Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
St. Martin -
Sint Maarten
F
ine French food. Topless French beaches. Dutch architec-
ture. Casinos that ring with baccarat and roulette.
This is St. Martin, the island that calls itself “a little bit Euro-
pean and a lot Caribbean.” Located 150 miles southeast of
Puerto Rico, this 37-square-mile island is comprised of
Dutch
Sint Maarten
and
French St. Martin,
and is the smallest
land mass on the globe shared by two nations.
Passing between the French and Dutch sides is the simplest
border crossing you'll ever make. No passports. No customs. No
immigration. Just a simple sign marking the demarcation be-
tween two nations.
Although the border is almost superficial, there are distinctions
between the two countries. Mention “St. Martin” and many visi-
tors will immediately think of the topless bathing that's de ri-
gueur on the Gallic beaches. And on one 1½-mile stretch,
au
naturel
is the order of the day.
Orient Beach
or Baie Orientale
is the home of
Club Orient,
a naturist resort. The public beach
is an equal mixture of nudists and cruise ship gawkers, sprin-
kled with folks who just want to enjoy gentle surf and powdery
sand the color of toasted coconut.
The most cosmopolitan area of the island is found on its Dutch
acres. Most visitors arrive in Simpson Bay's
Princess Juliana
International Airport.
Don't let the modest size of the termi-
nal fool you. This is one of the Caribbean's busiest airports, with
direct service from New York, Newark, Miami, Baltimore, and
San Juan, not to mention Paris and Amsterdam. Regional air
service to many small islands also goes through this hub.
Simpson Bay,
on the Dutch side, hops with vacationers who
come to enjoy pristine beaches. The island's best snorkeling is
at
Mullet Bay.
In nearby
Philipsburg,
it's shopping that
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