Last spring on an Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Valor, I had the pleasure of visiting the lovely tropical island of St. Maarten. One of the most fascinating things about the island is that it is actually two countries. The Dutch side of the island is called St. Maarten and the French side St. Martin. Our tour guide said he lives on the Dutch side and his girlfriend on the French, so every time he calls it’s an international call and they talk several times a day… now that’s love!
Currency is another difference: the Dutch Side uses the Antille Guilder and the French side uses the Euro. Luckily, we were also able to use US Dollars to buy our ice cream cones and US dollars are also accepted at the colorful open air markets where you’ll find an array of local crafts, clothing and food. Shopping is one of the biggest draws for St. Maarten/St. Martin and with duty free shops it makes sense to make jewelry purchases on the island. The most amazing diamonds, tanzanite, emeralds, and pearls are on display in jewelry stores throughout the area and you can practice your bargaining skills here.
Of course, St. Maarten/St. Martin has many, many beaches. Over 37, in fact. What a wonderful destination for a beach wedding, or renewing your vows. The best part is that you can give your guests a little European flavor and a lot of the Caribbean! And while planning a wedding so far away can be difficult, many of the hotels have wedding departments that offer advice on everything from the license to flowers to catering and music, and of course, a beautiful venue. I have included several pictures of locations for a fabulous destination wedding!
Families love St. Maarten/St. Martin, too. Wouldn’t your children be fascinated by a Butterfly Farm? You can walk through hundreds of butterflies fluttering around you and since each stage of the butterfly’s life is on display, it will be a learning experience! Another great travel adventure is the scenic hike to Fort Amsterdam, which is several hundred years old and older kids will love spending the day on a racing yacht or parasailing!
If St. Maarten/St. Martin sounds like the perfect destination for your wedding, honeymoon, or family vacation….please contact me. sandi@totemtravel.com