your debit card to withdraw euros, the official currency of St Barts. Most restaurants and shops in St Barts accept both US dollars and Euros. The exchange rate is calculated based on the best available rate that day. The best exchange rate is most often available through the ATM and your credit card company. Most major credit cards are accepted by most businesses on St Barts island, however it is good to ask each business before you purchase anything. There are a few ATM machines on the island: two in Gustavia next to Le Select café and one near the airport, which will give you EUROs.

Yes, most cell phone carriers offer international calling plans for travel to St Barts, which we suggest activating before you leave to insure uninterrupted service.

Yes, all villas that are enrolled in local villa rental agency inventories have Wi-Fi service as do most local businesses. All villas re equipped with at least one television. Most have TVs in the bedrooms. TV services range from offering satellite to internet TV and services like Netflix.

The voltage on St. Barth is 220v, 60 cycles, not 110v as in the United States. If you intend to bring electric razors, hairdryers, cell phone chargers, etc., we suggest you bring a transformer to change from square to round pins. These are available for purchase on St. Barts although you may not want to spend your vacation in electronic stores! Adapters will be provided by WIMCO St Barth Properties in your villa upon your arrival. Please be aware that all

Yes, there are several licensed baby sitting services in St Barts as well as independent baby sitters. Please let your pre-arrival concierge know well in advance if you require this service as well as the days and hours necessary. Please be sure to tell us if you need a crib, a high chair or any rental equipment for children or infants.

Yes, St Barts has both medical clinics and pharmacies. The town of Gustavia has a small hospital (Tel: 05.90.27.60.35), eight resident doctors, dentists, one gynecologist, and specialists in ophthalmology, dermatology, etc. A medical laboratory including an X-ray lab is located in Gustavia. There are pharmacies at La Savane Commercial Center, next to our office across the street from the airport. (Tel: 05 90 27 66 61), in St. Jean near La Villa Creole (05 90 29 02 12) and in Gustavia (Tel: 05 90 27 61 82).

Yes, all villas which are represented by local villa rental agencies will include daily maid service, except on Sundays and French Holidays. All linens are provided in your rental home - sheets, towels, beach towels, etc. The maid will change your linens at least twice per week, and the towels every other day. For your personal laundry, you can pay the housekeeper a small extra fee to do it for you.

Yes, there are several grocery stores on the island (the Supermarche, the U Express in Lorient, two Monoprix locations, one in Lorient and one in St Jean, and the American Gourmet store in Gustavia) which offer a wonderful selection of meats, produce, breads, cheeses, wines and other essentials. The island of St Barth has half a dozen fine wine stores, located in Gustavia, St Jean and Lorient. For those interested in shopping for clothing and souvenirs, there are two main shopping areas in St Barts, the harbor town of Gustavia and the waterfront village of St Jean. For those interested in shopping for clothing and souvenirs, there are two main shopping areas in St Barts, the harbor town of Gustavia and the waterfront village of St Jean.

Yes – one of the benefits of renting a villa with WIMCO St Barth Properties is the convenience of having it pre-stocked with your favorite food and beverages before you arrive. We can arrange for any items from essentials to a fully-stocked kitchen. Your pre-arrival concierge will share instructions with you on how to place your order.

Yes, St Barts is home to many skilled private chefs and catering companies. Many vacationers plan one special dinner and/or breakfast at the villa during their vacation, using either a private chef or a catering company. Your pre-arrival concierge would be happy to arrange this service. We can also arrange to have your villa pre-stocked with fine wines of your choosing . Contact your pre-arrival concierge in advance of your travel to explore options.

Yes, there are several high end hair salons on St Barts including MG Studio and Un Temps Pour Soi in St Jean and Le Ti Salon in Gustavia. We can also arrange for a professional hair stylist to provide in-villa hair services.

The answer in all cases is most often yes, however you will need to ask for permission via your villa specialist in advance to confirm. Pets of any kind are not allowed in any of the villas on St Barts without first making a request via email, and then getting written permission from the owner of the villa, via your villa specialist. If one does not notify the villa owner that they are bringing a pet, this may result in immediate eviction, and forfeiture of the guest's entire rental fee.

The government in St Barts is referred to as "Le Collectivite". Their town hall is called "Le Marie" and it is located in Gustavia across the harbor from the ferry dock. The French police are called "Gendarmes" and their station is referred to as "Le Gendarmerie", which is located on King Oscar II Street , at the fort on the far side of Gustavia. The local Police has their headquarters on Rue Du Oscar II. The fire station and emergency services is in a central location in St Jean.

Yes, St. Barts has two post offices. The main Post Office, on rue du Centenaire in Gustavia, opens daily 8 AM to 3 PM, and closes on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. The post office branch in Lorient is open from 7 to 11 AM weekdays and from 8 to 10 AM on Saturday. Both are closed on Sunday and holidays.

Yes, UPS, Federal Express and DHL all have agents on St Barts. Our front desk can help with your shipments. Please ask your concierge or stop by our office across the street from the airport.

St Barth is a French island with an interesting and quirky Swedish legacy. The result is a cosmopolitan European ambiance unlike that of any other island in the Caribbean. Visitors will find no casinos, high-rises or all-inclusives, but rather chic-bistros, red-roofed villas terraced into the hillsides and small elegant hotels – and nothing taller than a palm tree. This beautiful island is known for its fine dining; its cuisine is the best in the region and rivals that of any city in the world.

Yes! St Barth is renowned for its fine restaurants and is truly a paradise for foodies. There are over 80 restaurants ranging from breezy beachside grilles and chic sidewalk cafes to gourmet dining rooms, many housed in high-end hotels. Once your villa booking has been completed, you will be in touch with your pre-arrival concierge who will be happy to assist with any dining reservations.

St Barth is a French island and French is the official and primary language. However, English is widely spoken, especially in the resorts, shops and restaurants. Language will not be a problem. Brushing up on your high school French can be fun! The islanders will be flattered when you greet them with a friendly Bonjour and attempt to converse in their own language.

As cancellation policies are strictly enforced on villa bookings and most reasons for cancellation are due to unforeseen circumstances, we highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance.

There are no “bad” areas. Each location has its own personality. Remember, St Barth is only 8 square miles so nothing is far away.

Not to worry. Your dedicated on-island concierge will greet you just outside of the arrivals hall at the airport, or in front of the ferry terminal. They will assist with your luggage and rental car pickup, and will escort you to your villa for check-in. Your on-island concierge is there to see to all of your needs, including providing a full range of concierge services.