Horseback Riding

If riding a horse on the beach next to the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean is part of your vacation plans, St Maarten offers many opportunities.

Bayside Riding Club
Bayside Riding Club on Le Galion Beach on the French side offers a variety of horseback rides as well as riding lessons. Both English and Western style riding are available. You’ll ride along 1-1/2 miles of white sand beach through the Nature Marine Reserve. The 2-hour ride includes a swim with your horse and a stop for refreshments at a local beach bar and restaurant. Riders must be seven years of age, and pony rides are available for the younger set. Among the possibilities are:

One-Hour Group Beach Rides

You’ll ride on trails through the Nature Marine Reserve and along the beach.

11:00 AM to 12:00 PM or 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM50.00 euros or $65.00 per person

Two-Hour Group Beach Rides

This ride also takes you through the Nature Marine Reserve but also includes a swim with your horse in crystal clear waters. After your swim, you'll stop for a complimentary drink at Tropical Wave Beach Bar and Restaurant at the far end of the bay.
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM70.00 euros or $90.00 per person

One-Hour Private Beach Rides

This is for you if you want to canter on the beach!
70.00 euros or $90.00 per person

One-Hour Sunset Group Beach Ride

This ride is the same as the One-Hour Group ride but returns as the sun is setting on the horizon
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM or 5:30 PM to 6:30 PMdepending on the sunset!60.00 euros or $80.00 per person

Lessons

Their French Federation Certified (FFE) instructor offers riding lessons from beginner basics through experienced. Lessons in dressage and jumping are also available. Lessons are available in French or English.

Adult Private $65.00 per hourChild Private $55.00 per hour

Information
Bayside Riding ClubRue du Le Galion
Coconut Grove

Le Galion Beach, St. Martin, F.W.I.

Reservations: Tel: 011(590) 873664 Fax(0590) 873376

tracie@baysideridingclub.com

OK Corral
OK Corral in Oyster Pond has variety of rides available, including the popular 2-hour horseback ride along Orient Beach. After a brief stop at the shops along Orient Beach, riders make their way through St. Martin's hillside on the return trip. Smaller children will enjoy the stable's pony rides.

Lucky Stables
Lucky Stables has been operating on St.Maarten for many years and has built a reputation as a professional riding and training stable. You’ll first ride through the residential and industrial area of Cape Bay before reaching the seclusion of the Cape Bay area with trails through the hills and along the beach.

Departure times

1-hour trail ride: 8 am- 4 pm, every hour, $42

2-hour trail ride: 8 am and 2 pm, $61

1-hour Sunset Ride: 5 pm, $42

2-hour Sunset Ride: 4 pm, $61

2-hour Champagne Night Ride: 8 pm, $61. Only on Wednesday and Friday

Credit cards are not accepted. All rides include swimming with the horses.

Jet Blue to Fly to St Maarten

This morning, Jet Blue started accepting reservations from JFK to SXM starting Thursday, January 17, 2008. You can make reservations through April of 2008. At this time, flight 787 leaves JFK at 9:35 am and arrives at SXM at 2:40 pm. Flight 788, the returning flight, leaves SXM at 3:35 pm and arrives at JFK at 7:05 pm.

The regular round trip airfare on Tuesdays and Wednesdays is $318, plus taxes and fees. Fares for their flights on other days are $498 round-trip Thursday, $568 round-trip Friday, and $638 round-trip Saturday.

The Peg Leg Pub is located right on the lagoon in Simpson Bay with dining indoors or out. Famous for its beef and seafood, their menu also includes an extensive offering of appetizers such as coconut shrimp, fried calamari and beer-battered onion rings to go with a choice of more than 35 cold beers. They also have numerous salads, deli sandwiches and burgers. Appetizers are half price and drinks are two-for-one during happy hour. The Peg Leg Pub is located in the Three Palms Plaza near Domino’s Pizza and is open daily from noon until 11:00 pm. Note that they are closed for Sunday lunch.

Loterie Farm and the Fly Zone

Loterie Farm is a peaceful 135-acre private nature preserve near the bottom of Pic du Paradis. Designed to preserve island habitats, it offers a rare glimpse of Caribbean forest and mountain land. Visitors can go horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, take ecotours or practice meditation and yoga. All the trails at Loterie Farm begin at the base of the 1400 ft mountain and lead to the top of St Martin’s highest point, Pic Paradis, offering views of Orient Beach, St Barth and Anguilla. Lunch, from 12-3 pm, and dinner, from 6:30-9:30 pm, is served at the Hidden Forest Café, Tuesday through Saturday. The Café is open from 12-6 pm on Sundays and is closed on Mondays. Bon Apetit featured this treehouse-like eatery in their February 2005 issue. All dishes are made using only the freshest ingredients found on the island and each is garnished with fresh flowers from the property.

Loterie Farm's newest attraction, the Fly Zone, allows you to soar over the forest canopy via a series of ropes, cables, and suspended bridges. Zip-lines are suspended high above the forest reserve, soaring between 200 year old mango and mahogony trees. Ti’Tarzan is a special area with suspended bridges and swinging ropes that was designed for children. All participants on the Fly Zone and Ti’Tarzan are required to wear closed shoes or footwear that is secured to your feet.

Rte. de Pic du Paradis

Phone: 590/87-86-16 or 590/57-28-55

Cost: $5, 1½-hr tour $25, 4-hr tour $45

Hours: Daily, from sunrise to sunset.

Video of 747 Landing at Princess Juliana

If you've ever landed at the Princess Juliana Airport or watched planes land from the Sunset Bar, you know how low they can go. But, the KLM 747 landing in this You Tube video would have won a limbo contest!

YACC: Yet Another Caribbean Cocktail

Caribbean Cocktail Recipe

1 1/2 ounces light rum
1/2 ounce blue curacao
2 ounces pineapple juice
1 tablespoon simple syrup
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Fresh papaya or pineapple wedge, garnish

In a cocktail shaker, blend together all the ingredients, except the garnish. Pour into a tall glass filled with ice. Garnish with papaya, and serve.

Come Enjoy the Food and Drink at The Greenhouse

The Greenhouse Bar and Restaurant is located in Bobby’s Marina in Philipsburg right on the water with a beautiful view across Great Bay. It has enjoyed a reputation for good food and fun since 1986. Their Happy Hour is a full 150 minutes of two-for-one drinks, and their menu features steak, ribs, lobsters, and the freshest fish in the Caribbean. Here's a sampling of their regular specials.

Happy Hour

Daily from 4:30 until 7:00

Two-for-one drinks and reduced prices on appetizers

Voted the Number One Happy Hour on the island two years in a row!

Margarita Monday

Every Monday, All day and night

Two-for-one Jose Cuervo margaritas and Corona beer

Tex-Mex food specials

It Snows on Wednesday

Two-for-one Beck's beer all day and night

Snow crab and Dungeness crab clusters for $15.95 per pound

Friday Lobster Mania

Fresh lobster from Saba for $17.95 per pound

Pick your own from the tank

Summer Specials at Mary’s Boon Beach Plantation

Mary's Boon Beach Plantation Hotel is located on a spectacular three-mile stretch of white-sand beach in Simpson Bay, just south of Princess Julianna Airport. Although the resort is secluded, it is just minutes away from great shopping, restaurants and casinos. In the November 2003 and 2005 issues of Conde Nast Travel magazine, Mary's Boon was selected as one of the top ten hotels in the Caribbean. They offer 26 beachfront and garden plantation-style rooms and suites, some of which are one- and two-bedroom beach bungalows. The hotel is offering the following summer specials through the remainder of August and September.

4-Day Package – From $399, plus tax and service
4 nights accommodation
Welcome bottle of champagne
Daily breakfast
One dinner for two in their world-famous beachside restaurant

7-Day Package – From $699, plus tax and service
7 nights accommodation
Welcome bottle of champagne
Daily breakfast
Two dinners in their world-famous beachside restaurant

Diving and Snorkeling Resources

St Maarten offers excellent snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities with visibility in the water ranging from 100 to 200 feet. The wreck of an English battleship from 1801 lies in Great Bay, and the plentiful coral reefs attract a variety of fish and other sea life. In addition to the listings below, many hotels have dive operators on-site. Certified divers should remember to bring their licenses and diving logs.

Blue Ocean, Baie Nettle, 05 90 87 89 73

Neptune Dive Center, Orient Bay, 05 90 50 98 51

Scuba Fun Dive Center, Great Bay Marina Building, Pointe Blanche, Philipsburg, 599 557 0505

Scuba Fun Dive Center, Port Lonvilliers Marina, Anse Marcel, 05 90 8736 13

Dive Safaris, Simpson Bay, 599 545 3213

Dive Safaris, Bobby’s Marina, Philipsburg, 599 542 9001

The Scuba Shop, Palapa Marine, Simpson Bay, 599 545 3213

The Scuba Shop, Captain Oliver’s Marina, Oyster Pond, 05 90 87 48 01

Full-Moon Party at Kali's Beach Bar & Restaurant

Located on beautiful Friar’s Bay, Kali's Beach Bar & Restaurant hosts a full-moon party on the beach with a large bonfire, reggae music and BBQ. The party is so popular that people come from Anguilla and St Barth. The bar and restaurant are open every day and serve lunch and dinner. Some claim that Kali serves some of the best BBQ on the island. You can also have drinks or eat while sitting under an umbrella on the beach, if you wish.

Friar’s Bay is between Marigot and Grand Case. On the outskirts of Marigot, as you are headed toward Grand Case, you’ll see a sign for Friar’s Bay on the left. Turn left at the sign and just continue on the road for another 5 minutes or so. You won’t see another sign and you’ll wonder where the beach is. But, just keep going. Eventually, you’ll come to an unpaved road that leads to a parking lot at the edge of Friar’s Bay, a beautiful crescent bay with a wide, sandy beach. An easy 10-minute hike from the north side of Friar’s bay will take you to Happy Bay. This palm-lined crescent bay is surrounded by green hills and has good snorkeling around the rocks just off the beach.

YACC: Yet Another Caribbean Cocktail

Painkiller

2 oz dark rum
1 ½ oz orange juice
4 oz pineapple juice
1 oz Coco Lopez (cream of coconut)

Mix the juices and Coco Lopez and pour over ice. Add rum and top with grated nutmeg. Garnish with a slice of orange or pineapple and a cherry. Enjoy!

Visit The Butterfly Farm

The Butterfly Farm (La Ferme aux Papillons) is near Orient Beach on the French side of the Island. It is a small net-covered area located at the back of a house. When you enter the terrarium-like Butterfly Sphere, you'll see over 40 species of butterflies, numbering as many as 600. Admission includes a tour through the area where your guide will explain the different cycles of the butterfly’s life. There's also a gift shop on the premises selling butterfly art and memorabilia. The Butterfly Farm is open every day from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Tickets costs $12 and are good for the length of your stay in St. Maarten.

To reach the Butterfly Farm from the Dutch side, follow the signs to the Middle Region and Orient Beach. Just before you reach Orient Beach, you’ll see a sign at a narrow road on the right for Bay Side Riding Stables. The sign for the Butterfly Farm is on the left side of the road, but you want to turn right here at Rte. de Le Galion (Galion Road). The first place you’ll come to will be the Butterfly Farm.

Telephone: 590-873-121

Jimbo’s Blues & Rock Café

Jimbo’s is a true gem of a restaurant serving gourmet Mexican fare. It’s tucked away in a little shopping center at the Simpson Bay Yacht Club and Marina, but once inside “the outside” restaurant, you are surrounded by tropical trees and tranquility. The atmosphere is casual and laid-back, the drinks flow and the music is good. I can testify to their claim of having the best hamburger on the island – it’s ½-lb of Certified Black Angus grilled over mesquite chips and is ever so flavorful! They have a huge menu with everything from burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas, fajitas, gazpacho, ribs, fish, shrimp, salads and sandwiches. You definitely will not go hungry or thirsty!

A small boutique on the premises sells an eclectic mixture of goodies such as cowboy hats, Cuban cigars, Mexican glassware, t-shirts and tank tops, baseball caps, jewelry and hot sauce.

Jimbo’s is open for lunch and dinner at 11:00 am, Monday through Saturday and Sunday for dinner starting at 5:00pm. They are located on Airport Road in Plaza del Lago behind Scotia Bank at the Simpson Bay Yacht Club and Marina. If you’re coming from the airport, look for Jimbo’s after the bridge about a quarter of a mile on the left. If you’re coming from Philipsburg, look for Plaza del Lago on your right on Airport Road.

Simpson Bay Fish Market

The new fish market on the lagoon in Simpson Bay opened in April, 2007. It provides fishermen with a place to display and sell their catch, stalls for fresh produce, tables for local artisans to display their crafts, and six small restaurants offering the catch of the day and local dishes. Fresh fish is available starting at 6:30 a.m. So, go early in the morning to have the largest selection of fish, browse the other stalls and stay for a locally prepared lunch.

Discover The Summit Hotel

The Summit Resort Hotel is tucked away in Cupecoy, high above Simpson Bay Lagoon. The hotel offers old-world Caribbean charm and a breathtaking panoramic view. The 57 quaint cottages are set among lush tropical plants, flowers and palm trees. All the rooms have air-conditioning, a private balcony or terrace, free cable television, high-speed internet access, clock radio and direct-dial telephone. Deluxe rooms include a full kitchen with microwave, dishwasher, full size refrigerator and stovetop. The friendly hotel staff are happy to book activities such as snorkeling tours, horseback riding, jet skiing and excursions to nearby islands. Menus from restaurants on the French and Dutch side are available at the front desk. But, don’t forget The Summit’s own Kissing Fish Bar and Grill, located adjacent to the pool deck. Summer rates, from June 15 to October 14, are $110 for a Standard room and $150 for a Deluxe room.

Visit the Outdoor Market in Marigot

Every Saturday and Wednesday, the waterfront is abuzz in Marigot with its large outdoor market. You can find everything here – from fresh spices and produce, CDs of island music, T-shirts (3 for $10!), beach bags, clothing, jewelry, table linens, pareos, tambours (drums), decorative items with an island flavor, and much more – all at a good price. Like most outdoor markets, the vendors are willing to bargain and will often accept U.S. dollars for the asking price in euros – that can be up to a 37% savings given the current exchange rate. The market is located right on the waterfront and is right next to many little restaurants serving delicious local cuisine at outrageous prices! This is truly an island experience not to be missed. Just be sure to leave a little extra room in your suitcase.

Want Jet Blue to Fly to SXM?

Jet Blue is adding more flights and destinations. If you want Jet Blue to start flying to SXM, complete their short questionnaire “Tell Us Where To Fly.”

YACC: Yet Another Caribbean Cocktail

Sunset Cocktail

Ice cubes
2 ounces of orange vodka
Mango nectar
1 ounce of grenadine
2 ounces of dark rum

In a collins glass filled with ice, pour in orange vodka and fill almost to the top with mango nectar. Pour grenadine over top. As grenadine sinks, float dark rum by pouring over the back of a spoon.

Spend a Day on Beautiful Pinel Island

For some good snorkeling, food and relaxation, visit Pinel Island, located a few hundred yards off the northern end of Orient Bay. Pinel Island has a beautiful sandy beach that is protected from the pounding surf, which makes snorkeling the coral reefs ideal. You can also hike to the two deserted beaches on the other side. There is no electricity on the island and no cars. However, there are two small restaurants on the beach. One is run by a French man and the other is a local BBQ place that also serves grilled langouste (Caribbean lobster). Between the two restaurants is the Paradise Gift Shop – a local style shop selling a variety of mementos. Chairs and umbrellas are also available for rent.

To get to Pinel Island, you must take a small ferry. If you’re coming from the Dutch side, follow the signs past Orient Beach. The end of the road at French Cul de Sac opens onto a wide sandy area with a small wooden dock. The small boats will ferry you over for $5, round-trip. The boats run about every half hour and the ride is a short five minutes. The last boat returning from Pinel Island is at 4:30 p.m. Don’t miss it or you’ll be sleeping on the island!

YACC: Yet Another Caribbean Cocktail

Frozen Lemonade with Coconut Rum

1 1/2 cups of ice cubes, crushed
3 tablespoons frozen lemonade concentrate
2 tablespoons Malibu coconut rum

Place ice, frozen lemonade concentrate and rum in blender. Blend until slushy. Garnish with a lemon or lime slice, if desired.

Yield: 1 serving (about 1 cup)

Celine’s Lagoon Pub Crawl

Three evenings (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday) each week in high season and two evenings a week in low season, the 40-foot catamaran Celine leaves from SkipJack’s dock in Simpson Bay Lagoon for a three-hour pub crawl.

The first stop is at the Peg Leg Pub for cubes of filet mignon, sword fish and garlic bread. The next stop is Shrimpy's and then SkipJack's for a mahi-mahi kebab and spare ribs. You'll spend a little over one hour in each restaurant, with travel times included.

The cost for this fun evening of fun, food and drinks is $65 per person. This includes a welcome drink of rum punch, beer or soda at each restaurant. There is also an open bar on board.
The pub crawl is limited to 20 people per voyage. Meet at SkipJacks' across from the Royal Palm near the Dutch Bridge at 6:30 pm and board Celine at 7:00 pm.

To make a reservation, e- mail Neil@caribserve.net with "Pub Crawl" as the subject. Include your name, when you want to go, and how many in your party. Or, you can call them at 599 545 3961 or at their cell phone at 599 556 8806. A 20% deposit is due at time of booking.

St. Maarten Prepares for Genesis Class Ships

European dockyards are beginning to turn out the new Genesis class of ships. As a result, St Maarten is implementing plans to cater to these gigantic cruise ships. These behemoths weigh 220,000 tons as compared to the 160,000-ton Liberty of the Seas, which recently made its inaugural visit to St Maarten, and is currently one of the two largest cruise ships in the world. The island plans to be ready to accommodate the Genesis class ships in 2009.

Read the full story.

Tropical Depression Watch

A low-pressure system is centered about 1250 miles east of Barbados, and the National Hurricane Centre in Miami says that it could become a tropical depression within the next 24 hours. The system is moving west-northwest at 10 mph to 15 mph, and forecasat models predict it could make landfall somewhere in the central Caribbean early next week. Current wind speeds are near 30 mph. If the winds increase to 39 mph, the system will be upgraded to a tropical storm named Chantal. If you're traveling to St Maarten next week, keep your eye on this. The forecast is revised every 12 hours. Get the latest forecast and watch the movement via a live satellite image.

Good Eats and Drinks at Ric's Place

Ric's American Cafe & Sports Bar is the ultimate neighborhood bar on St Maarten. Open seven days a week, the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. All the major sporting events are shown on big screen TVs, and the crown is passionate! Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. until noon and includes such dishes as The Breakfast Burrito for $6.95, 3-Egg Omelets from $4.95 to $6.95 and Caribbean French Toast for $3.95. Lunch and dinner are available from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. The menu includes a large choice of hamburgers, sandwiches, salads, Tex-Mex specialties, 17 beers, lots of frozen cocktails and delicious desserts (think Banana Split and A&W Root Beer Float) -- all at very reasonable prices. Ric's Place is located on Airport Road just north of the Simpson Bay drawbridge. Be sure to enjoy your meal on their terrace, which overlooks beautiful Simpson Bay Lagoon with its mega-yachts. Full menu.

Transatlantic Yacht Race Coming to St Maarten

The Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup will kick off in Tenerife on November 26, 2207, and the finish line is of St Maarten about ten days later. This is sure to be a big event on the island, no doubt with music and parties planned.

The fleet will assemble in Tenerife - the largest of the seven Canary Islands - in preparation for the start on Monday, November 26, 2007. The mega-yacths, with a minimum length of 59 feet, are expected to navigate 2,600 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean for approximately ten days before reaching the finish line off of St Maarten.

The Awards ceremony is slated for December 14 at the St. Maarten Yacht Club. Read the full news story. The Rolex Trophy and a Rolex Oyster Perpetual timepiece will be awarded to the overall winner.

Also, read the official announcement of the race. Satellite reports will allow you to monitor the race’s progress online at the same site.

YACC - Yet Another Caribbean Cocktail

Mango Sangria

1 oz Malibu Mango rum
1/2 oz white wine
1/2 oz orange juice
1/2 oz pineapple juice

Mix all ingredients in a mixing glass and stir. Strain into a highball glass over ice.and garnish with pineapple.

Fireman at Airport Ordered Back to Work

As reported by the St Maarten Daily Herald, 18 firefighters have called in sick and have not reported to work at the airport since Monday. It is thought that this is in protest against a fireman who was recently fired for not carrying out an instruction. The court ordered the firefighters to return to work today, June 22, or face a fine. If they do not return, the airport may be forced to close until the issue is resolved.

Read the full story.

Help Save the Mangroves

Mullet Pond is the largest remaining mangrove colony in Simpson Bay Lagoon, the largest lagoon in the Carribean. The mangroves at Mullet Pond are in danger of being destroyed due to planned development of the Mullet Bay Resort, a new marina for mega-yachts, villas and private docks. The roots of the mangrove provide habitats for many species of fish, shrimp, conch and lobsters in the juvenile stage. The Mangrove jellyfish, also known as the upside-down jellyfish, is only found in the mangrove stands. In addition, of the 65 species of birds that frequent Mullet Pond, 22 species breed there. Besides supporting such a vital ecosystem, the mangroves reduce erosion of the shoreline during hurricanes.

A group called SXM Pride has made a video called The Last Stand that shows the underwater beauty of Mullet Pond and explains the importance of the mangroves. If you would like to add your name to a petition to protect the mangrove colony at Mullet Pond, visit ThePetitionSite.

SkipJack's Seafood Grill, Bar & Fish Market

SkipJack's, situated next to Lee's Roadside Grill fronting the lagoon at Simpson Bay, was voted the best new restaurant on the island by readers of the St Maarten's newspaper The Daily Herald. They offer not only Caribbean langouste, but also Maine lobsters (for ex-pats who now live in the Caribbean, it's a treat to eat a Maine lobster from time to time!). Their menu also includes tuna carpaccio, lobster and crab salad, beer-battered tempura shrimp, grilled or blackened fish of the day, a smoked salmon sandwich, yellowfin tuna and fresh grouper. More of a landlubber? Not to fear. Skipjack's also offers a grilled steak, a beef tenderloin kebab, a 12-oz NY Strip steak and a mango chicken kebab. If you're lucky enough to have a kitchen in your villa or hotel, you can buy fresh fish, lobster, langouste, crab and more at the fish market adjacent to the restaurant.

Visit SkipJack's.

Video: Near Miss -- Two 747s Nearly Collide at Princess Juliana Airport

Late last year, many people at the Sunset Beach Bar watched as a Corsair Airlines 747, ready to take off from Princess Juliana Airport, almost collided with a KLM 747 that was ready to land. The Corsair pilot didn’t see the approaching KLM 747 and taxied the fully loaded plane onto the runway. Meanwhile, several hundred yards behind him, the KLM 747 was getting ready to land. Fortunately, the KLM pilot saw the Corsair jet sitting on the runway, gunned the plane’s engines, and banked sharply right over the airport.

Due to the following video, taken by a tourist, a full investigation will take place.

Watch the video here.

Luxury Hotel La Samanna Offers Special Rates!

Located on the French side of the island, just ten minutes from Marigot, La Samanna is an elegant, luxury hotel set amidst tropical gardens, overlooking 55 acres of beautiful beachfront. During low season, they are offering several attractive packages.

With the 2007 Summer Free Nights Special, if you stay 7 nights, you get one night free. Or, stay 12 nights and get two nights free. This offer is valid June 1 – August 31, 2007.

The Summer Family Plan, offered June 1 – August 31, 2007, allows you to book a premium 1-bedroom suite for 5 nights or more at the special rate of $895/night and receive an automatic upgrade to a 2-bedroom suite. The regular rate for a 1-bedroom premium suite during these months is $1250. The regular rate for a 2-bedroom suite is $1850. If you stay 5 nights, the cost is $4475 for a $9250 value. A savings of $4775!!

Just married? La Samanna is offering a Honeymoon Package for 7 nights from May 1 to August 31, 2007 for $4900. The package includes a deluxe 1-bedroom suite, roundtrip airport transfers, daily breakfast buffet, champagne on arrival, one dinner for two, a sunset cruise for two, one couple’s massage, two La Samanna bathrobes, and a one-day luxury car rental. This is a savings of $2450 on the room alone! With the other offerings, this is a true bargain.

The 2008 Summer Free Nights Special is offered April 1 – August 31, 2008, for those of you who need more time to plan that special vacation. The longer you stay, the better it gets. Stay 4 nights and pay for 3 nights; stay 7 nights and pay for 6 nights; stay 12 nights and pay for 10 nights, or stay 14 nights and pay for 11 nights.

Visit La Samanna for full details and photos.

Get Ready to Buckle Up

The following new traffic laws will become effective on August 1, 2007.

• All motorists will have to use seat belts.
• Use of a cell phone while driving is forbidden unless you are using a hands-free mobile phone device.
• All children will have to be secured in child-restraint safety seats.
• Vehicles must stop at marked pedestrian crossings to give pedestrians the right of way.
• Riders of motorcycles, quads and three-wheelers will be “strongly advised” to wear helmets. (Don’t be surprised if this soon becomes required.)
  
  In St. Martin, the French side of the island, it is already required that you wear a seat belt, and use of cell phones by the driver is forbidden. When these two laws recently went into effect in St Barth, the gendarme (French National Police) were parked at the busiest traffic areas to enforce the new requirements. And, the fines were quite hefty! For example, 90 euros for failure to wear a seat belt!
  

YACC -- Yet Another Caribbean Cocktail

El Prediente

2 oz Light Rum
1 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Pineapple Juice
1 tsp Grenadine

Shake all the ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime twist.

Camera Surveillance Coming Soon to Philipsburg

St Maarten is a good choice for a vacation in paradise. However, as everywhere, you cannot assume there is no crime. In fact, Philipsburg has been plagued recently with quite a bit of violent crime. Even during the daylight hours, you must be very alert to your surroundings and those around you. Use common sense! Personally, after dark, I avoid Philipsburg. For the moment it is just too dangerous, and St Maarten has countless good restaurants, casinos, bars and nightclubs outside of the city.

That being said, the final arrangements are in place for a surveillance system to be mounted in Philipsburg to help ward off criminal activities from the busy shopping hub. The Chamber of Commerce plans to monitor the entire shopping area in Philipsburg, including the Great Bay beach boardwalk, Front Street, Back Street and the numerous alleys.

Read the full story.

Photos of the Annual Heineken Regatta

View some photos of this year's Heineken Regatta at http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sxm_2007_pictures/album/576460762393316444.

Lee's Roadside Grill

If you like mesquite-grilled ribs, chicken and fresh fish, don't miss Lee's Roadside Grill in Simpson Bay. This open-air restaurant runs a deep-sea fishing charter and the charter's catch provides the restaurant with fresh fish. You can almost always find wahoo, mahi-mahi and red snapper on the menu. Often, there is also tuna. At lunch, you can order a grilled wahoo steak served with garlic butter and accompanied by a salad and French fries or rice and beans for $10. You'll be lucky if you can finish half of the wahoo! Serving portions of everything are more than generous, and the mesquite flavor is not overpowering. The restaurant fronts the lagoon in Simpson Bay, is open-air, casual, and nicely decorated. The wait staff is extremely friendly, and the drinks and all the food are extremely reasonably priced. There is live music by a local group every night. What more could you want? Grilled langouste? You can choose your langouste from the tank on the wharf. Or, maybe you prefer shrimp. This is truly one of the best deals on St Maarten!
More on Lee's Roadside Grill

Carnival 2007 Videos and Photos

To view a couple of videos and some photos of Carnival in St Maarten this year, check out these two: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2859066193935490017 http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4338500668388087734.

A Great Read and a Movie to Follow

Cheryl Bartlam DuBois, an ex-catamaran captain who owned a charter business on St Maarten, has written a novel about life in the Caribbean. West of the Equator: In Search of Paradise is set in St Maarten and the surrounding islands. It is a story of adventure, romance, humor, island lore, Zen and the art of sailing in the tropics. If you've ever dreamed of leaving it all behind and making a life in the Caribbean, don't miss this book! Film producers have already discovered this delightful tale, and filming is scheduled to begin in St Maarten this summer. Although casting is not yet final, discussions are in place with Keanu Reeves, Rick Fox, Timothy Dalton, Scarlett Johansson and Gwyneth Paltrow.

If you'll be in St Maarten on May 25, you can attend the book signing party at the Peg Leg Pub at Three Palms Plaza in Simpson Bay. Happy hour is 4:00 - 6:00 pm with cocktails and appetizers. The author will be present as well as the film producer Jeff Apple.

Direct Flights To and From St Maarten

To see at a glance direct flights to and from St Maarten, including airlines and frequency, check out the two following web sites. Direct flights to St Maarten's Princess Julianna International Airport are at http://www.airsxm.com/directflightstosxm.html , while flights from St Maarten to various places are at http://www.airsxm.com/directflightsfromsxm.html .

Great Hotel Deal in Simpson Bay!

The Turquoise Shell Inn is located in Simpson Bay just steps away from many good restaurants and casinos. From April 15, 2007 until July 14, 2007, they are offering a special weekly rate of $700, including tax. Normally, you pay 20% of the hotel rate in taxes: 5% local tax and 15% service charge. The Turquoise Shell Inn is a 3-star hotel with 10 1-bedroom suites offering a fully-equipped kitchen, cable TV, air-conditioning, a ceiling fan and daily maid service. In addition, there is a large freshwater pool and the Caribbean is only steps away. The special weekly rate from July 15 until October 15 is only $590 and from November 15 until April 15 (high season), a mere $750 -- remember, that includes the 20% taxes charged by all hotels in St. Maarten. For photos and more information, check out their web site at www.tshellinn.com.

YACC -- Yet Another Caribbean Cocktail

Witch Doctor

3/4 oz. Malibu Coconut Rum
3/4 oz. Malibu Pineapple Rum
3 oz. Orange Juice

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with orange slices.

Get in the Mood!

Even if you can't travel to St. Maarten right now, you can still enjoy the sensation of being there. Check out www.sxmradio.com for a listing of six different radio stations that you can hear. One of the most popular is www.island92.com. And, don't forget to enjoy YACC -- Yet Another Caribbean Cocktail -- at the same time.