St Barts 11-06-09

[Summerlover]

I'm not site saavy enough to figure out how to keep a list all in one place. Anyone? Then we can have a print out like we all have for US concerts. Everyone has mentioned at one point or another where they're staying but my feeble brain forgot long ago.[/quote]


I'll volunteer to gather up the list. If everyone PM's me their dates, villa where staying, villa phone #'s. Oh ya, and your name you would like to go by while on island.

[ScarletB]

I'm not site saavy enough to figure out how to keep a list all in one place. Anyone? Then we can have a print out like we all have for US concerts. Everyone has mentioned at one point or another where they're staying but my feeble brain forgot long ago.

I'll volunteer to gather up the list. If everyone PM's me their dates, villa where staying, villa phone #'s. Oh ya, and your name you would like to go by while on island. [/quote]

Oooh I get to pick a name? Can I be Jane Buffett??
Thanks for taking this on - I sent Carol an email to see if she knows the villa number, though we won't be there til Sunday.

[GEED181]

....been to both of the Palm Beach benefits..no problem with cameras.......RE:cell service, I have Sprint w/quad band and it will work, but the tower is in Gustavia and you don't have a clear view of it you won't get a signal. I think if you really want to be in touch with each other, you will all have to rent a local cell, otherwise you will have to rely on Villa to villa phone calls. One year we were with another couple and we bought a good pair of two way radios..worked pretty good up two a few miles..didn't work behind hills so most of the time didn't work, but for in Gustavia worked pretty good......SCARLET...all of the restaurant's I gave you were on the lower price end...carry out from Match, Kiki mo, or Mayas's to go is what we do a lot and take it back to the villa or beach....

[parothdlar]

one thing that hasn't been mentioned is how are we going to get in contact with everyone?? i know some of us are at P'Morne, some are at villas and others at different hotels. anyone have a suggestion?????

Maybe those of us that are going to go to the concert area in the morning could pick a place and time before we get to St. Barts either the hotel P'Morne or a restaurant or a villa . If we have each other phone #'s ahead of time this might work . . . . Heck I don't know LOL !!!! I'm pretty set on getting there early it won't be a wasted day we will be in St. BARTS and hopefully be upfront and center !!!!

[parothdlar]

I just bought an ipod ( I know I'm behind the times LOL ) will I need an adapter for the docking station ? Charging our camera batterys ???

[Bahston]

RE:cell service, I have Sprint w/quad band and it will work, but the tower is in Gustavia and you don't have a clear view of it you won't get a signal. I think if you really want to be in touch with each other, you will all have to rent a local cell, otherwise you will have to rely on Villa to villa phone calls.

Your Sprint phone has GSM capabilities, which not all do. I have ATT quadband, and there are deadspots. I have a local cellphone, and there are dead spots. I have friends who use T-Mobile quadband on the island, and they have deadspots. The hills sometimes block signals.

Calling local cellphones from villas may require a phone card or a working cellphone. In France, like in much of the world, the calling number pays for the call to a cellphone. (Unlike in the US, where cellphones pay for both calls made and calls received, and a caller using a landline to call a cellphone pays too.) All of the landlines are in the 0590 city code. All of the local cellphones are in the 0690 city code. Many villas have their phones blocked from calling 0690 numbers. More enlightened villa owners do not block 0690, but you won't know until you try.

Calling villas from local cellphones is no problem. Just dial 0590-xx-xx-xx.
Calling villa to villa is no problem. Just dial 0590-xx-xx-xx.
Calling from local cellphone to local cellphone is no problem (if you both have a signal). Just dial 0690-xx-xx-xx.
Using a local phone card to call a cellphone from a villa should be no problem. Just enter the number as 0690-xx-xx-xx.

[he came from london]

RE:cell service, I have Sprint w/quad band and it will work, but the tower is in Gustavia and you don't have a clear view of it you won't get a signal. I think if you really want to be in touch with each other, you will all have to rent a local cell, otherwise you will have to rely on Villa to villa phone calls.

Your Sprint phone has GSM capabilities, which not all do. I have ATT quadband, and there are deadspots. I have a local cellphone, and there are dead spots. I have friends who use T-Mobile quadband on the island, and they have deadspots. The hills sometimes block signals.

Calling local cellphones from villas may require a phone card or a working cellphone. In France, like in much of the world, the calling number pays for the call to a cellphone. (Unlike in the US, where cellphones pay for both calls made and calls received, and a caller using a landline to call a cellphone pays too.) All of the landlines are in the 0590 city code. All of the local cellphones are in the 0690 city code. Many villas have their phones blocked from calling 0690 numbers. More enlightened villa owners do not block 0690, but you won't know until you try.

Calling villas from local cellphones is no problem. Just dial 0590-xx-xx-xx.
Calling villa to villa is no problem. Just dial 0590-xx-xx-xx.
Calling from local cellphone to local cellphone is no problem (if you both have a signal). Just dial 0690-xx-xx-xx.
Using a local phone card to call a cellphone from a villa should be no problem. Just enter the number as 0690-xx-xx-xx.

nobody knows this much stuff

[Bahston]

I just bought an ipod ( I know I'm behind the times LOL ) will I need an adapter for the docking station ? Charging our camera batterys ???

The iPod is multi-voltage, at least mine is, but I don't know about your docking station. Look at the charger. If it says "Input: 100-240V" then all you need is a cheap adapter plug. You can buy them (ungrounded) in the hardware store on St Barth for €2, or one of these from RadioShack for $9.99 (ungrounded) http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2104181 or (grounded) http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2102419 . The adapter plugs convert from the two blades of a US plug to the two round prongs of a French plug. The adapter plugs DO NOT do voltage conversion, so double check the label on your charger before using. I charge my laptop, iPods, phones, cameras, and e-books this way. My wife's hairdryer has a switch for changing voltage, and I use an adapter for that too (but the fan runs faster).

If you need a transformer to convert from 240V to 120V you can ask your villa rental company or hotel to loan one to you. Many villas have a spare transformer in one of the cabinets.

[Bahston]

nobody knows this much stuff

Ah, but I do. Been travelling internationally my entire life. You pick up things along the way . I figured that it was time to stop lurking and start sharing.

[GEED181]

Your cameras, cell phones, and computers should all be dual voltage, check on the charger to be sure..Electricity is 220V. 60 hz...all you need is the adapter from U.S. to the two prong European plug..for other electronics that run only on 120V, you will need a transformer to step down the voltage as well. For 120V. hair dryers you will need a transformer that handles at least 1800 watts or more......plug adapters are cheap at radio shack and most Villas/hotels should have them for you to use..

[he came from london]

Your cameras, cell phones, and computers should all be dual voltage, check on the charger to be sure..Electricity is 220V. 60 hz...all you need is the adapter from U.S. to the two prong European plug..for other electronics that run only on 120V, you will need a transformer to step down the voltage as well. For 120V. hair dryers you will need a transformer that handles at least 1800 watts or more......plug adapters are cheap at radio shack and most Villas/hotels should have them for you to use..

I tip I use as "the wife" always wants an adapter for hairdryer/straightner ect is to take a couple of adapters and an multi plug extension lead for the main room, for your laptop cell chargers and dock.

still trying to make st barts work as will be in antigua.

David

[Summerlover]

nobody knows this much stuff

Ah, but I do. Been travelling internationally my entire life. You pick up things along the way . I figured that it was time to stop lurking and start sharing.

We will take any tips and thoughts from those who have been to St Barts. Keep'em coming.

[Bahston]

Summerlover,

Ask whatever questions you may have.

One thing to note - the gas stations are NOT open on Sunday. You will see locals filling their tanks, but they are using French credit cards with embedded chips in them. Your US credit card will not work in the gas pumps. If you're planning to fly out on Sunday then fill the tank on Saturday afternoon (there will be lines) and keep the driving to a minimum, or plan on paying the rental company for not returning the car without a full tank. If you're staying longer then think about whether you need to topp off your tank on Friday or on Saturday morning.

[parothdlar]

I just bought an ipod ( I know I'm behind the times LOL ) will I need an adapter for the docking station ? Charging our camera batterys ???

The iPod is multi-voltage, at least mine is, but I don't know about your docking station. Look at the charger. If it says "Input: 100-240V" then all you need is a cheap adapter plug. You can buy them (ungrounded) in the hardware store on St Barth for €2, or one of these from RadioShack for $9.99 (ungrounded) http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2104181 or (grounded) http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2102419 . The adapter plugs convert from the two blades of a US plug to the two round prongs of a French plug. The adapter plugs DO NOT do voltage conversion, so double check the label on your charger before using. I charge my laptop, iPods, phones, cameras, and e-books this way. My wife's hairdryer has a switch for changing voltage, and I use an adapter for that too (but the fan runs faster).

If you need a transformer to convert from 240V to 120V you can ask your villa rental company or hotel to loan one to you. Many villas have a spare transformer in one of the cabinets.

Thanks so much now I'm going to e-mail the villa again to see if they have any adapters so far they supply our beach towls and have a hairdryer for me to use !!1

[RickyB]

I need TV to fall asleep. I assume I may get 3 or 4 hours in during the 5 days I'm there. Is the programming in French or English? Or both?

[GEED181]

We only got two stations in English at our villa....CNN USA and CNN Britian.......hope you have a DVD player..lots of good movies to rent across from the airport....Someone should bring their Ipod and speakers and have Autour Du Roche ready to play for your trip up to the "Rock"..makes the Corona tastes so much better !!!!

[Bahston]

Someone should bring their Ipod and speakers and have Autour Du Roche ready to play for your trip up to the "Rock"..makes the Corona tastes so much better !!!!

LOL - Listen to my iPod and you'll find not only Buffett's version of Autour du Rocher, but the original from the now defunct local St Barth band Alerte 2B, the original authors.

[GEED181]

Bahston..I was giving a double cd by a friend of AlerteB a few years back...kind of epitomizes the St. Barts sound of French Funk......( I do like Jimmy's version Better).

[parothdlar]

We are big Miami Dolphins fans and Buffett played tonight before the football game . . . . . The stadium is called LandShark stadium this yr. I'm sure it was great !!!!

[kzooparrothead]

My wifew and I are copming in on the 7th from St Maartens and we are staying at Manapany. Does anyone know how difficult it will be to get from the hotel to Gustavia for the show?