You can't get any more European than this in the Caribbean.  The island is split into two sides; St. Martin is a department of France and Sint Maarten is a department of Holland.  Each have their own currency and culture.  All in this tiny little island surrounded by pristine blue water.  Kris was on a business trip and his final destination was St. Martin/Sint Maarten, so we decided to make a getaway weekend of it.  We also met a wonderful couple from Michigan, Tom and Linda, and spent some time with them exploring this great place and reducing the beer supply on the island.

The Climate

It's like most of the Caribbean.  We went in off season so it was very hot and sunny.   Bring lots of cotton clothes, a ball cap and SPF 40. 

The Money

The currency is different depending on which country you happen to be in.  Guilders for the Dutch side and Francs for the French.   To make it easy, both sides accept US dollars.  A word of warning, the bank machines dispense the local currency, depending on which side of the island you are at.   The cost of food is actually quite low in comparison to other Caribbean islands which was a nice surprise.  Accommodation prices are about the same.

The People

The people seem very friendly on both sides of the island.  Of course the Dutch may tell you that the French are typically rude, but we didn't find that at all.  It looks like both the French and the Dutch nationals have taken advantage of the island life, as there seems to be many living there.  The St. Maarteners are quite amazing as most of them speak five languages - Dutch, French, English, Spanish and Papiemento.

Where to Stay

We spent our first night at the Flamingo Beach Hotel.  It was quite nice and the rooms were large with kitchens, but there was much construction work going on.  Also, getting to your hotel room almost required a GPS as the place is like a rat maze.   We opted for a smaller hotel up the street to stay the rest of the weekend.   It was called La Vista.  It has 31 rooms and cottages.  The room we had was beautiful with a kitchen and cost $115 US taxes included.  It also has a pool and a beautiful view.  They have a beach bar and restaurant which serve nice meals, but nothing extravagant. We didn't really see many hotels on the French side but were told that they are also very nice.  Prices vary, but off season is the way to go!!   Prices drop by at least 1/3 at some places.

Where to Eat

There seems to be no shortage of places to eat on this island, particularly on the French side.  It is true even in the Caribbean that the French make an art of dining.  Our first night we went to a place called La Main à la Pâte at Marina Port La Royale in Marigot, the capital of St. Martin.  This restaurant is in a wonderful harbour-side area filled with cruisers and sailboats.  It has an energetic staff that speaks several languages.  The food was wonderful and the service amazing.  We sat for 4 hours at this seaside restaurant and there was no rushing us out, no asking if we wanted the bill..nothing. Just great French cuisine and wine at it's best! 

Another nice place we tried was Cafe Del Sol in Grand Case, also on the French side.  Our friend Tom ordered a gigantic lobster fresh from the tank, which kept him busy for quite some time.  Grand Case is restaurant capital of the Caribbean so you will likely find a place to suit every taste.

Marigot also has a very happening nightlife.   The boardwalk near the Anguilla Ferry dock is full of bars, restaurants and night clubs. 

Another watering hole we liked was Bananas.   It is a small local bar owned by a friendly guy named Bob.  Bob had some great advice for our weekend adventures and also had cheap beers.  You can find Bananas, Bob and his cute dog Ziggy near Simpson Bay in Sint Maarten.  On the Friday night Kris and Tom elbowed up to the bar and tried their best to drink Bob dry of his stock of Presidente beer.  They didn't succeed in this mission but they did manage to build some terrific hangovers for Saturday morning.

Places to Go

It doesn't take much to just stay on the beach all day on this island paradise, but if you are looking for a new location to sun your buns, take a day trip to Anguilla.  Anguilla is a small island 20 minutes by ferry from downtown Marigot.  The Anguilla ferry leaves every 40 minutes and costs $10 each way.  Once there, this flat and dry island doesn't look like much, but it is known for attracting the rich and famous for it's quiet lifestyle, 5 star resorts and world class beaches.  Upon Banana Bob's advise we took a taxi to Shoal Beach.  Our friendly taxi driver Walter sang old tunes all the way there, including his theme song, "My Happiness".  He was singing so passionately that he almost drove us off the road at one point.  We arrived safely at Shoal beach and it was gorgeous.  A long flawless beach with a few bars and restaurants to quench the thirst and hunger.  We had a wonderful day with our new friends, Tom and Linda.

Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to see much more of St. Martin , but I must say that the shopping in Marigot is great.  They have many French imported products and great shoe shops.  Not cheap, but nothing French is!!!

Enjoy!!!