Karine VIP & Taxi Services
First-class chauffeur service with a smile — Karine is the driver every St Barths regular saves in their phone.
Why Go
On an island where roads corkscrew over volcanic hills and a rental car park-job can undo your whole afternoon, Karine has quietly become one of the most requested private drivers in St Barths — a smartly turned-out, endlessly patient chauffeur who treats every ride like a VIP transfer, whether you're bound for Nikki Beach or a wedding at Eden Rock.
The Experience
Book Karine and you skip the anonymous taxi queue outside Rémy de Haenen airport. Instead, an air-conditioned SUV pulls up on time, luggage is handled without fuss, and you're eased through the switchbacks toward Gustavia, Colombier or Lorient while Karine points out the villa where so-and-so stays, the shortcut that avoids the school-hour traffic in Saint-Jean, and the tide-dependent path down to Shell Beach. It's the antithesis of a rushed island cab: calm, discreet, immaculately clean, and — importantly on a rock with no Uber and famously narrow lanes — reliable enough to build a full week's plans around.
What to Try
Lock in the airport-to-villa transfer the moment your flight from SXM is confirmed (island taxis are limited and vanish at sunset). Then use Karine as your evening driver: dinner at Bonito or L'Isola in Gustavia, a nightcap at Bagatelle, and a safe ride home over the Lurin hill without worrying about the rosé. For daytime, ask about a half-island loop — Colombier lookout, a pause in Corossol, lunch at a beach club in Grand Cul-de-Sac — with Karine on standby between stops.
Insider Tip
There are two similarly named operators on the island and the public taxi rank at the airport is a lottery — some drivers are wonderful, some famously charge €50 for a five-kilometre hop. Book Karine directly in advance (WhatsApp is standard practice in SBH), confirm the fare before you get in, and ask for her personally rather than a generic 'VIP taxi.' Also: cash euros still smooth things along, and a heads-up call 20 minutes before pickup is appreciated on busy weekends.
The Practical Stuff
Base: Saint-Barthélemy, 97133 — serves the entire island (roughly a 25-minute drive corner to corner). Available day and night by advance booking; reservations strongly recommended in high season (Dec–Apr, plus the August regatta window). Airport pickups at Rémy de Haenen (SBH) and ferry meets in Gustavia both handled. Payment typically cash (EUR) or card by arrangement — confirm when booking. No app; reach out by phone or WhatsApp in advance rather than trying to hail on the street.
Pair It With
- Aéroport de Saint-Barthélemy / Rémy de Haenen Airport Guide — The classic use case — pre-book Karine for the white-knuckle landing's calmer sequel: a smooth transfer to your villa without the taxi-rank scramble.
- 1493 Lodges St Barth Guide — Tucked up in Colombier at the end of a steep, winding road — exactly the kind of address where you want a driver who knows the turn rather than a rental car on your first night.
- Abyss Restaurant Guide — Book Karine for the round trip so you can properly enjoy the wine list and skip the post-dinner navigation over the Lurin hills back to your hotel.
- Absolute Hot Yoga Guide — Handy for a morning drop-off in Gustavia when parking downtown is at its worst — then a pickup for the beach afterwards.
