0125 tra ac st.martinprint - the new york...

Kon Tiki

Sol é Luna

Calmos Café

Orient Beach

Octopus Diving

Wind Adventures

Baie aux Prunes

Taloula Mango's

GuavaberryEmporium

Pasanggrahan RoyalGuest House

Friar's Bay Beach

Great BayBeach

Roland Richardson Gallery

Chez Coco/La Maison Créole

Mary's BoonBeach Resort

(FRANCE)ST.-MARTIN

(NETHERLANDS)ST.-MAARTEN

Philipsburg

Marigot

GrandCase

HAITI

CUBADOMINICAN

REP.

COLOMBIA

JAMAICA

VENEZUELA

GRENADA

DOMINICA

ST. MARTIN

Caribbean Sea

Atlantic Ocean

PUERTO RICO

Miles 200

Where to Stay

PASANGGRAHAN ROYAL GUEST HOUSE 19 Front Street 599-54-23588 www.pasanhotel.comA former governor’s house, this hotel is the island’s oldest inn.

MARY’S BOON BEACH RESORT 117 Simpson Bay Road 599-54-57000www.marysboon.comThe hotel offers 35 plantation-style units that either face the beach or a garden with a small pool.

SOL É LUNA 61, Mont Vernon590-590-29-08-56www.solelunarestaurant.comThis Mediterranean-style inn has six suites built into a hillside with lush tropical vegetation.

Where to Eat

TALK OF THE TOWN Boulevard de Grand Case 590-590-29-63-89Eat ribs, barbecued chicken or fresh seafood straight off the grill at this open-air restaurant.

CHEZ COCO LA MAISON CRÉOLE13, place du Marche590-590-29-36-69This filling and inexpensive restaurant serves up a delicious curried conch.

TALOULA MANGO’SSt. Rose Arcade, Front Street 599-54-21645www.taloulamangos.comOrder an excellent chicken curry, accom-panied by two half-price piña coladas (during happy hour).

Cheap Beaches

GREAT BAY BEACH IN PHILIPSBURG Bordering the busy Dutch capital, the beach is not lacking in diversions.

BAIE AUX PRUNES (PLUM BAY BEACH)This beach on the French side is perfect for what it lacks: no tiki bars and no raucous watersports.

FRIAR’S BAY BEACHThe perfectly calm water is ideal for toddlers to splash around.

ORIENT BEACH ON THE ATLANTIC SIDE OF ST. MARTINA steady onshore breeze makes it a haven for windsurfers and kitesurfers.

Where to Party

CALMOS CAFÉ 40, boulevard de Grand Case590-590-29-01-85The cafe offers live music and draws a young crowd of locals.

KON TIKI Orient Beach590-590-87-43-27For rowdier action, check out the Sunday night beach party at this bar.

What to Do

WIND ADVENTURES 590-590-29-41-57 www.wind-adventures.com Rent a two-person kayak and snorkeling gear.

OCTOPUS DIVING 15, boulevard de Grand Case590-590-29-11-27www.octopusdiving.comTake a snorkeling excursion to dive sites where a pair of friendly octopuses hang out.

What to Buy

GUAVABERRY EMPORIUM 8-10 Front Street599-54-22965www.guavaberry.com Pick up a bottle of Guavaberry liqueur, made from rum, cane sugar and island-grown guavaberries.

ROLAND RICHARDSON GALLERY6, rue de la Republic 590-590-87-32-24www.rolandrichardson.comThis artist’s paintings have been described as Caribbean impressionism.

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Miles 2