St. Maarten is located in the West Indies. The northern portion, called Saint-Martin, is a dependency of Guadeloupe, and an overseas department of France. The southern portion, called Saint-Maarten is internally self-governed and is part of the Netherland Antilles. Agriculture and industry are limited, but the tropical, breezy climate and natural beauty of Saint-Martin attract many tourists. The main French town, Marigot, and the principal Dutch town, Phillipsburg, are both free ports.
French St Martin isn't quite as cosmopolitan as Martinique, nor is it the royalty and rock star magnet that chic St Barts has become. Nevertheless, with its fine French restaurants, fashionable shops and glamorous people, St Martin puts its own spin on the 'Tropez of the tropics' mantle. More than a major gateway to the rest of the Eastern Caribbean, St Martin also offers visitors two countries for the price of one: St Martin takes up half the land on its island home, and the Netherlands' Sint Maarten takes up the other half, with no border controls in between. With balmy weather, beaches that are among the most glorious in the region and the best duty-free shopping in the Eastern Caribbean, people find it easy to worship this heavenly island paradise.
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