French St. Martin shares an island with Dutch St. Maarten, and is the smallest island in the world to be divided between two sovereign powers. Although only a road sign delineates the border between the two countries, the cultural differences are immediately apparent. St. Maarten, with its huge duty free port at Philipsburg, a favourite stop for cruise ships, has been more susceptible to American cultural influence, while St. Martin remains undeniably French. French is the national language and the euro the official currency (although most shops and restaurants will accept U.S. dollars).

St. Martin is about 20 square miles in size, volcanic in appearance (its highest point is Pic Paradis at 1500 feet), without luxuriant vegetation, but with a coastline of wonderful beaches. It is more crowded and frenetic than some of the smaller neighbouring islands, such as Anguilla, and although there is a strong West Indian culture, gallic sophistication is very evident with plenty of smart designer boutiques and gourmet restaurants to choose from.

The capital, Marigot, is a mixture of quaint colonial buildings, juxtaposed with modern shopping malls. It enjoys a picturesque setting with the harbour on one side and the Marina Port Royale on the other. The waterfront on both sides is lined with charming small bistros, cafes and restaurants offering both French and Creole cuisine. The colourful Creole market at the old marina in Marigot Bay on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings is an event not to be missed. Further west is Grand Case Beach, a particularly pretty stretch of old colonial wooden buildings with verandas and wrought-iron balustrades, housing some superb restaurants. Self-catering is also easy with large and well stocked supermarkets with supplies shipped in from France, as well as many smaller boulangeries and speciality food shops.

The villas we represent in St. Martin are located in the Terres Basses in the north-west of the island (about 15 minutes drive from Marigot), an area flanked by three superb beaches, Baie Rouge, Plum Bay and Long Bay. All the villas are of a high standard, with swimming pools and daily maid service. All have either a beachfront location or are higher up with magnificent views. Additional services which can be arranged during your stay include a gourmet chef at the villa, babysitting, a masseuse, tennis, golf, watersports, deep sea fishing and day trips to the neighbouring islands.

There are direct flights to Princess Juliana Airport in St. Maarten from Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Miami, New York and San Juan, as well as connections to other Caribbean islands. There are also ferry connections to Anguilla, just a 20 minute trip away and worth a day trip as a complete contrast to St. Martin, or even longer as part of a two-centre holiday. From Princess Juliana Airport, it is just a 30 minute drive to most of our villas.