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Guide to St Maarten, Netherland Antilles
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Click to go to Flight Prices for St Maarten
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St MaartenSt Maarten is a Caribbean island shared nearly equally between the nations of France and the Netherlands. The Dutch inhabit roughly the bottom half, while the interests of the north of St Maarten lie with Le Tour and that steel tower in Paris. It's difficult to find more hotels of a reasonably-priced kind in the island's coastal cities, particularly the capital of Philipsburg - the shores are dominated by the bathing-in-amenities grand scale haunts known as resorts. If you're not fond of pre-planned adventures or buffets with foods more reminiscent of European influences than those of Central and South America, you can opt for an independently run establishment in which to stay, enabling you to fully take the reigns on your vacation. If you go the route of the latter it's best to rent a vehicle as well, but if you don't wish to be left completely to your own devices, you can easy go about your day with public transit. Wherever you happen to go in St Maarten, you can be sure that excitement and surprises await, so don't hesitate! Book your flight today!
When to go:
There is nary a bad time to visit St Maarten, but if you happen to plan your trip inside the months of December through February, beware of any storms that may come the island's way. Other than taking the standard precautions before traveling, any season is a wonderful one in this neck of the world. Picking winter will enable you to forgo any crowds which in turns leaves you cheap rates for any multitude of services, whether they be for hotels or restaurants. Sunny skies pass over every portion of the island; as a matter of fact, the entire Caribbean seems at most times to be blanketed with only goodness from the heavens, so you'll have only to find the most ideal place to situate yourself.
Getting there and around:
Popular, St Maarten most certainly is. Easy to get to? A different side of the coin entirely. It may be easy to bask in the sun on the island, but flight to/from international locations becomes much more of a nuisance than one would expect. For the French side of St Maarten, travelers have convenient access to Paris; the Dutch portion seems to only allow direct flights to and from Amsterdam. North American travel is sketchy but nevertheless available, and if you have a hard time finding a connection from London or any other number of European cities to the island, you're not alone. The most hassle-free way of getting to St Maarten from the UK, flying to New York or Miami, will leave you with two flights of relatively balanced times. Connections between New York and London are far more prevalent than those of Miami, but if ticket for the latter is found available, take it. Florida is far closer to St Maarten than the financial capital of the world found about 1,000 miles north, and therefore a flight to the island is likely to emerge sooner on the terminal's schedule.Getting around the island once you've found a way there is best done via rental car. Chances are your urges to explore inner-St Marten will make themselves blatantly known and only with your own vehicle can you truly have the freedom to do so.
Attractions:
Get a little taste of Philipsburg (capital), stroll the waterline of Maho Bay and watch the dollar signs masquerading as resort emblems pass by, and get a few hours in with Oyster Pond, which strangely, yet interestingly enough indeed takes on the geographic likeness of an oyster. If the glitz and pricey...everything has led you down the path of weariness, there is respite. Known as Cupecoy Bay, you'll get a semi-secluded spot for sunset viewing, and from that moment forward, you'll have only white sands and cliffs to fill the lens of your camera.
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