Traveling to St. Barths for the Season? 7 Things to Know from a Destination Expert

Sereno Hotel’s very own Managing Director and luxury travel expert, Samy Ghachem, offers his insider tips on traveling to St. Barths. From tips and tricks to the best and “lesser known” restaurants on the island, Samy knows it all.

Samy Ghachem’s 7 Things to Know Before You Go – St. Barths

1. Don’t lose time in securing your rental car and dining reservations.  As soon as you have confirmed your hotel stay, connect with the concierge team to start securing reservations at beach clubs like Nikki Beach or Gypsy as well for dinners.  The hot spots fill up very quickly.  For those that were not able to secure a reservation, don’t worry.  You can still grab a seat at the bar and very much be a part of the party.
2. For the best Italian cuisine on the island, hands-down must go to Al Mare at Le Sereno.  They have the absolute best pasta and freshest fish on the island.  Mondays are fun with live music by Soley, otherwise lunch with a live DJ during the holiday season is the place to be!
3. Most U.S. passengers going to St. Barths will transit through either San Juan or St. Maarten.  Connecting through San Juan and flying on Tradewind Aviation to St. Barths is always the better option.  For those flying through St. Maarten to St. Barths that cannot find seats, they should consider other options that include boat charter, ferry, or helicopter.
4. Bigger is not always better - Renting the large Bronco Jeep or Wrangler sounds like fun, yet roads in St. Barths can be very narrow at points.  My favorite cars to rent are the VW T-Roc or Mini cooper.
5. Two of my favorite ‘lesser-known’ restaurants on the island for casual dining are Graine de Sel for Caribbean cuisine and The Fish Corner for local fish.  I recommend going for dinner.
6. For those looking to shop, aside from the well-known brands on the island, take the time to explore the smaller streets of Gustavia as well as the second floor of these retail complexes.  It’s there that you will find those special swimsuit or linen shops.  For those wine connoisseurs that are looking to grow their cellar, stop by Le Cellier du Gouverneur on the main street in Gustavia.  They have an amazing selection of Grand Cru wines at a fraction of what you would pay for it back home as they deal directly with numerous Chateaus.  Don’t forget there is no sales tax or VAT in St. Barths.  Take a look at their Domaine Armand Rousseau and Domaine Meo Camuzet selections.
7. Lastly, don’t forget to pack your appetite, your hiking shoes, and some sunscreen.