St Maarten is the Dutch part of the small Caribbean island of St Martin and is popular with cruise ships heading for the capital Philipsburg.
Situated on a narrow stretch of land between the Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond, the town was founded back in the 1760s and is the commercial centre of St Martin as a whole.
Within easy reach of the harbour, you’ll find plenty of dining options that reflect the blend of Europe and the Caribbean that can be found across the island.
Alongside traditional Caribbean dishes, you might be able to sample classical cuisine that wouldn’t be out of place in top restaurants back in France or Italy.
There’s also a good chance of picking up some bargains to take back home, with the downtown area being home to a wide selection of stores where you can do some duty free shopping.
Take a stroll through the streets and you can marvel at impressive colonial architecture, whilst anyone with a desire to embrace the history of the country could visit the ruins of Fort Amsterdam and Fort Willan.
Head into the surrounding countryside and you can enjoy a range of outdoor activities that include horseback riding and kayaking, whilst the waters around the coast are great for diving and snorkeling with a number of reefs in the clear waters.
Dolphins can also be found in the waters around the island, so you might be able to spot some if you get lucky.
As you would expect from a Caribbean island, St Maarten has plenty of beaches where you can make the most of the favourable weather conditions, with Great Bay being popular.
Alongside the sandy beach, there are a range of restaurants and shops, as well as a casino if you’re feeling lucky.
Maho Beach is also popular but not for relaxing under the sun. Instead, it’s famous around the world for being located next to the Princess Juliana International Airport.
Stand on the beach and you’ll be able to marvel at large planes swooping in over the beach when coming in to land – passing little more than 100 feet above your head.