A new Thai restaurant, Jao, opened this weekend in the space along the harbor formerly occupied by La Scala, a pizza restaurant that was opened last year by the owners of the restaurant Pa Crí in Grande Saline. Located directly on the harbor at La Pointe in Gustavia, the restaurant offers great views and upscale Thai cuisine. They are open for dinner from 7:00 pm until midnight. A welcome addition to the dining scene on St. Barts!

Posted on December 17, 2006 3:24 PM| Permanent Link: New Thai Restaurant Opens in Gustavia| Comments (0)

On November 28, two high-tech American businessmen visited St Barth in their equally high-tech yachts within the same hour. Larry Ellison’s Rising Sun, at 454 feet, and Tom Perkins’ newly completed Maltese Falcon, a sailing yacht of 289 feet, were both in the bay of Corossol. As the harbor of Gustavia can only accommodate yachts up to 60 meters (197 feet), the yachts were forced to rest at sea.

Designed by an Italian company and built in a shipyard in Turkey, the Maltese Falcon made its first sail on the Bosphorus Sea on June 7, 2006. The three unrigged, rotating carbon-fiber masts each supports five independent square sails that can be synchronized for angle and wind by controls from the deck. Her accommodations can be changed from four to six stateroom suites. Talk about sleek!

Posted on December 17, 2006 3:19 PM| Permanent Link: World’s Two Largest Private Yachts Visit St Barth on the Same Day| Comments (0)

The municipality of St. Barts has published 60,000 copies of the new official map of the island. The map, printed on thick, glossy paper, is in English and French and includes information often requested by tourists (such as the location of panoramic views and historic monuments) as well as information regarding zones protected by the Marine Reserve and the location of drug stores, gas stations and banks. On the reverse side, a large map of Gustavia shows the direction of traffic through town, the location of the post office, hospital and ferry terminal and other similar useful information. Half of the maps were distributed throughout the island, while the remaining 30,000 are available at the Municipal Tourist Office and the Port of Gustavia.

Posted on December 17, 2006 3:16 PM| Permanent Link: New Official Map of St. Barts Available| Comments (2)

Since 1948, St Barth has legally been a town in Guadeloupe. That may soon change as St Barth strives to achieve the more autonomous status of an Overseas Collectivity. The Senate, one house of the French Parliament, voted to accept this change on October 31. Next, the National Assembly, the second house of the French Parliament, must also vote to agree. Because of the presidential elections in France in the Spring, the parliamentary session will close at the end of February this year rather than its normal date of the end of June. Time is of the essence, and Mayor Bruno Magras is working hard to make sure this item is on the agenda. What changes could this bring to St Barth? More autonomy in taxation, urbanization and certain decisions that are currently made by the French Parliament. St Barth was declared a duty-free port in the Franco-Swedish treating dating from 1877. As such, the island and its residents have not been subject to French taxation. The new status will give St Barth the authority to create its own system of taxation.

Posted on December 17, 2006 3:16 PM| Permanent Link: St Barth to Become an Overseas Collectivity?| Comments (0)

The 16th annual Gustavialoppett, which means “Race of Gustavia” in Swedish, took place Sunday, November 19. A record number of 117 runners began this 10K marathon at 7:30 am at the stadium in St Jean. The winners, for the second year in a row, were Eddy Romil, 42, and Myriam Esdras, 30, of Guadeloupe. If you know St Barth, you know the hills these runners had to conquer! Prizes for the women were 500 € and a bouquet of flowers (1st place), 400 € (2nd place), 300 € (3rd place), 200 € (2nd place) and 100 € (5th place). The men received 600 € (1st place), 400 € (2nd place), 300 € (3rd place), 200 € (4th place) and 100 € (5th through 10th place).

Posted on December 17, 2006 3:15 PM| Permanent Link: 16th Edition of Gustavialoppett| Comments (0)

On Monday, November 13, the nose cone of an American-made missile was found at the far end of the beach Anse Maréchal, which is near the Guanahani Hotel & Spa at Grand Cul de Sac. The missile part is the property of the United States Navy and was manufactured by Lockheed Martin Missile & Space Company. Tests conducted by two bomb disposal experts from Martinique and an armed forces specialist for the Antilles revealed that there was nothing dangerous, explosive or radioactive. The missile was probably part of an underwater ballistic exercise, not an unusual event according to the authorities. France has asked the United States to recover the nose cone, which was first sighted by local fisherman on Sunday, November 12, floating in the water, nose down.

Posted on December 17, 2006 3:14 PM| Permanent Link: Nose Cone of an American Missile Found on the Beach| Comments (0)

As announced in its World Wide Villa Rental Guide, Condé Nast Traveler selected St Barth Properties as the #1 villa rental agency on St Barth and as one of the top 35 villa rental agencies worldwide. Consumer News Editor Wendy Perin and her team rigorously evaluated villa rental agents, many of whom were recommended by readers and staff. Criteria included the offering of friendly, high-touch service, representation of unique properties that are personally and regularly inspected by the villa rental agency’s staff, and an in-depth knowledge of their destination with lots of insider tips to share. As Condé Nast stated, company president Peg Walsh “knows St Barth backward and forward and thinks of absolutely everything.” This award justly honors Peg and her highly knowledgeable and competent staff!

Posted on December 17, 2006 3:11 PM| Permanent Link: Condé Nast Votes St Barth Properties #1 on St Barth and in the Top 35 Worldwide!| Comments (0)

Another preview of the 2007 calendar of events on St. Barts:

"Cutting edge cinema, edgy music, melodious scores, the latest fashion – staying in a Wimco Villa isn’t the only reason to visit St Barths next year.

The St Barths Music Festival 26 January 2007, will be flooded with the sound of music. Artists will be congregating from all over the world (Italy, New Orleans, Jamaica & London) to showcase their musical talents.

Music lovers can stay at Villa VUE (SIB VUE) an elegant three bedroom villa with one of the best sound systems on the island, situated on Colombier hillside and has panoramic views over Gustavia Harbour. The villa’s spacious living area overlooks the infinity pool which appears to merge with the waters of the Caribbean. The third master suite is set in a separate cottage for maximum privacy. Available from £12,209 per week including daily maid service and seven nights’ accommodation only."

More here.

Posted on December 6, 2006 10:22 AM| Permanent Link: What's on in St Barths in 2007| Comments (0)

Newport, RI (PRWEB) December 1, 2006 -- Wimco, the Newport, RI, villa rental and hotel reservations company, announced today that it will sponsor the "Mode in St. Barth," fashion extravaganza on its signature island, St. Barts. The event runs from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3, 2006.

"This stylish event orchestrated by Nikki Beach of Miami Beach, Fl., is in the spirit of Dubai's extravagant shopping festivals and the fashion stock sales you find in Saint-Tropez," says Stiles Bennet, Wimco's Director of Marketing.

Informal fashion shows will be held afternoons, followed by high-fashion evening events at various hotels and at the marina. Top luxury brands and designers such as Dior and Roberto Cavalli will be featured. An evening fashion show will run daily around 6:30 p.m. along with cocktails in La Baie de St. Jean near Gustavia Harbor in St Barts.

Sponsors include, in addition to Wimco villas, restaurants, hotels and, of course retailers, all offering exceptional reductions during this period. Shops will feature sales on in-stock merchandise; hotels will offer special rates and packages; and bars and restaurants will stage happy hours and other promotions.

"This is a natural for Wimco villas," says Bennet. "St Barts is a very fashionable destination, and our villas are the ultimate symbol of fashion on the island. It's also a great time to travel to the island because this time of year our villa inventory on St. Barts and throughout the Caribbean is on average priced 20 percent lower than in peak winter high season."

Nikki Beach models will be staying at two of Wimco's most fashionable villas during the event. The first is Villa SIB MGO, a three bedroom villa located high in Colombier, descending down the hillside on three levels. The pool area offers spectacular views over the ocean and to the neighboring islands. The second is Villa ANA near Gouveneur Beach, a luxurious three- bedroom villa which has both a French and Mediterranean touch. The villa has a spectacular view and winter sunsets. The neighboring islands can be seen clearly (Saba, Statia, St. Kitts & Nevis).

Through its local partner SiBarth, villa guests can enjoy a wide range of concierge services while on St Barts, everything from private chefs, provisioning the villas, babysitters, French lessons, massages and more. In addition to air and car reservation services, guests can also enjoy a new inter-island service that whisks them direct on private jet from the gateway San Juan Airport to St. Barts, bypassing time-consuming transfers.

Posted on December 6, 2006 10:18 AM| Permanent Link: Wimco Announces Sponsorship of 2006 Fashion Extravaganza on St. Barts| Comments (0)