St. Martin / Sint Maarten

This small island has been split between two countries since 1648. The southern side, Sint Maarten, is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the northern side, Saint-Martin, belongs to France. There is no border control between them; you simply drive across.

The Dutch side has the airport, the cruise port at Philipsburg, casinos and nightlife. It is also home to Maho Beach, where jets pass just overhead as they land. The French side feels more relaxed, with the market town of Marigot, the lively beach at Orient Bay, and Grand Case, known as the food capital of the Caribbean.

Princess Juliana International Airport is one of the main hubs of the eastern Caribbean, with flights from North America and Europe and connections on to smaller islands. From Jamaica, you will usually connect through Miami, San Juan or another regional hub.

Ferries run from St. Martin to Anguilla, St. Barts and Saba.

St. Martin is much smaller and more international than Jamaica. On any given day you will hear English, French, Dutch, Spanish and Papiamento. The island is known for shopping, dining and nightlife more than for nature, although there are good hiking trails up to Pic Paradis on the French side.

Food is the highlight: French bakeries and fine dining alongside the lolos, casual open-air barbecue stands in Grand Case serving ribs, chicken and lobster. The island was badly damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and has largely rebuilt.

Photo: Clavius66 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

• Watch planes land over Maho Beach, but stay well back from the fence during takeoffs, because jet blast is dangerous.
• Eat at the lolos and fine restaurants of Grand Case on the French side.
• Hike to Pic Paradis, the highest point on the island, for views across to neighboring islands.
• Spend a day at Orient Bay or take a boat to Pinel Island for calm water.
• Ride the zipline at Rainforest Adventures on Sentry Hill.
• Take a day trip by ferry to Anguilla or St. Barts.

Winter brings the most visitors. Spring still has good weather with thinner crowds.

On the Dutch side, Simpson Bay and Maho are busy, with hotels, casinos and nightlife close to the airport. Philipsburg is convenient for shopping and the cruise-port bustle. On the French side, Grand Case is perfect for food lovers, and Orient Bay has a long beach with hotels and bars. For something quieter, look at villas in the hills above Terres Basses or Anse Marcel. Wherever you stay, a rental car makes it easy to explore both sides.

• Currency: Caribbean guilder on the Dutch side and the euro on the French side; US dollars are accepted almost everywhere
• Languages: English, French and Dutch
• Driving: right-hand side
• Best for: food lovers, shoppers, nightlife fans and island hoppers

Traffic can be heavy around Philipsburg and Simpson Bay, so plan extra time on cruise days. The French side follows French entry rules and the Dutch side has its own, so check both if you plan to stay on one side.