North America
French bistros, lagoon views and beaches on a shared island.
Saint Martin is the French northern half of an island shared with Dutch Sint Maarten, with no real border between them. Marigot has a waterfront market and Fort Louis above the harbour, Grand Case is a small town lined with restaurants and beachside grills, and Orient Bay is a long, breezy beach. A short boat ride leads to tiny Pinel Island.
It feels more French and slightly calmer than the Dutch side: croissants in the morning, Creole cooking and ribs at Grand Case's lolos by night. Most visitors fly into Princess Juliana on the Dutch side and drive across. December to April is dry and breezy; September and October carry the highest hurricane risk.
January, February, March, April, December.