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St. Marteen Hotels European Plan
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Introduction to St. Marteen
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; there's no spectacular nightlife. Even the sports scene on St.
Marteen isn't as well organized as on many Caribbean islands (though the Dutch
side has golf and other diversions). Most people come to St. Marteen to relax on
its many white-sand beaches and to experience "France in the Tropics."
French St. Marteen has a distinctly French air. Police
officers, for example, wear k?is. The towns have names like Colombier and
Orl?ns, the streets are rues, and the French flag flies over the gendarmerie in
Marigot, the capital. It also boasts some of the best cuisine in the Caribbean,
with an extraordinary number of good bistros and restaurants. Advocates cite
French St. Marteen as distinctly more sophisticated, prosperous, stylish, and
cosmopolitan than its neighboring d?artements d'outre-mer, Guadeloupe and
Marteenique.
French St. Marteen 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.
Additional Information about travel to St. Marteen
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