When it comes to offering up a variety of vibes, this Caribbean island pulls double duty.
The world is full of bucket-list destinations, which makes trying to narrow your next trip down to just one feel impossible. Luckily, with St. Martin and Sint Maarten, allows you to hit two birds with one island. The small 37-square-mile island is split in two. Legend has it that long ago, a Frenchman and Dutchmen raced along the coast in opposite directions. When they met, the governments of France and the Netherlands split the island on that line down the middle. Today, that means visitors get treated to a unique experience: two nationalities, two different vibes—one unbeatable vacation.
Though the gateless border makes it easy to cross from side to side, you’ll ultimately have to choose where you want to stay: the quieter, culinarily captivating French St. Martin, or the bustling Dutch Sint Maarten. Let’s be clear, the island is fantastic. You can’t make a wrong choice when picking which side to stay on—but you can pick the side that’s better for you.