St. Barth's Diary - The First Weekend

When one decides to travel to St. Barths for the Holiday Week, the first question for the jet-setter is the manner in which they wish to announce their arrival. The airport places severe restrictions on the type of aircraft which can land - your Gulfstream V is out of the question. Private seaplane or a quick, cramped flight with WinAir or Air Caribes are your choices. A yacht arrival into Gustavia harbour is of course the first choice though super-yachts such as Ron Perlman's Ultima III and the Snow Goose are already occupying the prime berths near the luxury boutiques such as Chopard, Hermes and the soon to be opened De Grisogono.

For the contrarian jet-setter, the ferry from St. Maarten is an option or the James Bond fan a jet-ski direct to Nikki Beach !

New developments on the island discovered so far include;

The election of el Presidente for the island (elected from one of the four families which control the island). The upshot is that a 5% tax will be placed on tourists from January 1, 2008. Maybe this will reduce the riff-raff coming in future years - or lead to an exodus to another island...

The great Domaine OTT pricing scandal of 2007. Bought in the St. Jean delicatessen for 25 Euros a bottle, the brand of rose wine favoured by the less informed tourists costs 61 euros in restaurants - rapidly approaching the street price for a good champagne ! There are alternatives however, and you have a well developed palate I am sure you know what they are.
By the way Dom Perignon Rose retails for $750 in some restaurants in case you are feeling particularly parched...

The beach chair game at Hotel Isle de France. "We have no chairs, ze are reserved for guests" say the beach boys. However, when observing several empty chairs (this year it is cinemas style-seating on that beautiful beach), you realise that good-old fashioned baksheesh is back in vogue - hand over your wallet (assuming you have not come to the beach from drinking Doimaine OTT) !!

Nikki Beach - open, shut, renovating ! Casa Nikki in Gustavia is closed for refurbishment (was that a bright idea over the holiday season ?). Their new restaurant on the quay-side, Le Bistro is a take on the French bistro. Good place for breakfast watching the yachts in the marina. Nikki Beach was closed on the night of December 23rd - cars kept arriving and bemused tourists would get out look, go under the rope assuming a private party and then wander out again ???