Forget historic sites or ambitious watersports programs. You go to St. Barts for the relaxation, the French cuisine, the white-sand beaches, and the ultimate in comfort.

New friends call it "St. Barts," while old-time visitors prefer "St. Barths." Either way, it's short for St. Barth?lemy (San Bar-te-le-mee), named by its discoverer Columbus in 1493.

The island's capital is Gustavia, named after a Swedish king. It's St. Barts's only town and seaport. A sheltered harbor, it has the appearance of a dollhouse-scale port.

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