Before to leave [Practical information]

Practical guide

Language: The official language of Saint Barthélemy is French. English is also widely spoken to facilitate communication with tourists. However, certain traditional languages are still popular among the Saint Barth natives, with a French Patois spoken on the leeward side of the island, and Creole spoken on the windward side. Each varies, like a local accent, from neighborhood to neighborhood. In spite of the 100 years under the rule of Sweden, the local population never spoke Swedish.

Money: For many, many years, the French Franc was the official money of the island of Saint Barthélemy, as well as the American Dollar, which was essential for doing business with Saint Thomas, for example, where many locals had family. In 2001, Saint Barth, like the rest of France and Europe, changed to the euro. The US dollar remains the second currency of the island.

Local time – GMT : Saint-Barthélemy keeps the same time as the rest of the Caribbean (to calculate the proper time in Saint Barth, add or subtract from the local time in your country):

France -6 hours

North America (East Coast) +1 hour (no difference during Daylight Savings Time)

Japan –13 hours

Australia–14 hours

Africa–5 hours

Russia –8 hours

Holidays: In keeping with local traditions and customs, there are more holidays here than in France. These include:

January 1,

Mardi Gras,

Good Friday,

Easter Sunday,

Easter Monday,

May 1, May 8,

Ascension,

Pentecost,

July 14,

Assumption,

August 24—St. Barthélemy Day,

November 1, November 11,

and December 25.

Electricity (voltage) In St Barthélemy, the electricity is 220 volts and 60 Hz for the entire island. However, most hotels and villas use transformers to supply 100V power.

Water As there are no rivers or fresh water sources in Saint Barth, rainwater collected in cisterns comes in very handy during periods of drought. In addition, the island has an active facility to desalinate ocean water, and provide city water to most homes, but is very expensive. This means that water remains a precious resource and should be used intelligently, in moderation, without thoughtless waste.

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Carnival
2012-02-17
Carnival celebrations in St Barth begin the first Sunday in January after Epiphany, with small parades in the streets of Gustavia every Sunday afternoon. Various...

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