Saint-Martin (French
part)
Marigot, the main town in Saint-Martin, is
located on the north shore of the island. The majority of boutiques and restaurants area
located downtown, and visitors are sure to be charmed by the peaceful atmosphere reigning
throughout. A stroll through the streets of downtown will lead you to the edge of the bay,
where you can visit the public market.
Heading west
from Marigot, you'll arrive at the Terres Basses. Several tourist villages have been
constructed on these lowlands, where one shore gives onto the Caribbean Sea and the other
overlooks the Simson Bay Lagoon. One of these villages is located at Baie Nettlé,
alongside some stunning beaches. Some of the most beautiful hotel complexes on the French
side of the island are found here.
Grand Case is
without a doubt the most picturesque village on the island. There are no luxurious
mansions, just a charming, typically Caribbean village whose beauty lies in its simplicity
and its pretty colours. Extending along the shore, Grand Case consists of a series of
small, vibrant Creole houses. Visitors come to relax on the beautiful crescent of fine
sand and contemplate the moored boats bobbing ever so gently in the calm waters. Don't
forget the other reason people come to Grand Case: the excellent
restaurants.
If there's an image you'll always
cherish, it's bound to be that of Orient Bay: a long ribbon of fine sand, stretching out
as far as the eye can see, bordered by the shimmering waves of the Atlantic Ocean. This
beach, unquestionably the loveliest on the island, is perpetually crowded with visitors
who come here to enjoy water sports or the pleasures of a delightfully refreshing swim, or
simply to have their skin caressed by the sun's warm rays.
Sint Maarten (Dutch part)
From
morning to night, bustling Philipsburg is overrun by fervent crowds of visitors
disembarking from cruise ships anchored in the bay or arriving from the nearby tourist
villages. They all come to shop in the city's boutiques, which offer an incredible variety
of goods. Clustered mostly along Frontstreet, the boutiques are lined up one after the
other and offer plenty of bargains to keep the shoppers coming.
West of Philipsburg is Mullet Bay. A town consisting of a string of
hotels, restaurants, casinos and boutiques, it is the main centre in this part of the
island. Guests of the surrounding hotels converge here to take advantage of the services
and enjoy the holiday atmosphere and long sandy beaches (Maho Beach, Mullet Bay and
Cupecoy Beach).