The weakest link in St. Barth’s travel industry is its local airport, notably, its inability to accommodate major air carriers. Because of the airport’s unusual disposition, its lack of lighting, and its limited size, inbound travelers are confined to a forced dependency on the international airport in Dutchside St. Martin, which is where the majority of them are routed in order to reach St. Barth. This arrangement is necessary, but laced with glitches that keep the system from operating as smoothly as theory would dictate. When outbound flights from Paris are delayed, inbound passengers are often forced to spend an unplanned night in St. Martin, considering that all incoming flights are prohibited after the sun goes down. The other option, is of course, the ferry boat, but this easily extends travel time an additional couple of hours. Another setback of the current system is that there is lag time-often considerable-between the arrival time of the passenger and the arrival time of the passenger’s luggage. There are other inconveniences, though, such as the attitude of the ground personnel in St. Martin airport, at the local airline counters. Rather than alleviate the travel fatigue and anguish of passengers trying desperately to make get to St. Barth on the same day, many counter personnel can be faulty when it comes to customer service. After a long day of travel, running into an unfeeling clod can be maddening, nightmarish, and not at all what the traveler in search of paradise had in mind.
Naturally, whatever can improve inbound passenger service to the island is always welcome. In this sense, the agreement signed between US Airways and Winair, one of the companies that provides flight service from Saint Martin to St. Barth, must be applauded. The main outcome of the agreement, presented to the mayor’s office fifteen days ago by representatives of both airlines, is that US Airways passengers will now be able to register their baggage directly through to St. Barth, a big, time-saving deal, especially if you’ve ever had to go through customs, pick up your bags, register at the local counter, before going through screening procedures to get to the gate and catch your connecting flight.
The other novelty is that passengers will now be able to receive boarding passes for the St-Martin/St. Barth portion of the trip, which again, will save time and hassle. To facilitate the St- Barth connection for transiting American passengers, the management of Winair has agreed to meet deplaning passengers and escort them to their connecting gates. A cargo plane should ensure that baggage arrives to its owners in a more timely fashion. The icing on the cake is that St. Barth will now be a featured destination on both the Yahoo and US Airways online travel sites. If hoteliers and villa renters have reason to celebrate, it would behoove all of us to wait before popping open the champagne to see if the agreement, in practice, actually adheres to the terms outlined in theory. In the past, the local airline companies have not always had the manpower or the financial means to live up to their promises, even if the intentions were honorable.
Promises are what St. Barth residents are waiting for France’s political leaders to follow through with. The most recent round of national elections have completely shifted things to a more comfortable position for the island. It would be safe to say that the majority of St. Barth voters were happy to see the right regain power on both the executive and the legislative level of government. Now that President Jacques Chirac has the majority and can move his program through more easily, it is the general hope among locals that the particular fiscal status St. Barth has been requesting for several decades will finally be officially recognized. An important meeting with the ministers of the French overseas department has been scheduled for July 15 in Paris. One of the major agenda subjects is the fiscal status of the island, specifically, to determine whether the lawsuits initiated against certain St. Barth residents on the basis of tax evasion, will be dropped. For these reasons, the summer mood is optimistic, albeit guarded. After all, promises are one thing. Delivery is quite another.
Yves Bourel
Beyonce and Jay-Z have taken their daughter on her first vacation. The couple, who celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary last week, have been enjoying the sunshine on the Caribbean island of St. Barts with three-month-old Blue Ivy over the weekend, and took the tot for a day trip on a yacht.
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Kick-off Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2012 Caribbean regatta in the magical French West Indies sailing paradise!
Today the prestigious and top-class Caribbean sailing regatta Les Voiles de St. Barth 2012 with Gaastra Sportswear as the official partner starts: At the third edition run...
Inside the Bucket.
This video features the 2012 St Barths Bucket Regatta and music by the Evan Goodrow Band. Special thanks to the entire crew of the Rebecca, Baz Bar, St Barths Online and the guys from the Evan Goodrow Band for putting on a fantastic show. The song from the Evan Goodrow Band is c...
On board with Rebecca.
The best event in St Barths took place on March 24 - 27, 2012. This video features the beautiful 141 ft sailing yacht, The Rebecca.
produced by Real Media Travel for St. Barths Online and Baz Bar St Barth.
The age old saying of "I need a holiday to get over my holiday" actually seems applicable if you happen to be Paul McCartney.
The Beatle took wife Nancy Shevell on a romantic break to the Caribbean island of St Barts, just days after the pair visited Paris.
Last week, the lovebirds showed support ...
On the day their pregnancy news was announced, Thor star Chris Hemsworth, 28, and Elsa Pataky, 35, were seen in sunny St. Barts, France on Wednesday (January 18). The Fast Five actress looked lovely in blue, sporting her beautiful baby bump.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
Chris and Elsa - w...
She might be 44, but Tamara Mellon still boasts a figure that women half her age would be proud of.
The Jimmy Choo co-founder showed off her toned figure in a sexy animal-print bikini as she hit the beach with her daughter in St Barts yesterday.
The skimpy string two-piece highlighted Tamara's env...
With almost every other celebrity couple enjoying the New Year in exotic locations, Gary and Danielle Lineker weren't going to be any different.
The married couple were spotted enjoying a romantic walk along a beach in St Barts today - and looked very much in love.
Gary, 51 and his wife, 32, had o...
Which beaches to choose?
The glamorous island of St Barts is one of the Caribbean's top beach destinations. Ringing the island are immaculate strips of sand and ethereal turquoise waters. The shallow reefs that encircle the island help to protect these renowned beaches, and they also provide excell...
St. Barts, Why Not?
Since the wealthy and celebrated frequently visit St. Barts for a tropical vacation, you will find that many plush St. Barts Resorts can be found on this stunning island. For those taking St. Barts holidays, it is simple to find hotels with each luxury available. Frequently thes...
Vacation With the Rich and Famous at St. Barts.
Want to bump into celebrities and be seen hanging out where the rich and famous play? Then the Caribbean island of St. Barts is the place to be.
While warm sand and blue waters do make an ideal vacation location, this destination has that and a whol...
Where to go for one day in Caribbean?
St. Maarten / St. Martin
The half-Dutch, half-French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, with its many restaurants and hotels, makes a great base for an island-hopping adventure. Graced by the nickname Unspoiled Queen, tiny little Saba is not the kind of Caribbe...
Villa La Plage in St Barts.
The posh French resort isle of St. Barth's was already a prize destination when Roman Abramovich purchased an estate there for $89 million in 2009; since the oligarch arrived it has become even more so.
Now Christie's International Real Estate has listed another impres...
Baywatch in St Barts.
Making it official after five years of engagement, Brooke Burke and beau David Charvet have reportedly tied the knot while yachting in St. Barts.
According to Life & Style, the "Dancing with the Stars" host and the former "Baywatch" hunk, who have been vacationing in the...
St. Barth Summer Sessions Aug. 5-15, 2011
St Barth Summer Sessions 2011 this year will have a focus on artists from Brazil. The festival will take place at a variety of different venues all over the island, and in the end of the festival there will be a big common concert in the Harbor of Gustavia ...
The Eclipse, no ordinary yacht.
It probably hasn't escaped your attention that, with modern methods of transport, measuring and telecommunication, no "terra incognita" is safe from the crazed enthusiasm of certain explorers of scientists. Everything has already been discovered and minutely placed o...
Ashley Rodriguez Trio
Ashley Rodriguez, one of the famous finalist from the American Idol 2010 is back in St Barth between May 5-15. Ashley was participating last summer for the St Barth Summer Session in august 2010 at La Plage and she will now come with her 'All Girls Band', Liz on the guitar ...
The La Plage restaurant introduce :
ST BARTH SUMMER SESSIONS
« 5 to 15 august 2010, 10 days of crazy music ! »
Festival program
La Plage St Jean Tel: 0590 52 81 33 Email: tombeach@wanadoo.fr Site: www.stbarthsummersessions.com
THE GREAT FISH DEBATE There seems to be a bone of contention among a few of my friends. Fine folks who love some of the finer things in life, such as Dover Sole That flat fish floating in butter and capers. Known in French as Sole Meunière, it is made from what is called in European fisherman ver...
