St. Barts Travel Tips
Essential travel tips for making your visit to St. Barts a great one.

Before you travel to a new place you want to be sure to collect some tips for the area.  St. Barts travel is really quite hassle-free and decadently peaceful, but there are still some good things to know to prepare you even better, especially when you are packing your suitcase.  Here we have listed some important tips for traveling to St. Barts.

Tips For Traveling on St. Barts.

Banks
There are banks around St. Barts in case you need to attend to money matters or cash a traveler’s check.  They generally open at 8, close at noon for lunch until 2, and close for the day at 3:30.

Clinics and Hospitals
There are numerous pharmacies and clinics on St. Barts and one hospital if you have an emergency.  For extreme cases you will most likely be air-ambulanced to the U.S. for intensive treatment.

Places and Businesses We Like
We've created a growing list of businesses and places we think are exceptional both on island and off island. Check them out!

Currency
The official currency of St. Barts is the Euro, but if you are traveling with U.S. dollars you will find that it is widely accepted; some businesses will even have prices listed in dollars.

Electricity
The electrical current here is 220V, just as you would find around Europe; for those traveling to St. Barts from North America, check with your hotel or rental to see if there are converters available for your appliances or if you should bring your own.  Nothing puts a damper on a vacation like not being able to charge your camera or use your hair drier!

Immigration and Passports
You will need to be sure your passport is current before your St. Barts travel.  Visas are not necessary for vacations but you will need to show proof of an onward or return ticket for entry.

Island Dress
St. Barts is casual but it is tasteful.  Swimsuits and bare feet are great for the beach and around the pool but are not okay for walking around town.  When you are packing your suitcase, toss in a few nicer outfits as some of the more upscale restaurants and clubs may enforce a dress code.

Official Language
French is the official language of St. Barts but you will often find English spoken here as well.

Phone Calls
Phone calls from the U.S. to St. Barts:  Dial 011, 590 (the country code), and then the phone number (you will end up dialing 011,590,590 and then the 6-digit number).  Phone calls from St. Barts to the U.S.:  Dial 00, 1, then the area code and phone number.

Safety
While St. Barts is almost as safe as can be, you should take care just the same to ensure that you and your property stay safe.  Use bug spray as dengue fever does occur from time to time and wash vegetables and fruit thoroughly before eating.  It is also best not to purchase food from street vendors as illnesses have been reported due to below-code operations.  Lock your valuables in the hotel safe and lock your doors at night, and don’t leave personal items unattended on the beach or in your rental car.

Taxes
Shop ‘til you drop – there is no sales tax on St. Barts!

Tipping
Please do tip when you are vacationing on St. Barts – anyone in the service industry, including tour guides, depends on gratuity for their livelihood.  

Beaches