Where is Saint Martin's Island located? Saint Martin. Butterfly Island. Clothing optional beaches

Detailed information about the country: Saint Martin. Photos, maps, population, cities, economy, climate, statistics collected by the US CIA / World factbook

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Saint Martin is one of the many small islands in the Caribbean, famous for its stunning white sandy beaches and numerous restaurants. The island is unusual in that two countries have the same influence on its development: France and Holland. The French influence is noticeable here to a lesser extent and relates more to the cultural heritage of the island, while Holland takes an active part in the commercialization of the island; the Dutch own resorts, casinos, and a chain of fast food restaurants.

Saint Martin is the northernmost island of the Lesser Antilles archipelago, divided between France and the Netherlands. (Actually, when pronouncing the name Saint-Martin, they mean the French part of the island - the most luxurious hotels and the best restaurants are located here. The Dutch part is called Saint-Maarten.) Saint-Martin is especially loved by “non-boring” people. There is a lot of entertainment for every taste, from jungle safaris to deep sea fishing. Vacationers can enjoy exquisite restaurants with French cuisine, nightclubs, discos and four casinos. Roulette, blackjack, baccarat... You can win five thousand dollars and go on a yacht cruise to the Caribbean islands.

Saint Martin is one of the many small islands in the Caribbean, famous for its stunning white sandy beaches and numerous restaurants. The island is unusual in that two countries have the same influence on its development: France and Holland. The French influence is noticeable here to a lesser extent and relates more to the cultural heritage of the island, while Holland takes an active part in the commercialization of the island; the Dutch own resorts, casinos, and a chain of fast food restaurants.

The island of Saint Martin has two capitals - the cities of Philipsburg and Marigot, which are home to many fashionable shops.

The island of Saint Martin is the smallest territory on the globe, owned by two states. Despite the island's dual citizenship, its borders are marked with small signs and there are no formalities when crossing the border. Saint Martin is the starting point for travelers wishing to travel to other Caribbean islands such as Anguilla, Saba and others.

Geography and history

The area of ​​the Dutch part of the island is 35 square meters. km., French - 48 sq. km.
Saint Martin/St Maarten, part of the Windward Islands group in the Lesser Antilles archipelago.

In ancient times, the island belonged entirely to the Arawaks, who called it the Island of Salt (in honor of the main wealth of Saint-Martin) or the Land of Women. After the discovery of the island by Christopher Columbus in 1493, the possession of the Arawaks was renamed Saint Martin, and November 11, the day the island was put on the world map, is considered its main public holiday. However, the Spaniards were in no hurry to develop the island, and only a century and a half later the first settlements of the French and Dutch appeared here, who created a coalition when the Spaniards returned to Saint Martin. The enemy's attack was repulsed, and the island was divided between France and the Netherlands according to the 1648 treaty. Today, this treaty is one of the oldest agreements still in force. Thus, Saint Martin, which remembers the fiercest battles, smoke from cannons and the smell of gunpowder, common to other Caribbean islands, is a unique example of the successful coexistence of two European states.

Climate

Tropical, the weather is warm and dry all year round. The hottest months are July and August, the average daily temperature of which rises to +32°C. The annual precipitation rate is 1150 mm. The rainiest months are from September to November, during which there are eight rainy days per month. The driest time is considered to be from February to April, when the number of rainy days reaches three per month. The most favorable time to travel to the islands is from mid-December to the end of April.

Resorts and beaches of Saint Martin

The most important sector of the economy and life of the islands is tourism. Up to 28% of the population is engaged in serving foreign guests. Over a million tourists visit the islands annually, mainly from Western Europe and North America, with 75% of tourists staying on the island of St. Maarten.

The richest underwater world opens up to divers: the remains of ships that sank in the 17th and 18th centuries, coral reefs, a huge variety of marine life, sharks, stingrays, dolphins, seahorses.

Maho Bay is the main resort area of ​​Saint Martin, located on the southwestern coast of the island. Densely lined with multi-storey buildings, jewelry stores, art galleries, restaurants and casinos, the white strip of beach practically abuts the runway of the local airport, so this area is widely known for its rather exotic spectacle: huge passenger planes flying directly over the heads of vacationers. And very unusual local signs warning that “low-flying aircraft can cause injury” are an extremely popular “souvenir” among visitors to the island.

Mallet Beach is a great beach located north of Maho Bay.

Kapkoy Beach is a quiet beach next to Mullet Beach, which is a collection of ancient weathered cliffs with small, cozy white sand coves hidden at the base (many of the coves are leased to large resort complexes, so access is limited to hotel guests).

Little Bay Beach is one of the best snorkeling spots on the island with very clear water.

East Beach is in the northeast of the island and is an excellent water sports centre.

Simpson Bay Beach is a wonderfully quiet private beach between a picturesque fishing village and the sea.

Coconut Grove is a favorite place for windsurfers, located on the northeast coast.

Bonaire - the unique resorts "Plaza Resort Bonaire" and "Port Bonaire Resort", real "pearls" of these places, in which magnificent architecture is combined with amazingly beautiful nature. These resorts are located on the west coast of the Caribbean Sea, in the lagoon area where 2 bridges connect the two islands, 10 minutes' drive from the center of Kralendijk, the capital of Bonaire. These superb resorts are famous for their beautiful gardens, which contain a great variety of exotic plants and tropical palm trees. Diving here is the most enjoyable pastime - clear and warm water, steep underwater walls and coral gardens, a riot of colors and an abundance of underwater flora and fauna. Tucan Diving, a local scuba diving center that also has a shop stocking a wide range of equipment, will provide you with everything you need. Several fully equipped boats depart daily from the resort's piers, and there are weekly dive tours (licensed to dive) to the island's East Coast and Washington National Park.

Willemstad looks like a traditional Dutch town, miraculously found among cacti. Here is the oldest existing synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, Mikvah Israel-Emanuel (mid-17th century).

Curacao is one of the few destinations for American cruise ships sailing from Florida to the Caribbean. St. Maarten is an island that simultaneously belongs to both France and Holland. Many taxes are not levied here, hotels of different categories have been built, and the prices for villas are quite reasonable. Local authorities welcome investment in the hotel sector, striving to improve the level of service. An example of this is the luxurious hotel complex "Le Meridien", which has become a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world.

One of the attractions of St. Maarten (of course, in addition to the historical museum) is the butterfly farm. On the coast of Grand Casa you can rent a bungalow for one or more families at a very reasonable price. During a tour of the island, you can visit art workshops and admire beautiful paintings by local artists, which can be bought there or in small galleries in Marigot or St. Barths. On all the islands, half of the hotels have a casino and are five stars, everything is clean, just like in Holland itself and is very conducive to relaxation.

Culture and cuisine

Saint Martin is an island interesting not only for its tourist opportunities, but also for its typical island lifestyle, and the endless, true beauty of its nature and local people. This is an island where goats graze sleeplessly around coffee bushes that have not been replaced by sugar and banana plantations, and where women sew dresses and blankets from colored scraps: a sad necessity of the Second World War, which these days turns into original art. St. Maarten is home to sweet amber honey, mangrove queens egrets, frigate birds hunting flying fish, and full moon beach parties commemorating the ritual dances of sugar cane harvesters on moonlit nights.

Every year, Saint Martin hosts two carnivals: the French festival during Lent and the Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands. The Dutch carnival lasts for 17 days and develops according to all the laws of major holidays: long preparation, competitions of calypso performers, the fight for the royal title, a street parade and the final burning of the straw monster (King Momo), taking away all sins and bad luck. However, it is impossible to imagine a holiday in Saint Martin without its national drink - guavaberry liqueur. The liqueur is made from rare berries that grow on trees with small pink flowers and ripen only in August, golden Caribbean rum and sugar. The drink is infused in barrels and then delights the guests of the owners with the sweet taste of wood and fruit.

The village of Grand Case is considered the gastronomic capital of the Caribbean archipelago. Along the only street, proudly called the Boulevard, there are magnificent wooden houses surrounded by ibiscus bushes. This typical Creole village is home to more than thirty gastronomic French restaurants, which are located mainly along the beach of a magnificent turquoise bay. Each restaurant will offer you an original menu of refined cuisine, a selection of the best French wines, and after an amazing dessert and

— Saint Martin Island is an island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Puerto Rico in the northern part of the ridge of small islands separating the Caribbean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.
If you look at the map, the location of the islands of the Caribbean chain resembles a drawn bow aiming an arrow at the African continent.

Island Saint Martin It is interesting in that it was divided between France and Holland back in 1648, and this treaty of peaceful division is the oldest treaty of its kind and is still in force.

The northern part of the island is an overseas territory of France and is called accordingly Saint Martin
The southern part of the island is a self-governing state with significant autonomy, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and is called Sint Maarten.

The island is small: its area is 83 sq km. The capital of the southern, Dutch part of the island is Philipsburg is a major port where cruise ships call every day, bringing thousands of tourists traveling around the Caribbean islands.

And so that tourists do not have to go far, all conditions have been created for them in Philipsburg itself: many restaurants, souvenir shops and alcohol stores at duty-free prices, a casino and, of course, many brothels.

Another difference between this part of the island: the American dollar is in use here and most tourists are from North America: the USA and Canada.
The population of this part of the island speaks English and 99% of them are blacks (immigrants from Africa, brought here during the slave trade).

French part of Saint Martin

The capital of the northern (larger) part of the island speaks French and is an overseas territory of France.
Capital - city Marigot(Marigot).
Time difference from Moscow to Saint Martin minus 8 hours

Mobile Internet 3G with a travel SIM card does not work in Saint Martin, although there is cellular communication: its own network on the Dutch side and the French network on the northern part of the island. Free wi-fi in cafes on the beach and carelessly password-protected Internet in cities help out.

How to get to Saint Martin from Europe

Saint Martin how to get there

You can get to the island from Europe by purchasing tickets from Paris with AirFrance or Air Caraibes.
KLM flies from Amsterdam.
Both the French and the Dutch fly into the same airport - it is common in Saint Martin.

It so happened that I posted the news on the forum: I took advantage of this idea and bought two tickets from Paris to Saint-Martin for 621 euros by the company Air Caraibes.

After that, all that remained was to find inexpensive tickets from Moscow to Paris (as you understand, this was not difficult using the service on the forum) and do it - a visa is issued in the same way as a regular French Schengen.

French Overseas Territory Visa

Print out a form from the website of the France visa center in Moscow, take a photograph on a gray background, attach copies of tickets to Saint-Martin, a hotel reservation in Saint-Martin, a certificate from work indicating the salary and stamp, or a bank account statement for the last couple of months, so that The embassy realized that you are not a loser.

The visa is processed within 3 working days.
For those who have a Schengen multi-visa -
So: we have tickets, we have a visa, we have a hotel reservation for the first 2 days. Let's fly!

Air Caraibes review

Beaches in Saint Martin

I wrote about beaches in a separate article called.

Dutch Sint Maarten and French Saint Martin. How to get to Sint Maarten and where is the best place to live there? Visa control in Sint Maarten. Car rental at Princess Juliana Airport and public transport in Sint Maarten. Shops in Sint Maarten and St. Maarten. Prices in Sint Maarten and St. Maarten. Currency of Sint Maarten / Currency of Saint Martin. Bank cards and ATMs in Sint Maarten / St. Maarten. Safety in Sint Maarten/Saint Maarten. Electricity and communications are on in Sint Maarten/Saint Maarten.

How to get to Sint Maarten? The most popular arrival routes to Sint Maarten are from Amsterdam, Paris and mainly from the USA. When flying through the States, you need to remember that you need a US visa.

On December 28th we flew to New York by Aeroflot. We are welcome in America - friends met us at JFK airport. We already lived with them for a week on our last trip to the States. They took us to their home in Brooklyn, treated us to a delicious dinner, discussed the fate of our distant Motherland, and in the morning they took us to Newark, for which we thank them very much.

Liberty Airport Impressed by the size. Before that, in addition to the huge JFK, we flew from what seemed to us a small LaGuardia in Queens. Liberty is not much inferior in scope to JFK - in 2015, passenger traffic at JFK amounted to almost 57 million people, at Liberty - 37.5 million (for comparison, at Sheremetyevo - 34 million, at LaGuardia, which we unfairly underestimated - 31.4 million, and in his native Eburg Koltsovo - 4.3 million according to data for 2015-2016).

In anticipation of the New Year, not knowing what to expect from prices on the islands (everything there was supposed to be quite expensive - everything was imported), we allowed ourselves a little luxury by buying a bottle of Veuve Clicquot at Duty Free. Later it turned out that the island prices are quite divine (the whole of Saint Martin / Sint Maarten is officially a duty free zone). You can buy the same Veuve Clicquot in the supermarket there for 64 dollars versus 72, which we gave at Liberty. Sparkling Martini Rose in Sint Maarten cost 18 USD. And in general, the range of wines in supermarkets on the island of St. Martin exceeded all expectations. Perhaps due to the influence of the French part of the island? But, on the other hand, in both Curacao and Aruba, purely Dutch territories, the situation was similar - the wines were in perfect order.

Liberty also surprised us with new approaches in the field of aviation security. At Liberty Airport Duty Free you cannot immediately pick up bottles of alcohol that you have paid for. They write down your flight number and your last name, and deliver your purchase to the boarding gate, where it is handed over. Not everyone understands how this works - there were passengers who boarded the plane without picking up or waiting for their packages, and as a result they were brought into the cabin.

Passenger service in UnitedAirlines fully commercialized. For a movie - pay (8 USD for connection, payment by card through a terminal connected to the video monitor). At the same time, you cannot choose from a film library, as is usually the case with other airlines, but are forced to be content with a dozen channels in English or Spanish with continuous broadcasting of various films, programs and TV series - if you didn’t get to the beginning, watch from the middle. The only free food is a bag of peanuts and juices.

The flight takes just over four hours - nothing after a ten-hour flight to New York. Our seats were on the left side. The plane crosses the entire island when landing, and we were able to admire Philipsburg - the capital of the Dutch Sint Maarten, the view of which was exactly from our side. Over the sea there is a turn, descent and then landing, passing a couple of tens of meters above the onlookers joyfully greeting the planes on the legendary Maho Beach.

Princess Juliana Airport quite small (designed for a passenger traffic of 2.5 million passengers annually - and this is for an island with a population of 75 thousand people), but decent, clean and modern. We took our suitcases and grabbed a free advertising booklet with a map attached. There were no hiccups at passport control, they worked efficiently and went through it quickly. I wrote about questions about whether there are any difficulties with arriving through Princess Juliana Airport on the Dutch side of the island to stay on the French side.

Sint Maarten, coconut tree

Transport in Sint Maarten. For me, it is most convenient to rent a car. Renting a car in Sint Maarten like me already, does not cause much trouble. Taxi service is also well developed on the island. From the airport to the farthest point (Anse Marcel, French Cul de Sac, Mount Vernon) you can get there for 45 USD. To the capitals - Philipsburg and Marigot - for 20 USD. Our Oyster Pond is about 30 years away.

Taxi prices in Sint Maarten fixed by government-approved tariffs:

It is worth noting that the prices are for 1-2 passengers and include one suitcase per person. Each additional unit is two dollars. Large boxes - 3 each, large strollers - 5 each.

More than two people – already a group rate. Child seats are included in the price. Children from 0 to 2 years old - free, from 3 to 4 - 50%, 5 years old and older - full rate.

If a taxi is ordered not to a certain point, but for a period of time (shopping, etc.), then a waiting cost of 40 USD per hour is added to the tariff; waiting time of more than 15 minutes is rounded up to an hour.

Evening tariff – plus 25% from 22:00 to 24:00, night – plus 50% from 24:00 to 6:30

Sightseeing trip around the island - from 85 USD for two (and from 20 USD per person for a trip of 8 people) for a 2.5 hour tour up to 250 USD for a full day - 5-6 hours for up to 6 people.

Taxis can be ordered in advance on the website The Dutch St. Maarten Taxi Association (DSTA) or take a taxi at the port/airport.

Paying for a taxi in Sint Maarten occurs in US dollars.

Public transport in Sint Maarten limited to small private businesses providing transportation between the main towns. There is no schedule, no stops. You see a bus/minibus with a route sign (starting and ending points) on the windshield - vote, ask if it goes where you want. When you need to get off, just tell the driver. The price of public transport in Sint Maarten is 1-1.5 USD depending on the distance, and have some change ready - there may be no change. In the evening, buses rarely run, and after 23:00 - almost never.

Example: if you need to go from Maho to Simpson Bay, stop the bus to Philipsburg and get off along the road where you need to go. To get from Marigot to Simpson Bay, take the bus to Philipsburg, get off at the T-junction (look for the KFC - Kentucky Fried Chicken sign) and wait for the bus to Mullet Bay.

Typical road in Saint Martin

Car rental companies at Princess Juliana Airport do not have their own counters in the arrivals hall. You need to look for their representatives outside. To the right of the exit, a few tens of meters away, you will see signs with the names of rent-a-car companies, from where shuttles pick up clients. But the SIXT I needed was not there. I asked the locals hanging around nearby: “Where has SIXT gone?” - “So he’s running around here somewhere.” They caught me a guy in an orange branded Peruvian SIXT jacket - he brought several more people from the arrivals hall. We were all seated in a minibus, which took us to the office in literally three to five minutes. The decor is unhurried in the Caribbean style. We got a white Toyota Yaris. Scratches and chips were noted in good faith.

The owner of the hotel we booked, Sol'Hôtel in Oyster Pond on the French side, sent me directions from the airport to the hotel in advance. But I still got a little lost, taking the wrong turn in Philipsburg. I asked the locals several times how to get there - they all speak excellent English, are friendly and helpful, so in the end we got there without any problems.

When we later drove around the island, having become accustomed to it, when traveling through Philipsburg, we took as a landmark a noticeable T-shaped intersection with a roundabout: to the left there is a lake, straight along the mountain, a turn to the right - to the port of Philipsburg, to the left - towards the French part of the island (signpost in the French Quarter). Further along the road there will be signs for Oyster Pond. From the airport to Oyster Pond the drive is no more than 40 minutes if there are no traffic jams. And they do happen on the island of St. Martin, no matter how strange it may sound.

Most traffic jams occur due to bridge openings. The opening of bridges in Sint Maarten occurs according to the following schedule:

– Simpson Bay Bridge on the Dutch side opens daily from December to April at 9:00, 9:30, 11am, 11:30, 16:30 and 17:30pm

– Sandy Ground Bridge on the French side 8:15, 14:30 on weekdays, on holidays and weekends – 8:15 and 17:30.

The border between the Dutch and French Saint Martins is marked with signs.

Somewhere the pointers are simple:

Somewhere more impressive:

Border of Dutch Sint Maarten and French Saint Martin

Border monument in honor of Sint-Martin-Saint-Martin friendship

Apparently, another memorial plaque will appear in 2018 - 370 years of unity and friendship on the island

Interestingly, the border between the French and Dutch parts of the island of St. Martin was established back in 1648, and the locals have a funny story about this. You can read more about this story, and about the history of Sint Maarten and Saint Martin.

Where to live in Sint Maarten / Saint Martin?

Where to live in Sint Maarten / Saint Martin depends on your preferences.

Sint Maarten (Dutch part) is considered more attractive for young people and unbridled recreation. It's loud and loose, with lots of pubs, clubs, casinos and a vibrant nightlife. Sint Maarten is an autonomous state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, therefore almost everything is permitted there as in Holland. Except drugs (including mild ones). On the Dutch side there is the famous Maho Beach, famous for its photographs of planes flying a couple of tens of meters above the heads of holidaymakers. The most popular area is Simpson Bay.

View of Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten

Saint Martin (the French part) is positioned as a quieter and more prestigious holiday destination for older tourists, or simply those who prefer a relaxing holiday and fine cuisine - it is believed that the best restaurants are in Saint Martin (for this is where the influence of refined traditions is present French cuisine). The town of Gran Cas is considered the gourmet capital of the island (and some argue of the entire Caribbean region).

The French part of the island also has more gorgeous beaches. There is Orient Beach - the largest beach on the island, which also has a corner officially belonging to the nudist Orient Club. On the French side lies Galion Beach, the beach most popular with surfers.

Grand Cas and Orien Bay are the most popular places to stay in Saint Martin.

Villa in Saint Martin, near Frair`s Bay beach

The average cost of a hotel room in Sint Maarten / St. Maarten is 130-160 US dollars per night. But you can find something cheaper and simpler, from 50 dollars. Renting an apartment in Saint Martin is also not difficult. Prices are about the same.

We stopped at Sol'Hotel on the French side in a small village (town?) Oyster Pond, divided by the border between Sint Maarten and St. Maarten. Sol'Hôtel has a high rating and many good reviews. And ours included - we liked it there.

Sol'Hôtel, Oyster Pond

After dropping our things off at the hotel, we made our way to a local small grocery store. Aux Pains d`Epices. The assortment is good, there is everything you need - meat, cheeses, fruits, a decent line of wines.

Prices in Saint Martin, as I wrote above, European. What is the currency in Sint Maarten/Saint Maarten? This is also a question that often confuses island guests.

Currency of Sint Maarten– Netherlands Antilles Guilder, abbreviated as NAF. It is pegged to the US Dollar – 1.79 NAF = 1 USD. Netherlands Antilles Guilder was the common currency of the Netherlands Antilles, as can easily be assumed, and still (as of 2017) remains the currency for Sint Maarten and Curacao. By law, prices in Sint Maarten must be quoted in NAF. But the US dollar is accepted equally with NAF without restrictions. Therefore, prices on the Dutch side are usually indicated in double prices - in NAF and USD. Euros are not accepted on the Dutch side.

But on the French side, in Saint Martin, all price tags are in euros. NAF is not accepted. But the US dollar is easy. The dollar to euro exchange rate in Saint Martin is tied to stock exchange quotes. In December-January 2014, dollars on the French side were usually taken at the rate of 1.32-1.38 per 1 euro. But often the dollar is accepted as payment at a more favorable rate, sometimes even 1:1, depending on your luck. Sometimes restaurants already write at the entrance that they accept dollars at a rate of 1:1 to euros. In any case, it is always worth having dollars with you, and, before paying in euros, ask what the exchange rate is. Most likely it will be cheaper in dollars.

The US dollar turns out to be the universal currency for the island. You don't need NAF if you have dollars. Well, or if we don’t have an unhealthy need to hold and save exotic currencies for our collection. I have such a disease.

Small change can be given from dollars in eurocents on the French side and NAF on the Dutch side. Accordingly, they can also give change in American change if there is no exchange in the appropriate currency.

Bank cards in Sint Maarten. Both MasterCard and Visa are accepted equally. There may be problems with American Express. Bank cards are needed mainly for renting cars and paying for hotels. Very often, restaurants and shops do not accept cards, only cash. Cash in Sint Maarten can be withdrawn from a bank card at banks or automated teller machines (ATMs) without any problems. Finding ATMs is also not difficult - I specifically withdrew a certain amount in Netherlands Antillean guilders. On the Dutch side. ATMs in Sint Maarten will offer you the choice of withdrawing money in NAF, USD or EUR. ATM in Saint Martin (French) – Euro only.

At the same time, as they say, there is one caveat: if your card is linked to an account in USD, withdraw dollars in the Dutch part, because this way you will only pay a commission for withdrawing funds from an ATM. If you withdraw euros on the French side from a card linked to a dollar account, then on the ATM screen the conversion rate at which you will receive euros may look attractive. But this is the local bank rate. And your bank may have a higher conversion rate, and as a result, the final conversion cost for you will be higher. Therefore, the locals advise that if you had to withdraw euros from a bank card on the French side, then go and exchange them at the bank for dollars. This will usually give you a better exchange rate. Plus, on the French side it is often more profitable to pay in dollars than in euros.

In the store, of course, we picked up wine, cheese, and smoked meats. And, on the advice of Kolet, the hostess Sol'Hotel, mosquito repellent candle. Mosquitoes on Sint Maarten are present. We left the candle burning at night - the floor in the room was made of tiles - no one ate us. On the terrace in the evenings it happened that people were bitten. But the local small, half-dead mosquitoes are no match for the Ural monsters - their buzzing is almost inaudible, they sting unnoticed, and the bite mark does not last long.

It is worth saying that the next day after our arrival, on the way to Philipsburg, we came across a large supermarket in Sint Maarten with reasonable prices and an excellent assortment - The Fresh Market. Wines are mainly from France, then from Chile, Argentina, California, beer from Holland, USA, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and others.

Christmas arrangement at The Fresh Market, Sint Maarten

There is also Carrefour in Saint Martin. Finding supermarkets in Sint Maarten, thanks to Google, is not very difficult these days - just type in Google “supermarkets in sint maarten” or “supermarkets in st maarten” and you will be happy - supermarkets of both Sint Maarten and Saint Maarten will be shown . But if you search for “supermarkets in saint martin”, you won’t be happy, because there are plenty of Saint Martins in the world, and Google will look for them in Europe, the USA, and other places remote from the desired point.

Safety onSint Maarten.

Still, it is worth drawing attention to the fact that although we have never encountered any aggression or problems on the island, there are occasionally reports on the Internet about robberies of tourists (especially on Peak Paradise), theft of their cars and thefts. Therefore, as with everything, it is worth exercising reasonable caution.

Walking along Oyster Pond late one night, we witnessed how the gendarmes arrived either to respond to a call, or to trigger an alarm, or to make an arrest. Just like in the movies, about 6 people poured out of the minibus and technically took up positions near the fence of the house, after which two, under the cover of the others, ran, bent down, to the entrance. My wife didn’t let me watch any further, considering it better to leave this free show.

Be that as it may, the vast majority of those who had the opportunity to live on the island longer consider Sint Maarten / St. Maarten to be a completely safe place, calmer than Prague (where I felt quite comfortable walking at night in the central and not very areas), not to mention comparisons with Jamaica, St. Thomas and Santa Lucia. It is still advised not to be alone on deserted beaches at night, to avoid residential areas of Sandy Ground, French and Dutch Quarter at night, not to wander unnecessarily along dark alleys in Philipsburg and Marigot, not to wave your wallet in public, and not to leave it in plain sight. place of value in the car.

Sandy Ground: 18.058687 , -63.104846

Quartier D\"Orléans (French Quarter): 18.069668 , -63.037934

Dutch Quarter: 18.049903 , -63.045600

Some people believe that when renting a car, it makes sense to ask for a car with a license plate not of the Dutch Sint Maarten (which has the symbol R - rented), but of the French Saint Maarten (the rental companies on the Dutch side always have them), because such The license plate gives away the visitor and may provoke a desire to scam him.

Registration number for a rental car in Sint Maarten

Yes, does anyone else remember the popular scheme for selling time shares in the late 90s in Russia? On the island of St. Martin this theme is in full bloom. Persuasive promoters will pester you on the streets, inviting you to watch a presentation in exchange for a gift. At the presentation, they will pour you a glass and tell you how great it is to have a timeshare in Saint Martin (the right to use resort real estate - an apartment or a villa - for a certain time over a certain number of years), after which they will immediately insistently offer to sign a contract and then pay for it. During the season, a timeshare will cost several tens of thousands of dollars. Not that much? It's a shame, but you can get it cheaper in the off-season. Or even cheaper, but in low season. But you need to pay right now and urgently.

In fact, a timeshare is only needed in one case - if you really intend to live in this place every year and are sure that it will be so. Then this may be reasonable, but it is worth first calculating how much. In other cases, it's money down the drain. You can go to a presentation if you have nothing to kill time with, you want to receive a gift (for example, a spa voucher) for free and you are sure that you yourself will sell what you want to someone who will try to sell you something. If you are kind, trusting, and believe in the best, then it is better to pretend that you do not understand what we are talking about and go sunbathe and swim on the beach, thereby maintaining faith in humanity and a fair amount of personal savings.

Electricity and electrical outlets in St. Maarten / Sint Maarten.

What electrical outlets there are on St. Martin's depends on which part of the island you're staying on.

On the French side (Saint Martin) there are sockets of the usual European type.

Type E plug and socket

An adapter will most likely not be required. Although recently there has been a requirement to switch to type E sockets - with an additional grounding pin - the result is that flat plugs (which are the majority) may be suitable, but round ones will require an adapter.

The voltage in Saint Martin is 220 volts, but the frequency of the current is not the usual 50, but 60 hertz. This only affects devices with an electric motor.

On the Dutch side (Sint Maarten) there are American type sockets - A and B.

Saint Martin (Saint Martin)- an island in the Caribbean Sea (Caribbean Sea), under the protection of two countries. The northern part of the island is administered by France (France), and the southern one belongs to the Netherlands (Netherlands). In Dutch, the name of the island sounds like Sint Maarten (Sint Maarten Island). Marigot (Marigot) is the capital of the French part of the island, and Philipsburg (Philipsburg)- Dutch.

The island experiences hot and dry weather all year round. The highest temperatures are observed in July and August - +32 °C. The rainy season usually begins in September–November. From February to April the weather is dry. The best time to holiday in Saint Martin is from December to May.

The island's population is mixed racial. Among the islanders you can find Creoles, mestizos, blacks and even Indians. The overwhelming majority of the believing population is represented by Catholics.

In the south of the island, the official language is Dutch, but locals speak Spanish, English and Paliamento. In the north, the official language is French, although English and Creole are also spoken in this part of the island.

Saint Martin primarily attracts tourists with a variety of water activities: windsurfing, diving, kayaking, kitesurfing, as well as travel and boat trips on boats or sailboats. Guests of the island will be offered activities in other sports: tennis, golf, safari trips and horse riding.

The Dutch part of the island has become famous as a resort for extreme beach activities. Over Maho Bay (Maho Bay) there is a runway at Sint Maarten Airport and tourists actually sunbathe “under the wing of an airplane.”

Sint Maarten attracts lovers of sex tourism, because prostitution is legalized on the island. The largest number of brothels are located in the capital of the Dutch part of the island - Philipsburg. There are also 12 fashionable casinos there. Philipsburg is deservedly considered an excellent place for shopping.

A trip to the French part of the island, Saint Martin, will interest lovers of diving, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing and safari tours. The beaches of Orient Bay are especially popular (Orient Bay Beach), sandy beaches in Grand Case (Grand Case Beach) and Annecy Marcel (Anse Marcel Beach). The best restaurants on the island have been built in Grand Case, where vacationers will be served French cuisine and the best French wines.

In Marigot, travelers spending their holidays on the island will find a casino and other entertainment venues.

How to get there

Airplane

The easiest way to get from Russia, other CIS and EU countries to the island of Saint Martin is by plane. However, the trip for tourists from the CIS countries will include transfers either in Paris ( Paris), or in Amsterdam ( Amsterdam). It is better to fly to the northern part of the island from the French capital, and to the southern part from Amsterdam.

It may be cheaper to fly with US airlines, but this travel route is only possible if tourists have a US visa.

Sea communication

Sea cruise to the Caribbean Islands ( Caribbean Islands) with a stop on the island of St. Maarten can be done from Miami ( Miami).

Visa

Regardless of which part of the island of St. Maarten tourists plan to travel to , they will have to take care of obtaining a visa in advance.

If the hotel where vacationers have booked a room is located on the Dutch territory of the island, a visa should be issued at the Dutch Embassy. If the hotel is located on the French part of the island - at the French Embassy.

The San Maarten visa does not allow tourists to visit the Netherlands, France or other Schengen countries.

Holders of valid Schengen visas will also have to apply for a separate visa to travel to the island of Saint Martin.

Customs

To ensure that your trip to Saint Martin goes smoothly, you should familiarize yourself with the customs regulations in force on the territory of this island.

The amount of currency that tourists and their fellow travelers can freely import or export from the island is not limited. Amounts over 7,000 euros are subject to mandatory declaration.

Cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, tea and perfumes are brought to the island based on personal needs.

It is prohibited to export or import rare or endangered species of flora and fauna.

From Suriname ( Surinam) and Holland cannot import coins and silver items.

Kitchen

The authentic cuisine of Saint-Martin is based on the culinary traditions of Creole, Caribbean and European cuisines. Seafood is the basis of the diet for the islanders. Lobster, lobster, shrimp, various seashells and seaweed are the main ingredients in local restaurant dishes.

The list of meat dishes that will be served to tourists looks more modest. During your trip, we recommend trying the minced meat pies “Pasteshis”, “Cabrito stoba” (roast lamb), and “Ayakas” (roll with minced meat). Local chefs prepare very original sauces, which are considered the highlight of the island cuisine and distinguish Saint Martin from other Caribbean islands.

Rice, vegetables and beans are the most popular side dishes that will be offered to travelers.

Local confectioners will offer tourists on vacation both original French pastries and Johnny cake, which is common on all the islands of the Caribbean. Those with a sweet tooth should order the Pudin di Potato (the island's original potato pudding).

In Saint Martin, sweet dishes are usually washed down with tea or fresh fruit juice.

The island's most popular alcoholic drink is Guavaberry is a liqueur based on Caribbean rum.

Saint Martin has its own breweries that brew popular beers in Europe.

Guests of Saint Martin will find French wine products in the island's shops.

Money

The official currency of the northern (French) part of the island of Saint Martin is the euro.

In the south (Dutch), the national currency is the Dutch guilder.

Along with these two currencies, the US dollar operates on the island. The exchange rate of the American currency to the euro is 1:1, and the Dutch guilder is equal to $1.8.

Tourists or their traveling companions who have reached the age of majority will find the most favorable rate for converting American currency in banking and exchange offices on the French part of the island.

Bank credit cards can be used on holiday in both parts of the island.

Traveler's checks issued in US currency or euros can be exchanged by visitors to the island at major bank branches in Saint Martin.

There are duty free shops throughout the island. Dute Free.

What you need to know

When going on vacation to the island of Saint Martin, it would be useful to know some of the features of life on this island. The island is divided between two states: the north belongs to France and is part of the province of Guadeloupe ( Guadeloupe province), and the south - to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The two states have coexisted peacefully on the same island for 350 years. Tourists can freely travel to the territories of both parts of the island.

Sights of Saint Martin

In the capital of the French part of the island, Marigot, travelers will not be able to pass by the Saint-Louis fortress (Saint-Louis Fortress), Lu-lu galleries (Lou Lou gallery) and historical and cultural museum (Marigot Historical and Cultural Museum). We recommend visiting the fishing village of Grand Case (Grand Case village), where you can buy cute souvenirs made from shells and corals. Nearby is the Colombier Valley (Colombier Valley) and the island's highest point - Paradise Peak (Paradise Peak). In the town of Annecy Marseille, everyone will be offered an excursion to the Money Museum (Museum of money). Sint Maarten is home to one of the most dangerous airports in the world - Princess Juliana Airport (Princess Juliana International Airport). Its runway begins almost on the territory of Maho Beach (Maho Beach).

All the interesting places on the Dutch part of the island are concentrated around the capital Philipsburg. Vacationers can take a stroll through the cozy Watney Square ( Watney Square), visiting Fort Willem and Amsterdam ( Willem and Amsterdam Fort). It was near the walls of the fort that the ship “Proselyte” sank in 1801; salvaged items from the frigate can be seen in the Sint Maarten History Museum ( Museum of Sint Maarten). On the Dutch part of the island there is a Botanical Garden ( Botanical Garden) and a modern zoo. Butterfly Farm ( Butterfly Farm), which is located near Philipsburg, is a popular tourist attraction.

On Mount Concordia ( Concordia Mount), in 1648 France and Holland agreed to divide the island into two parts. In memory of this event, a monument was erected at Concordia, near which travelers often take photographs.

Souvenirs Saint Martin

The islanders will offer tourists who come on vacation souvenirs in the form of cups, key rings or ashtrays with beautiful island views.

If vacationers want to bring at least exotic gifts to friends from their trip, you can purchase products at the Philipsburg market hand-made. Typically, islanders sell beads, bracelets, wallets and bags decorated with shells.

Guests of Saint Martin bring aromatic spices as an original souvenir from the French part of the island.