Practical Info about St Barth

Capital:  Gustavia

Location:  11 miles southeast of St. Martin and 140 miles north of Guadeloupe.

Population:  8,000+

Climate:  Temperatures range from 72° to 86° F. Climate is generally dry with no rainy season.

Currency:  Euro € with US dollars accepted widely.

Time zone:  Atlantic Standard time. When daylight savings time is in effect, the time is the same as the US East Coast. Otherwise, St. Barth is an hour ahead.

Electric courrant :  220 volts. US appliances will need a converter and an adapter plug.St.

 

What to wear:

St. Barths is very informal. Casual sportsclothes in cotton, and other light fabrics are fine by day, as are jeans, T-shirts, etc. (Bathing suits are for the beach, pool, or yacht, but not for town.) At night, women often dress for dinner in whatever happens to be fashionable in resortwear. Ties and jackets are never required for men.

Language:

French is the official language, but the flavor spoken by local folk is a curious Norman dialect. Much of the populace speaks English, however, and there is seldom a language problem at hotels, restaurants, shops, etc.

Entry Formalities - Visas

As of 1 July 2005, U.S. and Canadian citizens must present proof of citizenship in the form of a valid passport. A return or onward ticket is also required of all visitors. Citizens of Bulgaria, Macao, Brazil & Israel exempted from Visa to enter Metropolitan France, are subjected to VISA to enter St Barths, as well as Guadeloupe. No vaccination papers required unless arriving from an endemic area. Arriving pets must have a health certificate dated less than 5 days prior arrival and an antirabies vaccination record. Our local vet strongly advise not to leave an animal closed up in a car or attached anywhere else even in the shade, during your stay in St Barts.

Customs Regulations:

Items for personal use (tobacco, cameras, film), if not in excessive quantity, are admitted without formalities or tax. For more controversial items, like firearms, French regulations apply.

Currency and Bank:

On February 18, 2002, the French Franc has ceased to be legal tender, having been replaced by the Euro (€), the currency of the European Union, of which France is a prominent member. The official exchange rate (July 2005) was approximately .82 € for US$1.00. The rate is subject to change, though changes are rarely rapid. Dollars are accepted everywhere, and prices are often quoted in dollars.