Allô! St. Barths has been in the back of my mind since I first visited St. Barths in 1996. Later I became more serious about the idea when my family decided to buy a villa in 1999. At that time I had just moved to San Francisco and was beginning my career in Internet Development, so dropping everything and starting a website about a faraway island seemed like just a dream, but it was exactly that. A dream that I have held on to over the years.

As time progressed, I realized more and more the need for a well rounded website to serve St. Barths. Not just for tourists, but for the people of St. Barths. I wanted to offer tools that residents could really use. I always knew that I didn't want to build just another pretty website about St. Barths, but really build and grow a business that allowed first-timers to make informed decisions about their vacation, returning visitors the chance to stay connected and participate in the island. I also wanted the residents and businesses to be involved in the site. There is great opportunity on the Internet for businesses to expand their exposure, and the local people of St. Barths can use the tools on this site to communicate, participate, and add convenience to their daily lives.

Why not sooner? The first reason is a practical one. Everyday life, work, and bills all need attention. But also, the tools required to build the site I really wanted did not exist yet, and doing everything from scratch is an incredible amount of work. In the last few years, the technology and tools available to build a web portal have matured, and with the popularity and success of the Open Source movement are now at a point where I saw that I could build what I wanted in a successful way.

So in, late 2006 I made the decision to start work on the site and the business. I have left the comfortable confines of my office and steady paycheck for the uncertainty of starting a business from nothing. It has been a long and difficult process. Well laid plans have collapsed. There is no money. People aren't convinced. I face many challenges both mental and financial. But this is a concept and a vision that I believe in. I am also concerned that one day, some unfeeling corporate entity will come and try to package St. Barths into a neat little box. This is not my goal. I want to build this site with you. I want to know what you want out of the Internet. What tools can we provide you to make your life easier? What can we do for your business? How can we give you the best idea of what to expect from St. Barths on your vacation?

I hope you'll join me on this journey. This is only the first chapter in what I hope is a long an amazing journey. Thank you for visiting and please come back often to see what's new. If you like what you see, consider donating to our cause, or visit a few of our sponsors.