In early June we flew down to the Caribbean
and visited St. Barth, St. Martin and Anguilla, on a wonderful if fast-paced
trip designed to familiarize us with a range of Wimco properties on these
three delightful islands. Despite the geographic proximity they share, each
is decidedly unique and each qualifies as a vacation destination in its own
right. We’d like to concentrate on St. Martin
in this report. It is a hub of sorts, a significant Caribbean stepping
stone, but it offers so much in the way of lifestyle, culture, beauty and
villa accommodations that many would argue you need go no farther in the
quest for an ideal West Indies escape.
The first advantage you reap on a trip to St. Martin is the ease of getting
there from the U.S. east coast. People often compare St. Martin to other
Caribbean islands by noting that it involves “one less flight.” Naturally it
makes a big difference to be able to fly direct without the nuisance of
connections—especially if you are traveling in a group or with young or
elderly family members. Among the major U.S. carriers, American Airlines
offers daily nonstop service from New York and Miami; Delta offers daily
nonstop service from Atlanta; US Airways offers nonstop service from
Philadelphia and Charlotte; Continental Airlines flies direct from Newark.
There is something very seamless about hopping onto a big bird stateside and
sitting back until the beach scene at Maho Bay whizzes by an arm’s length
below you on the dramatic approach just hours later, moments before
touchdown at Juliana International Airport.
Which brings us to one significant housekeeping item of which you should be
aware: You must carry a passport to travel to St. Martin; this is as
important upon arrival there as it is upon reentry into the United States.
The rule is relatively new and it is enforced. The world is a different
place today and the familiar assumption that you can meander through the
Caribbean with a driver’s license and a birth certificate just doesn’t cut
it anymore. Wimco advises that you carry a passport wherever and whenever
you travel internationally, period.
Onward, to St. Martin. As you probably know, the
island consists of two distinct principalities, French and Dutch, which
amounts to a nominal territorial division with subtle though notable
differences from one side to the other. The French side—St. Martin—observes
as its capital the charming town of Marigot, infused with the French “way,”
bustling with crafts, culture, cuisine and international appeal. The Dutch
side—St. Maarten—observes as its capital the village of Philipsburg, where
casino-fueled nightlife, duty-free shopping and a very indigenous Caribbean
quality define its presence. The island overall is internationally
diverse—some say truly unique in its cultural mix—and the people are
friendly. Certainly we found it so in June.
