French Caribbean

    The islands of St Barths and the French half of St Martin, just a 10 minute flight apart, bring the ultimate in Gallic chic to the Caribbean – magnets for “beautiful people” from all over the world.

    The familiar verve of the French is ever-present, with streets lined with fashionable boutiques, elegant holidaymakers browsing in shops filled with Christian Lacroix and Yves St-Laurent, or lingering over a meal under coloured awnings while locals play boules on the dusty town squares. There is an illusion of being in France – of style and `je ne sais quoi’ – but the wonderful palm-fringed white sand beaches and sapphire and turquoise waters, together with the sound of French Caribbean music, identify the islands as unmistakably Caribbean.

    Whilst St Barths is unashamedly French, the island of St Martin enjoys dual nationality; half the island is Dutch (with a very American influence), the other half is proud to be French.