SAINT MARTIN TRAVEL GUIDE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FRIENDLY ISLAND

 Also known for its nickname of "the friendly island", Saint Martin (or Sint Maarten) is a tropical mix of different languages, cultures food, and scenic beauty. The initial plan was to make it an anniversary trip of one year that was later transformed into a 3-year Anniversary excursion (... covid), Charlie and I were able to soak in sunshine on the small island in the Caribbean. It was a full of culinary, cultural as well as picturesque experiences, Our trip was filled with memories that we'll always cherish. After learning so much about the culture and amenities of this tiny island, I thought I would create a blog that touches on everything we learned when we traveled around Saint Martin.

There are several places to discover and learn more about this place. So, if you’re visiting and taking flights from Orlando to Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, then take a stroll of the entire city and find out what’s hidden in those tiny bustling streets. Also, book your tickets with Lowest Flight Fare to avail impressive deals.

ABOUT SAINT MARTIN / SINT MAARTEN

Saint Martin is a beautiful tropical paradise that blends many cultures on one island. The northern portion that is an official French region (Saint Martin) and the southern part is a state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Sint Maarten) This Caribbean jewel has two capital cities (Marigot in both the French portion and Philipsburg on the side of the Dutch) and a variety of kinds of cultures all grouped into one. The island is known by the name of "Europe of the Caribbean", St. Martin has an interior of mountains that connects to 37 beaches along the perimeter. With breathtaking blue waters and elevations that allow you to enjoy the view, St. Martin is the perfect blend of breathtaking scenery, delicious cuisine and fun cultural excursions which we are so happy we had the opportunity to visit. Although the island is still showing signs of the devastation and slow recovery after Hurricane Irma, which struck the island last year, the residents are very welcoming. St. Martin are very welcoming and eager to bring tourists to take in the many things the island offers.

What Language Is Spoken in Saint Martin?

Even though French is officially spoken by St. Martin and Dutch is the official language of Sint Maarten, English, Spanish and Creole are also widely spoken on the island. Since we spent the majority of times on the French part of the island, we mostly experienced French or an French Creole combination, being spoken by the locals as well as other tourists. Since we operated in English, but we could enjoy an array of languages across the island, and different languages never became an issue for us.

French Side VS. Dutch Side

Although there are two nations that reside on St. Martin, both tourists and residents can travel across the island without restriction and the signs marking each of the sides are in a way similar to crossing into a different state. Like many states, each area of the island has things to do that draw people in However, as the entire island can be accessed within less than two hours, you can certainly explore every side when you stay for any amount of duration.

Dutch Side

There is no better place to visit than the Dutch Sint Maarten features not just an airport, the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) as well as a cruise terminal for well-known cruise tours such as Maho Beach and the Flying Dutchman (the steepest zipping line). As a result, they draw the largest people, boast a lively nightlife scene, and have an atmosphere of beach parties.

French Side

The French part in St. Martin provides a more tranquil experience on the island and offers delicious cuisine options on Grand Case, hiking or ziplining courses in Loterie Farm and island excursions to Pinel Island. In our search of an easy, slow-paced vacation that would allow us to immerse ourselves in the cultural aspects and traditions, we spent most part of the time in the French side, which I believe provides us with an incredible experience of the life as well as the beauty and excitement that is St. Martin and certainly is the area I'd like to visit for a second time.

The appeal of St. Martin is that there's something for all, no matter what environment they are attracted to. Also, all sides are able to accept US dollars (with several places that accept cash) and provide a variety of exchange rates to Euro depending on the place you are shopping. Many restaurants and our hotel accept Visa and Mastercard, however since Amex isn't well-known, so we generally used Visa as well as cash. However, just like the situation in regard to language and the currency situation, we didn't find that the currency became an obstacle for us, and it's easy to use on both sides of the islands.

How Safe Is Saint Martin?

Since St. Martin is known as "The Friendly Island", Charlie and I have only received warm and friendly treatment from tourists and locals alike. But, that being said, when you are on the road it is important to be vigilant be aware of your possessions and be conscious of the surroundings. Our hotel was in the walking distance of Grand Case, we frequently went for a walk to dinner in the evenings. And even though the sun would set at around 6 pm, and it was dark on our return walk, a variety of security officers or police were on all the street to guarantee security. Because we didn't spend many evenings at night on our Dutch side, I am unable to be a direct representative for the Dutch side of the island. However, in general, we felt at ease throughout our visit.

WHERE TO STAY

In the course of our research, Charlie and I researched different Airbnb's, hotels as well as resorts in St. Martin, we decided to stay at The Hotel L'Esplanade. In contrast to other Caribbean island, St. Martin does not have many resorts that offer all-inclusive. Because they have an amazing culinary scene, you'll definitely desire to taste the diverse local dishes. The final verdict is that the hotel L'Esplanade was a complete delight. Beautiful grounds, gorgeous views, breathtaking Mediterranean architecture along with great service. L'Esplanade is the perfect base for exploring the island. The hotel is situated on the top of a hill. The hotel is situated with a panoramic view from Grand Case and provides easy access to the main road in order to gain access to eateries and shops. It is important to note that the vast majority of the property is reached via massive stairs, which means you need to be prepared to walk to move around the hotel! We thoroughly enjoyed this facility, however I would like to clarify that you should be prepared in the event that you bring the stroller of your infant or have a mobility issue. They also have an amazing pool that is accessible throughout the day, and yoga classes for free and the spa that is on site. Even though the Hotel L'Esplanade doesn't have a beachfront location, the hotel's sister, Le Petit, is situated at Grand Case beach, and they have umbrellas, chairs, and towels anytime.

Take some time to explore the splendid attractions of this place, and make your trip worthwhile. While booking your cheap flights to Managua, don’t just fool around restaurants and tall buildings. Instead, take a good note of what’s under the table.