Sint Maarten – The Friendly Island
The 37-square-mile island known as Sint Maarten (Dutch) & Saint Martin (French) was first settled by the Arawak and was discovered by Christopher Columbus on behalf of Spain in 1493 on November 11th, the holy day of St. Martin of Tours, and so named the island after him. Since then it has been peacefully divided between Holland and France for the last 150 years and today, is the smallest land mass in the world to be shared by two sovereign nations. Historically interesting yes, but what separates this Caribbean gem from its regional neighbors, is the friendly island disposition of its inhabitants. Not to mention the plethora of gorgeous white sand beaches, unlimited shopping, and plenty of choices for both water and land based optional excursions!