Destination Guide: Travel to St. Martin

The island of St. Martin is a small piece of land with a big reputation. At only 37 square miles, it is just about half the size of Washington, D.C. You will not find any capitol buildings or presidential monuments on this gem of an island, though. Here, the fame is built upon its reputation for having some of the best restaurants and hotels in the entire Caribbean.

When you visit St. Martin, one thing is glaringly obvious. You will experience a great deal of European culture from the minute you step onto the land. Specifically, the country is divided into two distinct cultural parts. St. Maarten is the Dutch part and is a little bit smaller than St. Martin, which is a French holding. Legend around here has it that a Dutchman drunk on gin walked around the island with a wine-drinking Frenchman and the two decided to see how much territory they could claim. The Frenchman walked further, gaining more territory, but it is said that the clever Dutchman secured the more valuable property.

Even though the island is held by two different countries, it is extremely peaceful. Unlike many of the Caribbean islands, there is no political or cultural strife on St. Martin. They only want to have a good time, and it shows. The Dutch side of the island is now booming with commerce. There, you will enjoy some of the world's finest shopping. Making it even better, the shopping is tax-free. As you can imagine, this is a major draw for tourists all over the world. Even though the island has almost forty different white sand beaches that are playground for young socialites, much of the culture has been lost to the bulldozer. Still, it remains one of the best places to visit if you want to have a great time.

While the Dutch side of the island is a lot like the Caribbean with a little touch of Las Vegas flair, its French counterpart is a little bit laid back. You can immediately see that this side of the island has changed a great deal over the past few years. They are in the midst of a renovation of sorts, with many new hotels going up in the process. Because of this, resort prices have gone done quite a bit and the island is becoming more accessible for folks who normally could not have afforded it. The major draw of the French side of St. Martin is the fact that just about everything in the air is French. From the police officers to the buildings to the food. Even the people appear to be touched with a French hand. If you wish to experience "France in the Tropics", then this is your place.

St. Martin is a story of two halves. It is popular because it can offer a little something to everyone. Whether you enjoy the hustle and bustle of St. Maarten or the quiet comfort of the French St. Martin, you will have a great time in St. Martin.