St. Barts
Covers 25 islands from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to Aruba, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Cozumel and Roatán, with prices, flights and entry rules checked at the source.
UpdatedThis page carries dated prices, schedules or seasonal facts checked on the date above, and that window has now passed. Re-check the sources at the foot of the page before you book.
St. Barts is a tiny French island with a small runway, a harbor town full of yachts and a dozen beaches within a short drive of each other. It is also, by our numbers, one of the most expensive islands on this site. On Kayak, only seven hotels rated 3 stars or better showed a price for our dates, all of them 5-star. The cheapest was $1,161 for January 13, 2027 and $631 for July 14, 2027.
Visitor figures are scarce. No stayover count is published. France's overseas central bank, IEDOM, counted 333,052 arrivals by air and sea in 2025, up 6.5%, including 49,246 cruise passengers. The island keeps cruise traffic small on purpose: there is no cruise dock, and IEDOM says the Collectivité wants to favor high-end tourism. The result is an island that feels busy in the harbor in winter but rarely crowded on the sand.
At a glance
- Best for
- Couples with a large budget who want short drives, French food and a different beach each day
- Skip it if
- You are on any kind of budget, travel with a big family, or want a single flight
- Getting there
- Fly to St. Martin (SXM), then a short flight or a ferry. Small planes also link St. Thomas, San Juan and Antigua
- Hotel, mid-January
- $1,161 (Tropical Hotel, 5-star, taxes in)
- Hotel, mid-July
- $631 (same hotel)
- Island size
- 9 sq mi (24 sq km); about 536 hotel rooms in all
In this guide
How St. Barts scores
Six factors, scored 0 to 10 the same way for all 64 islands. Our verdict on this island is “it depends”, which takes 0.4 off the weighted average. There is no island-level visitor count we trust, so crowds are left out and the other five factors are re-weighted. How we score
- WeatherData · 20%9.4
- Beaches & seaEditors · 25%8.5
- Things to doEditors · 25%5.0
- Getting there from the USData · 10%7.1
- ValueData · 10%1.0
- Room to breatheData · 10%Not scored
Weather month by month
Best months by our weather score: January, May, December. Daytime highs, rain and sunshine are 2016–2025 averages at St. Jean Airport (Open-Meteo historical weather archive); sea temperatures are 2022–2025 averages for the nearest sea area (Open-Meteo marine archive). Months marked in the storm row fall in the Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 to November 30); the score takes that risk into account.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 84 | 83 | 82 | 81 |
| Sea °F | 81 | 80 | 80 | 81 | 83 | 84 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 86 | 84 | 82 |
| Rain (in) | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 5.2 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 1.7 |
| Weather score | 9.7 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 10.0 | 9.4 | 8.9 | 7.4 | 6.1 | 7.0 | 8.2 | 9.9 |
| Storm season | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
The numbers behind the score
- Gateway airport
- St. Jean Airport (SBH)
- US nonstops
- None. No US nonstop: the 2,119 ft SBH runway takes only small planes. Usual connection is via SXM then a St Barth Commuter or Winair hop or a ferry (Voyager, Great Bay Express, The Edge); also small planes from St. Thomas (Cape Air, Tradewind) and San Juan (Tradewind, St Barth Executive).
- Distance
- 3,581 mi from Los Angeles, 1,700 mi from New York
- Passport
- Needed for US citizens
- Hotel, one night
- $1161 on Jan 13, 2027 · $631 on Jul 14, 2027 (St. Barts island-wide (Kayak's Gustavia search))
- Visitors a year
- 283,806 overnight visitors (2025), plus 49,246 cruise passengers
- Bringing a dog
- Possible: No APHIS page for St. Barts; French baseline is an ISO microchip, rabies vaccine at least 21 days before travel and an endorsed health certificate. Confirm with the Collectivité before booking.
Hotel prices: Cheapest 3-star-or-better double, 1 night, 2 adults, nightly total with taxes and fees, Kayak, checked 2026-10-20. Both dates: Tropical Hotel St Barth. Only seven 3-star-or-better hotels showed prices, all rated 5-star.. Visitor figures: IEDOM, Rapport annuel économique de Saint-Barthélemy 2025 (edition 2026).
Who St. Barts is for, and who should skip it
St. Barts is a couples island for people with a big budget. The roads are short, the beaches are varied, and dinner is the main event.
- Go if you want French food, good shopping in Gustavia and a quiet beach every day.
- Go if you are happy to connect. There is no US nonstop and never will be on this runway.
- Skip if you are counting dollars. A room here costs more than a week of rooms on St. Martin.
- Skip if you want sights, hikes and nightlife beyond a few beach clubs. There is not much.
For a similar beach-and-food trip at a lower price, compare Anguilla. Our honeymoon ranking weighs both.
Where to stay, with the prices we found
Kayak lists the whole island under Gustavia. We priced one night for two adults, taxes and fees in, on October 20, 2026. These were the only 3-star-or-better hotels with prices:
| Hotel | January 13, 2027 | July 14, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Hotel St Barth | $1,161 | $631 |
| Gyp Sea Saint Barth | $1,415 | $1,041 |
| Hotel Manapany | $1,589 | $941 |
| Christopher Hotel | $1,752 | $1,081 |
| Le Sereno | $2,310 | $1,267 |
Most visitors rent villas instead of hotel rooms. IEDOM's figures show villas paid about 44.5% of the island's 2025 accommodation tax, which is 5% of the nightly price. The main areas are St-Jean (beach, airport, shops), Gustavia (harbor, restaurants, walkable), Flamands on the north coast and Grand Cul-de-Sac on the east-side lagoon.
Beaches: calm on the leeward side, wild on the windward
The beaches are small, public and close together. Here is how they split:
- Saline (Grande Saline): a wide, undeveloped beach behind salt ponds. Usually calm, no facilities.
- Gouverneur: a sheltered cove reached by a steep road. Calm water and little development.
- Shell Beach: a short walk from Gustavia, covered in tiny shells. Easy and calm.
- Colombier: reachable only on foot or by boat. Good snorkeling.
- St-Jean: the busy beach by the airport, with water sports and beach clubs.
- Flamands: very wide and sandy on the north coast, with a few hotels behind it.
- Grand Cul-de-Sac: a reef-sheltered lagoon on the east side, used for water sports and kitesurfing.
- Petite Anse: small and calm, one of the safer picks for children.
- Toiny: strong currents. Leave it to experienced surfers.
We score St. Barts 8.5 of 10 for beaches. The quality is high and the drives are short, but most beaches are small and several on the windward side are not safe for casual swimmers.
Things to do
Plan on beaches, lunch and dinner. Beyond that:
- Gustavia: the harbor, the old Swedish-era streets and the luxury boutiques. Walk it in an hour.
- The Colombier trail: a hike from Flamands to Colombier beach.
- Boat days: snorkel and sail trips leave from Gustavia harbor.
- Sailing events: IEDOM names the St Barth Bucket and the Saint Barth Cata Cup as the big regattas.
That is a 5 of 10 for things to do: beaches plus a handful of outings. If you want more, base yourself on St. Martin, which has ferries here, or read our Caribbean ranking.
When to go
The dry season, roughly December to April, is peak season and peak price. The days around New Year are the busiest of the year at the airport. Summer is hotter and more humid, quieter, and our July price was about half the January one.
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, per the NOAA National Hurricane Center, peaking around September 10. Hurricane Irma damaged the island in September 2017; IEDOM's 2025 report says visitor numbers are now above their pre-Irma level. See our hurricane season guide.
Getting there from the US, and entry rules
Gustaf III Airport, also called Rémy de Haenen (SBH), has a 2,119-foot (646 m) runway. Pilots need a special certification to land, and most planes carry fewer than 20 passengers. So there is no US nonstop. Your options:
- Via St. Martin (SXM): St Barth Commuter and Winair fly short hops. SXM has nonstops from many US cities.
- By ferry from St. Martin: IEDOM names Voyager, Great Bay Express and The Edge as the main operators. Ferries carried 129,095 arrivals in 2025, more than half of all sea arrivals. Fares were not published on the operators' pages we could read; check when you book.
- Via St. Thomas or San Juan: Tradewind Aviation and Cape Air fly from St. Thomas; Tradewind and St Barth Executive from San Juan.
US citizens need a passport. The State Department's French West Indies page asks for 6 months of validity and says no visa is needed for stays up to 90 days with an onward ticket and accommodation. Prices are in euros; our dollar figures are Kayak's totals.
For a dog, USDA APHIS has no separate St. Barts page. Its France page sets the baseline: an ISO microchip, then a rabies vaccine at least 21 days before travel, then an endorsed health certificate. Confirm with the Collectivité before you book. See our dog-friendly islands.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to St. Barts from the US?
Fly to St. Martin (SXM), which has many US nonstops, then take a short flight with St Barth Commuter or Winair, or a ferry to Gustavia. Small planes also connect from St. Thomas and San Juan. There is no nonstop from the US mainland because the runway is only 2,119 feet long.
How expensive is St. Barts?
Very. On Kayak, the cheapest 3-star-or-better hotel room was $1,161 for one night on January 13, 2027, taxes in, and $631 on July 14, 2027. All seven priced hotels were 5-star. An accommodation tax of 5% of the nightly price applies.
Do you need a passport for St. Barts?
Yes. The State Department asks US citizens to carry a passport with at least 6 months of validity for the French West Indies. No visa is needed for tourist stays up to 90 days.
Can you visit St. Barts as a day trip from St. Martin?
Yes, and on a budget it is the smart way to see it. Ferries run from St. Martin to Gustavia, and short flights go from SXM and Grand-Case. Check the return time before you go; sea conditions can affect crossings.
What is the best beach on St. Barts?
For calm water and no buildings, Saline and Gouverneur. For a short walk from town, Shell Beach. For small children, Petite Anse or Shell Beach. Avoid swimming at Toiny, which has strong currents.
Further reading
Official sources
- IEDOM - Rapport annuel économique de Saint-Barthélemy 2025 (published October 2, 2026) – 333,052 total arrivals in 2025 (+6.5%), 232,548 airport passengers, 219,558 port arrivals (49,246 cruise, 41,217 yacht, 129,095 ferry), 536 hotel rooms, accommodation tax 5% of nightly price with villas 44.5% of receipts, ferry operators Voyager, Great Bay Express, The Edge; checked October 20, 2026
- US Department of State - French West Indies travel information – Passport with 6 months validity, no visa up to 90 days; page last updated October 10, 2023; checked October 20, 2026
- USDA APHIS - Pet travel from the United States to France – ISO microchip before rabies vaccine, 21-day wait after primary vaccination, endorsed certificate; no separate St. Barthélemy page exists; checked October 20, 2026
- Wikipedia - Gustaf III Airport – Runway 646 m (2,119 ft), special landing certification, airlines and destinations; checked October 20, 2026
- Wikipedia - Saint Barthélemy – Beach list and conditions (Toiny currents, Colombier access); euro currency; checked October 20, 2026
- NOAA National Hurricane Center - Tropical cyclone climatology – Atlantic season June 1 to November 30, peak around September 10; checked October 20, 2026
- Kayak hotel search, Gustavia (whole island) – Seven priced 3-star-or-better hotels; cheapest $1,161 January 13, 2027 and $631 July 14, 2027, 2 adults, taxes and fees in; checked October 20, 2026
