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
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.
The discussion about switching from the Antillean guilder to the US dollar in Curaçao and St. Maarten when the Netherlands Antilles ceases to exist has died down somewhat since a symposium on the subject at the end of last year. However, preparations for “dollarisation” continue unabated behind the scenes in financial circles in Willemstad, confirmed director Chicu Capriles of Maduro & Curiel’s Bank (MCB), the parent company of Windward Islands Bank (WIB), during a recent interview on TeleCuraçao.
The banker was quite candid about it, saying the move made sense considering the strong economic ties to the US. He added that the public would be duly informed in due time and every effort would be made for the process to go as smoothly as possible.
Full article can be read here
Source : The Daily Herald St. Maarten
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
She has been celebrating her 27th birthday on the island of St Maarten as of late, and yesterday (January 7) Kate Bosworth was spotted returning to Miami International Airport. The “Blue Crush” babe looked lovely as she made her way through the terminal with a female friend, sporting a black and white top with denim shorts.
This is a complete street level map for St Maarten for your iPhone. The entire map is stored on your iPhone, so it works where you have no access to the Internet – it works where Google Maps is inaccessible.
Lets you find all streets, and many useful locations such as ATM’s, parkings, museums, and many others. Remembers where you’ve been so you can find that parking spot where you left your rental car. To make sure your phone doesn’t use any expensive data on your trip, go to Settings, then General, tap on Network, and slide the Data Roaming to “off”.
Requirements:
· Compatible with iPhone and iPod touch
· iPhone OS 3.0 or later
Click here to visit Apple’s Itunes Store to download the map.
See below screen shot from the Itunes store.
