Sint Maarten Vacation

Like so many places in the Caribbean, the two-part island of St. Maarten and St. Martin has plenty of stunning beaches and entertaining resorts. The sub-tropical island is split in two. The northern French collectivity of St. Martin is part of Europe. The southern part is the country of St. Maarten, which is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but not Europe.

St. Maarten and St. Martin are served by an international airport, but can also be reached by boat from as far away as the U.S. Once on the island you can rent a car or explore the compact island on a bike.

Soak up the lively atmosphere and get close to a flying jumbo jet on Maho Beach, which is very close to the international airport. Swim in the clean waves of Mullet Bay Beach or find peace and quiet on Guana Bay Beach. Three sandy beaches set against a backdrop of limestone cliffs make up the Cupecoy Beach. Note that Cupecoy is “clothing optional.”

The island has two main towns. On the French part of the island is Marigot. Come here to try fresh seafood, cooked in the style of the French cuisine. The locals also love fried plantain, a type of banana. On the other side of the border, the Dutch town of Philipsburg has a cruise terminal and is home to many of the island’s cultural institutions and family attractions. Visit the St. Maarten Zoo or walk to Fort Amsterdam. Learn about early life on the island in the St. Maarten Museum and hear stories from the times of slavery at the local salt mines and sugar farms. 

Despite the island’s division, you can visit both sides without difficulty, even though the currency changes from Euros to florins on the Dutch side. The official languages spoken are French, Dutch and English, with English spoken most commonly.

Between June and November the area is subject to hurricanes, but any other time of year is a great time to visit St. Maarten and St. Martin because the water in the Caribbean remains warm year-round.