Turn left as you exit the airport parking area and drive along the main road. The first village you come to is St. Jean, a community of good size with many fun restaurants and great little shops.

As you pass through St. Jean (you'll see a small shopping area with a large delicatessen -- "La Rotisserie" -- on the right), the main road is to the left and up a hill (yielding beautiful views over the Caribbean sea). As it descends to the other side of this panoramic point, you will come into the village of Lorient. Landmarks to note here are the "L'Oasis Shopping Center" on the left (excellent little grocery store . . . open seven days a week) and one of the island's favorite bakeries ("La Petite Colombe" boulangerie) on the right after the gas station.

Just past the boulangerie, a road is available to the right (at the corner between the "Mini Mart" and one of the island's colorful cemeteries, with its white-washed and pastel-colored above-ground tombs). Turn right on this road for about 100 yards . . . just after "Ligne St. Barth" (fine skin care products, locally manufactured) is the Normandie Hotel, on your right.