St Barth Observer

Telephone and Fax

Phone numbers in Guadaloupe as well as in St. Barths all starts with 05 90, and cell phone numbers all start with 06 90.

To call within the French phone system, dial the 10 digit phone number including the O

To Call St. Barths From Abroad:

The country code for Guadeloupe and St. Barths is +590, but it will have to be dialed followed by a 9 digit phone number (the usual 0 disappears for phone calls originating in a foreign country). So in order to call 05 90 27 52 85 from the USA, you will have to dial: 011 590 590 27 52 85.

To call the USA from St. Barths, dial 00, then dial 1, the area code and the number.

For local and international calls from public phones, the use of Telecartes is advised. The Telecartes, which look like credit cards, can be purchased at the Gustavia, St. Jean and Lorient Post Offices, and at the gas station near the airport. There are only three coin telephones in the island ( two of them are at the Galeries du Commerce in St Jean).

Mobile Phone Use

If you want to bring your favorite cellular phone along and use it in St. Barths there are some steps you must take after your arrival.

If you have a GSM system phone, you may go to France Telecom’s office in St. Jean, or to the electronics shop at the gas station near the airport and have the internal chip replaced. The chip costs about 295FF, and is quickly installed. After a delay of about 24 hours, the new chip will provide you with a local number, and will give you 150FF worth of outgoing phone calls. If you use that up, you can buy a card that will give you additional time. There is no charge for incoming calls. Save your old chip for re-installation when you return.

If you have a digital phone, you can dial “0″, and, if you are lucky, after several attempts, someone will answer and offer service from St.Maarten antennas in return for a VISA card number. This service only works in those parts of St. Barths that can see St.Maarten, and is therefore limited.