Words from a customer touched by the deeply local approach of Dollar SBH
“When you come to Saint Barth, you expect dreamy beaches and comfort. But what I discovered at Dollar SBH was much more: a deeply rooted business, an emotion—almost a living heritage.”
– Clara M., loyal French traveler
Looking to discover Saint Barth differently? Start with these local ideas.
An unexpected encounter with a handcrafted legacy
Clara discovered Dollar SBH almost by chance, during a trip where she was looking for an electric car.
“I wanted to go through a local business. I was drawn in by their simplicity, their warm welcome… And then they told me their story. That’s when everything changed.”
She then learned that the founder of Dollar SBH had drawn his inspiration from a cherished family tradition:
“His mother and grandmother used to handcraft the traditional ‘calèches’ of Saint Barthélemy—iconic bonnets made with baleen and mounted on wooden frames called ‘marottes’. They were worn on Sundays, during celebrations, and even mourning. Every fold, every pattern, every stitch carried meaning.”
From bonnet to bodywork: a story of craftsmanship passed down
Moved by this heritage and his deep connection to the island, the founder decided to create a local business rooted in values of transmission, care, and respect for the land. Dollar SBH isn’t just a car rental service—it’s a continuation of an artisanal gesture, a memory, a sense of belonging.
“We started small, with a lot of help,” says Joël, a team member from day one.
“A neighborhood carpenter carved our first wooden sign. A body shop guy repainted our first vehicles. Everything was homemade—just like the calèches once sewn by hand. We wanted it to feel like us.”
A company shaped in the image of its island
Even today, Dollar SBH operates like an extended family, working with local artisans whenever possible. Heart comes first.
“It’s not marketing—it’s simply how we live and work here,” Joël explains.
“We didn’t want to copy an outside model. We wanted to create a business that speaks our language, our history.”
The customer’s perspective: from rental to connection
For Clara, this approach changes everything:
“It’s not just a car. It’s a connection. I felt pride in how they talked about their story, their island. It’s rare to feel that in a company.”
She concludes:
“At Dollar SBH, I felt like I was part of a family story. As if the bonnet once hand-sewn by the grandmother had come to life again—differently.”
In short: driving local is reconnecting to what matters
With Dollar SBH, you’re not simply renting a vehicle—you’re discovering a different way to travel: more human, more rooted. A rental car can become the extension of an ancient craft, a tradition passed down through generations, a living memory.
And in Saint Barth, maybe that’s the real luxury: meeting the island through those who shape it every day.