One of the smallest territories in the world to be partitioned between two sovereign nations, St Martin/St Maarten is a 37-square mile island that has been shared by the French and the Dutch with neighborly cooperation and friendship for almost 350 years. The border is almost imperceptible, and people cross back and forth without ever realizing they have entered a new country! The only marker is a monument testifying to centuries of peaceful cohabitation and the treaty that made this special arrangement possible.While happily sharing close quarters on this Windward Cari ... More
One of the smallest territories in the world to be partitioned between two sovereign nations, St Martin/St Maarten is a 37-square mile island that has been shared by the French and the Dutch with neighborly cooperation and friendship for almost 350 years. The border is almost imperceptible, and people cross back and forth without ever realizing they have entered a new country! The only marker is a monument testifying to centuries of peaceful cohabitation and the treaty that made this special arrangement possible.
Enjoy a three-hour scenic tour of the island with stops for shopping. Discover the Dutch and French sides of the island, tour through beaches, lush foliage and other tropical splendor. Shop at fine boutiques and specialty stores.
View stunning sea life and tropical fish of St. Martin’s marine world in the cool comfort of a cruising underwater observatory. A coast cruise completes the sea portion of the excursion. Includes rum/fruit punch.
Perched on a cliff above a fine stretch of white-sand beach, this elegant hotel offers gorgeous views of Baie Longue, Mediterranean architecture, personalized service and 55 acres to roam.
Overlooking Orient Beach with one of the most spectacular views in the Caribbean, each of these villas features a private sun deck & plunge pool for you to enjoy in complete seclusion!
Nestled in French St. Martin’s secluded white-sand beachfront cove – After an $80M transformation, all island-inspired guest rooms and suites feature Euro-Caribbean furnishings and spacious balconies. Frolic in the island’s largest beachfront zero entry infinity pool, dine at the water's edge at our chic, gourmet venue, C Le Restaurant or begin your journey with a Spa treatment – Discover Radisson St Martin Resort, a comprehensive full-service beach resort.
Family-friendly, luxury resort with beachfront setting & spectacular pool – This is the best luxury resort on the St. Maarten side of the island, with rooms, amenities, and service perfect for couples and families who want a high standard but unpretentious Caribbean vacation. The setting is spectacular – a scenic hillside surrounded by acres of tropical landscape and fronted by a long stretch of white sand. The multi-tiered infinity pool is the largest freshwater pool on the island.
Set on a lovely peninsula, this resort has delightful balcony rooms with picture-perfect views. Enjoy cocktail parties, poolside drinks and dining, a kids' club, water sports, and more.
This luxurious Orient Bay Beach resort values privacy, so each villa has it own swimming pool and each unit has its own entrance and terrace. There's also water sports, tennis, and much more.
Perched on a hillside, the Marquis provides a quiet escape, spacious accommodations, and fantastic views. This hotel offers resort facilities in a relaxing and charming "French-Caribbean" boutique hotel.
This hotel offers a little bit of everything including a beautiful beach, a convenient location, and plenty of ways to relax, have fun, socialize, and dine to your heart's content.
Island's largest resort, with white sand beach, optional All-Inclusive – With an active atmosphere, lively nightlife, and onsite amenities including a spa, casino, and a Vegas-style theater, this vacation spot is popular with families, and groups of travelers. The 10-acre property is located just 1 mile from the airport, on the Dutch side of the island.
The Alamanda Resort is located on Orient Beach, the largest and most animated beach on St. Martin, offering a history of exellence, integrity and fine service with generous rooms and suites.
While happily sharing close quarters on this Windward Caribbean island, each side has yet been able to retain much of the distinctiveness of its own national culture. Some experiences, however, can equally be found on both sides, like traditional European elegance combined with modern outdoor fun like scuba diving, an energetic nightlife, and just about the best duty-free shopping in the Caribbean. Travelers to this tropical island playground are treated to the unique experience of criss-crossing a border and playing in two island nations for the price of one!
New York City 3.75 hrs
Miami 2.75 hrs
Philadelphia 4.75 hrs
Boston 5 hrs
Los Angeles 8 hrs
Chicago 6 hrs
Dallas-Fort Worth 4.5 hrs
San Francisco 9 hrs
St Maarten: This Dutch side is an active mix of modern commercialism and immaculate beaches. It's a great place for people who like to participate in lots of outdoor activities, whether plunging into the Caribbean to snorkel and water ski, or basking in the bright sunshine and refreshing trade winds during a round of tennis or golf. St. Maarten's capital is Philipsburg, which bustles with duty-free shopping, quality dining, and an active nightlife, including the only casinos on the island.
St Martin: This French side tends to emphasize comfort and elegance. The perfect beaches are secluded, the luxury resorts provide lavish accommodations, and th e restaurants offer some of the finest dining in the Caribbean. The latest French fashions can be found in the many shops, and the smell of fresh croissants and pastries mixes everywhere with the spicy aromas of West Indian cooking. Small cafés and lively bistros add a decidedly Gallic, cosmopolitan flair to the place.
The tropical island of St Maarten/St Martin lies on the northeastern corner of the Caribbean island chain between the Virgin Islands and St Kitts and Nevis. The southern part has salt flats, the center portion has rolling hills, and the northern part is more mountainous. The highest point, Mt Paradis, is 1,390 feet high. The island has 36 very fine beaches lined with palms and the water is crystal clear.
The tropical seasons are "Wet" and "Dry," with overall warm and sunny weather year-round. Temperatures average 74° in the Dry season from December to May, and an average of 81° in the Wet season from June to November. The heart of hurricane season lasts from late August to early November, though strikes are rare and there is plenty of advance notice to prepare. When threatened by a hurricane strike, one should expect a 2-day displacement from evacuation to safe return.
Like all Caribbean islands, this is a year-round destination, with some seasons that are busier than others. The most popular time to visit is December through May, when the weather is at its best and the majority of activities are scheduled. The most relaxing time, however, is really from April-November, when the crowds are smallest.
The islands of St Martin/St Maarten provide lots of activities and diversions, including excellent European shopping and dining, Caribbean cultural festivities, scuba diving, sailing, snorkeling, water skiing, deep-sea fishing, horseback riding, golf, tennis, gambling, dancing, and easy day trips to the nearby islands of Saba, St Eustatius, Anguilla, and St Barthelemy.
Tour Both Sides of the Island: Join an expert guide for an orientation tour of the French and Dutch sides, their distinct personalities, and what they have to offer. Along the way, take scenic stops, shop at trendy boutiques, and have a bit of a wander through easy tropical trails. St Martin/St Maarten
Deep Sea Fishing: Anglers find a wide and challenging variety of game fish including marlin, tuna, dolphin, barracuda, and kingfish. Charter boats are available all year at reasonable rates, though some of the fish are only in season from December through March. Still, whenever you cast your line, you've got a great chance to hook something big! St Martin/St Maarten
Marigot: The charming capital of St Martin exudes a vibrant French culture. A favorite stop is the open-air market on Wednesdays and Sundays at the base of Fort St Louis and along the wharves below, offering a colorful array of homegrown produce, tropical fruits and spices, and freshly caught fish. Additionally, there are many outdoor cafés and an inter-island ferry. St Martin
Fort St Louis: This imposing, historical monument overlooking Marigot Bay was named for the famous crusading king of France. Built in 1767 to protect the settlement from foreign invaders, the plans were sent directly from Versailles at the order of the soon-to-be-executed King Louis XVI. A steep climb to the top rewards visitors with a stunning panoramic view of the island and sea. St Martin
Orleans (aka The French Quarter): This was the original settlement of the French, and some of the original 17th-century structures remain. On the eastern side of the island, just north of the French-Dutch border, this area has not been developed too much, so much of the old atmosphere still prevails. The quiet village with only a few residences and a handful of small shops is a wonderful place to spend a relaxing afternoon in a world gone by. St Martin
Butterfly Farm: The specially created "Butterfly Sphere" contains a beautiful landscaped garden, a waterfall, koi ponds, and ambient music. As you walk through this tranquil habitat, some of the most beautiful butterflies of the world float around you, performing courting dances, laying eggs, and emerging from a chryalis to take first flight! St Martin
Diving and Snorkeling: The experience is fantastic, with visibility around the island typically extending 100 feet and often reaching up to 200 feet! Over 30 dive sites between St Maarten and St Barth provide refuge to many coral reefs that support a wide variety of sea life. Off the coast of St Maarten, in the Great Bay, lies the wreck of an English battleship sunk in 1801. Dive shops are everywhere and instruction for beginners is readily available. St Martin/St Maarten
Beaches: The 30-plus beaches on both sides are admired as some of the most beautiful in the Caribbean, and all are available to the public. There are many different "personalities" among them, so try as many as you can and find your favorite!
St Maarten Beaches
· Cupecoy Beach is an esoteric place, surrounded by a gorgeous rock formation. If you arrive early enough, you'll have the rare experience of being alone in a sea cave. Also, it is one of the island's "clothes optional" beaches.
· Mullet Bay Beach, popular with families, is a bit further south from Cupecoy. Its large shore is surrounded by a hotel and golf course.
· Maho Beach is very popular and has the unusual aspect of being on the airport flight path! Bathers actually enjoy watching the jets land as they bathe and snorkel in the excellent waters. Sunset Bar at the end of the beach is a popular happy hour spot.
· Guana Bay and Dawn Beach, north of Philipsburg, are never very crowded and are favorites of those looking for privacy.
St Martin Beaches
· The Terres Basses (aka the Lowlands) contain Baie Rouge, Plum Bay, and Longue Baie. On Baie Rouge, you can look across to the neighboring island of Anguilla while sipping a piña colada or walking along a mostly deserted shore. Longue Bay has wonderful rock formations and, as implied by its name, is one of the longest beaches on the island. Though there aren't too many corals to be seen, snorkeling here is great for seeing lots of beautiful fish.
· Nettle Bay, Friars Bay, and Grand Case Beach are all calm water beaches, where the waves rarely get big. Food and drink stands are dot the shoreline.
· Orient Bay Beach is a favorite for its long, wide, and clean shoreline. It's also the island's most famous "clothes optional" beach. A frequently mighty, but generally safe, surf makes it a focal point for water sports.
· Many more beaches line theFrench shore and inexpensive restaurants are sprinkled along the way. Kon Tiki is a favorite for the island food and people-watching, friendly staff, and weekend music.
Duty-Free Shopping: The fervor for this activity never seems to abate, and this is the perfect place to indulge! Luxury items from all over the world, such as French and Italian clothing fashions, Dutch and Japanese electronics, Indonesian batiks and Chinese embroidery, jewelry, leather, crystal, liquors, and fine porcelain, free of all taxes and customs, are regularly offered at bargain prices. Both sides have a "Little Switzerland," but each has different goods and bargains to offer. The Dutch shops are all aligned in an orderly fashion along dedicated shopping streets, and the French shops meander around town and duck into back streets, adding to the fun of discovery. St Martin/St Maarten
Kayaking: This is a growing sport on the island, focusing around Simson Bay, one of the Caribbean's largest lagoons. Its rich waters are a refuge to many marine species, which start their lives here before heading out to sea. For bird lovers, kayaking is a great way to view the indigenous species and seasonal migratory birds that call these waters home. St Martin/St Maarten
Island Hop: Many ferries take you on jaunts to the neighboring islands of Saba, St Eustatius, Anguilla, and St Barthelemy. Each island has a completely different personality and a offers a variety of experiences from climbing a desolate volcano, to the indulgence of a French "jet-set" lifestyle. From both St Martin/St Maarten
One of the most wonderful things about St Martin's cuisine is that it is one of the few places in the Caribbean where you can get a "taste of France." Fresh fish and shellfish are prime menu items in multi-course meals that can typically last all evening. St Maarten's cuisine reflects the diversity of its people, basing its flavors in Dutch tradition, while also revealing nuances of the neighboring French. Another strong influence comes from the Spanish, who have infused bits of their culture ever since claiming the island for their empire in the 15th century. A favorite hobby in St Maarten is recipe swapping, furthering the exchange of cultural and family influence upon the native fare.
St Maarten
Gourmet: Le Perroquet is housed in a typical West Indian house, with shutters open to the trade winds blowing in from Simson Bay Lagoon. It is the island's homage to the famed Chicago restaurant, with an exceptionally talented French chef creating intriguing dishes such as fillet of boar, and more familiar fare for the gastronomically unadventurous! Airport Road
Local Flair: Grill & Ribs Company serves local delicacies like johnny cakes (fried cornmeal biscuits) and American favorites that make this a busy place among the shops on picturesque Old Street. Simson Bay Road
St Martin
Highly Recommended: La Vie en Rose is considered the grand dame of French Restaurants. Reserve early to get a balcony table and save room for "l'assiette gourmande" - a sampling of their luscious desserts - you'll have all the elements in place for an immensely enjoyable and memorable dinner. Rue de la Republique
Romantic: The Rainbow Restaurant is stylish and romantic, and prepares delicious fresh seafood, duck, and veal specialties served with Caribbean flair in one of the island's most highly acclaimed restaurants. Grand Case
Fueled by a vivacious world-wide reputation that keeps a robust stream of visitors coming here year-round for a great time, nights on the island often seem to be the main event. Beach BBQs with steel drum bands, glitzy discotheques, casino gaming, live music bars where bands play a variety of zouk, calypso, reggae, jazz, and pop, dominate the island's internationally popular nightlife. To find out what's going on when you arrive, pick up a current issue of St Maarten Nights or Focus on St Maarten/St Martin distributed free at hotels and tourism counters.
Casino Gaming: Nine casinos on the Dutch side (there are none on the French side) beckon gaming enthusiasts to their European halls, subdued and sophisticated in a James Bond sort of way, yet open to everyone from high-rollers to beginners. The largest is the Casino Royale, open every day of the year. Nearby is the Atlantis Casino, taking its decorative inspiration from the legendary sunken city. This casino has private gaming rooms for high stakes players, but everyone is welcome. The cordial staff of every casino is always ready to help first-timers through the basics, so don't miss out on the fun for fear of the unknown!
Party & Dinner Cruises: These are a quintessential Caribbean entertainment, with sunset dinner and moonlight party cruises setting sail every night, full of revelers and the entertainers who get the party rolling and keep it going till the rum punch runs dry! Simpson Bay
Amensia: This dance club is popular with the young crowd and, like its namesake in Ibiza, Spain, it sometimes features "foam" parties.
Turtle Pier Bar & Restaurant: This place is always hopping with a lively crowd.
Le Prive: This is the sleekest and best-liked nightclub on the French side. Evoking the ambiance of a posh yacht club, this multi-cultural, amiable club has an energy that defies its subdued decor. Everyone old and young feels comfortable mingling and dancing together to the top DJ mixes. For a breather, head out to the balcony for a panoramic view of Marigot.
Peace and Love Disco: Features local bands, calypso, and dancing.
Le Bar de la Mer: This is a popular gathering spot on the harbor.
Heineken Regatta: The ocean fills with sailboats competing in this just-for-fun race. March
Neville York's Annual Jazz Gala March
St Maarten Annual Golf Tournament April
Carnival: This festival bursts upon the senses just after Easter. It begins with the Balloon Jump-Up, the first of the "Jump-Up" parades that wind through the streets until April 30, the birthday of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. April
Earth Day: Celebrations give tribute to the beauty and bio-diversity of the Earth with eco-centric fun and educational activities. April
Caribbean Music Festival and Beach-A-Rama: Celebrates local culture, encouraging visitors to share in the music, cooking, and customs of the islanders' daily lives. July
Eastern Caribbean Golf Association Championship September
Antillean Day: Celebrates the goodwill and unity between the 5 islands of the Netherlands Antilles (Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius, and St Maarten). October
Carnival: Big parades of merrily decorated floats, a Carnival Queen pageant, and lots of animated music - mostly steel drum bands, of course! February
History Day: Celebrate the island's past with displays of historical documents, guided tours, and a photographic competition. April
International Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament: Anglers from around the world gather for a few days of good-natured reel competition and to spin some equally competitive fish stories! June
Music and Cultural Festival: Celebrates local culture, encouraging visitors to share in the music, cooking, and customs of the islanders' daily lives. June
Feast of Saint Martin: This joyous day marks a combination of several important dates in history, including Armistice Day and the date of Columbus' first sighting of the island in 1493. November
Neat, loose-fitting cotton casuals are your best choice day and night. Restaurants and casinos can get a bit chilly, so pack a light jacket. Bathing suits and bare feet should be kept to the beach and pool areas.
We strongly advise that you confirm the following information and regard this only as a basic guide.
Poisonous Plants: The Manchionneel tree is extremely poisonous, and it grows all over the island but mainly along the beaches. It can be recognized by its deep green leaves and attractive green fruit that looks like little apples. Both the sap and the fruit are caustic and will burn the skin. In case of contact or ingestion, contact a physician or a pharmacist immediately.
Sunburn & Heatstroke: The sun can be harsh, especially in summer, so sunblock and a hat are essential. Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration.
French in St Martin and Dutch in St Maarten are the main languages, though English is widely spoken. Spanish and a Creole patois are also commonly spoken.
220 volts/60 cycles on the French side, requiring adapters for US appliances; 110 volts on the Dutch side, same as in the US.
Entry: A valid US passport is required.
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: Effective January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including US citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to US citizens traveling to or returning directly from a US territory. US citizens returning directly from a US territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. US territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
St Martin/St Maarten Customs: Visitors over 15 years of age may import, duty free, 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 2 liters of alcoholic beverages; 250ml of perfume; gifts to a value of US$150.
Departure Tax: $20 departure tax per person.
US Customs: Upon return to the US, visitors may bring in $800 worth of merchandise without paying duty. The next $1,000 worth of merchandise is charged at 10%. Gifts of up to $50 may be sent home duty free. One quart of alcoholic beverage may be brought in duty free, as well as five cartons of cigarettes.
St Maarten Tourist Board: 23 Walter Nisbeth Road, Imperial Building, Philipsburg, St Maarten, phone 5-22337, fax 5-22734
New York: 675 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10017, phone 212-953 2084, fax 212-953 2145, email info@st-maarten.com
Office du Tourisme: Port de Marigot, 97150 Marigot, St. Martin, phone 5-90-87-5721, fax 5-90-87-5643
Chicago: 645 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 3360, Chicago, IL 60611, phone 312-751-7800
Dallas: 2305 Cedar Spring Road, Dallas, TX 75201
Los Angeles: 9454 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, phone 310-271-6665
New York: 444 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, phone 914-398-3486