Seaworthy.com

 The chart and following text are from The Leeward Islands Guide by Stephen J. Pavlidis
 

Although it lies only about 15 miles to windward of Sint Maarten, the tiny (only 8 square miles) island of St. Barth’s is definitely French in flavor, and is administered by the government in Guadeloupe.  The island is home to some 6,000 permanent residents most of whom are descended from Norman, Breton, and Swedish settlers as well as some recent French arrivals, “recent” as in the last century. 

St. Barth’s is sometimes referred to as the St. Tropez of the Caribbean, at other times it is suggested that St. Barth’s is more like St. Tropez before Bridgett Bardot “discovered” it.  In the 1970s and 1980s, jetsetters made St. Barth’s a popular a fashionable retreat and holiday spot.  Today, if you happen to see a celebrity on St. Barth’s they’ll surely be low key, same as you, quietly enjoying St. Barth’s for St. Barth’s. 

There is no public transportation on St. Barth’s although a few private buses to operate however they do not cover the entire island.  Taxis are available, there are taxi stands in Gustavia (on the waterfront) and St. Jean, but they are not metered so set a fee before taking a cab.  It will be hard to find a taxi on Sundays, holidays, and after 2000 hours. 

Nearly all the hotels offer excellent dining so it might behoove you to investigate them as you stroll along the beaches of St. Barth’s.  As a rule of thumb, if it is an exceptional hotel, they will have an exceptional restaurant, bring your wallet.  Only St. Martin can rival St. Barth’s for gourmet restaurants in the Eastern Caribbean.