Saint Martin

Saint Martin is a tropical island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 150 miles east of Puerto Rico. The 88 km² (38 square-mile) island is divided roughly in half between France and the Netherlands; it is the smallest landmass in the world that is divided between two nations. The southern Dutch half is called Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles; the northern French half is called Saint-Martin and is part of the French overseas department of Guadeloupe. Collectively, the two territories are known as, "St.-Martin/St. Maarten", "St. Martins", or simply, "SXM". (SXM is the IATA identifier for Princess Juliana International Airport, the island's main airport.)

Characteristics and tourist information

Sint Maarten, the "Dutch side", is known for its festive nightlife, fun beaches, and plentiful casinos, while Saint-Martin, the "French side", is known more for its sexy daylife of world-famous nude beaches, jewelry and clothes shopping, exotic drinks made with native rum-based guavaberry liquors, and rich French Caribbean cuisine.

Related Topics:
Beach - Casino - Nude beach - Clothes - Shopping - Drink - Rum - Guavaberry - Liquor

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The island is served by many major airlines that bring in large jets, including Boeing 747s, carrying tourists from across the world on a daily basis. This fuels the island's largest revenue source, tourism. Princess Juliana International Airport is famous for its short landing strip—only 2,130 meters, which is barely enough for heavy jets. Because of this, the planes approach the island flying extremely low, right over the beach. Countless photos of large jets flying at 10–20 m over relaxing tourists at the beach have been dismissed as photoshopped many times, but are nevertheless real http://www.membrana.ru/articles/technic/2005/02/21/185300.html.

Related Topics:
Boeing 747 - Princess Juliana International Airport - Landing strip - Photoshopped

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Sint Maarten/Saint-Martin is home to several world-class accommodations, including hotels, villas, and timeshares. Some properties have over 200 rooms, while others have fewer than twenty. Many are located directly on beaches and in upscale shopping districts. Villas pepper the coast, boasting private beaches. Some are private residences, while others are available to affluent renters.

Related Topics:
Villa - Timeshare

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Rental cars are the primary mode of transportation for visitors staying on island. The island is served by several well-known agencies. It is common and recommended to reserve a rental car over the Internet through a discount Caribbean specialist, well in advance of arrival. If any driving is expected off the major roads (such as to some of the more secluded beaches), a 4-wheel drive is recommended.

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The island is prone to hurricane activity, especially in the late summer and early fall months and tourism is usually down dramatically during this time. Many shops, restaurants, and other local businesses close completely during hurricane season.

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Neighboring islands include Saint Barts, Anguilla, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts, and Nevis.

Related Topics:
Saint Barts - Anguilla - Saba - Sint Eustatius - Saint Kitts - Nevis

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