St. Maarten

With hundreds of duty-free shops, an eclectic array of restaurants, casinos and loads of water sports, St. Maarten is for action-oriented vacationers.

With its blend of warm hospitality and European style, St. Maarten is one of the Caribbean’s more attention-grabbing spots. The destination is part of an island with a split personality, thanks to an international border between its two sides: Dutch St. Maarten to the south, French St. Martin to the north.

Dutch St. Maarten is smaller than the French side, covering 16 square miles with an abundance of rolling hills. Dutch is the official language, but you’ll hear English everywhere, with African and French influences tossed in.

Sailing is a big part of St. Maarten’s culture. Many visitors sign up to experience the thrill of racing in St. Maarten’s daily 12-Metre Challenge, a three-hour staged version of the America’s Cup race, in which participants race yachts. Sailors of every skill level can serve as a member of the crew aboard the boats.