St. Martin, the gateway to St. Barts, is a wonderful destination itself. Two cultures (French and Dutch), terrific nightlife (casinos), tax-free shopping (jewelry) and fabulous cuisine (French, Creole, and anything else you want) means this Caribbean island has something for everyone.
There are many advantages to visiting St. Martin. There are ample flights, many non-stop, from all over the United States, so you don’t have to spend an entire day of your vacation getting there. The island is ideal because if you like to have lots to do St. Martin is the place. There is a variety of water sports from snorkeling to scuba diving, to windsurfing. There are plenty of day boats available for charter fishing or the obligatory rum-laced sunset cruise. The duty free shopping is as good as anywhere in the Caribbean. If you do not happen to have a relative, who is a close friend of a guy who knows this other guy who is related to another guy in the jewelry district, St. Martin is a great place to get your deal on gems and watches. If you yearn for exciting nightlife, there are plenty of discos and casinos. Some refer to St. Martin as the gourmet island. With daily Air France and American carrier arrivals delivering gourmet specialties, the grocery markets are excellent for villa provisioning, and you can rest assured that the restaurants take advantage of readily accessible specialty foods from mainland France. In Grand Case on the French side, you will find some of the best dining in the Caribbean.
Anne-Marie and Matt
