Anyone considering taking a vacation to the exotic Caribbean, there are plenty of diverse islands to choose from. Ask any visitor and they will all point you to a different island, depending on their own particular taste. In addition, in the Caribbean there is not any such thing as a bad vacation location, its just a matter of one perhaps, being slightly different and standing out from the crowd.

St. Martin is one such island that defiantly stands out, the reason for this, is that this island is two different places rolled into one. On one side of this beautiful island is St. Martin on the other is St. Maarten, these are not two different names for the same place. These are two very distinct destinations one with a long Dutch history, the other a former French colony.

This separation once divided the island in every way, but now it provides a wonderful and vibrant mix of Dutch, French and Afro- Caribbean cultures that now separates this little piece of paradise from the other stunning islands in the region.

Thats why these two/one vacation destinations are becoming the latest hotspot for visitors to the stunning beaches, scenery and culture of this exiting island. Here are a few details about what you can expect from this heady mix of Afro-European cultures.

Nearly all tourists considering the sunny Caribbean have more than a passing interest in the beach culture that the area has in plentiful supply. St. Martins Dutch region can offer the visitor some of the finest white sand delights to be found anywhere in the islands. Across in the French enclave there is an equally stunning nudist beach, if that is more to your taste.

For visitors from America and Canada the island can offer many of the delights of a European vacation. While still benefiting from a short flight and endless hours of sun drenched, tropical enjoyment.

Even though the Caribbean is so close to the continental United States very few of the islands have airports capable of landing large passenger jets. St Martin is an exception, and many non-stop flights arrive every day from US airports across the country. For those flying from the eastern states this location also offers the advantage of being in the same time zone avoiding the unpleasant jet lag experience.

The island can offer genuine French and Dutch cuisine as well as a real taste of those very different European cultures and attitudes. These are all combined together with that easy-going Afro-Caribbean nature, to give a highly cultured but also laid-back atmosphere, unique in the Caribbean.

St. Martin is a genuine shopper's paradise that can provide all the very latest in Paris runway fashions. And it were not enough, these exciting fashion opportunities are available at around 40% less than you would pay in Paris or New York. St. Martin is the undisputed fashion center of the islands.

There are lots of high quality hotels offering the ultimate in luxury, there are also villas and that offer equally high standards of accommodation with the added benefits of seclusion and privacy. Many visitors to the island are now choosing to enjoy all the comforts of home and opting for the unusually high standard of private accommodation available on the island.

St. Martin enjoys four seasons, luckily, none of them includes snow. Wintertime offers long sunny warm days and cool evenings, making it the most popular time to visit for foreign tourists. The summer months can be hot, but are always tampered by the cooling trade winds that pass by the island. You can nearly always be guaranteed weather that is comfortable no matter what time of year you choose to visit the warm and friendly island of St. Martin