St Barthelemy is in the middle of the turquoise ocean, situated near the northern end of the Lesser Antilles group in the West Indies. As the climate is rather dry, agriculture has never been developed, thus throughout history few slaves had ever been employed. For the most part, St. Bartians are descendants of Breton and Norman fisherfolk. Many are of French and Swedish ancestry, the latter evident in their fair skin, blond hair, and blue eyes.

The landscape is characterized by green rolling hills (highest top: 938 ft, Morne du Vitet), and 22 white sandy beaches, all public, most sheltered by a coral reef and some only accessible by foot.These beautiful beaches lend themselves to water sports, from windsurfing, scuba and snorkeling to jet skiing, sailing and deep-sea fishing.

Not long ago, St. Barts was a clandestine hideaway of Rockefellers, Rothschilds, and their lucky confidants: the celebrated, the wealthy, the globally glamorous. When Mariah Carey wants to throw a birthday bash or Leonardo di Caprio decides to host a New Year's Eve party on his chartered yacht, St. Barts is the island of choice. This favorite of celebrity jet-setters now attracts small incentive groups seeking an exceptional travel experience.