Near St. Martin are St. Barthélémy (known as St. Barths), Saba and St. Eustatius (known as Statia). (map)

St. Barths is a French island with 25 sq. km. located at 24 km southeast of St. Martin. The first colonialists were farmers, Bretons and Normans, and some say that it is like a northwest piece of France transported to the tropic.

Saba is at 45 sq. km. south of St. Martin. No beaches at this little island of only 13 sq. km., and its highest point is a 870m over sea level.

St. Eustatius, is a Dutch island of 28 sq. km. Saba and Statia are part of the Dutch Antilles.

Officials Holidays

St. Barths: Its official holidays calendar is the same to the French zone of the St. Martin.

Saba and Statia: Its official holidays calendar is the same of the St Maarten.

Events Calendar
St. Barths celebrates carnival at dates previous to Lent. On the 20 of August there is a festival at Gustavia, and also on the 24 of August, there are many celebrations around the island, being their patron saint day. The Saba carnival is celebrated at the end of July, and Statia’s during the last two weeks of July.

PLANNING THE TRIP

Banks and Exchanges
French franc is the official currency at St. Barths, though dollars are accepted. The guilder is the official currency at Saba and Statia, but dollars are also welcome. Generally, only hotels and submarine centers accept credit cards. At Gustavia, in St. Barths, there are many banks.

The Barclays Bank in Windwardside, Saba, opens from 8:30 to 12:30 hours from Monday to Friday. The Barclays Bank at Wilhelminaweg, opens from 8:30 to 15:30 hours from Monday to Thursday, and on Fridays from 8:30 to 12:30 hours.

Departure Tax: St. Barths, 30 French francs; Saba and Statia, $5 if you go to the Dutch Antilles, $10 in any other case. If your flight back home stops in St. Martin, you have to pay departure tax only once.

Tourist Information Abroad
St. Barths: see St. Martin, French zone

Saba and Statia (see St. Maarten, Dutch zone)

PRACTICAL TIPS

Phones and fax
The area code of St. Barths is 590, for Saba is 5994 and for Statia is 5993. You better buy a phone card so you can use public phones at St. Barths.

Tourist information local offices

St. Barths: Quai de Gaulle Gustavia,
pohne no. 27877

Saba: Windwardside,
phone no. 62231

Statia: Fort Oranjestraat,
phone no. 82433

Medical Assistance

St. Barths: Gustavia Hospital,
phone no. 276035

Saba: Medical Center,
phone no. 63239

Saba Marine Center,
phone 63295

Statia: Queen Beatrice Hospital, phone no. 82211

Shopping
At St. Barths, Gustavia and St Jean are the best places for buying duty free articles, like fashionable clothes, perfumes and high quality local handicraft.

Voltage:
St. Barths: 220 volts AC
Saba and Statia: 110 volts AC

Shopping In Saba
The traditional Saba embroiderers go back to the XIX century, and are also known as Spanish embroiderers, because are originated in Venezuela. These works are on sale at shops as well as in private houses (any taxi driver will help you to find a good place to buy them). The Saba Artisan’s Foundation sell clothes and textiles designed and elaborated on the island.