Saint-Martin is a small island in the Caribbean, a scattering of small resort pearls of the Antilles archipelago. Turquoise lagoons are harmoniously combined with white sandy beaches, mangroves and coconut palms. Water temperature throughout the year is from +25 to +30 ° C. Reviews from tourists will help you find out how easy it is to get, where to stay and what to do on the island.
Saint Martin, Sint Maarten or St. Martin's Island?
The eastern Caribbean is bordered by a chain of Lesser Antilles, extending in an arc from Puerto Rico to almost the coast of Venezuela (South America). 8 km south of the beginning of the ridge is the island of Saint-Martin. France rules over its northern territory. South is an autonomous public entity, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. There are no state borders on this tiny piece of land, only a symbolic sign is established.
Residents speak French, Dutch, English and local dialects. The Creole people call their home “Cocos Island”. The Dutch toponym - Sint Maarten - sounds like Saint Martin in English-speaking countries . In some Russian publications the name “about. St. Martin. "
Tropical island in turquoise waters
"French Riviera of the Caribbean" is the unofficial name of Saint-Martin, which is given for the high quality of beach holidays and wide opportunities for entertainment. Many stars, businessmen, politicians, artists, writers from all over the world have chosen local resorts, a beach saturated with the gentle sun. Saint-Martin in the Caribbean, due to the constant tropical climate, is available at any time of the year. The average air temperature in winter is +26 ° C, in summer - up to +32 ° C.
The weather is the same on the French and Dutch side of the island, because its area is only 87 km². The high season for a perfect holiday begins in mid-December and lasts until April. But it is during this period that it is difficult to book a hotel room, unless you take care of this in advance. Some tourists avoid coming here in the summer from June to November when it rains and hurricanes are more likely. Off-season is a bit more rain than usual, and a widespread decline in prices by 20-50%. At this time, cheaper flights, hotel accommodation, services for tourists. Not so crowded in cities and on the coast.
How to get to the island in the Caribbean
At the busy and busy international airport of Princess Juliana in the southwest of the Netherlands, planes of various airlines of the world arrive, mainly European and North American. The flight from Russia includes a transfer in Paris or Amsterdam. Esperance Regional Airport is located in the overseas community of France.
In July and August, air tickets become cheaper, hotel accommodation becomes more affordable. The only problem may be the cancellation of flights due to the fact that the aircraft are not full.
European tourists do not consider the summer months a low season on the island of Saint-Martin. In July and August, more flights connect Paris and the tropical airport than in January. During the off season, many tourists from Italy arrive. Cheap flights to the island can be purchased in September and October. But these same months are the rainiest and windiest in this part of the Caribbean. On the Dutch side, prices are in guilders and US dollars (1 guilder = $ 1.8). The official currency of the French territory is the euro, but American dollars are also accepted.
Accommodation on about. Saint Martin. Hotels in the French part
Finding housing on a resort island is not too difficult, but you should consider the differences in the conditions of each of the territories. The Dutch part has large hotels and casinos; the French are chosen by tourists who want to rent resort apartments, a studio, a villa with a terrace, a private pier and a pool. Exterior design, interiors correspond to the level of the Mediterranean resorts of St. Tropez and Cannes. This side of the island also attracts with the beauty and glory of Orient beach, exquisite French cuisine.
There are several comfortable hotels in the capital of the territory controlled by Paris - the city of Marigot. The price range depends on the location and level of service. The most popular and expensive are beach hotels, for example, Plaza Beach. On the west coast there is a five-star hotel “La Samanna”, which is an autonomous resort with a private beach, fitness and spa centers, tennis courts and a swimming pool. In addition, it offers kayaking, wakeboarding, water skiing, cruises around the island, scuba diving.
Resorts and hotels in the Dutch territory
The capital of the island of Saint-Martin on the Dutch side - Philipsburg - attracts tourists from all over the world. The city has budget hotels and luxury hotels. One of the most popular resorts - Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino is located a fifteen minute drive from the airport and 10 minutes from the business center. Here you can sunbathe on the beach, engage in water sports, play tennis, relax in the casino or just enjoy a swim in the outdoor pool.
Another popular Philipsburg hotel, Holland House Beach Hotel is located on Little Bay Beach. Belair Beach Hotel is close to the white sandy beaches on the Caribbean Sea. Underwater excursions and dives with a professional instructor, deep-sea fishing tours are organized.
Beach holidays
Tourists consider the conditions of Saint-Martin ideal for a relaxing, serene pastime. In total, there are more than 30 beaches within the island, making up the top of the list of attractions of local French and Dutch resorts. Here you can swim in the azure waters, sunbathe, ride a jet ski, fly a paraglider. There are bars and restaurants offering their visitors to taste dishes of European and Creole cuisine.
In the south-west of the Dutch territory is Kapekoy Beach, which was chosen by nudists. In the same part of the island of Saint-Martin - the airport, the beaches of Mallet and Maho, over which the approaching planes fly.
Orient Beach is located on the northeastern French coast, one of the best beaches in this part of the Caribbean. Just a few minutes walk southeast of it, there are good conditions for families with young children.
Sports and Entertainment
Many tourists are attracted not only by the beaches, but also by outdoor activities, sports (scuba diving, yachting). Orient Beach is famous for being protected from waves by reefs, which is favorable for the underwater world of the marine reserve and is very popular with snorkelers and divers. Other travelers are more pleased with the opportunity to go sailing, go on a boat with a guide to the open sea, attend parties. Suitable months for windsurfing and kitesurfing are November – March, when waves appear on beaches and bays. Other aspects of vacation in the resorts of the island of Saint-Martin:
- sea cruises;
- walking tours, sailing, boats, bicycles;
- study of fauna and flora in reserves;
- visiting historical places.
In early March, an annual regatta is held in Saint-Martin, in the summer there are hip-hop, reggae, rock and jazz festivals. A popular event from the beginning of April until May is the traditional carnival.
What to see on the island
The city of Philipsburg is named after the Dutch sailor John Philip, who put a lot of effort into exploring the island and developing the sugar industry. The streets preserved architectural and cultural monuments of the colonial past. The courthouse located near the main square was erected in 1793.
Over the years, 6 churches and a museum have been built that reveal the historical and natural secrets of the island. There are very ancient artifacts that date back to the pre-Columbian era, when a small piece of land in the Caribbean was inhabited by Indians. The years of the war between France and the Netherlands for the right to own the island of Saint-Martin reflect the finds from the fort built by the first settlers in 1631.
The capital of the French part of the island, the city of Marigot, dates back to 1689. A settlement arose around the place of sending ships to Europe with a cargo of sugar, fruit and seafood. Here was built Fort St. Louis - the current main historical attraction of the tropical island. Fans of antiquity will also like the exposition of the Museum of History and Culture, the oldest street of Marigot - Republic Avenue. Popular sights about. Saint-Martin, which many have heard about, is Mount Pic du Paradis, butterfly farm, zoo. Ferries start from cities, cruising to the neighboring islands of the Caribbean.
Tourists reviews
According to tourists who visited the island of Saint-Martin in different months and years, rest here has a number of advantages:
- excellent beaches covered with white sand or beautiful pebbles;
- rich culture, entertaining historical past;
- cozy restaurants, bars, night clubs;
- duty free trade, many markets, shops, boutiques;
- good shopping (jewelry, perfumes, Cuban cigars and rum for lovers).
European tourists call the island "too American", here they pay more respect to the dollar than the euro. Some complain that almost all products are imported. On a small piece of land between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, there is not enough fresh water and fertile soil for agriculture.
The uniformity of flora and fauna is also associated with a lack of moisture. The area of protected natural areas is gradually increasing. On the French side, it is the national reserve of St. Martin, which includes 154 hectares of coast, mangrove forests, salt ponds and 2796 hectares of marine habitat.
Ecotourism is becoming one of the development areas of the island of Saint-Martin. Its main assets - the turquoise sea, blue sky and the abundance of the sun - cause sincere admiration for people who visited this corner of the tropical paradise between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.