TMR Québec in Saint-Barthélemy: the French-Speaking Island Seeking to Attract Quebecers

This week, the small island of Saint Barthélemy, or St-Barth for short, hosted a select group of journalists for an exclusive press trip. Among them was only one Canadian and one French speaker: me. And yet, my route there was the simplest of the group, and I was the only one who spoke the language. A glimpse into an island that charmed me!

Getting to Saint-Barthélemy from Quebec is quite easy, provided that the travel dates correspond to the days when Air Transat flies directly from Montreal to Sint Maarten, on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Transat’s direct flight departs at 6:20 a.m., arriving four hours later at Princess Juliana Airport. Once in Sint Maarten, the transfer to St. Barthélemy is incredibly easy, thanks to the SXM airport’s new connecting area. Upon landing, simply follow the signs to “Connections/Transfers,” and you’re all set: no need to go through customs in Sint Maarten or even leave the airport. In five minutes, I was at the gate for my connecting flight to St. Barthélemy, a journey of just ten minutes.

My advice : don’t allow more than an hour and a half between your two flights. And if your flight is delayed, there are departures every thirty minutes with Winair, the only commercial airline that connects the two islands.

November: the start of the (long) tourist season in St-Barth

Saint Barthélemy is a French island whose residents are mostly from France. Quite small, it can be crossed in just twenty minutes by car. Interestingly, there are only eleven hotels, three of which are beachfront. Among them is the Manapany, belonging to the Parisian hotel group B Signature Hotels & Resorts, which invited us for this press trip. The hotel had, in fact, just reopened a few days earlier, on October 30th, for the season.

“What’s great about St. Barth is that the season is very long, longer than on many other Caribbean islands,” Kader Bendjeddah, general manager of Manapany, explained to me. “The island only closes for two months, from August to October. We all go back to France to see family or take vacations, but some stay: once you come to St. Barth, you never want to leave.”

What will appeal to Quebecers, of course, is that the language spoken everywhere on the island is French, since 90% of residents are of French origin. Furthermore, the service is impeccable: hotels and restaurants that hire are required to house their employees, and many French people—who don’t need a visa to work there—choose to settle there for the quality of life. Hotels, therefore, often have first choice when it comes to assembling their staff.

An eco-friendly hotel by the sea

The Manapany, which organized the trip, is Green Key certified for its sustainable tourism efforts and has been awarded a key by the Michelin Guide. It offers 43 rooms and suites, all decorated to reflect Caribbean style, but with a nod to the various travels of renowned designer François Champsaur in Mexico and the West Indies. Mexican-inspired quilts and bathroom moldings are noteworthy, as are the wood accents and surprising pops of color.

The hotel offers two restaurants, including a beach restaurant open only for lunch, a spa, a gym, and a lounge bar. Breakfast, transfers from St. Barth’s airport, and daily yoga and Pilates classes are included in the daily room rate.

Discover Saint-Barth

Gustavia, the capital, is charming with its luxury boutiques, restaurants, and cafes. Saint-Barth’s many beaches are public and accessible to everyone. Good to know: there’s only one main road that circles the island in about twenty minutes; so it’s impossible to get lost! Everything is easily and quickly accessible, a convenience I personally appreciate. I like to feel like I’ve “seen it all” before leaving, and that’s not always possible on such a large island.

If you enjoy hiking, there are numerous trails, as the island is hilly and dotted with mountains. Otherwise, the snorkeling is fantastic, thanks to the many coral reefs. The beaches on one side of the island are perfect for surfing, with great waves, while on the other side, the water is calm and crystal clear. The
food is also exceptional: the chefs, the kitchen staff, and even the ingredients come directly from France. All good reasons to visit! You’re sure to fall in love with it.

Practical information

Currency : Euro
Language spoken : French
When to go : November is quieter, as it’s the beginning of the season, which runs from November to August
How to get there : Air Transat flies directly from Montreal to Sint Maarten twice a week; Winair flies to St. Barth every thirty minutes
Recommended trip duration : five days