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Special
Note - While we maintain two seperate travel
guides for St. Martin and St. Maarten, you
will find many references including the entire
island.
 The smallest island
in the world ever to have been partitioned
between two different nations, St. Martin/St.
Maarten has been shared by the French and
the Dutch in a spirit of neighborly cooperation
and mutual friendship for almost 350 years.
Although less developed than the Dutch side
of the island, St. Martin (pop. 36,000) has
seen a great deal of building in the past
several years. Some of the best resorts on
the island are found on the French side, as
well as a strong Mediterranean ambience, with
open markets and outdoor cafes. French is
the official language, though people dealing
with tourists usually know some English. Marigot,
the capital on this side of the island, offers
superb shopping opportunities, watersports
and great cafes.
 The border is almost
imperceptible. and people cross back and forth
without ever realizing they are entering a
new country. The only marker is a monument
between Union Road and Bellevue, testifying
to centuries of peaceful cohabitation and
the treaty that made the arrangement possible.
History
Close to 500 years ago, an Italian sea captain
financed by Spanish royalty went looking for
new lands to conquer, if not to conquer, at
least to claim. He found a vast amount of
unexpected real estate, as history has so
often recited, and it was he who named this
island St.Martin. Whether Christopher Columbus
landed here, anchored here of merely sailed
past, he literally put this 37 square miles
of mountain top on the map.
Sint Maarten (Dutch spelling) or Saint Martin
(French, Spanish, Italian, English spelling)
was named for St.Martin of Tours on whose
feast day, November 11, 1493, Columbus first
saw these white sand shores. The island name
is generally pronounced in the English manner,
simply St.Martin.
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St.
Martin At A Glance
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Language:
Officially, French is the language of St. Martin and Dutch
in St. Maarten, but almost everyone speaks English, and
many speak Spanish as well. French Creole and Papiamento,
a Creole language of the Netherlands Antilles, is spoken
here locally, especially in the southern parts of the
island.
Government:
Sub-prefecture of Guadeloupe (an overseas départment
of France)
Capital:
Marigot
Climate:
St Martin is warm and humid, but tradewinds help temper
the humidity, especially from January to April. Temperatures
in the first half of the year usually hang around a balmy
28°C (83°F). It is driest between February and
April, with most rain falling between August and November.
The hurricane season for the region is June to November,
with most activity occuring in August and September.
Time Zone:
GMT/UTC -4
Electricity:
Electrical appliances run at 220 volts (50 Hz), following
the European standard, in St. Martin, and at 110 volts
(60 Hz), after the American standard, in St. Maarten.
Visitors to the island should bring the appropriate converters,
depending on where they plan on staying.
Currency:
Official currencies are the French Franc and Euro on the
french side. Prices are commonly posted in US Dollars
which ave accepted everywhere, as are most major credit
cards Most banks are equipped with ATM machines.
Driving:
Traffic is on the right, international signs. The island's
roads are not designed for speed.
Rentals:
Rental agencies are located at both airports and at the
major hotels. Motorcycles and mopeds are also available
for hire.
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