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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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.
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.
POINTE BLANCHE–St. Maarten remains a popular and preferred destination of Disney Cruise Line passengers, President Karl Holz said during a recent visit here. He promised to work closer with the destination to increase passenger numbers and to bring smiles to local children’s faces with more visits by Disney characters to schools.
Holz toured Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities and had a look at the expansion that is in progress. He also had an island tour to get a taste of what his passengers see when they disembark here.
The cruise line president suggested more emphasis be placed on local heroes and heroines and their role in the island’s development – a feature Disney and especially its young passengers are interested in.
Disney is busy with two new ships: Disney Dream (2011) and Disney Fantasy (2012) which will each have a passenger capacity of 4,000. These ships are expected to have Caribbean itineraries with possible calls to St. Maarten.
If you’re planning a tropical cruise, choose Charleston as your cruise port. Not only is it a beautiful city to spend some time in, but also there are a lot of affordable cruise options.
Charleston’s cruise port, which is located in the historic district, is host to the following cruises over the next year and a half:
* Celebrity Mercury ; 11 Night Eastern Caribbean – sail dates: February 15, 2010, March 8, 2010 or March 29, 2010 – sails to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and Tortola, British Virgin Islands before returning to Charleston. Prices for these cruises start at $999 per person.
KTCpr has enlisted the assistance and expert services of Tambourine (formerly Gideon-Cardozo Communications), a well-known branding and advertising firm which specialises in Caribbean hospitality and destination marketing.
“We are very excited about this new team of experts that has been engaged to work with St. Maarten to help raise awareness of our destination and ultimately spur travellers to book vacations on our island as well as meet for business in our country,” said Tourism Commissioner Frans Richardson.
“The team at KTCpr and our extended group of marketing experts under the direction of Rafael Cardozo at Tambourine are equally excited about the opportunity to work with this Caribbean destination, especially one that is so desirable for vacationers,” KTCpr President Richard S. Kahn said.
Marketing efforts and new initiatives will include the creation and design of a new Website, a branding exercise to focus on the attributes of the destination, an expanded public relations awareness campaign and a series of co-op advertising initiatives in conjunction with the private sector, as well as with the French side of the destination.
KTCpr is a 19-year-old marketing consulting company, formed by Kahn following his tenure as Editor-in-Chief and Associate Publisher of Travel Agent Magazine, a position he held for 15 years. During the past 19 years, KTCpr worked with Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), representing the region, and continues to work with Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), representing the private sector throughout the region.
KTCpr represents a diverse group of clients, including several boutique hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico; tour operators, travel agencies and cruise lines, and specializes in providing publicity creation, support and implementation, including development of special promotions and design of promotional products for both travel trade and consumer distribution.
Tambourine, based in South Florida, is a full-service marketing firm specializing in advanced creative development.
“While we service a diverse group of clients. We are proud to have played a major role in the success of the tourism and hospitality industries since 1983, and count among our clients several prestigious five-star resorts and island tourism boards throughout the Caribbean,” said Cardozo.
Cardozo added: “We have hands-on experience with the individual countries, cultures and languages that comprise the region, as well as a keen understanding of the primary target market – the Caribbean traveller.”
Source : the Daily Herald
A lovely Caribbean island, St. Martin is the smallest landmass shared by two independent countries – the northern half of the island is governed by France, while the Netherlands control the southern region.
Legend holds that Columbus landed on its beautiful shores on the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, earning the island its name. While the area was quarreled over for many years, the French and Dutch finally agreed to joint possession in 1648. Although they spell its name differently and embody distinct cultures, St. Martin’s multinational identity and wide-ranging diversity are endearing to both locals and tourists, who love its sophisticated feel, world-class restaurants, nude beaches and Old World charm.
Highly commercialized St. Maarten, with its capital in Philipsburg, is frequented by cruise ships. The St. Martin capital of Marigot, is lively year round, but in spring the revelry of Carnival takes over the island twice, first on the French side and then on the Dutch.
Needless to say, St. Martin is more than worthy of its reputation as the Caribbean’s “Friendly Island.”