Located at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles, approximately 150 miles southeast of Puerto Rico at 18.5° North and 63.5° West. Two and a half hours from Miami and three and a half hours from New York.

Capital
Marigot (French side); Philipsburg (Dutch side

Government
The island of St. Maarten/St. Martin is the smallest landmass to be shared by two separate governments. French St. Martin is part of the préfecture of Guadeloupe and is considered part of France while Dutch St. Maarten belongs to the Netherland Antilles and is considered part of the Kingdom of Holland.

Language
Dutch is the official language. English and Spanish are also spoken.

Currency
Euros and US dollars are commonly accepted on both sides of the island, though as the dollar’s value continues to decline, some French businesses have become more hesitant to accept it. Most locations prefer to do business using credit cards, which offer the best conversion rates for dollars and convenience for the proprietors.

As a bonus, on both sides of the island, shopping is duty-free

French at heart, but cosmopolitan Caribbean in style, St Martin’s capital city of Marigot is cluttered with traffic, shops and people in a small area that is only four streets wide. The town stretches along Marigot Bay, its main focus the harbour at the bottom of Rue de la Republique from where ferries depart to surrounding islands and fishing boats come and go. The main shopping centre at the southern end of the town is near the harbour and is a paradise for shopaholics, with elegant stores carrying the latest designer fashions and jewellery, all tax-free. Marigot’s buildings are largely colonial, sprinkled with several smart cafes, bistros, pastry shops and luxury boutiques reminiscent of real French market towns.

St Martin’s largest historical monument overlooks Marigot. Fort St Louis was built according to plans sent from France by Louis XVI in 1767 to guard the settlement from invaders. The ruins sit atop a hill, which is worth the 15-minute steep climb for the panoramic view of the island afforded from the summit.

Visit the St. Maarten Park, a part of the St. Maarten Zoological and Botanical Garden, filled with Caribbean and South American animals, plants and birds. Spot sleek ocelots and bush dogs, parrots, toucans and owls, boa constrictors and marine toads, even land crabs and giant land snails. After dark, dinner is an international affair, with more than 300 restaurants offering French, Dutch, Caribbean, Italian, Chinese, Indonesian, creole and West Indian menus. Later in the evening, consider visiting one of 12 casinos. Gaming on St. Maarten is “European mode,” quiet and sophisticated.

Today tourism is king; bustling Front Street in Philipsburg beckons bargain hunters with 500 duty-free shops. There are 36 sugary sand beaches to visit; one favorite strip is Cupecoy Bay Beach near the Dutch-French border, and windsurfers head to busy Maho Bay Beach, located near the airport. One of St. Maarten’s more private strands is Simpson Bay Beach. Simpson Bay Lagoon is enclosed, making the water a natural for water skiing. Dawn Beach, Oyster Pond and Guana Bay are favorites for snorkeling and windsurfing.