First of all, the guests of St. Maarten are offered a stunning choice of active entertainment: windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking, diving, boat and sailboat rides, jungle safaris, fishing, horseback riding, tennis, golf, picnics in nature or just relaxing on the beach.
Very diverse and “party” life of the island, as closer to the night here start their life night clubs and bars, and on the Dutch territory and casinos. And local clubs are so diverse that here you can even hear such styles as merengue, jazz and zouk, well as in the best restaurants sound classical compositions of Frank Sinatra and other famous performers of all times and peoples.
The snow-white beaches of the island deserve a special mention. Among them Great Bay, Long Bay, Anse Marcel, Cupecoy, Maho Beach, Simpson Bay and many others are the most popular. In total, there are about 40 beaches on the island, and many of them are full of bars, restaurants and souvenir stores. In addition to the beaches on the island there are large resort areas with all the accompanying great vacation infrastructure. On the French territory you can find beaches for nudists, among which the most famous is considered Orient Bay.
Another plus of vacationing on St. Maarten is duty-free shopping in both capitals of the island, which are just dotted with a variety of stores and boutiques. Finally, it is recommended to take part in one of the local festivities, such as the Carnival in February.
Shopping
St. Maarten is recognized as one of the most popular shopping destinations in the region. The fact is that both parts of the island are Duty Free zones. Thus, there are more than 500 Duty Free stores that offer a huge selection of electronics, watches, jewelry, crystal, French perfumes, fashionable clothes, Havana cigars and the best vintage wines.
Phillipsburg’s premier shopping destination is Front Street, which is home to a myriad of stores and stores that beckon with their brightly colored windows. There are also fashion boutiques with clothes from the world’s leading brands. And on Sundays there is a market in Philipsburg, where traders offer interesting handicrafts of folk artisans.
The French city of Marigot also abounds with many interesting stores, fashion boutiques and luxury jewelry salons offering watches and jewelry of the most prestigious brands. In addition, Marigot has a huge market where you can buy the most unusual tropical fruits, fresh seafood and aromatic spices. It also sells original souvenirs made by local artisans.
Safety
In general, St. Maarten is characterized by a fairly low crime rate, but pickpocketing does occur.
For this reason, it is important to follow all generally accepted safety rules, especially at the beach, airport and public places. Car thefts are also common on the island.
No special immunizations are required for travel to St. Maarten. Vaccination against polio, typhoid and hepatitis is recommended, although there are no natural outbreaks of these diseases.
City tap water is treated and safe to drink, but bottled water is recommended for the first few days of your stay.