Luxurious vacation villa rentals in St Maarten, St Martin and St Barth
has announced that it will again offer flights between St Barth and St Maarten starting on July 15 in partnership with Tropical Airlines. (aka Air Antilles Express)
Air Antilles Express is an airline based in Guadeloupe. It is a regional airline operating scheduled services between the islands of the French West Indies and to St Lucia. Its services are operated by Air Guyane using 2 ATR 42 aircraft under the name of Air Antilles.
As reported in the St Maarten newspaper the Daily Herald on June 4, The airline needs five more pilots to supplement its pool of 25 pilots in order to maintain its previous schedules. Because of a shortage of pilots from the Antilles, Winair has been trying to attract foreign pilots. However, the process to acquire the mandatory employment documents is lengthy. Documents from the pilot must be submitted to the Island Labour Office. Once they are verified, Winair must pay the processing fee to the Island Receiver. This initial process takes about three days if all goes well. Normally, once Winair has provided proof of payment to the Labour Department, it takes a week to process the paperwork and send it to the Executive Council for approval. At the same time, all documents are sent to Police Affairs for a residence permit. After these steps are completed, an appointment must be made to process “the declaration act of guarantee” and the paperwork is sent to the Lt. Governor and the Immigration Department for approval. Winair reports an incident when paperwork for a pilot was begun in January and by the end of April was still not completed. The airline is appealing to the Central and Island Governments to streamline the process so that it takes only two weeks from when the documents are submitted to obtaining the permit. Winair’s management requested a meeting in April to discuss these issues. As of today, no meeting has been set.
As quoted by the Daily Herald,
Be sure to allow extra time to make your connection, even if it requires staying overnight in St Maarten. If you arrive and find your flight to St Barth has been cancelled, you can take a taxi to Marigot for $20 and hop on the Voyager, a ferry that takes 75 minutes but can be rough. If you arrive early enough, you can take a taxi to Bobby’s Marina in Philipsburg and catch the 5:00 pm Rapid Explorer. This is a comfortable, air-conditioned high-speed catamaran that will get you to St Barth in 45 minutes.
St. Barth is a unique French island that marches to its own beat and those in the know want to keep it that way.
Of the 20 beaches on the small island, several are considered especially inviting. On the southern side of the island, Grand Saline is a pristine beach with no development. On the western edge of the island is Colombier beach, which is only reachable by boat or a hike. St. Jean, Flamands and Grand-Cul-de-Sac beaches are also popular and attractive beaches which have hotels and other establishments on them. Shell Beach is popular for families with kids as it has little surf. The weather travels onto the island following the sun from the East. One of the main surfing beaches (Toiny) is known for its riptide, while Grand Fond is one of the island’s only non-swimming beaches.
Otherwise, scuba and snorkling are a great way to see the nurse sharks, lobsters, conch and green sea turtles that abound in the waters surrounding St. Barth. The beach of Grand Cul-de-Sac is the easiest beach in the Caribbean for learning as it has a reef which closes off the entire bay. The current that passes outside the reef here also carries the migrating whales and dolphins. St. Barth’s beaches are seldom crowded, they are all public and topless bathers are the norm. The island boasts an incredible array of excellent restaurants and exciting activities to keep you highly entertained.
To plan a vacation to one of St. Bart’s luxury villas, contact BlueOceanVillas.com and ask to speak to Sonja, our St. Barth’s Vacation Specialist at 1 877 311 7759 or +1 352 505 2805.
St. MaartenThe deceptively small Dutch St. Maarten presents some interesting contrasts for the explorer. Wide beaches along the coast, full of sunbathers and surfers, seem a far cry from the quiet country roads and small towns of the hillsides. In the evening the hills of the interior become even more peaceful, while the glittering casinos and pulsing clubs of the coast just begin to come alive.
MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS:
Couples planning on getting married on St. Maarten must be at least 18 years of age. Requests must be submitted at the least 14 days prior to the scheduled ceremony to be conducted by the Registrar.
The following notarized original documents must be submitted to the Registrar with your request:
A full abridged birth certificate to prove the legality of the same. The birth certificate must have an “Apostille” stamp which can be obtained from the City Hall;
1. In the event persons are not of Dutch nationality, a valid passport is required;
2. Address of both parties;
3. Duration of stay on St. Maarten;
4. Unmarried persons must present a declaration of marital status not older than 3 months;
5. If widow(er), a death certificate;
6. If divorced, a divorce certificate or a final judgment decree;
7. For minors, permission of the parents is required;
8. Names of parents, maiden names of mother including place of birth and birth date;
9. Professions of the bride, the groom and the parents.
10. 6 (six) witness if the marriage is performed outside of the Marriage Hall. Non-Dutch witnesses must present a valid passport or a birth certificate with a picture I.D.
Original documents other than Dutch or English need to be translated into the Dutch language (i.e. a French or Spanish document must be translated into Dutch, not English).
The cost for contracting foreign marriages is US$275.55 and includes civil ceremony, marriage books, stamps and certificates.
Questions can be directed to:
Chief Registrar
Census Office
Soualiga Road
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Fax: + 599-542-4267
ST. MAARTEN MARRIAGE POLICY
For the contracting of marriages on the Island Territory of Sint-Maarten, the following procedures are applicable and required (in accordance with the Civil Code at the Netherlands Antilles 1869 and as amended).
1. Birth Certificates of both parties are required (article 120). Persons of foreign nationalities should be 21 years and over in order to contract a marriage without consent of their parents, Guardians (such also in accordance to the laws of their respective countries of origin). Persons of the Netherlands nationality should be 23 years and over (article 91).
2. Divorced persons may remarry in Sint-Maarten, but should provide a recent extract of divorce of this current year. Divorced women, can only remarry after 306 days upon inscription into the registry of divorce at the office of Civil State (article 83).
3. A period of 10 (ten) days is required by law in accordance to article 124 of the Civil Code of the Netherlands Antilles to register at the Office of Civil Registry. Persons dearing to get married must first declare before the office of Civil State of their intentions of contracting a marriage. Office hours are Mondays through Fridays from 8.30 am to12.00 noon and from 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm (article 99, 100 101) Publication of marriage banns. Starts from the Saturday thereafter (article 124).
4. On Tuesdays through Thursdays Marriages can be contracted for the price of Nafls. 90(approx, $51); on Fridays for Nafls. 120 (approx. $67); and on Saturdays for the price of Nafls 270 (approx. $152). Price includes the marriage book. (These prices are in effect as of October 1, 1994, in accordance with ‘AB 1194 No. 11 Stamps ordinance 1994)
5. To contract a marriage on the Island, one of the parties concerned must be an inscribed Residence at the Census Office. Two witnesses are also required to be present at the marriage ceremony and must also be inscribed residents at one of the Census Office of the Netherlands Antilles (articles 125 and 126). To become a resident of the Netherlands Antilles one must first have a valid residence permit and/or a permit granted by the Government Authorities, of which must be handled by the Immigration Department in question (P.B. 1986 No. 96).
6. Foreign persons wishing to get married in St. Maarten and who are not inscribed as a resident can request permission from the Lt. Governor of the Island Territory of St. Maarten. If permission is granted a temporary tourist permit will be issued in order to contract a marriage. A written request must be submitted to the attention of the Lt. Governor; this can be send to:
Lt. Governor Franklyn RICHARDS
Government Administration Building
P.O. Box 943
Philipsburg, St.Maarten.
Netherlands Antilles
You may also fax the Lt. Governor at 011-59954-24884. Please allow at least 2 months for a Reply, please note that you need to be on the Island at least two days before the wedding date.
7. Registration at the office of Civil Registry needs to take place at least ten days before the marriage. This can be done by faxing their office at 011-59954- 21267. Please send the Fax to the attention of Mr. Alberto Mathew, Chief Registrar. The following documents are needed in order to register: - Copy of approval letter from Lt. Governor (temporary tourist permit) - Birth certificates of both parties - Copy of Civil Status (In case of Divorce Certificates is needed).
The office of Civil Registry is located at:
Sualiouga Rd. #6
Philipsburg,
St. Maarten
Phone: 011-59954-22457 Fax: 011-59954-24567
Please note that all documents must be translated into the Dutch language by an official sworn translator and/ or by a Notary Public with their signature, stamps and seal.
The following person can do translation on Island:
Ms. Cheryl LaBega- Language translator - Government Administration Building
Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
Please note that one to weeks is needed to translate the documents.
8. The Office of the Civil State performs the marriages after all documents are found to be correct, after which if requested by parties, a clergyman can perform the wedding ceremony at the Wedding Hall situated at Sualiouga Rd. # 4, Pondfill, Philipsburg.
9. Other required documents are:- A valid return ticket, or to travel elsewhere outside the Netherlands Antilles- Required documents for returning to the country of origin, or for further travel elsewhere- Sufficient means to be able to support your stay in St.Maarten.
St. Martin is 21 square miles (54 sq km) of French territory with a strikingly French way of life. The currency, the language, the goods in the shops, the escargot and frog legs in the restaurants and the pastries and breads in the bakeries, the cars, the fashions and the sheer style – it’s all unashamedly French, with the added Caribbean attraction of superb beaches on which to spend the hot, sunny days.
MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS:
Marriage Requirements for marriage coming soon.
TOURIST BOARD INFORMATION:
Contact St. Martin Tourist Office at 1 
877-956-1234
St Barthelemy is the Monte Carlo of the Caribbean, without the traffic jams but with the added advantage of flawless beaches. Shortened to Saint Barth in French and St Barts in English it is an exclusive eight square mile (21 sq km) embodiment of 24-carat French chic. It attracts millionaires on luxury yachts, movie stars and French expatriates fleeing the European winter. If you’re looking for a Caribbean island where relaxation and Gallic style under a tropical sun have been refined to perfection, you’ve found it.
MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS:
While it is impossible for anyone other than St. Barths residents to have a civil marriage ceremony in St. Barths, a lot of people of many nationalities with a close connection to St. Barths do decide to have their Christian marriage or wedding blessing on the island.
St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church is willing to discuss the possibility of holding wedding services, but sufficient notice must be given in time for the necessary preparations. The Anglican Church undertakes weddings in both English and French but does not provide for wedding services outside of the Church. The priest, Revd Charles Vere Nicoll, lives on the island and can help with enquiries - Tel: (59) 05 90 29 74 63.
The first frost of winter often brings about dreams of Caribbean vacations, and the desire to get away to a sundrenched desert isle can start to play on the mind. There are a large number of Caribbean island’s, many of which have a strong British, Dutch or French flavor, left over from their colonial past.
Many people have their own personal favorite Caribbean getaway retreat, many choose there island because of the slick Madison Ave advertising campaigns, that promote them as the ultimate Caribbean getaway destinations.
Perhaps because of its very strong French influence the tiny Caribbean nation of St Barts has avoided such brash invitations to visit this tropical paradise. St Barts is the kind of place that has grown steadily in popularity almost entirely due to positive word of mouth from past visitors.
The islanders have avoided mass tourism by avoiding mass advertising; they are far more interested in quality when it comes to tourists, rather than quantity. Many return home from the island singing enthusiastic praises about this incredible vacation location. Then these are the same people who complain when other visitors want to enjoy their hidden, little piece of paradise.
St. Barts is sometimes referred to as the Monte Carlo or St. Tropez in the Caribbean, this is possibly an insult to this stunningly picturesque eight square mile slice of another world. The truth is that St. Barts probably has far more to offer than its Mediterranean sisters.
Unlike these bustling and overdeveloped French cities, growth on St. Barts has been strictly controlled in an eco-friendly manor, for many years. Even before anyone had every heard the phrase. Construction has been strictly limited, with a distinct lack of unattractive condo complexes, and mega hotels.
to be found on the island including villas defiantly fall under the bracket of ‘luxury class’. With no prefabricated ‘build ‘em cheap- sell ‘em fast’ ugly high rise construction, permitted anywhere on the island.
Even the normal life blood of most Caribbean islands, the cruise ship, is allowed only limited access, with numbers very strictly controlled to avoid the ‘day trip’ feel that changes the face of tourism on many of the West Indian islands.
St. Barts has chosen instead to offer the highest quality vacation to a smaller number of lucky visitors. These privileged few can partake of the 20 stunning beaches that circle the island, separating the land from the crystal clear, azure blue tropical warm seas.
Many people visit the island just to experience its incredible scuba diving opportunities along the Coral reefs located just off shore. Others want to laze the day away on the snow white beach, sipping on a fruit cocktail. Many come for the huge variety of designer goods available at bargain prices on this duty free island.
What ever your reasons for wanting to visit this undiscovered paradise island, it is sure not to disappoint even the most jaded traveler. St. Barts has so much to offer any visitor that demands quality, and the best that money can buy, in an exotic tropical playground.
St Barts in English or Saint Barth in French is located in the French West Indies is considered by many to be Monte Carlo in the Caribbean islands. This little Caribbean gem measures just 21sq km or only 8 sq miles, and is a magnet for the European jet set as well as the American well heeled.
An international flavor combines with French chic, West Indian cool and stunning scenery to produce one of the most idyllic vacation destinations to be found not only in the Caribbean but and anywhere in the world. Stepping onto St Barts is to step out of normal existence; the island has an unmistakable feel of quality and affluence, which sets it apart from the over-developed, tourist over-run islands, found elsewhere in the Caribbean chain.
International flights from the US and beyond arrive at the neighboring French island of St Maarten, and then a quick hop of less than 20 minutes will find you in your cab heading for your luxury villa accommodations favored by many visitors to the island.
The island is home to some 20-odd beaches widely regarded as amongst the most perfect on the planet. Some are long expanses of snow white sand catering to every possible need of the fanatical beach dweller. There are restaurants, stunning beach bars; every conceivable kind of water sports, as well has the clearest water imaginable.
There is a distinct lack of monstrous condo developments and massive resort hotel construction; this is because of firm government controls that favor eco-friendly tourism development. The capital of the island was developed by 17th century Swedish colonialists who named the town Gustavia, after their King.
Scuba diving is an incredibly popular pastime around the island’s shores, which is not surprising given the quality of the clear water. In addition, the large numbers of beautiful coral reef structures, as well as at least three ship wrecks, innumerable beautifully colored fish as well as other sea creatures such as turtles and dolphins.
If you prefer your enjoyment, back on the land St. Barts can offer a huge array of activities and sports to keep even the most athletic entertained for every day of their vacation. There are a huge number of diverse sports such as archery, tennis, horse riding, hiking, quad bike riding and many more.
Those who prefer more sedate activities can enjoy a variety of spa treatments including massage and many other therapies. Shopping is also a very popular indulgence especially in Gustavia due to its duty-free port status. Here you will find not only local crafts and gifts; you can also indulge yourself in the world’s finest boutique designer goods and clothing.
St Barts offers the finest of everything from shopping, to villa accommodations, to the best beaches, and the clearest waters. This is why it has become one of the meeting points of the international jet set, who come to enjoy its many sights and wonders.
The oddly named St Barts or St Barths is actually short for St Barthelemy and is a stunning French West Indian island located in the Caribbean. St Barts can be slightly difficult to reach; most visitors arrive via a 20 seater aircraft from neighboring St Maarten.
This has proved to be a drawback and a huge benefit to the island; it’s a drawback because of the inconvenience of not having direct international flights. However, many visitors feel that this is easily outweighed by the benefits of the island not being overrun by too many visitors. In addition, the lack of concrete over-development that has damaged other once beautiful, Caribbean islands.
What is so special about vacationing on St Barts, can be best summed up by fine cuisine, both French and local, stunning beaches and coves, and a very exotic and defiantly French feel to the whole island. Of course, because of the French influence, everything on the island has that certain, indefinable ‘chic’ feel that only the French can bring.
The French influence can be felt in all aspects of life and culture on the island, with French street names and French colonial style buildings adding an air of elegance to the West Indian laid back culture. The food is very continental, offering the highest quality ingredients and the finest French chefs. There is no need to visit Paris to explore the very best in authentic French cuisine, St Barts is not a pretend French food heaven, and it offers an absolutely equivalent level of the best French fayre.
St Barts is unquestionably very French, but at the same time it also manages to encompass a very international feel, with high class visitors including ‘A’ list stars from not only America, but also every corner of the world.
St. Barts has an additional odd, international claim to fame, as it is the only place in the whole of the Caribbean that has a Swedish heritage. The islands capital Gustavia was named after a Swedish King, many streets have not only French but also Swedish names. King Gustav declared that the town would be a duty-free port, which it still is to this day, which is wonderful for vacationers looking for a first class bargain gift.
The harbour of Gustavia is truly beautiful and is usually home to some equally beautiful sailboats and yachts. Many cruise ships use its deeper outer waters to disembark visitors to this picture perfect little town. The local government has very wisely, chosen to permanently limit the number of ships that are allowed to visit the island, so as to avoid the town becoming over by day trip tourists.
Both the island’s heritage and makeup of its vacationers is a heady mix of international cultures brought together in one idyllic island location. St Barts is a tiny piece of continental Europe dropped into the middle of the exotic Caribbean.
The Caribbean island of St. Barts’ offers near- perfect year-round weather many visitors will spend much of their days on the stunning beaches, either just sunbathing or for the more energetic enjoying the multitude of water sports.
The island boasts more than twenty incredible beaches and stunning coves. Most of the islands towns and villages were established near a beach or at least offer a marina. The beaches are ideal for sports, swimming or just doing nothing more energetic than turning the pages of the latest Steven King novel.
The beaches themselves can offer thick snow white sand, picture perfect palm trees and azure blue calm waters that never dip below body temperature. Some of these stunning stretches of sand can also provide magical coral reefs located just off shore that are suitable for even a snorkelling beginner.
Not to mention the true scuba-diving enthusiast who will surely not be disappointed at the incredible array of undersea sites available along St. Barts’ incredible coastline. Other beach areas can offer facilities for many water borne attractions such as boating, windsurfing, fishing, board surfing, spear fishing or paragliding.
There are also several beach areas that have not had much attention from developers and do not even have a hotel along the shore. These areas are also popular with people who prefer that there are no lounge chairs, umbrellas or other modern refinements along the beachfront.
These unspoilt beaches only require that you bring a blanket, and so sit under the shade of a seagrape tree to enjoy a perfect day. Some of these beaches will require a short walk across the rolling sand dunes; others like Colombier will require a hike to reach its unspoilt beauty. Some of St Barts’ treasured beaches can only be reached with the use of a small boat; this is true of many of the best scuba diving beach areas of the island.
Continental style topless bathing is a common practice on St. Barts, for those are not used to this practice it may come as slight shock. But also it may come as a surprise to realise that after a couple of days you do not even notice this very French way of enjoying the beach and pool side
All the islands beach areas are fully open to the public, even beaches that front a hotel. Most hotels allow non-guests to participate of their facilities including beach sports, water sports and water sport equipment rental, as well as use of beach loungers and umbrellas. Hotels will also welcome non guests into cafes, tennis courts, swimming pools and all their other attractions. Some charge a fee for the use of facilities; others just require that you ‘buy a drink’.
St. Barts’ is truly a magnificent home for beach lovers, and attracts many visitors every year and some who only wish to enjoy the stunning sands and crystal waters of this first class tropical island.
