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Come experience
the tropical island of
St.Maarten /
St.Martin, located
in the heart of the Caribbean.
Ringed by 36 beautiful beaches, the Island offers visitors a little
Dutch and a little French blended in two lively cultures sharing
one Island.
From Sun drenched powder white beaches, modern resorts, gourmet
dining, dazzling casinos and the finest duty free shopping, St.Maarten/St.Martin
will leave you breathless for more.
Experience the beauty, sophistication and charm of island life
with Daily flights and charters from the various continents such
as North America, South America, Europe and the Caribbean.
The Island is bathed by gentle trade winds year round and the
climate is a temperature 80 degrees in the winter and 86 in the
summer. Nearly everyone speaks English, along with Spanish, Dutch
French and local dialects.
Telecommunications is good, the shopping fabulous, the people
are friendly and the US Dollar is accepted everywhere.
More than a dozen cruise lines regularly call on St. Maarten
making it one of the Caribbean's most popular destination. Yacht
charters from bare boats to mega yachts are readily available
with or without crew from modern marine basins.
History
St.Maarten/St Martin's unique position as
the smallest island in the world to be divided between two sovereign
powers is a testament to the island's fascinating culture and
history. St.Maarten earned its name from its abundance of salt
ponds.
According to legend, Christopher Columbus discovered the Island
on Nov 11, 1493 and St. Maarteners still celebrate Nov 11,
as St. Maarten/St. Martin Day.
For nearly four hundred years, the two sides with 16 miles for
the Dutch side and 21 miles for the French side have never had
a war or a formal border.
Occupied by the Spanish, British, French and the Dutch, the blending
of cultures is evident on beautiful faces, heard in lilting accents
and evidenced in the beat of music which pours out around you.
Beaches
The Island has a beach for every taste-each
one different in character. Crystal clear turquoise warm water
will bathe you at beaches like Great Bay with its wide expanse
of beach and Orient Beach where bars are lined up to serve cold
drinks and where clothing is optional.
The surf rolls in at Guana Bay and Dawn Beach has excellent snorkelling.
There is Grand Case, with its half moon beach dotted with magnificent
restaurants which have earned the village worldwide fame as a
gastronomic enclave, and long bay which is probably the Caribbean's
most perfect. There
are private beaches where white sand stretches and tiny cove accessible
only by boats where the water truly does change into six shades
of blue.
Sports
For land lovers, the island has tennis,
golf, mountain biking or horseback riding.
There are health spas that help you feel pampered with state of
the art equipment.
If you like the water, then try the myriad if offerings on the
sea from deep sea fishing, The 12 Meter sailing challenge, kayaking
and parasailing, water-skiing and windsurfing.
For those under the Sea lovers, there is diving on shipwrecks
that are moored off the coast, and Snorkelling at Creole Rock.
Calendar
of Events
There are lots of events during the year
on the island. In February the French side lights up with their
annual Carnival, and every March the Island becomes a yachtsman's
paradise when boats from all over the world converge for the Annual
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, which is held every year
on the first weekend of March.
April is dominated by 17 days and night of Carnival Festival
and consider yourself invited!
The
Billfish Tournament is in June; St Maarten's Day in Nov.,
helps the Islanders gear up for a memorable Holiday Season in
December.
Dining
Dining has been elevated to an art on the
island which boasts over three hundred restaurants.
There are more boulangeries, patisseries, and bistro per square
mile than anywhere else in the world.
Come and see for yourself why.
From the seaside lolo's and roadside grills to the famed restaurants
dotting the beaches and coves and intimate trattorias, St. Maarten/St. Martin
dining is dynamic and original, blending dishes from fresh ingredients
from the Caribbean with traditional recipes from the Europe and
Asia.
Bread is baked twice daily, lunch is a sacred hour, happy hour is
to be lingered over and dinner is to be savoured.
Gambling and Nightlife
If St. Maarten
by day is exciting and evocative, then the Island by night can keep
up until dawn.
With more than a dozen casinos on the Dutch side to try your luck,
many have evening shows, live music and entertainment.
There are dance clubs set under the stars, discos by the sea, Cuban
cigar bars and live music with anything from jazz, reggae, soca,
souk, salsa disco and of course the islands special blend of music.
Maho, Simpson bay, and Marigot are hopping at night set under a
tropical sky.
Come and experience our St. Maarten /.St. Martin.
Shopping
St. Maarten is the only true duty free
destination in the Caribbean, Best buys are available on jewellery
, watches, linens, sunglasses, fragrances, and cigars, Genuine cigars
are sold at more than 20 authorized outlets Leather bags and accessories
are also a fabulous bargain and found at substantially lower prices
than the U.S. and Europe.
Philipsburg is the Heart of the Dutch side.
And Front Street; an international shopping strip set by the Caribbean
Sea.
There is Maho which stays open late, Simpson Bay and Marigot with
its designer shops and unique boutiques by the Marina and Harbour.
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