St. Maarten island is the jewel of the Caribbean – The News Star

Dianne Newcomer| Monroe News-Star

"Do you ever feel like we have been watching the same show over and over again for a couple of years now? I think it is time to change the channel!" I announced to my bewildered husband, a man who has the uncanny ability to watch "Everyone Loves Raymond" and "King of Queens" over and over again and even laugh hysterically at the same jokes each time.

Thinking perhaps my analogy would better help him understand the repetitiveness-- the grayness-- I was feeling on a chilly day last week, I continued, "Check out this email I just received from Antigua's Elite Island Resorts.They are offering free airfare on Frontier Airlines if we stay 7 nights at any of their five all- inclusive resorts in Antigua. Remember how much we liked that little island and those great beaches? A salty destination like this would most definitely spice up these gray days, and, like the email suggests, doesn't it sound nice to be swept away, surprised and spoiled?"

Unfortunately, my excitement waned as my epic island escape with free airfare on Frontier Airlines only worked if I flew to Antigua from Orlando and stayed a week. Still, all was not lost. While doing my research, I found a great travel deal to the beautiful Caribbean island of St. Maarten. Honestly, if Ihad to pick only one island to best represent the vastly diverse travel experiences found in all of the Caribbean, it would be St. Martin/St. Maarten where two nationalities, the French and the Dutch, co-exist beautifully to create the most unique cultural experience the Caribbean has to offer.

It is said Columbus set foot on the island in 1493 and named the island in honor of Bishop St. Martin of Tours, but,when he learned its 37 square miles of land was shared with the cannibalistic Caribe tribe, he left very quickly. Spain lost out. The island was up for grabs, so, in the 1600's, both Dutch and French settlers arrived. Each claimed the land for their respective country, but diplomatic ownership became a big issue.

Things got confusing. To resolve the question of territorial boundaries-- who got where, how much, and what-- the two countries agreed to race for the land. Unlike the Oklahoma land rush, this was a foot race. From the agreed starting point, the Frenchman ran/walked the fartherest, and France was awarded the most land. Yet, it seems the Dutchman was smarter: he raced to the harbor area, which was then, as it is now, the most valuable real estate on the island.

Those race boundaries remain today as two uniquely different self- governing countries govern their section of the island. The people of St. Maarten are Dutch nationals; they carry a Dutch passport. On St. Martin, a French passport is used. St. Martin uses the euro while St. Maarten has its own currency, but, lucky for us, they both accept the US$! English works well on both sides of the island, but this duality of systems is also strange. For example, a phone call made from the Dutch side to the French side--less than 36 miles away-- is considered an international call!

Having the chance to experience two-distinct-European cultures with a Caribbean twist contriubutes to the island's popularity. Most American tourists possibly feel more comfortable on the Dutch side where prices are lower, the big hotels have casinos, and there is more nightlife, which are all reasons why cruise ships regularly drop into the town of Phillipsburg for a busy day of shopping, sightseeing, and beach fun. The contrast between a busy, bustling St. Maarten and the quiet countryside and harbor towns of the French St. Martin is decidedly noticeable.

I think two very different vibes on the same island, where, within only a few minutes, everything can be changed is really quite delightful though! Several years ago, as a travel agent at Monroe Travel Service, I might have suggested clients stay on the Dutch side but eat on the French. Yet, today, everything is different. We are a more "foodie" society, plus, thanks to a hurricane in 2017, everything has changed. Irma was the category 5 storm that refused to leave. She hovered over the island for about 8 hours and about 90% of the island's buildings were damaged wtih over 1/3 completely destroyed.

The road to recovery was long and hard for the islanders, but the result was a nice facelift, especially for tourism. On the Dutch side, Divi Littl Bay, Simpson Bay Resort and Oyster Bay Beach recovered beautifully, and, on the French side, the Belmond La Samanna is as stunning as ever. For Secret Resort fans, it took $20 million to turn the Riu Palace St. Martin into a premier property of this deluxe brand.

Whereas the resorts may look differently, it is very doubtful their 37 beaches, where you can just plop down in a lounge chair, enjoy the blue of a Carribean view, and bare it all (or not), could be any better. Divers also tell me the marine life is flourishing well on Saba, a nearby island easily accessible by a high speed ferry from Simpson Bay, and, with pandemic restrictions easing, day trips to the famous beaches of Anguilla or to the glitzy shops and restaurants of St. Barts will soon be possible again.

Honestly, about the only problem about a vacation to St. Maarten is getting there. Leaving from the Jackson Airport is a necessity, but, then again, if I think about that extraordinarily decadent lemon dessert Rob and I enjoyed at a little French restaurant named Oceans 82 on the French side, I would drive to New Orleans or Dallas to get there. It doesn't even matter which side of the island we stay on. There is no bad choice, and I am just so very ready to change the channel and travel again.

Dianne Newcomer is a travel agent at Monroe Travel Service.There For your next vacation or cruise, please call 318 323 3465 or email INFO@MONROETRAVEL.com. Our service is free and our advice is priceless.

Read the original:

St. Maarten island is the jewel of the Caribbean - The News Star