Welcome to the land of hot days, cool nights, tropical breezes and warm people. Bienvenue and Wilkom to the island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, the smallest country in the world that is divided between two sovereign powers. There are some features that make the island unique in the world – the stunning beaches, rolling green hills and borderless existence are just a start but the luxury goods, duty free shopping and one-of-a-kind charm that blends the sophistication of Europe and the laid back atmosphere of the Caribbean make it priceless.   With stronger ties to Europe than in the past , the euro, dollar and Netherlands Antilles guilder coexist in peaceful harmony. You will find amazing cuisine – from island Creole cooking to gourmet haute French cuisine. Bread is baked twice daily, the dingy is considered a viable mode of transportation to beat the traffic and there are more than 80 cultures that blend in harmony on an island that is 36 square miles. In the past decade, the island has experienced unprecedented growth. Along with some world class marinas – Isle de Sol, Port de Plaisance, Simpson Bay Yacht Club, Great Bay, Anse Marcel and Marigot, the island is experiencing a real estate boom with multi million dollar luxury developments in Cupecoy along the white sandy shores of the Caribbean Sea, Great Bay, Guana Bay, Red Pond, Oyster Pond and Dawn Beach. The A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility on Great Bay receives more than a million passengers annually and the Princess Juliana International Airport with its modern design has been in operation for more than a year.  The AmericanUniversity of the Caribbean Medical School boasts has an ultra modern campus. 

 

SimpsonBaylagoon, with twenty three miles of enchanting shoreline is home to one of the world’s largest and most precious ecological wonderlands, a haven for many species of wildlife.  Simpson Bay, one of the island original fishing villages pays homage to their history with many fine restaurants serving the fresh catch of the day. The strolling strand of Great Bay in Philipsburg is the island’s shopping capital and has cafes, bistros and restaurants that line the Boardwalk. Dawn Beach is the site for the new Westin Hotel, which will open in 2007, and Oyster Pond has a marina, hotel, villas and beach bars. Orient Beach, with its charming village has a ribbon of restaurants that fill the air with tangy aromas and strolling down the strand au natural is part of the islands many charms. 

 

The French Lowlands has luxurious villas on the beach and charming hillside cottages overlooking the sapphire blue Caribbean Sea. Marigot has the sophistication of the South of France and the charms of the West Indies with sun drenched outdoor cafes serving café au lait set alongside French boutiques all under the imposing shadow of Fort St. Louis built in 1767.  Grand Case, one of the island’s traditional fishing villages with a perfect half moon beach is the Caribbean’s finest gastronomic village with more than two dozen restaurants serving some of the most cutting edge cuisine blending the best from Europe and the Unites States with the spices of the West Indies.

 

And whether by air or by sea, there are four dazzling islands less than an hour away – each a precious and unique jewel and worthy of a visit. There is British alluring Anguilla, sensual French St. Barths, rustic Dutch Saba and historic St. Eustatius, affectionately known as Statia.