How is St Barths After Irma? Checking In

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1 How is St Barths After Irma? Checking In Cecilia Pelloux Contributor i Apr 16, 2018, 04:09am 2,607 views #DeLuxe Gustavia, 6 months after Irma. CÉCILIA PELLOUX St Barths is a very special place for me. I lived there for several years before relocating to Europe and I still go very frequently. In February, I travelled to St Barths as soon as Air France resumed flights from Paris to St Marteen. My friends at St Barths Service helped me to get through immigration and my luggage make the connection. I highly recommend them, especially now that the airport in St Marteen will be in a state of repair for some time to come. (The terminal at 1/12

2 Princess Julianna Airport was destroyed by Irma, so all arrivals and departure lounges were moved into huge military white style tents. For those of you living in the US, consider flying through San Juan instead with Tradewind Aviation). Once I landed, I could see signs of the storm damage everywhere, but I also saw a lush green island, and people moving about with purpose. St Barths was already recovering. I always have the same feeling when I arrive, hard to describe. A mix of happiness and nostalgia. The sweetness of the life in the West Indies islands. That hadn t changed. 2/12

3 St Jean Airport. CÉCILIA PELLOUX Hurricane Irma hit St Barths during the night of September 5, This moment is now engraved in the mind of the islanders. Irma was the most powerful 3/12

4 hurricane registered in the Atlantic since Allen in There were record winds leading to catastrophic damage, and for those who were on the island at the time - it was a life changing experience. This precious tiny island (25 square kilometers) where the tourism is the main activity has made a remarkable recovery in less than six months. The first restaurant to open right after Irma was The Quarter in Gustavia. Owner Christopher Davis, reopened on September 11. Yes, it s an interesting day to open after a natural disaster for an American. He told me "our first couple of weeks were certainly less than perfect, some days no water, some days no air conditioning, food changed every day based on what we could find from the various purveyors depending what they had available as no new containers were arriving. All of the purveyors on the island were very happy to help so we could make something for all the people who were working so hard to clear the streets of trees, sand and other remnants that Irma deposited. The hardest part of the first month from a hospitality point of view was running out of food each night and having people who were hungry, I wish we could have done more but our team was limited as well as issues with supplies". Solidarity between islanders made St Barths stronger than before. MORE FROM FORBES 4/12

5 Lush Green Island. CÉCILIA PELLOUX This year, St Barths is certainly different. Christopher added "Irma has changed the island for this season, everyone is spending time rebuilding their homes and businesses but the best part of the season is seeing people who have been coming to St. Barths years returning to see their island paradise and supporting the efforts of those who have opened and those working to reopen". 5/12

6 Anse de Flamands. CÉCILIA PELLOUX In the days after the storm there were doubts that the tourism season could be saved. The largest hotels were all located on the waterfront, and had suffered significant damage. Smaller hotels inland were less damaged, but there were concerns about having electricity, phone and water service for guests. Miraculously, people dove into rebuilding and repair work, streets were cleared, power was restored, and by early November, the first tourists were visiting the island. The rental villa market was able to bring properties back online more quickly than the hotels, and as a result its been a busy year for them. Wimco Villas, the leading villa rental company on St Barths which represents 355 private villas welcomed its first clients on November 11, and had re-opened 60 villas by Thanksgiving. By New Years approximately 50% of their portfolio was open and available, and over half of the restaurants on the island had reopened, so it was a successful holiday considering that only three months before Irma had hit St Barths. 6/12

7 Colombier Beach. CÉCILIA PELLOUX In the month of March Wimco s villa reservations were only off 10% vs a year ago. A sign of a remarkable recovery! By the end of April, about 70% of the villas in their portfolio will be open and available to rent and by New Years they expect the remainder of the villas to have reopened. The leading hotels on the island were less fortunate. The Guanahani, Cheval Blanc, Eden Rock, Le Toiny and The Christopher all expect to open between November and December 2018 more than a year after Irma struck. Smaller hotels have reopened so there are some hotel options now. 7/12

8 Lil Rock Beach LIL ROCK BEACH One of the casualties of Irma was the classic beach restaurant, many of which were located in hotels. In October when it seemed like there wouldn t be any beach restaurants open in time for New Years, Wimco partnered with hotel Le Barthelemy to offer a catered picnic on the beach. A concierge from the hotel set up umbrellas, beach chairs and towels on the sand, and delivered a yummy lunch to enjoy on your favorite spots. Luckily Shellona and Pearl Beach (formerly La Plage) were able to reopen in time for New Years also joined by Lil Rock - located in St Jean Beach between Eden Rock and Tom Beach - offers a light and barbecue cuisine in a gypset and relaxed atmosphere. Created by a group of friends, enjoy live music, lobsters and fresh wine rosé feet on the turquoise water. The old spirit of St Barths is back. 8/12

9 Catered Beach Picnic by Wimco. CÉCILIA PELLOUX By New Years most of the island s sixty five sit down restaurants were open - except for those that are part of hotels that remain closed for repairs. New place opened and for Rhum lovers, I recommend that you go to the Rhum Room StBarth, inside the Quarter for an historic rhum tasting experience. Christopher Davis curated a list of rhums from the Caribbean, Central and South America. About 500 different rhums, incredible! 9/12

10 Little preview of the Rhum Room St Barths. CÉCILIA PELLOUX 10/12

11 Edgar Store - Brunello Cuccinelli CÉCILIA PELLOUX After spending days in St Barths, I highly suggest you to visit the island to support the recovery. A few tips! Drive around St Barths with a convertible Defender (rent it through Maurice Car Rental), wear bathing suit, short and flip flop, swim in crystal waters of Governor or Salines, hike in Colombier or Grand Fond, take naps, eat french pastries at Mayas to go and La Petite Colombe, shop at Edgar Store (inside Cour Vendome) in Gustavia and appreciate exceptional sunsets. St Barthelemy offers something unique in the Caribbean a French art de vivre that you will not find anywhere else. Freedom, tranquility and fun. French music legend Johnny Hallyday (who passed away last December) found peace and happiness in this unique paradise, and now our Idol rests in peace in the cemetery of Lorient among flowers, sand and white crosses. Well done Johnny. 11/12

12 Sunset in St Barths. CÉCILIA PELLOUX Cecilia Pelloux 12/12