Is it St. Barts, Saint Barth, or St. Bart's? All of those are correct...in a fashion. The official name of the island is Saint Barthélemy. It was named by Christopher Columbus for his brother Bartolomeo (Bartholomew). The locals and the francophone world refer to it as Saint Barth or St. Barth so that's what I use. In English, people will often change it to St. Barts and you will see that used in a lot of travel guides. Even specific online forums like SBHOnline.com and St. Barths Online use St. Barts and St. Barths respectively. However, the usage of St. Bart's, though seen often, really isn't correct. Think of the U.S. Virgin Islands, they aren't known as St. John's and St. Thomas's;...
There are many wonderful hotels on St. Barth, but I am not going to tell you about them. Whether you want to come here alone or with a large group, renting an apartment or house will almost always be less costly. As well, I personally believe it makes for a more relaxed trip since you have your own space. If you are concerned that you will have to clean and shop everyday of your vacation, put that thought out of your mind because most of these properties are professionally-managed and offer soup-to-nuts concierge services. I have used the same leasing agent for years and she's never let me down. Ellie Bettle at Travel Keys is a bit of Villa Rental Goddess....
Everyone's definition of paradise is different. For me, it's some place where I can scuba dive, take too many photographs, have great food, and selectively disconnect from it all. St. Barthélemy is that place for me. Before you jump to conclusions about St. Barth — as I did before I first visited — understand that, as with most things, the perceptions and reality don't equate. Upon my first visit here, I assumed that there would be a slew of celebrities dripping with couture and render me side-eyeing and loathing paparazzi. Not the case at all. Certainly there are people here that you will be hard-pressed to not notice. However, that is likely by personal design via jewelry, clothing, and yacht selection. Yes,...
Very happy to be taking part of the 250th Birthday Culture and Arts Festival at the Morris-Jumel Mansion in Upper Manhattan, New York, NY. Starting at 11 A.M. on Saturday, October 31st, this all-day event takes place at the oldest home in Manhattan and will feature several artists and artisans.
