SEASCAPES... Irma Survivor!

Why is St. Martin So Special? Offering two vibrant, dynamically diverse cultures on one island, St. Martin/St. Maarten�s Dutch and French �sides� presents an extraordinary experience for travelers searching for much more than just your average getaway. St. Martin/St. Maarten is today a fascinating mix of French, Dutch, Caribbean and North American influences with hints of various other international cultures embedded in its distinct culture. When the sun dips below the horizon, the party starts on St. Martin�pick from dozens of nightclubs frequented by the rich and famous�Coco Beach, L�Essentiel, Wa�kiki Beach, Palm d�Or, the Rainbow Club. After a fun night of clubbing, let your guard down (and everything else!) at one of St. Martin�s one-of-a-kind nude beaches. Dutch Side � Five-star restaurants specializing in Indian, Chinese, Italian, Greek and French dishes. West Indian meals include freshly snagged fish complemented by a range of ground/root crop sides. � Spectacular views of neighboring islands across the warm, azure waters�St. Barts, Anquilla, Saint Kitts, Nevis and Saba � High-end, luxuriously decorated casinos � For the adventurous�ziplining above lush, tropical rain forests and swimming alongside graceful manta rays � Deliciously smooth drinks made with native guava berry liquors � Spectacular entertainment venues featuring traditional Caribbean music and dance, calypso, reggae and jazz � World-class accommodations (villas, hotels, beach condos, resorts) situated along the beautiful coast of the island or nestled within gated communities � Quiet, remote beaches enhanced by exotic snorkeling spots near offshore cays (you�ll have to enlist the aid of an experienced charter captain to visit these beautiful areas) � Maho village and its most popular attraction, the Sunset Bar and Grill. Nowhere else will you be able to watch jumbo jets land and take-off only hundreds of yards away while sipping a guava berry/rum cocktail French Side � Wake up to hot coffee and mouth-watering French croissants while reading your complementary issue of the Miami Herald newspaper and listening to the La Voix 101.5 radio station. � Visit wildlife sanctuary Loterie Farm, where you�ll want to trek through mango and mahogany forests to the top of Pic du Paradis (Paradise Peak) � Watch terns, brown pelicans, gulls, herons and egrets congregate at salt ponds dotting the island while the sun sets in a spectacularly display of oranges, reds and roses � Dive into St. Martin�s undersea world where a rainbow of tropical fish and corals swirl around you in their natural beauty. � Indulge in a relaxing catamaran voyage to hidden island coves (perfect places for intimate t�te-�-t�tes) � Spend endless, exciting days on the welcoming blue waters�waterskiing, jet skiing, kitesurfing, sailing, sea scootering, kayaking or deep-sea fishing

1. St. Martin is the smallest island in the world divided between two countries, France and the Netherlands. The island is 34 square miles in total size, 2. The northern French part of the island is known as St. Martin and is an overseas collectivity of France. The southern Dutch part is known as St. Maarten and is one of four constituent countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 3. The land mass of St. Martin is split roughly 60/40 with the larger French side covering about 20 square miles. 4. Slightly more people, however, live on the Dutch side of the island (where the estimated population is 39,689) while 31,754 people reside on the French side. Philipsburg is the biggest city of the Dutch side while Marigot is the capital of the French side. 5. The division of the island between the Netherlands and France dates to March 23, 1648, under the Treaty of Concordia. Local folklore indicates that the division of land began with walking contest between a Frenchman and a Dutchman. Before they started, the Frenchman drank wine while the Dutchman drank the stronger jenever (Dutch gin), allowing the Frenchman to cover more territory and claim more land. (The Dutch say he cheated.) 6. Before the French or the Dutch arrived, Christopher Columbus claimed the island for Spain on November 11, 1493. Since that day was celebrated as St. Martin Day, he named it Isla de San Mart�n after Saint Martin of Tours. Spain did not make settling the island a priority. 7. Wanting the island�s salt, the Dutch founded a settlement in 1631, erecting Fort Amsterdam as protection from invaders. Jan Claeszen Van Campen became its first governor, and the Dutch East India Company began their salt mining operations. French and British settlements sprang up on the island as well. 8. Peter Stuyvesant was a major figure in the early history of New York City. Before he came to New York, however, Stuyvesant (born in the Netherlands in 1612) was director of the Dutch West India Company�s colony of Curacao from 1642 to 1644. In 1644, Stuyvesant led an attack on the Spanish-held island of St. Martin. A cannonball injured Stuyvesant�s right leg, causing it to be amputated below the knee. When his leg was replaced with a wooden peg, and he became known as �Peg leg Pete.� A year later, in May 1645, Peg leg Pete Stuyvesant was selected by the Dutch West India Company as Director-General of the New Netherland colony, which became New York City. 9. Despite its short runway that is located between a large hill and a beach, major airlines fly large jet aircraft into St. Martin�s Princess Juliana International Airport. This scene results in spectacular photo ops of aircraft directly above sunbathers on Maho Beach. 10. There is no physical border between the Dutch and French sides of the island but there are 37 white sandy beaches to enjoy.

The island of St. Martin sits at the heart of the Antilles Archipelago in the Northern Hemisphere, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator. More precisely, it lies towards the north of the Lesser Antilles, created when the Atlantic Plate slid under the Caribbean Plate to form the string of islands that includes St. Martin. Approximately 240km to the south east is the island of Guadeloupe. Saint Martin faces out towards the Atlantic on its eastern side and is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea on the west coast. With a total surface area of 88km�, the island is 15km long and 13km wide at its longest and widest points. The island occupies a central position midway between Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe at the heart of the Caribbean Sea, and is the closest part of France to the US. St Martin is a 3 1/2 hour flight from NY, a 2 1/2 hour flight from Miami, FL, an 1 � hours away from Caracas, Venezuela and 45 minutes from the islands of Guadeloupe and Puerto Rico. The island lies at about 7,0000 KM and 8 flight hours from Europe. Neighbouring islands include Anguilla, St Barts, Saba, Statia, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Top ten reasons to visit St. Maarten 1. Island addiction: ? Sint Maarten will steal your heart becoming one of your favorite destinations to travel. This place attracts the attention of thousands of tourists that end up coming back every year to enjoy the wonders of a unique tropical paradise. 2. Great shopping: ? The entire island is duty-free; find best prices for great bargains on clothes, cosmetics, jewelry, electronics and even food. The tax-free prices make shopping a fun event and a great experience filled of benefits. Be sure you know where the best shops and stores are located so you get all fabulous things you want to buy. 3. Diving fever: ? Explore the reefs and wrecks in the island, submerge into the turquoise waters of St. Maarten and delight yourself with beautiful and healthy reef systems as with fabulous wrecks with an enormous variety of marine life. Experience the underwater world and go for a happy diving. 4. Best nightlife: ? By night the island comes alive with over a dozen casinos and active nightclubs, bars and pubs that are filled with lots of local entertainment. According to your preference there are indoor and open-air partying atmosphere sceneries with great drinks and music for an unforgettable Caribbean night out. 5. Great weather: ? The Caribbean is known for it's great weather and Sint Maarten is not the exception, from January to March is probably the best time to travel. During summer you'll likely to experience some wet weather, this wet season runs from May to October. The typical maximum daytime temperatures ranges between 29-32�C (84-90�F). 6. Two in one culture travel: ? A true tale of two nations, with a dual heritage and customs make the island a cosmopolitan and unique place in the region with a double name Sint Maarten / St. Martin. House of the Guavaberry rum that can be tasted at the numerous beach bars and nightclubs, entertainment is foreign enough to be exotic guaranteed. 7. Friendly people: ? Over 120 nationalities can be found on St. Maarten and regardless their nationality you will see a lot of smiling faces around. This island is to be enjoyed with the friendliest and helpful people that are always cheerful and happy to help. Get a wonderful and warm reception from the moment you arrive and a merry stay wishing you a further come back. No reason to be worried at all. 8. Outstanding landscapes: ? Experience the natural beauty of Sint Maarten the attractive mountains view will keep your eyes wide open. Full of great spots to watch the sunset it feels like being in paradise. With plenty open space contrasting with dramatic green mountain is impossible to overlook the picturesque view while the sun is up. On the seaside many sailboats anchored just off its shore for an unforgettable sight. 9. Caribbean gourmet capital: ? Three capitals converge in this island, the French capital and the Dutch capital making a melting-pot for the third one the Gourmet capital. With more than 300 fine restaurants to choose from, Sint Maarten matures a European cuisine with a Caribbean flavor to become a culinary world leader. 10. Great beaches: ? 37 different beaches to enjoy and relax either a remote and desert beach or a buzzy one with rocky cliffs. All kind of options, for the honeymooners, families with kids, and for sport practicing activities such as snorkeling, jet skiing, scuba diving, and many others. The island has it all!

When to go to St. Maarten? This is possibly one of the most exciting islands in the Caribbean. The visit to this island actually provide you with an opportunity to visit two different countries. The island is home to both St. Maarten and St. Martin, and collectively each offers a different experience. It is worth your while to spend time on both sides of the island. Travelers to the island have the opportunity to explore three different unique cultures. On one side, there is the Dutch seriousness and delightfulness, whereas on the French side there is more of a savor-faire. As you near the border between the two sides, you actually get a different culture that represents a blend of the two. Visitors to St. Maarten will find gourmet food, lively nightlife, world-class shopping, unspoiled beaches and year-round good weather. This makes it easy for this to be your Caribbean destination. When to go to St. Maarten The simplest and broadest best time to visit St. Maarten is between the months of December through May which represents the dry season. The best time to go to St. Maarten can be narrowed down to the months of either January or April. These two months have the sunny but comfortable days weather wise, but avoid the crowds that spring break delivers during mid-February through most of March. When to go to St. Maarten: Weather St. Maarten is a tropical island and generally experiences good weather all year round. the temperatures only vary around 5�F throughout the year. Mid-70s to upper 70s and low 80s is what travelers should expect. The hurricane season launches in June and runs through November. The good news is the likelihood of a hurricane touching down on the island is doubtful in the majority of visitors to the island during the season will experience warmer and sunny days. It is important to note that there�s a greater chance of a thunder shower or tropical storm. Just like anywhere around the world they can actually rain at any time, but overall travelers should expect beautiful sunny days is explore this exquisite island. When to go to St. Maarten: Holidays and Events One of the biggest and most celebrated festivities in the country is a two-month carnival which begins in January and runs through February each year. Tourist were here during these months will experience street parades, beauty pageants, barbecues, concerts and more. Another popular celebration is St. Maarten�s Day (St. Martin�s Day) which is celebrated on November 11th each year. During the celebration visitors will also experience a parade, jump-ups and sporting events. You will find other festivals and events on either side of the island they create festive and celebratory moments. Most people find these to be fun activities to engage local culture and celebrate. However some people prefer to have a more quiet and relaxing vacation, this may lead many to offer a different time of year. When to go to St. Maarten: More Info Traveling to St. Maarten or St. Martin is an exciting endeavor. Both sides of the islands offer so much for visitors. It is important that if you have limited time for you explore the options on each side of the island to see what is most appealing to you. Many travelers go to the island during the shoulder seasons mid-April � June or mid Nov � mid-Dec. Crowds are smaller, easier to get reservations and rates are at the lowest of the year. For more details contact St Martin Reservation Center 800 480 8555 or 917 546 6948 or info@4smrc.com.

Airlines operating out of the US AMERICAN AIRLINES www.americanairlines.fr - www.aa.com 1 direct flight daily from New York and Miami. 3 direct flights daily from San Juan. American Airlines operates a number of connections and daily indirect flights to other US cities. US AIRWAYS www.usairways.com Daily direct flights from Philadelphia and Charlotte. US Airways also operates many connections to other US cities. UNITED AIRLINES www.united.com Flights from Chicago twice weekly. United also operates connecting flights to other US cities. DELTA AIRLINES www.delta.com Daily direct flights from Atlanta. Delta also operates a number of connecting flights to other US cities. JET BLUE www.jetblue.com Daily flights from New York. SPIRIT AIRLINES Low-cost flights from Miami. With connecting flights from other US cities Airlines operating out of Canada Air Transat www.airtransat.fr - www.airtransat.ca - www.airtransat.com Direct weekly flights from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Halifax. AIR CANADA www.aircanada.com Direct flights fromToronto in high season. Weekly flights all year round via Pointe-�-Pitre. SUNWING AIRLINES www.flysunwing.com - www.sunwing.ca Direct flights from Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City. Airlines operating out of South America Copa Airlines www.copaair.com Direct flights on Tuesday and Saturday from Panama Copa Airline operates a number of connections and daily indirect flights to other South American and US cities. Airlines flying from European countries KLM www.klm.com Direct flights from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Amsterdam (Netherlands). High season (November to March) : 3 weekly flights on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Low season (April to October) : 2 weekly flights on Thursday and Saturday AIR FRANCE

Getting Around St. Martin - St. Maarten The best way to get around St. Martin and St. Maarten is in a rental car. But really, outside of walking, just about any means of navigating between the French and Dutch sides of the island is manageable. Having a car will allow you more mobility and you'll find reasonable rental rates. Agencies are clustered on the outskirts of Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), located in St. Maarten. Unfortunately, traffic can be pretty heinous on both sides. The island buses also cater to tourists and are fairly cheap to ride. If you don't like the idea of waiting on a bus, consider splurging on a taxi. And if you're feeling adventurous you might want to use a scooter; there's nothing like feeling the sea breeze in your hair -- ahem, helmet.

Health Information for Travelers to Sint Maarten Zika virus is a risk in Sint Maarten. � Pregnant women should not travel to Sint Maarten because Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. � Partners of pregnant women and couples planning pregnancy should know possible risks to pregnancy and take preventive steps. Before travel, those planning pregnancy should talk to their doctor or other healthcare provider. � All travelers should follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during and after their trip. Travelers should also use condoms during and after their trip to prevent sexual transmission of Zika. This will protect against getting Zika while traveling and stop its spread to others back home.

Lifestyle sets St Maarten/St Martin apart from other Caribbean islands. It is not only the luxury of grocery stores overflowing with gourmet products from around the world, the more than four hundred restaurants, the vibrant nightlife and the fabulous, frequently clothing optional beaches. More importantly, the island is home to a truly multicultural community, with little ethnic boundaries and a wonderful level of tolerance and respect among its members. Eighty different nationalities living peacefully together on 37 square miles - making this the most cosmopolitan little island on earth. St Maarten/St Martin is an active place - not a dreamy backwater. It is a destination with attractions to suit almost everyone's taste and desires. This island is not part of the third world, even though the appearance of some neighborhoods seems to be in conflict with this statement. In general terms, many of the island's natives live a comfortable middle or even upper class life. English is the most widely spoken language on this cosmopolitan little dot in the ocean. That doesn't mean that some knowledge in French couldn't be of help on French St. Martin... But every local resident remotely involved with the tourism industry will be able to assist the visitor in English. The night is warm, the music hot. This is St Maarten/St Martin where the music is as varied and diverse as the people who live here. The hot sounds of Latin, funky Soul, blood-stirring Rock, foot-tapping Pop, cool Reggae and pulsating Zouk, with thumping, heart-busting Soca and Calypso thrown in for good measure, and the whole lot tempered down with soothing classical and flamenco guitar, making up the melting pot of the music scene on the island. Let�s introduce you to some of our most popular musical maestros!

The culture of St. Martin is a blend of its African, French, British, and Dutch heritage. Although St. Martin is a single island, it contains two separate nations: Saint-Martin, a French overseas collectivity; and Sint Maarten, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Although each side's culture is influenced by their respective administering countries, they share enough similar heritage and traditions that it can be difficult to tell where Saint-Martin ends and Sint Maarten begins. The native Creole population can trace most of their roots to Africa, France, the Netherlands and the British Isles. Only some stones remain from the ruins of the two forts built by the Spanish occupation in its early take over. But during the colonial period, the British settlers and several military dominations left their idiom as the main language spoken on the island, and have made a large impact on St. Martin's culture. Nowadays, due to a major influx of immigrants searching for better employment and living conditions, over the past twenty years the number of Creoles has been surpassed by the number of immigrants. Today, the island's population of 75,000 is truly a melting pot of people from 70 or more different countries. With so many different nationalities present, quite a few languages are spoken. An English-based creole is the main local vernacular.[1] However, the official languages are French for Saint-Martin, with Dutch and English being official for Sint Maarten. Other common languages include various French creoles (spoken by French Caribbean immigrants), Spanish (spoken by immigrants from the Dominican Republic), and Papiamento (spoken by immigrants from Aruba, Bonaire and Cura�ao). In French Saint-Martin, the most popular religion is Roman Catholicism. Dutch Sint Maarten favors Protestant denominations, particularly Methodism. The island also has small Jewish and Seventh-day Adventist communities. Perhaps in part due to French influences, the whole island is known for its excellent cuisine. Creole, French, and West Indian cooking are particularly renowned. Chefs trained in Europe elevate restaurant cuisine to gourmet level. Of course, with the diverse nationalities, plenty of international fare is cooked up. Popular music on St. Martin includes a variety of styles beloved throughout the Caribbean. Calypso, merengue, soca, zouk, and reggae all contribute to the festive culture.

Accommodations in St Martin range form boutique hotels and casual (inexpensive) villas and condos to luxury or Five Star properties fit for Royalty. But when you consider sharing the cost of these luxury accommodations, rates are quite affordable.Like most Caribbean island vacations , you can expect to spend about $5000 per couple for airfare, lodging, rental car, meals and some entertainment. You can spend less or more depending on your taste and budget. There is something for every reasonable vacation budget.