St. Barts: Party Over Here! Caribbean Travel

A necessity on the island is a cell phone. There are agencies that provide phones for rent, and your villa rental agency can help set you up with one as well. The reason why these little gadgets are so important is that when you meet someone, you had them a card with your personal cell phone number on it. This way they can contact you to about the party du jour, and happenings on the island. Armed and ready with my cell phone, I inevitably turned into a party queen, roving from one decadent party to the next.

I know I had promised myself the relaxation time, and surprisingly enough, I managed to lounge the days away at the beach. My favorite beach is Grand Saline on the island's south shore, or 'Caribbean side'. It has those swimming pool blue waters, rolling waves and beautiful scenery. St. Barts boasts 20 beautiful beaches, and there is something for everyone...beach going, yachting, jet skiing, snorkeling, fishing and surfing.

Gustavia

The main town, in the most beautiful of harbors, is Gustavia. Gustavia has some of the best shopping in the world. Boutiques such as Hermès, Armani, Ralph Lauren, Cartier, La Perla, Prada, are just a few of the designers, who cater to the "St. Barts clientele". Affluence is everywhere. Because the island is hard to get to, and not well known, it attracts royalty, moguls and celebrities looking for privacy. Autographs and stargazing is strictly out of the question. Celebrities such as Julianne Moore, Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, Elton John, Leo DiCaprio, Puff Daddy, and Mariah Carrey can be seen eating and shopping in the boutiques of Gustavia.

Gustavia's harbor is quite a spectacle in itself. Yachts dock from all over the world. Lined up, side by side, they are cruise ship sized. Paul Allen's five-story yacht docked with its four wave-runners hanging off the sides and on the back upper deck, is a helicopter complete with landing pad, which sits next to the Estee Lauder yacht. Leo DiCaprio held a New Years Eve Party on his chartered $80,000 dollar a day yacht, which was next to... and the list goes on and on.