Vacations To St Maarten Your Best Bet For Beaches
St. Maarten (or St. Martin) is one of the most beautiful getaways in the Caribbean, featuring the classic beach scene: palm trees, clear sea, and deep blue skies. This wonderful holiday destination adds to the Caribbean geography with a distinctively European flair. For Americans, Puerto Rico is a desirable stop en route (only a short plane ride away, about 150 miles). The two main languages spoken on the island are Dutch and French, though English is widely spoken across the island.
Unlike many other island getaways, St. Maarten offers something for everyone. For outdoor enthusiasts, there is a wide variety of activities, including para-sailing, skydiving, hiking, scuba diving, horse trails, boat courses and jet ski rentals. There are also several dive shops that offer certification courses... I recommend The Scuba Shop, which offers complimentary dive computers for trips, plus classes ranging from novice to Dive Master (if you decide to stay in paradise and get a job!)
For indoor enthusiasts, the Dutch side of the island offers classic European gambling casinos. Check out the Casino Royale, home to the World Poker Showdown, and take in a slick Las Vegas style show. I have recommended to clients tired of Las Vegas that they visit St. Maarten, which has a little less sin and a lot more sun (on a beach that is...).
Thanks to its tropical weather, there is no bad time to visit St. Maarten. Temperatures remain around 80 degrees Fahrenheit year round, with a cool breeze. In order to determine the best time to purchase your flight, check out the website http://www.farecast.com. It provides recommendations on whether to purchase tickets today, or wait for a seasonal dip in fares, along with a percentage of certainty. Their information is gathered from historical data, so the classic Wall Street line "past performance does not predict future returns" certainly applies.
St. Maarten is a tourist destination, and one that is geared towards the more affluent clientele. If you are looking for ten dollar bungalows along the sea, you're better off visiting Thailand.
