Saint-Barthélemy

Saint-Barthélemy is a small volcanic island among the Leeward Islands of the north-east Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic. It is an overseas collectivity of France, yet it remembers a Swedish chapter: from 1784 to 1878 the island belonged to Sweden. The capital, Gustavia, is named after King Gustav III, and its street signs are still in both French and Swedish. Yachts, boutiques and restaurants line its harbour.

For its size, the island has a remarkable number of white-sand bays: lively Saint-Jean, Flamands, the sheltered lagoon of Grand Cul-de-Sac, wild Gouverneur and Grande Saline, and Colombier, reached only on foot or by boat. There are no high-rises, casinos or cruise crowds; hotels are intimate and villa-scale, and French cuisine, wine and a relaxed chic set the tone. The island is a short flight or ferry ride from neighbouring Saint-Martin.

It is warm all year. December to April is the driest and liveliest season; the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, and many hotels close for a few weeks in late summer or autumn. Saint-Barthélemy suits couples and honeymooners, food lovers, beach and sailing enthusiasts, and families who value their privacy.