What to Wear in St Barts

General Style Tips for St Barts 

  • St Barts is arguably the poshest of all the Caribbean islands and attracts people that love its chic French style.
  • If you keep ‘glam' at the back of your mind when packing, you'll come up with exactly the right look.
  • Take mainly smart casual outfits.
  • Jeans and sports gear would be very out of place here.
  • Take a cocktail outfit or two. It's a very smart island – even down to your swimwear and sun hat.
  • There are restaurants and bars of all varieties, but the dress code is still smart casual.
  • Wear plenty of sunscreen (we love the Riemann P20 range for 10 hour protection), sunglasses and a sunhat.
  • And be sure to take insect/mosquito repellent for sand flies at sunset – or you will get bitten.
  • Mosquitoes can be a problem too, so wear repellent and cover up with long sleeves and pants when you can, particularly in the evenings if you are outdoors. Avoid wearing any scent or perfume.

What Shoes To Pack

  • Pack some fab shoes; we love the Lindsay Phillips Switch Flops range – using interchangeable shoe and flip-flop bases with snap-on decorations, you can change your look from day to evening in an instant whilst still packing light.
  • If you plan to explore the island, take some lightweight comfy shoes for walking. We love Hotter shoes, for total comfort along with style.

Clothing Tips for Women

  • You'll feel far more at ease and blend in if you take some dressier clothes with you. Don't forget a pretty scarf or some sparkly jewelry can have a big impact.
  • A pashmina is a versatile piece that will dress up any outfit.
  • Our advice would be to keep swimwear to the beach and pool, and cover up with a kaftan or sarong when walking around public areas.

Clothing Tips for Men

  • If you're looking for versatile and stylish beachwear, try the Madda Fella range of shirts, shorts, polos and swimwear.
  • For great versatile travel jackets with multiple pockets including RFID security options, we love the SCOTTeVEST range.

Pack for the Weather

  • May, June, July, August, September, October and November is officially the rainy season, although it tends to start earlier these days. You do still get lots of sunshine in the rainy season, but it is interrupted by deluges of rain which last for up to 30 minutes at a time. A light raincoat or travel umbrella will be useful.
  • We love the Weather+ app – it gives an accurate 6 day forecast for day and night, which when you're planning from home is really helpful. You can keep all the places you've been to too – a nice way to remember your trip 🙂 Download for iPad/iPhone or Android

Other Things To Pack

  • A lightweight day sack or beach bag will come in handy to carry your sightseeing essentials.
  • The tap water is officially safe to drink but it doesn't taste nice. Instead of buying bottled water consider carrying a LifeStraw Filtration Water Bottle – fill up from any source and get clean, safe drinking water without wasting plastic bottles.
  • Look after your mobile phone with a phone bunjee – it protects against loss, theft and damage.
  • To use electrical gadgets you may need a travel adapter plug, and also a step down voltage converter if your devices are not designed for local voltage (230V).
  • If you're aiming to travel with just carry-on baggage, try the CabinMax soft-sided rucksack – it's light, roomy and has plenty of pockets to keep your stuff organized.
  • Avoid paying unexpected baggage fees – use an accurate luggage scale to ensure you keep within the weight allowance. Don't forget to leave room for souvenirs on the way home! There is plenty of boutique shopping offering all the designer brands, or look for locally woven straw products including hats, wallets, mats, and fans.