St. Barthélemy

The French island of St. Barthelemy, or St. Barts, has a bustling tourist trade despite its tiny eight square miles. Located in the northeastern corner of the Caribbean sea, its citizenry of approximately 7,000 enjoys geography of steep hills divided by valleys that open to the sea, providing an illusion of larger scale. Each valley has its own distinct characteristics, personality and architecture. They share plentiful white-sand beaches and an arid tropical climate with little annual rainfall and ample sunshine.