Paul Allen: St. Barthélemy

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen likes to park his 416-foot yacht, Octopus, in St. Barthélemy in the French West Indies. It’s the ideal spot for Allen and his ship, which contains a 10-person submarine and two helicopters. The turquoise water, white sand beaches, and shops like Cartier and Hermès beckon on this French isle, a parcel of paradise by almost anyone’s definition. The lone airport is basically a seaside landing strip that can only handle small aircraft; that and an absence of very large hotels keeps the crowds away from St. Barts, amplifying its hideaway stature.

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