St. Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barth Travel News

On 11th Nov 1493, famed explorer Christopher Columbus landed on a small Caribbean island and laid claim to it in the name of Spain. In 1624, French settlers began to start the cultivation of a new cash crop, tobacco.

A few years later in 1631, Dutch colonialists arrived they were interested in another highly prized commodity, salt. From 1684, the island was split in half to form Sint Maarten the Dutch zone in the south of the island. And Saint-Martin, the French settlement in the northern half of the island. The British also had interests on the little island up until 1816.

Modern visitors do not have to suffer months on a crowded sailing ship to reach this paradise island. In November 2006, Juliana International Airport opened on the island, this modern air terminal is capable of handling the big jets such as the 747. This has allowed visitors from across the world to reach the island either directly or via many cities in the continental US.

Although the island has a Dutch and French history, English is also widely spoken.  Visitors can also use either Euros or Dollars almost anywhere, as well as using their credit cards at ATM’s, or to pay for goods and services directly. A good way to get around is to use the extensive network of small and inexpensive buses that traverse the entire island.

The tropical Caribbean climate provides for a very comfortable year round warm weather, with little variation in temperature from one season to another. An average air temperature throughout the year of around 27° C and the sea is a very pleasant 26° C on average, every day of the year.

Annual rainfall on the island is around 1000 mm falling in short bursts usually in the late afternoon or evening. The trade winds provide a near constant and cooling breeze from the Atlantic Ocean.

Each year huge numbers of Europeans and Americans arrive to participate in one of the world’s largest sailing extravaganzas the Heineken Regatta.  On the Dutch side of the island, many visitors seek out the joys of the well hidden Dawn Beach, and it is classic palm fringed white sands and azure blue sees.  The beach is also famed for its high quality shallow snorkeling opportunities along its Coral reef, located just off shore.

There are many such hidden gems on the island as well as busier beaches that offer all the facilities that you would expect of a modern and cosmopolitan vacation island. The highest quality accommodations can be found, including some of the best high end villa rentals in the whole Caribbean.

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Anyone considering taking a vacation to the exotic Caribbean, there are plenty of diverse islands to choose from. Ask any visitor and they will all point you to a different island, depending on their own particular taste. In addition, in the Caribbean there is not any such thing as a bad vacation location, it’s just a matter of one perhaps, being slightly different and standing out from the crowd.

St. Martin is one such island that defiantly stands out, the reason for this, is that this island is two different places rolled into one. On one side of this beautiful island is St. Martin on the other is St. Maarten, these are not two different names for the same place. These are two very distinct destinations one with a long Dutch history, the other a former French colony.

This separation once divided the island in every way, but now it provides a wonderful and vibrant mix of Dutch, French and Afro- Caribbean cultures that now separates this little piece of paradise from the other stunning islands in the region.

That’s why these two/one vacation destinations are becoming the latest hotspot for visitors to the stunning beaches, scenery and culture of this exiting island. Here are a few details about what you can expect from this heady mix of Afro-European cultures.

Nearly all tourists considering the sunny Caribbean have more than a passing interest in the beach culture that the area has in plentiful supply. St. Martin’s Dutch region can offer the visitor some of the finest white sand delights to be found anywhere in the islands.  Across in the French enclave there is an equally stunning nudist beach, if that is more to your taste.

For visitors from America and Canada the island can offer many of the delights of a European vacation.  While still benefiting from a short flight and endless hours of sundrenched, tropical enjoyment.

Even though the Caribbean is so close to the continental United States very few of the islands have airports capable of landing large passenger jets. St Martin is an exception, and many non-stop flights arrive every day from US airports across the country.  For those flying from the eastern states this location also offers the advantage of being in the same time zone avoiding the unpleasant jet lag experience.

The island can offer genuine French and Dutch cuisine as well as a real taste of those very different European cultures and attitudes.  These are all combined together with that ‘easy-going’ Afro-Caribbean nature, to give a highly cultured but also laid-back atmosphere, unique in the Caribbean.

St. Martin is a genuine shopper’s paradise that can provide all the very latest in Paris runway fashions. And it were not enough, these exciting fashion opportunities are available at around 40% less than you would pay in Paris or New York. St. Martin is the undisputed fashion center of the islands.

There are lots of high quality hotels offering the ultimate in luxury, there are also villas and that offer equally high standards of accommodation with the added benefits of seclusion and privacy.  Many visitors to the island are now choosing to enjoy all the comforts of home and opting for the unusually high standard of private accommodation available on the island.

St. Martin enjoys four seasons; luckily, none of them includes snow.  Wintertime offers long sunny warm days and cool evenings, making it the most popular time to visit for foreign tourists.  The summer months can be hot, but are always tampered by the cooling trade winds that pass by the island. You can nearly always be guaranteed weather that is comfortable no matter what time of year you choose to visit the warm and friendly island of St. Martin

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St Maarten, Netherlands Antilles – April 23, 2008 - BlueOceanVillas.com the leading travel agency for the Island of St.Maarten unveiled their new joint venture.

Press release
One of the Island’s leading online travel companies announced the launch of its redesigned travel web site to meet the needs of St Maarten and St Bart travelers. BlueOceanVillas Ltd added several innovative tools to their new website to support the growing number of customers concerned with airfares, flight schedules, St. Maarten weather forecast, immigration issues & TSA policies and news feeds from the Caribbean.

BlueOceanVillas has signed a joint venture with Ascendant Marketing for search engine optimization strategies. In the coming months, the company will be pursuing joint ventures or other partner relationships that meet the ever-changing needs of its customers.

BlueOceanVillas Travel Services
“Blue Ocean Villas” proudly offers privately owned luxury accommodations and style, service and privacy for your next villa vacation, with all the comforts of your home. We represent some of the finest luxury Caribbean villa rentals in St Maarten, St Martin and St Barth. Visit our website to review all these unique properties we offer.

St Maarten and St Martin
A spicy marriage of European and Caribbean cultures, Sint Maarten & Saint Martin boasts lavish elegance and secluded beaches. Many people head to mile-long Mullet Bay Beach or Maho Beach on the western side of St Maarten. Cupecoy Beach, with its gorgeous swath of white sand backed by sandstone cliffs. Oyster Pond Beach on the eastern side of the island is a favorite for surfers and nearby Dawn Beach has some good snorkeling. Baie Longue on the French side of the island is a beautiful beach that is almost never crowded and one of the most famous beaches is Orient Beach with its European atmosphere. St. Maarten and St. Martin are also known as the capital of the gastronomy in the Caribbean and famous for its dynamic nightlife scene.

St Barth’s
New friends call it “St Barts,” while old-time visitors prefer “St. Barths”. Either way, it’s short for St. Barthélemy (San Bar-te-le-mee) for luxury with minimum hassle. It’s a favourite with the jet set and as popular for its lively “scene” as for its idyllic scenery. Jagged hills create an impressive backdrop to sweeping coves and dramatic headlands. The sheltered port, Gustavia, is dotted with Sunseekers and giant motor yachts in the evening. This tiny island in the French West Indies, remains a preferred playground of the rich and famous. It’s the ultimate in sophistication in the tropics: chic, rich, and very Parisian. Forget historic sites or ambitious watersports programs. You go to St. Barts for the relaxation, the French cuisine, the white-sand beaches, and the ultimate in comfort.

About “www. BlueOceanVillas.com”

BlueOceanVillas is St Maarten’s leading online travel company, empowering business and leisure travelers with the tools and information they need to easily research, plan, book, and experience travel. We are in the travel industry for over 17 years and have personal knowledge of all the villas offered. By consistently offering unsurpassed expertise and service we have built and maintained a large base of loyal customers who turn to us year after year to assist them with locating exceptional villas, car rentals and other special services. We provide personal service, which can match you to the perfect property for your Caribbean vacation.

Media Contact : R.H. Detiger, Communication Officer
Phone : 1 877 311 7759
Email : info@blueoceanvillas.com
Website : http://www. BlueOceanVillas.com

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PHILIPSBURG–The official schedule for St. Maarten 2008 Carnival Season is set and flyers have been prepared for distribution to the public.

The first activity for this year’s Carnival under the theme “Let’s Make It Great” will be the Junior Queen Pageant, Junior Calypso and Junior Road March Competition at Celebration Palace on Bush Road, Sunday, April 6, starting at 4:00pm.

To officially open the gates to the Carnival Village, otherwise known as the Festival Village, the annual opening jump-up will be on Thursday, April 17, starting at 8:00pm. The first local show in the Festival Village will be the From Us 2 U III: King of Kings Competition on Friday, April 18, starting at 8:00pm.

R&B will meet Soca at the Festival Village on Saturday, April 19, when US R&B singer Keisha Cole along with headliners Destra and Ziggy Rankins hit the stage during the first international concert on the agenda. The show will start at 9:00pm.

St. Maarten’s youth will fill the streets of Philipsburg during the Junior Carnival Parade scheduled for Sunday, April 20, starting at 2:00pm. The Senior Calypso Eliminations will follow the next day Monday, April 21, starting at 9:00pm.

Hott Reggae Vybes, the second international concert on the agenda, will feature Tarrus Riley, Tessanne, Demarco and several others and will take place on Tuesday, April 22, starting at 9:00pm. The annual Youth Extravaganza will be hosted on Wednesday, April 23, starting at 9:00pm. The PJD2 Caribbean Beauty Pageant will take place on Thursday, April 24, starting at 8:00pm.

The Senior Road-march Competition with guest appearances by Bomani, Small Axe, Assylum, Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons will be hosted on Friday, April 25, starting at 8:00pm. This event will flow right into the annual Jouvert Morning jump-up on Saturday, April 26, starting at 4:00am. The night event on this same day will be a Zouk/Kompa Concert, the third international concert featuring Tabou Combo, Patrick Elol and more and will commence at 9:00pm.

The Senior Calypso Finals with guest appearances by King Arrow and Mighty Sparrow is scheduled for Sunday, April 27, starting at 9:00pm. The fourth international concert will be a Latin concert featuring Las Chicas del Can and others on Monday, April 28, at 8:00pm.

The Grand Carnival parade is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, starting at 10:00am and the second parade day will be the next day Wednesday, April 30, starting at 2:00pm. The fifth international concert Caribbean Soca Explosion II will follow on Thursday, May 1, starting at 8:00pm and will feature Alive Band, 4 M Band, El-A-Kru, Nu Vybes and 17 plus.

The sixth international and final concert on the agenda will be a Reggae concert featuring amongst others Jah Cure and Elephant Man and is scheduled for Friday, May 2, starting at 9:00pm. The 2008 Carnival season will come to an end with a closing jump-up on Saturday, May 3, starting at 8:00pm and the burning of King Momo at 12:00 midnight.

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