Travel: Get two islands for the price of one when visiting Sint Maarten/Saint Martin – Florida Today

Luxury and nature await on St. Maarten

Maria Sonnenberg| For FLORIDA TODAY

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It is hard to resist the charms of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin, a little gem of an island that welcomes visitors with hotels that will knock your socks off, if not your swimsuit.

Where else can you visit two distinct but equally beguiling countries in the span of an hour? The smallest land mass with two countries, St. Maarten offers a delightful mlange of cultures and cuisine.

Now is a perfect time to visit, before the cruise ships ramp back up and the crowds descend on picture-postcard Philipsburg and Marigot, the town centers on the Dutch and French sides respectively.

Lush mountains, 37 idyllic beaches, European culture, Caribbean flair, duty-free shopping and epicurean experiences how can you not love the "Friendly Island"?

Four years ago, Hurricane Irma damaged 90 percent of the islands buildings, leveling a third of them, but resilient St. Maarten emerged phoenix-like with even posher accommodations for its guests. A case in point is the luxurious and unique Morgan Resort & Spa. It's located within walking distance of the islands legendary Maho Beach, where part of the experience is watching the jets from around the world glide onto the runaway at Princess Juliana Airport at heights so low it seems you can touch these metal birds.

The Morgan, unveiled just this past June, shimmers in white and blue, a resort seemingly transported from the shores of Santorini. The luxury boutique hotel with 124 ultra-contemporary guestrooms and suites encircles what at first looks like the ultimate beach, complete with swaying palms, gently undulating shoreline and crystal aquamarine waters.

Wait, its not a beach at all, but rather a double-infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean Sea. It mimics all the good of the real thing, minus the sand and the sharks.

With a swim-up bar with blackjack table and a waterfall, slide and grotto cave, it is tempting not to venture beyond, particularly since overlooking the pool is a set of stylishly appointed cabanas with killer views of activity at Maho Beach, plus the intimate Salt Restaurant, helmed by executive chef David Seeman and Top Chef competitor Ron Duprat, expert on Afro-Caribbean cuisine.

Enjoy bold flavors such as the Caribbean paella for dinner and the Caribbean Benedict with lobster for breakfast. Rum flights featuring locally crafted rums complement the dining experience.

Should you decide to venture out of the Morgan enclave, a casino awaits a few steps away from the resort's gated entrance. Mullet Bay, rich with snorkeling possibilities, is a 20-minute walk, mostly along the shore.

A stay on the island should include a tour of island highlights. Swing by charming Oyster Pond with a picturesque marina on the French side of the island. Feed foliage to the resident iguanas. Follow Coralita Road along the coast to the lookout where St. Barth and Tintamarre Islands loom nearby.

Naturists will definitely stop at clothing-optional Orient Beach, a must-do destination for world-trotting nudists.

On the way to Marigot, swing by little Grand Case, small in size but huge in flavor as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean. In Marigot, known for its seaside open-air market, French cafes beckon with croissants and caf au lait.

Loop back to Philipsburg, where along Front Street you will find pastel-colored buildings, a quirky courthouse and an abundance of jewelry stores, souvenir shops and luxury brand clothing stores.

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The Boardwalk, usually a beehive of tourists, is still empty as it awaits the return of the cruise ships. The wide promenade by the sea offers a crescent beach, views of yachts, a plethora of shops and restaurants, plus bars such as the eclectic Blue Bitch, known as the place to cool down while youre in heat.

More adventure awaits the next day. Sailing catamarans such as Spellbound take visitors to Divi Bay, where tropical fish dart around a sunken sub, helicopter and cannon. Ginger, the canine first mate of Spellbound and a pooch known to climb a rope ladder, will welcome you aboard.

Rhino Safari Excursions go for the adrenaline with self-piloted two-person Rhino Rider watercraft. The guided tour offers views of multi-million-dollar villas and mega yachts as it wends its way to Marigot before heading to secluded beaches and Grand Case.

At Creole Rock on the French side, visitors can snorkel amidst the wild reef.

For a mountain experience, Rockland Estate offer the Souliga Sky Explorer, a chair lift that leisurely ascends 2,997 feet to the top of St. Maartens highest peak at 1,125 feet. Here you can witness spectacular 360-degree views of Saba, St. Barth, St. Eustatius, Anguilla, and, of course, St. Maarten.

Return via the Sky Explorer or go for the rush of the Flying Dutchman, the worlds steepest and fastest zip line.

2020 was an extremely challenging year for all the Caribbean islands, but the sun is shining again in St. Maarten as tourists are lured by the water and the food and new hotels like The Morgan.

We welcome guests as they enjoy a vacation like no other, said Stewart Weiner, COO of Morgan.

St-maarten.com

Themorganresort.com

Rainforestadventure.com

Rhinotours.com

Stmaartencharters.com

Sonnenberg is a Melbourne-based travel and lifestyles writer.

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Travel: Get two islands for the price of one when visiting Sint Maarten/Saint Martin - Florida Today