Best Caribbean vacation #3 is St. Maarten/St.Martin

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Trip Advisor has ranked St. Maarten/St. Martin as the 3rd best Carribean vacation destination.  I must say that I am not that familiar with St.Maarten/St. Martin as it isn't one of the more well known Caribbean vacation destinations, but as you'll see it holds its own against any other.

Interestingly St. Maarten/St. Martin is one island divided in half.  Saint Martin is on the Northern half and is French.  Sint Maarten is on the Southern half and is Dutch.  The islands roughly 75,000 residents are equally divided between the French and Dutch sides of the island.  The island is located just South of Anguilla and Northeast of St. Barts.  The geography is rather hilly like the nearby Virgin Islands.

Though governed by the French and Dutch english is spoken, so no worries about a language barrier.  The Dutch side is known more for it's nightlife, exotic drinks, beaches and casinos.  The French side is known more for their nude and topless beaches, shopping and fashion.  Just sounds more French doesn't it?  I think the Dutch side sounds like more fun.  The island also has a reputation for their excellent gourmet restaurants.

St. Maarten/St. Martin lies in the Northern part of the leeward islands known as the Lesser Antilles, also it's right smack in the middle of the Intertropical Convergence Zone.  Which means they regularly get hammered with tropical storms and hurricanes, something to consider if planning a late summer or fall Caribbean vacation.  Border crossing isn't an issue, crossing between the French and Dutch sides is generally a formality.

photo by Salicia	via PhotoRee

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One fascinating scene is a Maho Beach.  The end of the Princess Juliana International Airport runway begins just a few yards from the beach, providing some dramatic scenes as the sunbathers watch jets pass 50 feet over their heads.  If beachgoers are in the wrong spot the jet blast will knock them down!




Looks like St. Maarten/ St. Martin rightly deserves to be ranked the 3rd best Caribbean vacation destination, and some of the best deals there can be found on Book It,

you can also Find Last Minute Deals at hotels.com!

I have ranked the all inclusive resorts in floridas on St. Martin/St. Maarten here.