Day Trip From Saint Marteen to Saint Barts (St. Martten to St Barts)

There are a few choices for a ferry from St. Marteen to St. Barts.  Some people prefer to fly, and the trip is about 15 minutes by plane. There are a couple airlines doing the trip, and from what I have found, it is necessary to book the flight directly and cannot be combined with a major carrier as a through flight.  This may vary depending on the major airline.  Check your airline to see if you can book a through flight.  This is a matter of choice, as the ferry ride over can be very rough.  Regardless of how calm the water seems, the waters can be very choppy once you leave the bay area.  If you choose to take the ferry, it is best to take a sea sickness pill before departure.  Sick bags, paper towels and soft drinks are provided on board, free of charge.  Ok, past the bad part, the ride is really quite nice once you get past the waves.  The trip takes about 30 minutes.  (I left from Oyster Bay)  The fare for the ride is about 25 euros each way.  If you pay cash, you can pay in US dollars, but if you use a credit card, they will charge you in Euros.  Don't forget your passport, as it will be checked when you purchase your ticket.  This was a bit of a hassle at the Oyster Bay as the line is long, and it seems that only about 2 people work the ticket counter for the large number of people that are taking the ferry over.  The boat only runs  once in the morning, from St Marteen, and then once in the evening for the return.  You will need to show up about 45 minutes prior to the departure time to buy tickets and have your passport checked.  Once on board and coming into the St. Barts port, you will arrive in the small downtown area.  This is decorated with many of the best stores, such as Cartier, Hermes, Channel among the best.  Your passport is checked when getting off the boat and then if you want to rent a car, take a taxi or rent a moped, there is a group of people representing various agencies that will meet the boat.  If you just want to walk around town for awhile, you can just simply cross the street and walk through the shops.  Many areas for lunch are open and have inviting menus.  The closest beach, which is about 10 minutes walking from the port is Shell Beach.  A cute little beach, with a nice size restaurant and bar, called Do Brasil, on the beach.  I was told it was a bit expensive, and beach chairs start at $20, without an umbrella.  Feel free to simply put down a blanket and enjoy this quiet beach.  I took a stroll around the downtown after a swim on the beach and then took a taxi to another beach.  Taxi rides are expensive,  so decide if you want to rent a car or moped, rather than spending money on the taxi ride around.  A trip from the waterfront to a nearby beach, just behind the airport was $25 each way, for about a 10 minute ride.  The second beach I went to was at the Eden Roc hotel, a small but famous hotel, just off the very small airport on the island.  Famous for the number of celebrities that use the hotel, lunch was off the charts expensive, with a salad, soup and a bottle of Evian water costing $70 with tip.  The beach was quite nice but the side closer to the airport was quieter, as the other side has a loud bar and seems to attract more of a party crowd.  I took the ferry home late in the day.  If you are worried about public facilities, don't worry.  There is a public restroom, right on the waterfront, where the boats pull in, just beside the parking lot, across from the supermarket, and right behind the liquor store.  It is a little hard to find, but has bathrooms, and showers, which are clean and convenient.  Remember to bring plenty of suntan lotion.  Consider renting a home for longer stays, which seem to be reasonable, especially in the lower season.