The Dutch call the island Sint Maarten, while the French call it Saint Martin. Both are the same island, but as it is under mixed ruling, it is not unusual to here it referred to both ways.

The weather in Sint Maarten is beautiful, and the many beaches are often crowded with visitors searching for the perfect spot to catch a little tan. Still, while the weather is warm throughout the year, there are times when hurricanes threaten to hit the island, and are not the best time for a visit.

The annual temperature amplitude is very small, which explains a lot about how constant the weather really is in Sint Maarten. Usually, the temperature does not go over 86 degrees (Fahrenheit), and does not go below 77 degrees (Fahrenheit). The highest temperatures are registered during summer and then they fall a little during winter although not significantly.

The rainy season occurs mostly in the fall months and it is said that November is the rainiest of them all. According to recommendations, the best months to visit Sint Maarten are March and April, while the rainy months are usually avoided by people on holiday.

Sint Maarten holds a special appeal, because of its numerous beaches that attract tourists from all over the world. The island is rich in all types of accommodation, and if you know when to go on vacation in Sint Maarten you will have a wonderful time. Make sure to stay away during the rainy months, however, as it is unlikely that you would like to spend your entire vacation indoors.

Vacation rentals are the rage currently in Sint Maarten and many tourists choose this option when it comes to their holiday accommodation. One reason for the sudden popularity is that often vacation rentals are cheaper than a hotel stay. You can choose between many villas or condos allowing you to spend a vacation in style without paying as much as you would at a top class hotel.

However, if you want to check out the resorts and other hotels on the island you can since rentals are not the only option. There are plenty of travel agencies that are willing to help tourists choose the best accommodation according to their preferences and their budget. You can book a room ahead or you can find one on the spot, but it is generally recommended to check out some hotel deals before embarking on a trip.

There are certain advantages and disadvantages that can influence your decision of choosing one type of accommodation over another. Rentals are great for people that care about their privacy, and you can also take some liberties that you may not be able to take while staying in a hotel. On the other hand, when you stay at a hotel in Sint Maarten you will get to enjoy their amenities, as well as their on site restaurants.

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Christopher Columbus never visited Saint Martin. However, on one of his voyages he did claim it for Spain. On November 11, 1493, San Marteen (according to the Spaniards) history states that Columbus spotted the island and named it after the saint’s feast day—Saint Martin of Tours. Spain may have listed the island in their list of territories; but they more or less left the island as it was instead of colonizing it. The French on the other hand, had the desire to colonize not only St. Martin Island, but also all the islands found from Trinidad to Bermuda.

The Dutch West Indies Company also wanted to have the island under their control and was the first to originally start the European portion of St. Maarten history by setting up camps in 1631, starting with Fort Amsterdam. At this time, the Dutch West Indies Company started mining salt, and about this same time period the first governor in St. Maarten’s history was appointed: Jan Claeszen van Campen. Other settlements were scattered throughout St. Maarten belonging to the English, French, and of course the Dutch.

Spain attacked in 1638 and took over all the Dutch settlements. Spain was now in control and built the Old Spanish Fort at Point Blanche. The Dutch tried in vain to recover the island.

After the long battle between The Netherlands and Spain, Spain once again had no need for the Caribbean Island and left in 1648. St. Maarten history shows that both the French and Dutch were eager to gain control of this beautiful island and its magnificent white sandy beaches. An interesting footnote is that Peter Stuyvesant, soon to become Governor of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam which is now New York City, lost his leg in a battle against the Spanish in St. Maarten.

After a few battles, both sides realized the other would never retreat. In 1648, according to historical documents in St. Maarten, the Treaty of Concordia was signed, which separated the island into two distinct countries—one side owned by the French (St. Martin) and the other by the Dutch (Sint Maarten). This brought about the beginning of the unique St. Maarten/St. Martin culture.

Eventhough they had an agreement in hand, both sides still had a few squabbles about the way in which the land should be divided. As the history of St. Maarten explains, the boundaries were changed a total of sixteen times by 1816. The French have twenty square miles in the north and the Dutch have sixteen square miles in the south, both offering a unique and different St. Maarten/St. Martin culture to explore.

Like all countries, trying to develop into a nation with its own beliefs and culture, St. Maarten/St. Martin had a ways to go since both sides had very different thoughts on many things. Today, you will see a wonderful island that has grown independently on each side of the island making it one that is fascinating to visit with the diverse cultures side by side. St. Maarten/St. Martin culture is ofcourse a nation divided, but one that coexists today without any problems.

Article by Lakeisha Scales

St Maarten island is the smallest in the world to be partitioned between two countries. Thanks to the mutual friendship between the Dutch and French, citizens from all over the world are now free to enjoy the unique offers of St Maarten Island.

Living in a Caribbean condo is like living in paradise, with the sun and sand at your doorstep, what more can you ask for? No matter what part of the island you are in (Dutch side is called St Maarten, French side is internationally known as St Martin), you will surely realize that St Maarten island is a place worth visiting. The French side is larger but the Dutch side is home to the more popular beaches.

St Maarten real estate has constantly benefitted with the beauty and unique characteristics of the island. More and more visitors are deciding of purchasing their own Caribbean condo, a second home in paradise. Those who decide to live here permanently continuously discover new places to visit.

The white sandy beaches are of course, the number one tourist destination. Home to 37 beaches, each with its own character, a visitor can surely find one in St Maarten island which fits his or her preferences. Some of the beaches have rough waters, perfect for surfers. Others have the most beautiful scenery underwater, and there are those which are suitable for families and their children. For those who would like to sun bathe, the Cupecoy beach is a clothing optional beach thats become popular to adult tourists.

St Maarten Island is not just about the waters, it is also about beautiful flora and remarkable fauna. Located at Le Galion Beach Road Quarter D

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The island joint by French Saint Martin and Dutch Sint Maarten, is home to magnificent beaches and pristine scenery, not forgetting two very distinctive, welcoming societies.

St Martin / St Maarten vacation rentals are some of the the most magnificent condos available in the Caribbean, exhibiting an elite refined beauty incomparable to the nearest islands.

This classy, sociable island is really a paradise; the key reason tourists stay in the Caribbean islands on their vacations: the beaches!! Fringing both regions of the island are thirty beaches, each with an individual personality. Any beach you go to, you will come across stunning landscapes, particularly at dawn and sunset, and acquire plenty to keep you occupied. Usually our St Maarten condo or villas are ideally situated to make the most of these scenes and island life.

For adventuresome visitors to our St Maarten vacation rentals, the island is also resident to a broad range of activities like scuba diving, fishing and windsurfing, whereby the more relaxed guests are able to relax on the sand and enjoy the sun, or spend some time walking the beaches for a natural souvenir. St Maarten hotels are sparse on the Dutch side particularly and not usually well based to enjoy the benefits of the island.

Although some visitors prefer to stay in St Maarten hotels, generally large families or group of friends usually tend to rent St Maarten condo or lavish villas. Our exclusive St Maarten vacation rentals offer much more privacy, opulence and plenty of recreation than resorts and hotels.

Eventhough St Maarten hotels try to offer some services and facilities, the complimentary comforts that just our St Maarten vacation rentals are able to offer to travelers. Without exception our rental villas and condos have amenities like extra towels, high quality linens, well equipped kitchen, and a washer and a dryer.

Typical almost all of our St Maarten vacation condo or villas provide all of the amenities that you can have in any house like: satellite or cable TV, DVD/CD player, film collection to choose from not needing to charge extra for every movie or channel you watch. After all we are thriving because our short-term rentals are a home away from home.

On the island a good number of St Maarten vacation rentals additionally include equipment to engage children with toys, puzzles and board games. Rarely even, a library with a quality choice of texts is also offered in order that adults can wind down and read a book or magazine.

As a result, St Maarten vacation rentals contain fully specially selected high-tech kitchens, one can carry out a distinguished dinner or party, which is just not possible in St Maarten hotels. For families or a group, cooking their own meals becomes somewhat low in cost in comparison to dining out in a restaurant or in a hotel. St Maarten condo or villa rentals always scores, when it comes to cost effectivness.

Definitely by renting our St Maarten vacation rentals, visitors can get pleasure of a actual experience of life similar to the inhabitants. With this in our head, ought to be the primary object for selecting from our extensive collection of condos and villas all over on the island.

St. Maarten has a history dating back to 550 BC. Tool and pottery artifacts  belonging to the Amerindians have been unearthed at an archaeological dig on the Dutch side. Even though Columbus landed in St. Maarten in 1493 and claimed the island for Spain, due to the fierce and cannibalistic Caribs, the Spanish never developed the island. In the early 1600s, the Dutch raised their flag, followed by the French. Legend has it that a Frenchman and a Dutchman finally settled an argument over territorial rights by pacing off their shares. The French got the bigger slice, but the Dutch ended up with the more valuable real estate; the Salt Pond and the Harbor.

If you like to shop, Phillipsburg in Dutch St.

Maarten is fabulous for duty-free shopping. In fact, the prices in St. Maarten are as good if not better than in St. Thomas, long rumored to be the best place to shop for jewelry, cameras and electronics the Caribbean. Upon disembarking in St. Maarten, you will be pleasantly surprised when you see the new vibrantly colored buildings at the port. It’s a mini-shopping destination. The prices at these shops are just as good as in Phillipsburg, the largest city in St. Maarten. The bustling town of Phillipsburg is worth seeing and the water taxi to get there is right at the pier. Last time I visited St. Maarten, the water taxi charged $ 6 per person each way for the quick ride across the harbor. As it runs every 30 minutes, you can easily gauge your time in town to get you back to your ship before the gangway is raised.  Once in Phillipsburg, there are plenty of dining options all along Front Street; from standard fare to excellent curry and island cuisine. Of course, Heineken is the Dutch beer of choice and it is locally brewed.

To distinguish their half of the island, the French renamed their side St. Martin. Marigot is the capital and is the largest town on the island. Marigot is very charming and very French. Bistros and cafes line the walkway along the harbor. Trendy French boutiques with designer clothes are a bit pricier than the island style of dress in St. Maarten. Less hectic than Phillipsburg, Marigot is a lovely little town to walk around, stop in the art galleries to browse and have a cappuccino along the pier.

St. Martin is known for its beautiful beaches and warm, calm waters. As many of the beaches are more secluded, they attract visitors in search of quiet relaxation. The most popular beach is Orient Beach. Be warned…there are areas of Orient Beach that are clothing optional. However, no one really seems to care.

From the port, it’s a 15 minute cab ride to Orient Beach. I have the driver drop me off at the Bikini Beach area at Orient Beach. It is more family-friendly and there are water toys to rent. My favorite place is the French open-air, on-the-beach restaurant, Kakao. You can easily find Kakao as it is located in the area of blue beach umbrellas.  My favorite dish is the steamed mussels in garlic and wine accompanied by a glass of cold, crisp Chardonnay. This place is very popular with Europeans and French is commonly spoken. The seating is on rustic wood benches and the furnishings include artifacts from demolished or sunken yachts. If mussels aren’t your thing, there are other French dishes plus steaks, burgers and pizza. Kakao is very family-friendly and not as boisterous as Kon Tiki next door. After lunch, you can cut across the beach to a very small shopping area. Actually, the shops there are for the benefit of guests who are staying in one of the hundreds of vacation rentals. The little French grocery store has gorgeous French pastries and a variety of breads and croissants. A must-do for a really decadent walk-away dessert.

If you’re up for touring, take a taxi to Grand Case on the northwest corner of the island. Known as the Gastronomic Capital, Grand Case is a small fishing village with small wooden pastel-colored houses and over 30 sidewalk cafes, brasseries and bistros lining the main road. If you’ve brought your beach gear, after lunch you can stretch out and relax on Grand Case Beach.

Heading back to the ship means saying good-bye to a unique and special island. If you are taking a taxi back to the ship, be sure to allow extra time for traffic jams along the way. And don’t forget to buy a wheel of Gouda cheese. Yes, you can buy the same cheese at Winn-Dixie and Publix, but the fun is trying to cram a ten-pound wheel of cheese into the mini-fridge in your stateroom!

You’ll be amazed at how different the cultures are within only a 30-minute taxi ride. As you cross into the French side, you’ll see “Bienvenue en Partie Française” and coming back the border sign greets you with “Welcome to Dutch Sint Maarten, N.A.”  So, the next time you choose a cruise with an eastern Caribbean itinerary, find one that includes St. Maarten. It’s an island worth visiting again and again.