St. Martin Island

Pros: Too numerous to list in only 15 words, so I won't even try.
Cons: I'm not qualified to review the unbelievable restaurants in detail. Believe me, you'll be amazed.

In this season of frigid temperatures in the Northeast part of the United States, thoughts often turn toward the sun. I know ours did. And so research was done (thanks to the Internet), and a new type of winter vacation was planned in St. Martin. One ...

Pros: beautiful beaches, genuinely friendly locals, and it’s affordable! (once you get there)
Cons: A bit humid at times.

My expectations of St. Martin were high because I had heard from a number of Caribbean travelers that it was their favorite island. I wasn’t disappointed! It’s difficult to put your finger on one thing that explains why it’s so great, but ...

Pros: Food, People, Diving, Sailing, Beaches, Diversity, Close to other islands, Great Family Spot
Cons: none really

St Martin is a great island to visit. There are many places to go and things to do. The island is half French and half Dutch. English is spoken on both sides of the island, and dollars are accepted everywhere. The French side has converted to Euros, but ...

Pros: Food, Variety of Beaches, Sun
Cons: Expensive, Poor Roads, Poor Beach Snorkeling Options, Rains Frequently, Hurricane Damage. Long trip

We just returned from a week long February vacation in St. Maarten. "We" includes my husband and I (who were in it for relaxation), my parents (who were in it for the snorkeling and the food), and a two-year old. The following is a summary of the...

Pros: Nudity allowed, Lots of water activities available.
Cons: Expensive to rent water sports items such as Jet-skis

The Orient Beach on the French side of St. Martin is not the only nude beach located on this island however it is probably the most well known nude beach in the Caribbean.

The beach is located on the south side of Orient Bay. Nearby...

Pros: Some of the best beaches in the Caribbean, great restaurants & shopping
Cons: Struggling with growth, crowding, crime & hurricane damage

St. Martin - Sint Maarten is the only island in the Caribbean with a split personality. Half Dutch and half French, you can freely move across an untended border and change from one culture to another in a blink of an eye. Having lived in the Caribbean...

Pros: superior dining, great weather, beaches, water activities
Cons: Parts are trashy

For six years, I owned a time-share in St. Maarten (the Dutch side) and spent one week each year in mid-April from 1994-1999. I got to know the island pretty well so here is my advice:

1. Airfare is expensive (between $700 and $800) because...

Pros: Beautiful beaches, friendly people, good prices, wonderful experience
Cons: Nothing!

Review Topic:  Overview

Saint Maarten/St. Maarten is a wondrous island, one you should definitely consider visiting. The natives are all extremely friendly, and the island is mainly targeted for tourists. Prices on the Dutch...

Pros: Beautiful beaches, relaxation, clear blue water, great food
Cons: Expensive, not a lot of college kids, local men will hound you

We didn't know exactly what we were getting ourselves into by picking St. Martin as our Spring Break destination. All we knew was that St. Martin was going to be warm and was among the finer islands that the Caribbean has to offer. Boy did we luck out...

Pros: Variety, friendly people, wonderful beaches
Cons: Expensive

My 12-year old son, my wife and I spent 5 days/4 nights in St. Martin in mid-March. We stayed on the French side, just outside of the captial, Marigot. The island is half French (St. Martin) and half Dutch (Sint Maarten), and while the two parts are...

Pros: beautiful beaches, excellent food
Cons: hotel and airfare can be pricey

St. Martin is co-settled by the Dutch and the French, although the line dividing the settlement is specific and culturally obvious.
When I went to St. Martin, I stayed on the French side. We did visit the Dutch side to rent a sailboat at one...

Pros: Beaches & restaurants
Cons: roads leave something to be desired

Five years in a row we were fortunate to travel to the island of St Martin. It is an experience that we will carry with us the rest of our lives. We usually stayed on the French side and usually at the Nettle Bay Beach Resort. Everyone of the villas...

Pros: Great Food, Crystal Clear Water
Cons: Pricey Food

I stayed at the Le Meridien Hotel in the NW corner of Saint Maarten, on the French side, with my beautiful, tanned-challenged wife, and our good friends Vinny and Joanne. Our vacation lasted a wonderful week between May 6-13th. Luckily for us, we...

Pros: Grand Case
Cons: homeless

FRENCH ST. MARTIN

St. Maarten's original settlers were the Dutch and the French. Its dual owners have shared this tiny paradisical island peacefully for nearly 350 years, and it is this understated absence of conflict that testifies to one of...

Pros: Philipsburg, Dutch St. Maarten
Cons: none

Philipsburg, Dutch St. Maarten

Dutch St. Maarten occupies the southern part of the island, an area of 16 square miles marked by verdant, rolling hills that languidly rest above mile after mile of beach, salt ponds and lagoons. With gentle...