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Hotel Listings




Phone: 54-542-3366
Fax: 54-542-6017
Toll Free:

Belair Beach-All Suite Hotel
Welgelegen Rd PO Box 940
reservations@belairbeach.com  http://www.belairbeach.com
72 Guest Rooms • Restaurant[s]
Location: Little Bay Beach
Nearby Points of Interest: Fort Amsterdam (Monument) - .5 mi






Phone: -542-2333
Fax: -24336
Toll Free: 800-367-3484

Divi Little Bay Beach Resort
Little Bay Rd PO Box 961
reserve@diviresorts.com  http://www.diviresorts.com/DiviLittleBay
225 Guest Rooms • 1 Meeting Room • Restaurant[s]
Location: On beach, 12 mi from airport
Nearby Points of Interest:






Phone: 54-22572
Fax: 54-24673
Toll Free: 800-223-9815

Holland House Beach Hotel
Front St 43 PO Box 393
reservations@hollandhousehotel.com  http://www.hhbh.com
89 Guest Rooms • 11 Meeting Rooms • Restaurant[s]
Location: On the Beach
Nearby Points of Interest: Courthouse • Heritage Museum - 1 km • Fort Amsterdam - 3 km






Phone: 54-23588
Fax: 54-22885
Toll Free:

Passangrahan Royal Guest House
19 Front St
passangrahan@caribserve.net  
37 Guest Rooms • 1 Meeting Room • Restaurant[s]
Location: Secluded & offbeat
Nearby Points of Interest:






Phone: 54-22446
Fax:
Toll Free: 800-223-0757

Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino
19 Little Bay Rd
greatbayhotel@sintmaarten.net  http://www.sonesta.com/greatbay
257 Guest Rooms • 3 Meeting Rooms • Restaurant[s]
Nearby Points of Interest: Golden Casino mi






Phone: 54-22898
Fax: 54-21838
Toll Free: 800-232-4705

The Villas on Great Bay
211 Front St
info@thevillasongreatbay.com  http://www.thevillasongreatbay.com
12 Guest Rooms
Location: On the beach
Nearby Points of Interest: Great Bay Casino (Casino) - 2 blk • Phillipsburg Town Center (Shopping) - 1 km

St Maarten, St Martin/St Maarten

Overview



Introduction



St. Maarten, the Dutch side of the island, is more developed for tourism than the French side, with big hotels, villas, resorts and time-share developments. Its capital, Philipsburg, is a favorite destination of cruise ships with thousands of tourists when ships are in port.

The French and Dutch sides of the island, although culturally distinct, have a shared history dating back to the early 17th century. Early settlers banded together to ward off the Spanish, then divided the 37-sq-mi/96-sq-km island between themselves. The hilly, southern Dutch side is the smaller half, covering 16 sq mi/41 sq km. The French side is often called "the north" by locals.

The Arawak Indians named the island Soualiga, or Land of Salt, and the Great Salt Pond, near Philipsburg, remains a prominent geological feature protected by local environmentalists. The capital's sheltering Great Bay has attracted international traders for centuries, and St. Maarten is still known as a duty-free shopper's paradise. With its sheltered harbors, trade winds and proximity to other islands, St. Maarten is also a yachting hub.

The Dutch side changed its status in October 2010 from an island territory of the Netherlands Antilles to an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands remains head of state, while The Hague continues to be in charge of overseeing foreign affairs and defense. The people of St. Maarten remain Dutch nationals and carry Dutch passports.



Must See or Do

Sights—Sunrise at Dawn Beach; Wathey Square; the views from Fort Willem and Fort Amsterdam.

Museums—Island history at the St. Maarten Museum.

Memorable Meals—Saturday night at the Ocean Lounge at the Holland House hotel on Front Street; dinner at Turtle Pier.

Late Night—Guava-berry colada at a beachside bar; playing roulette at Casino Royale or Princess Casino; bar hopping along the Simpson Bay strip, including Red Piano Bar; dancing at Bliss nightclub or Tantra in Maho.

Walks—A walk along Cupecoy; a hike with the St. Maarten National Heritage Foundation; a leisurely stroll along Front Street for shopping and a cappuccino overlooking the sea.

Especially for Kids—The monkeys at St. Maarten Zoo; watersports off Great Bay Beach.

Port Information

Location

Philipsburg has a large port facility—the A.C. Wathey Pier in the Pointe Blanche area of town—just a short walk or taxi ride from downtown. At the pier, there's also a Welcome Terminal with information booths, ATMs, restaurants, duty-free shops and more. As many as six cruise ships may be in town in a day, either tying up at the facility or anchoring in Great Bay and tendering passengers to Bobby's Marina or the Captain Hodge Wharf.

There are also information booths stocked with brochures and maps near the pier at Wathey Square and along Front Street. Wi-Fi hot spots and Internet cafes are widespread.

The St. Maarten Tourist Office is in the Vineyard Office Park on W.G. Buncamper Road No. 33, Philipsburg. (People who should know better may tell you otherwise, but it's really there.) It's open Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm (phone 542-2337). There are also tourist offices at the airport with knowledgeable staff and a large variety of free brochures and maps and on the Boardwalk down the street from Wathey Square.



Shore Excursions

Consider signing up for the excursions offered by your ship. Ship-sponsored tours may not be the least expensive way to see the island, but you won't have to waste your limited time making arrangements yourself—and you won't have to worry about missing the ship. Shore excursions—and their prices—vary from cruise line to cruise line. Check with your ship's activity director or your travel agent for additional information.

Excursions are likely to include sailing and other watersports; a trip to the tiny islets of Tintamarre, famous for its magic mud, or Pinel; the zoo and park; biking; the Loterie Farm at Pic Paradis for its nature and soft-adventure activities; or island tours. Tour information is available at all the hotels and resorts, at the tourist offices and from cab drivers who are often also tour guides.

See & Do

Sightseeing

Casinos

Hours vary at the island's casinos, but most are open from around noon until at least 2 am and offer Las Vegas-style gambling (blackjack, roulette, craps and slot machines) and free drinks to players.



Adult entertainment goes hand in hand with the casino scene in St. Maarten. Ask at your hotel activities desk for information on Golden Eyes in Simpson Bay, Platinum across the street from the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort or the racier Bada Bing in Simpson Bay. Atlantis World Casino
The casino has more than 500 slot machines, table games and a sports book. It also offers a complimentary late-night buffet. Open daily 24 hours. 106 Rhine Road, Cupecoy, St. Maarten. Phone 545-4601. http://www.atlantisworld.com.

Casino Rouge et Noir
The casino has 130 slot machines, and Caribbean stud poker, blackjack and roulette tables. There are two entrances, one on Front Street and one on the Boardwalk. Open Monday-Saturday from 9 am, Sunday from 11 am. 67 Front St., Philipsburg (in the Seaview Hotel), St. Maarten. Phone 542-2952.

Casino Royale
This is the largest casino on the island with more than 400 slot machines and many gaming tables, offering baccarat, roulette and Caribbean stud poker. There is also a jewelry store by the door in the event a big winner wants to make an immediate purchase. Open daily 1 pm-4 am. 1 Rhine Road, Maho Beach (at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort), St. Maarten. Phone 545-2590. http://playmaho.com.

Coliseum Casino
The casino has more than 300 slot machines and 11 game tables with roulette, blackjack and poker. Open daily 10 am-2 am. 74 Front St., Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Phone 543-2101. http://www.coliseumsxm.com.

Diamond Casino
This casino has the usual array of slots and table games and offers free drinks to players. Open daily 11 am-3 am (Tuesday and Wednesday slots open at 9 am and tables open at 10 am). Kanaal Building 1, Front Street, Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Phone 543-2583. http://www.diamondcasinosxm.com.

Golden Casino
This small casino in the Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort has 84 slot machines and 10 tables of Caribbean stud poker, roulette and blackjack. Open daily 7 am-4 am. 19 Little Bay Road, St. Maarten. Phone 542-2446. http://www.sonesta.com/greatbay.

Hollywood Casino
This casino has slot machines, and blackjack, roulette, craps and Caribbean stud poker tables. It also has horse-racing broadcasts and bingo. Open daily 2 pm-3 am. 37 Billy Folly Road, Simpson Bay, St. Maarten. Phone 544-4463. http://www.casinosxm.com.

Princess Casino
This casino has more than 650 slot machines and 20 table games. It features a nightly Las Vegas-style revue and a top-notch restaurant. Open daily 2 pm-4 am. Union Road, Port De Plaisance, St. Maarten. Phone 544-4311. http://www.princesscasinosxm.info.

Tropicana Princess Casino
This casino has entertainment with complimentary drinks and a buffet for players nightly. Open daily noon-4 am (tables from 6 pm). Welfare Road, Cole Bay, St. Maarten. Phone 544-5654. http://www.worldofprincess.com.

Museums

St. Maarten Museum
The house where this museum is located was built in the 1890s. Tucked away in a shady alley on the east end of Front Street, the small second-floor museum relates the history of the island from its earliest days to the present through changing exhibits. Permanent exhibits include a three-masted warship that went down in Great Bay in 1801. The museum shop sells local art, jewelry, books and an excellent collection of maps of the island and the Eastern Caribbean. Check the Daily Herald for special events held at the museum. Monday-Friday 10 am-4 pm, Saturday 10 am-noon. US$1. 7 Front St., Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Phone 542-4917. http://www.museumsintmaarten.org.

Parks & Gardens

Man of War Shoal Marine Park
This is St. Maarten's first marine park. It includes the popular Proselyte Reef dive site named after a 32-gun frigate that sunk in 1801. Sightings of migratory whales and dolphins are a big hit with tourists. Proselyte Reef Complex, St. Maarten. Phone 544-4267. http://www.naturefoundationsxm.org.

St. Maarten Park
Home to a botanical and floral garden, and the largest zoo in the Caribbean, there is also a children's playground. Open daily 9 am-5 pm. On the Great Salt Pond (near Philipsburg), St. Maarten. Phone 543-2030. http://www.stmaartenpark.com/english/home.htm.

Zoos & Wildlife

St. Maarten Zoo
This is the largest zoological park in the Caribbean with hundreds of mammals including monkeys, a wide variety of birds such as macaws, parrots and toucans, and a reptile house. The park also has a shady tropical garden and a bat house, as well as a petting zoo. Local species, including the red-footed tortoise, Anguilla Bank Amieva and the Green Iguana make their home at the zoo. The largest playground on the island is called The Captain Hodges Playground with an interactive pirate ship and a variety of other outdoor play equipment that is fun for kids (and grown-ups) of all ages. Daily 9 am-5 pm. US$10 adults, US$5 children ages 3-11. Arch Road, Philipsburg (just across the Salt Pond), St. Maarten. Phone 543-2030. http://www.stmaartenzoo.com.

Recreation

St. Maarten's beaches provide a wide range of experiences, from calm to windy, social to serene. As you'd expect on a tropical island, watersports predominate. With numerous harbors and several other islands in sight, day trips are also popular ways to amplify the getaway feeling.

Boating and sailing opportunities await at Simpson Bay, Captain Oliver's Marina (Oyster Pond) and Philipsburg. Deep-sea fishing is another option. Surfers, with or without kites or sails, will also find plenty of options.

Beaches and watersports are so abundant and well-promoted in St. Maarten that it's easy to overlook land-based recreation and the more authentic experience of the island that it affords. Vary your options with hiking and horseback riding, or exploring by renting vehicles with wheels: bikes, motorcycles and ATVs.




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