For beach lovers who do not have a lot of time on their hands or want an activity that does not take up too much time, from all the excitement in their trip, the perfect getaway activity can be found in Philipsburg, St. Maarten. In that place you can be taken to Orient beach where you can take your afternoon beach break away from all the busy, thrill seeking tourists. There are cushions and lounging chairs and leave you to yourselves to relax on the beautiful beach. If you decide to take this break, bring something that will help you pass the afternoon away. Maybe some portable music to set the mood or a few snacks to keep yourself satisfied. When it comes to looking for things a beach bum on a tight schedule can do then there is obviously so much that St Maarten has to offer. So, even if you do not have a full day to take part in longer activities, there are always other things that can still make for an exciting and unforgettable vacation.
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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.
Call Sonja of BlueOceanVillas toll free at 1 877 311 7759
Orient Beach – St. Maarten, Caribbean
Head down to the Caribbean to shed your second, unnatural skin. At Orient Beach, you can feel the sand in every orifice. According to one TripAdvisor traveler, “Orient Beach was one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever visited. A ’sun worshipers’ paradise.”
Sint Maarten is a popular stop in the southern Caribbean with an unusual blend of Dutch and French cultures. Nice weather makes the island even more attractive to visitors and long-term vacationers alike.
Sint Maarten is actually the name of the Dutch side of the island, while Saint Martin is the name for the smaller French side. It is the smallest island in the world that is shared between two nations.
But they share the same weather. Visitors to the island’s 37 beaches will find year-round warmth, but they also will find the usual heavy rainfall later in the year when the Caribbean’s annual hurricane season takes place.
The average monthly high temperature is about 86 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Meteorological Service of Netherland Antilles and Aruba. The average monthly low temperature is about 77 degrees.
The monthly high temperatures reach an average of 88 to 89 degrees from June through October. They reach a low of about 84 degrees from December through March, making the island one of the warmest year-round.
The island receives an average of 3.4 inches of rain per month, but with distinct peaks and valleys during the year.
Rainfall averages about two inches per month from January through April, spikes to nearly four inches in May and drops in June and July. In picks up in August and exceeds five inches in September, four inches in October and more than five inches again in November. In fact, St. Maarten is unusual among Caribbean destinations for receiving more rainfall in November than in October or September.
The most popular times to visit are March and April, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization. The least popular month is September, followed by October.
Based on rainfall totals, the riskiest month to visit St. Maarten is November followed by September and then October. The best months to visit with the lowest risk of heavy rainfall are March, April, June and July.
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No other Caribbean island offers as much diversity as St. Maarten. Formidable mountain ranges meet lush flatlands against the background of spectacular ocean views and breathtaking sunsets. A landing port for some of the world’s largest, exclusive yachts, St. Maarten is a sailor’s dream.
Enjoy duty-free shopping from the world’s finest retailers who have locations throughout the island. A stellar selection of restaurants makes St. Maarten a premier location for fine dining, and the nightlife keeps the island buzzing after dark.
If the beach is your ultimate destination, then lie down on the gleaming white sand or dip into the turquoise waters of the ocean. For those seeking more excitement, St. Maarten is a great place for almost every water sport imaginable. Snorkeling, Scuba diving, surfing and sailing are available on most of the resorts and public beaches.
PHILIPSBURG – Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa has filed a court case against the Island Government contesting the government’s claim that the hotel owes it a large sum of money in unpaid room tax, accumulated since the resort opened in 2006.
An auction of some of the resort’s assets was put on hold in December when legal representatives of Westin and the Island Receiver’s Office worked feverishly to arrive at a deal.
Westin’s lawyer Maarten Le Poole explained that all monies that the Island Receiver said were owed to the government by Westin would be held in escrow until the outcome of a court case that had to be initiated by Westin within 14 days. Le Poole said the case was expected to be called in the next month or two.
The court will decide if Westin has to pay the government or not. Le Poole said Westin would use the “letter of comfort” granted to the resort in 2005 as part of its argument, but it wouldn’t be the resort’s only legal argument. He did not wish to elaborate further at this time.
The Island Receiver had placed a lien on the assets of Westin, citing unpaid room taxes. Westin’s counter to that claim was based partly on a “letter of comfort” it had been granted by the government in 2005 promising that the Room Tax Ordinance would be amended to allow for the resort to be exempted from paying room tax for a period of time. The ordinance has not yet been amended.
Source : The Daily Herald St. Maarten
For an island with a big reputation for restaurants, hotels, and energetic nightlife, St. Maarten is small — only 96 sq. km (37 sq. miles), about half the area of Washington, D.C. An island divided between the Netherlands and France, St. Maarten (Sint Maarten) is the Dutch half, and St. Martin is French. Legend has it that a gin-drinking Dutchman and a wine-guzzling Frenchman walked around the island to see how much territory each could earmark for his country in a day; the Frenchman walked farther, but the canny Dutchman got the more valuable piece of property.
The divided island is the smallest territory in the world shared by two sovereign states. The only way you’ll know you’re crossing an international border is when you see the sign BIENVENUE PARTIE FRANCAISE, attesting to the peaceful coexistence between the two nations. The island was officially split in 1648, and many visitors still ascend Mount Concordia, near the border, where the agreement was reached. Even so, St. Maarten changed hands 16 times before it became permanently Dutch.
Returning visitors who haven’t been to the island for a while are often shocked when they see today’s St. Maarten. No longer a sleepy Caribbean backwater, now it’s a boomtown. Duty-free shopping has turned the island into a virtual mall, and the Dutch capital, Philipsburg, is often bustling with cruise-ship hordes.
Although the island’s 39 white-sand beaches remain unspoiled, much has been lost to the bulldozer on St. Maarten. This is not a place for people who don’t like crowds, so if you want to get away from it all, head to the nearby Dutch islands of St. Eustatius (Statia) and Saba, or choose another getaway, such as the British Virgin Islands. Even the French side of the island would suit you better. Nevertheless, despite problems like crime, occasional storms, traffic congestion, and corruption, St. Maarten continues to attract massive numbers of visitors who want a Caribbean island vacation with a splash of Las Vegas.
The Dutch capital, Philipsburg, curves like a toy village along Great Bay. The town lies on a narrow sand isthmus separating Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond. Commander John Philips, a Scot in Dutch employ, founded the capital in 1763. To protect Great Bay, Fort Amsterdam was built in 1737.
The French side of the island has a slightly different character. It’s been undergoing a building boom of late, with lots of new hotels opening, but for now at least, it’s still sleepier than the Dutch side. Most hotels tend to be quieter and more secluded than their Dutch counterparts, and you won’t be overwhelmed with cruise-ship crowds. There are no dazzling sights, and there’s no spectacular nightlife. Even the sports scene on St. Martin isn’t as well organized as on many Caribbean islands (though the Dutch side has golf and other diversions). Most people come to St. Martin to relax on its many white-sand beaches and to experience “France in the Tropics.”
French St. Martin has a distinctly French air. Police officers, for example, wear képis. The towns have names like Colombier and Orléans, the streets are rues, and the French flag flies over the gendarmerie in Marigot, the capital. It also has some of the best cuisine in the Caribbean, with an extraordinary number of good bistros and restaurants. Advocates cite French St. Martin as distinctly more sophisticated, prosperous, stylish, and cosmopolitan than its neighboring départements d’outre-mer, Guadeloupe and Martinique.
French St. Martin is governed from Guadeloupe and has direct representation in the government in Paris. The principal town on the French side is Marigot, the seat of the subprefect and municipal council.
Marigot is not quite the same size as its counterpart, Philipsburg, in the Dutch sector. It has none of the frenzied pace of Philipsburg, which is often overrun with cruise-ship passengers. In fact, Marigot looks like a French village transplanted to the Caribbean. If you climb the hill over this tiny port, you’ll be rewarded with a view from the old fort.
About 20 minutes by car beyond Marigot is Grand-Case, a small fishing village that’s an outpost of French civilization, with many good restaurants and a few places to stay.
PHILIPSBURG–Powerful Category 4 Hurricane Bill passed more than 300 miles Northeast of St. Maarten late last night through early this morning, but its winds were powerful enough to cause moments of anxiety in Philipsburg.
While, generally, residents had breathed a collective sigh of relief earlier in the day as Bill finally made its turn towards the Northwest and away from the island, by 8:30pm, coinciding with a brief but heavy downpour, high sea swells started to have devastating effects along some sections of the coastline.
This was especially noticeable in the Philipsburg area at Foot of Town and along the Great Bay beach promenade (the boardwalk) where heavy-duty equipment had to be used to dump sand to prevent sea water from flowing onto Front Street.
About half of the open beach-front lot adjacent to Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort, which is often used as a parking area or for picnics, was flooded and water from the sea was seen gushing into the nearby canal and flowing into Fresh Pond.
In their bid to stop water from flowing onto Front Street, an emergency crew used heavy equipment to dump sand at the beach-side entrances to Armenhuissteeg and Sisalsteeg, both of which were flooded.
The island did not record any long periods of sustained heavy winds as the storm passed at a distance far enough to keep the island outside of its tropical storm force winds. However, high sea swells were recorded in Cay Bay, Pelican, Great Bay, Mullet Bay, the Northern half of the island and other areas throughout most of the day.
As was expected, the heavy swells dumped a lot of sand in places such as Beacon Hill Road and along the promenade, including in the vicinity of Captain Hodge Wharf.
Utility company GEBE did not report any problems with seaweed or high waves during the course of the day and an assessment is expected to be made today of the power plant facility.
Eight divers were involved in a mishap at sea during the day which was believed to have been related to the deteriorating sea conditions associated with the passing of the storm.
At 11:00pm Wednesday, as Hurricane Bill continued to move Northwest and passed Northeast of the local islands, its centre was located near 20.7 degrees North and 58.9 degrees West or about 315 miles Northeast of St. Maarten. The system was moving Northwest near 17mph with maximum sustained winds near 135mph, making Bill a dangerous Category 4 storm.
However, the EOC stressed that residents living along coastal areas should be vigilant, as hazardous conditions are possible along North- and East-facing shores due to large breaking waves.
It said areas that might be subjected to high seas are Oyster Pond, Guana Bay, Point Blanche, Beacon Hill/airport area, Simpson Bay area, and the Philipsburg/Great Bay beach promenade. Coastal roads may become impassable due to the sea washing sand on the road and motorists should therefore exercise caution.
Also, the Meteorological Service of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba has issued a small craft advisory and a high surf warning. Both will remain in effect until further notice.
Source : The Daily Herald St. Maarten