Columbus arrived here in 1493 and promptly named the island for his baby brother Bartolomeo - though there is no historical evidence that his brother was officially a saint. The ownership of the island was passed around for some centuries until 1784 when it actually became Swedish and the main port renamed Gustavia for the king of the day. However, the French wrestled control a century later and today it remains a fully-French island. A miniscule eight square miles, a visitor arriving at the pint-sized airstrip can actually see both ends of the island as the plane comes in for the landing; a large hill at one end and the sea lapping at the other.
After an always 'exhilarating' landing, a French Gendarme checks your documents and speeds you en route to the French-flavoured gastronomic paradise of this tiny island.
* Nationality - France
* Language - French (English spoken)
* Currency - French Franc
* Approx exchange - approx 5FF to $1U.S.
* Air Service (local) - Air Barthelemy, Winair & Air Guadeloupe
