Summer Vacation in the Caribbean on a Budget

St. Maarten is one of the most beautiful islands in the entire caribbean. The island is half Dutch and half French making it one of the most unique islands you will ever visit. The main task is to find a good deal on airfare. You must search online frequently because prices fluctuate often. I have saved hundreds of dollars by checking on line at various times of the day, including the middle of the night. Jet Blue and Continental Airlines usually offer the best fares to St. Maarten, but it is a good idea to check other airlines as well.

"Back in the day," my sister and I were on vacation in the caribbean and arrived on the day of a pre-hurricane. Luckily, we had not paid for our hotel, so we went to a local travel agent and flew to St. Maarten where we spent five glorious days. When we flew back to the original island we discovered that it had not stopped raining for the entire lengthof our vacation. Boy, did we make the right decision. And so you can see, why St. Maarten holds a special place in my heart.

The Sonesta Moha Beach Resort and Casino, located on the Dutch side, is a distination within a destination. This resort has everything and anything you could want. It is an oceanfront property with rooms starting at $135. Prices are reduced if you are a member of Triple A. In addition a 25% discount per nite is offered if you stay 2-5 nights, and 35% discount if you stay 5-7 nights. I suggest spending 4-5 nights in St. Maarten because by spending less than a week for your trip, you will save money on hotel, food, and everything else. My family and I have gone on several trips ranging from 3-5 nights and they have all been great. This is the largest resort on the island and has many amenities. From beach, to pool, to casino, to spa, to tennis, to clubs, to restaurants, and even shopping malls. You could spend your entire vacation here, without ever leaving the resort. If you enjoy your days on the beach, you will save money from doing other things. At night, there are street shows and performers which are free. I do recommend hopping a "jitney", a small van, used by the locals, to tour the island. The jitneys have signs on them telling where they are headed. You can hop on for a nominal fee, ($1-$4) and listen to native zouk or soca music. This will save money on a taxi or rental car.

You should visit the French side one day because the beaches are exquisite and very european. Please note, that there are some naturist or nude beaches on the island, the main one being, Orient beach. The weather is always fantastic on this island.

Maintaining a food budget is not difficult in St.Maarten because street and beach vendors, "Lolo's" are extremely popular and well maintained. You can buy creole BBQ chicken or ribs with rice and a glass of wine for $6.
If you want a whole grilled lobster you would pay between $15 and $19. The food served is truly delicious and will fit any budget. Of course, if you choose to have a light breakfast and snack for lunch, you may decide to try a nice restaurant for dinner since you have saved money during the day. There are just so many food choices that you will surely be able to suit your budget.

Enjoy your St. Maarten vacation, for I know you won't regret visiting this unique island. Start searching for discounted airfare and the rest is easy. Please let me know, how much you enjoy yourself on this glorious island.

www.Sonesta.com/MahoBeach
www.sint-maarten.net
www.caribbean-on-line.com
www.TripAdvisor.com
www.JetBlue.com
www.continental.com
www.CheapOair.com