More About Saint-Barth - St Maarten

Glamorous St Barthelemy or St Barts - St Barth is a French speaking Island located in the northeastern Caribbean and close to the dual island of St Maarten / St Martin. This beautiful island is renowned for its mixture of French chic and relaxed island charm set in a magnificent Caribbean scenery. There are no huge resorts on this gem of the Caribbean but instead you will find serene beaches. boutique hotels and private villas, making this sun-soaked island a natural magnet for movie stars and the jet set Leased to Sweden in 1785 for 93 years, while St. Barts is predominantly French there are a few lingering reminders of its Swedish past especially the name and building style of the capital of Gustavia, a popular cruising port named after a Swedish king. Gustavia exudes chic with shops, art galleries and intimate restaurants lining the streets, many of which daily fly in delicacies from all over the world.

Each year St Barts hosts many internationally recognized social and sporting events including the St Barts Tennis Open, the New Years Eve party and fireworks on Nikki beach or the St Barts Bucket race for the very grandest of ocean racing yachts.

A day trip to St Barts really offers so much more in one small island, from the capital, Gustavia” either Nikki beach or Shell beach can be reached in minutes, while the spectacular Gouverneur and Lorient beaches are only a short journey by taxi or hire car. Alternatively take a leisurely stroll around the marinas, restaurants and world class shopping outlets of Gustavia. The local currency is the Euro but most establishments will accept U.S. Dollars and while the language is French, many people are also fluent in English.

St Maarten
Unique Sint Maarten or St Martin” is renowned the world over for being a crossroads of the Caribbean, an island split between the Dutch and the French and blending a glorious mix of distinct but complimentary cultures.

This jewel of the Caribbean, located in the northeastern Caribbean and close to both the glamourous island of St Barts and with the Anguilla with its world class beaches.

This beautiful island is famous for its mixture of French cuisine, vibrant Dutch nightlife, duty free shopping and relaxed island charm. Set in a magnificent Caribbean scenery with gorgeous beaches and views over neighboring islands there is something for everybody on this gem of the Caribbean. You will find world class beaches at Bay Oriente, spectacular views from Pic Paradis, resort hotels in Maho and boutique villas at Anse Marcel and endless duty free shopping opportunities in Philipsburg. making this sun-soaked island a natural magnet for visitors from all five continents.

The island as we know it today was finally established in 1648 with the signing of the treaty of Concordia by the French and the Dutch which lead to the birth of St Maarten - St Martin’s unique shared culture, While there are historic links to the past at Fort Amsterdam and Fort Louis, the island has developed into a hub of the Caribbean community offering a popular cruising destination, duty free shopping, art galleries and intimate restaurants, exciting nightlife and beach front restaurants to die for.

Each year St Maarten hosts the internationally recognized Heineken sailing regatta, an entire week of world class sailing and festivals where you can see artists ranging from UB40 the Commodores, The Jacksons, Shaggy and even Wyclef Jean.

A day trip to St Maarten & St Martin is really a trip to two destinations on one small island, from the capitals Philipsburg and Marigot either Orient beach or Kimsha beach can be reached in a few minutes, while the Pic Paradise, Bai Rouge and Long Beach are only a short journey by taxi or hire car. Alternatively take a leisurely stroll around the marinas, restaurants and world class shopping outlets of Simpson Bay, Marigot and Philipsburg.

The local currencies are the Euro and Antillean Guilder although the U.S. Dollar is universally accepted and while the languages are French and Dutch, English is the everyday language on both sides of the island.