HIGH SEASON IN ST. BARTH HAS COME TO AN END – COME ON DOWN!

I just returned to St. Barth after attending the 3rd annual Travelweek trade show that was held in Sað Paulo, Brazil. Pascale Minarro from my St. Barth office was with me and we enjoyed meeting top South American travel agents whose clients want to come to St Barth for vacation. It was mostly all work but we did get a chance to shop for our Havaianas flip flops – a must.

Dining with my colleagues: From center: Sebastien Maingourd – Hotel Christopher, Sabine Masseglia – Hotel Guanahani; Pascale Minarro- St Barth Properties St Barth office; Gonzalo Pena – Hotel K2 in Courchevel; Peg; Aymeric Bourdin – Hotel Tom Beach; Anne Dentel – St. Barth Tourism Committee; Christiane Chabez – Brazil’s’ rep for St. Barth Tourism

The significance of the Havaianas brand is that they are made in Brazil – The country is famous for them; they last forever and come in all sorts of colors and patterns. The Company has a huge store in Sað Paulo where throngs of people rush to purchase their very own. Many of them buy 10+ pairs for themselves, their friends and their family members. I did my part and bought enough to replace the brochures I had packed in my suitcase with loads of flip flops which I plan on giving as gifts. (I noticed that TSA was curious enough to go through my bag; I wonder what they thought when they saw all of them?)

Peg’s Havaianas at Travelweek in Sao Paulo

Every year Travelweek gives each person a pair and asks them to wear them on the last day of the show which is always called “Havaianas Day”. This year, we were given a pair with the 2013 slogan and theme of the event, “Feel the World” written on them in bright pink. It was fun to relax a bit while wearing them.

Pascale and I in front of our booth on Havaianas Day – Our feet said, Oh what a relief it is!

I came back to beautiful St. Barth on Sunday in time to share the good news that it’s official…April 16 was the day our villa rates went down and will stay that way until December 15, 2013. It’s Value Season. Some villa prices are almost 40% less than their High Season rates. Spring temperatures in most of the US can be very fickle. – Not so in St. Barth where it is about 85 degrees during the day and 75 degrees in the evening and to top it off, we have nice breezy trade winds. I just love it here. If you are interested in staying in one of our hotels, there are some terrific packages available. Our Specialists can help you choose the one that is just right for you. Do you prefer a villa? Consider reserving one of our villas that offer our Drive, Dine and Relax package which includes your rental car and an evening when a private chef will come to your villa to cook and serve a very romantic dinner.

Villa Les Embruns – available as part of the Drive, Dine and Relax Package

If you time it just right, you can be here for Les Soldes when everything in the boutiques goes on sale. There is no competition in France (therefore not allowed in St. Barth either) so all of the shops must have their sales at the same time; the government determines the dates. In France the sales are in January. However, that is High Season in St. Barth so, naturally, the dates are chosen carefully so as to ensure that the boutiques have the opportunity to make the most euros before Les Soldes can begin. This year the sales period is from May 04 to June 06, 2013. The prices are further reduced as time goes by, so you can take your chances and come down towards the end but you won’t have the selection you would have if you go in early May.

So, come on down! For assistance with your trip, please contact me at pegwalsh@stbarth.com or one of our St. Barth Specialists at reservations@stbarth.com.