Why St Martin
and St Maarten
are special

You experience two different cultures on a single island. The northern half is French, the southern half, Dutch.

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St Martin vs  St Maarten

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How they differ

In eight categories:

Dining & nightlife

St Martin has the better dining, St Maarten has the better nightlife.

Shopping

St Maarten wins this crown by a big margin.

Language

St Martin speaks French, St Maarten speaks Dutch (though English is widely understood on both sides).

Sovereignty

St Martin is a French Territory, St Maarten is part of the Netherlands Antilles.

Size

St Martin is about 50% larger in area.

Population

St Maarten is slightly larger.

Tourism

St Maarten has far more tourists.

Hospitality

St Maarten wins by an edge.

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Beaches

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Both sides
have good beaches

Orient is the most popular beach in St Martin while Maho Bay is the most active in St Maarten. The problem with the latter is you are noisily buzzed by low flying jet airlines landing and taking off over you.

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Click for more tips:

St Martin & Maarten  - PAGE TWO

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Best time to go
Best islands for sports
Best islands for resorts
Best islands for family resorts
Best islands in 8 other categories
How to pronounce island names
Caribbean Island locator maps
Caribbean Islands - home page

Best Caribbean cruises
Famous Caribbean food

World's Top 100 Wonders

World's Top 1000 Wonders

Site map

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Saint Martin Tourism

Saint Maarten Tourism

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Photo credit: The left photo in my montage is copyrighted by the St Maarten Tourist Board and the right photo is copyrighted by the St Martin Tourist Board. Both are used with permission.

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©2012 HQP - Hillman Quality Publications / hillmanwonders.com