When winter sets in, it's time to follow the example of all those migratory birds and head south to warmer climes. The perfect place to escape the cold is the Caribbean with its idyllic islands destinations. One of these is the Dutch constituent country of St Maarten, where you can enjoy the perfect Caribbean break.
The Netherlands has several constituent countries in the Caribbean, one of which is Sint Maarten. It's not an entire island, like most other Dutch constituent countries, but covers part of an island known as Saint Martin. Anguilla lies to the north and the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to the west. The part of Saint Martin that isn't Dutch is French and is called Saint-Martin.
Sint Maarten's capital is Philipsburg, which is also the largest settlement on the island in its entirety. Philipsburg is renowned as a shopper's paradise and is a popular port for cruise ships. It lies along Great Bay and is backed by the Great Salt Pond, so the town itself has a long, narrow lay-out. Apart from the shops, restaurants and beaches here, you'll also find museums and historic sights such as Fort Willem.
On the Saint-Martin side, the capital is Marigot, which lies along the western coastline. The island's culinary capital, however, is in the north at Grand Case. Here you'll find streets lined with restaurants that serve Caribbean fare with French flair.
The main reason to visit any Caribbean destination is for the chance to laze on the beach and Saint Martin Island is no exception. The beaches won't disappoint either, with their warm waters and white sands. You can take part in a variety of water sports, from surfing to scuba diving, or simply shoot the breeze. One beach not to miss is Maho Beach, less than half an hour's drive to the west of Philipsburg. Here, landing aircraft fly over so low that you can almost touch them and this makes for a very unusual photo opportunity.
For those days when you want to do something other than beach activities, visit attractions such as Sint Maarten Zoo or, in French Saint-Martin, the butterfly farm. If you prefer something more active, head for the golf course or tennis court, go horse-riding or hike in the interior. Adventure sports that are perfect for the kids too include paintball and canopy tours.
The tropical climate makes Sint Maarten the perfect year-round destination. High season is from January to April, when it's dry season too and nights are slightly cooler. However, the rainy season is a great time to visit too, since showers are short and you'll still get plenty of sunshine, especially since the days are longer at this time of year.
Many people visit Sint Maarten as part of a Caribbean cruise. If you want to stay longer, though, it's best to fly here. There are regular flights to destinations throughout North America as well as The Netherlands and France to the island's main airport, Princess Juliana International Airport.
The Netherlands has several constituent countries in the Caribbean, one of which is Sint Maarten. It's not an entire island, like most other Dutch constituent countries, but covers part of an island known as Saint Martin. Anguilla lies to the north and the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to the west. The part of Saint Martin that isn't Dutch is French and is called Saint-Martin.
Sint Maarten's capital is Philipsburg, which is also the largest settlement on the island in its entirety. Philipsburg is renowned as a shopper's paradise and is a popular port for cruise ships. It lies along Great Bay and is backed by the Great Salt Pond, so the town itself has a long, narrow lay-out. Apart from the shops, restaurants and beaches here, you'll also find museums and historic sights such as Fort Willem.
On the Saint-Martin side, the capital is Marigot, which lies along the western coastline. The island's culinary capital, however, is in the north at Grand Case. Here you'll find streets lined with restaurants that serve Caribbean fare with French flair.
The main reason to visit any Caribbean destination is for the chance to laze on the beach and Saint Martin Island is no exception. The beaches won't disappoint either, with their warm waters and white sands. You can take part in a variety of water sports, from surfing to scuba diving, or simply shoot the breeze. One beach not to miss is Maho Beach, less than half an hour's drive to the west of Philipsburg. Here, landing aircraft fly over so low that you can almost touch them and this makes for a very unusual photo opportunity.
For those days when you want to do something other than beach activities, visit attractions such as Sint Maarten Zoo or, in French Saint-Martin, the butterfly farm. If you prefer something more active, head for the golf course or tennis court, go horse-riding or hike in the interior. Adventure sports that are perfect for the kids too include paintball and canopy tours.
The tropical climate makes Sint Maarten the perfect year-round destination. High season is from January to April, when it's dry season too and nights are slightly cooler. However, the rainy season is a great time to visit too, since showers are short and you'll still get plenty of sunshine, especially since the days are longer at this time of year.
Many people visit Sint Maarten as part of a Caribbean cruise. If you want to stay longer, though, it's best to fly here. There are regular flights to destinations throughout North America as well as The Netherlands and France to the island's main airport, Princess Juliana International Airport.
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