Recommend January 2014 - (Page 54)

ST. MAARTEN/ST. MARTIN St. Maarten/St. Martin The smallest body of land on earth divided between two countries (The Netherlands and France), St. Maarten/Martin packs a lot of variety into one island. If there's anything a shopper cannot ﬁnd in Philipsburg, that shopper just isn't looking. In recent years the Dutch side's restaurants have reinvented themselves to compete with the eateries on the French side, while Philipsburg's clubs continue to rock. Hard. BEST PLACE TO STAY The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort & Spa has a splendid pool and beach, ﬁtness and spa facilities, four restaurants, a casino, a kids' club and enough space in the guestrooms for all the loot acquired while shopping. Guests can recover from their spending sprees in a Westin Heavenly Bed. BEST NATURE EXPERIENCE The cliffs and beaches of Saint Martin National Nature Reserve shelter frigate birds, pelicans, herons, iguanas and mongooses. Sea turtles nest there, and just offshore, dolphins and humpback whales are returning between January and April. BEST CULTURAL EXPERIENCE Calypso, reggae, salsa, soca, R&B, funk-they all enhance this island's music. Visitors should scan local papers and/or ask their concierge about a chance to hear the following bands: One White Chic, House Appliances, Church on Monday, Next Level, Latin Sugar, and Mosaic. BEST SPORTING LIFE If you gamble, people call you a sport, so this is the place to acknowledge St. Maarten's baker's dozen casinos. The largest of them all, Casino Royale, boasts 400 slots, 20 gaming tables, and people playing every imaginable card game except (maybe) Old Maid. BEST KEPT SECRET Although Tahoma Beach sits next to popular Maho Beach and the Sonesta's Sunset Bar & Grill, this lovely stretch of sand with gentle surf is surprisingly undervisited. It's the perfect beach for zoning out after a go-go night at St. Maarten's lounges, pubs, and clubs. FACTS BEST TIME TO GO: December through July FUN FACT: In the 1980s the island's population jumped from 5,000 to 80,000 GETTING THERE: Delta ﬂies from Atlanta and New York (JFK) to St. Maarten ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport CURRENCY: Dutch Guilder and, on the French side, Euro MUST-TRY NATIVE FOOD: Crab backs, or crabmeat-stuffed crab shells BEST BUYS: Everything. Or, failing that, Breitling watches at Little Switzerland INFORMATION PLEASE: St. Maarten Tourist Bureau- vacationstmaarten.com; St. Martin- stmartinisland.org MUZ 11382 Recmd Ad_MUZ 11382 Recmd Ad 11/21/13 9:38 AM Page 1 G R A N D C A S E B E A C H C L U B The beach is so close, shoes are strictly optional. Emerald green mountains as a backdrop. The turquoise Caribbean Sea at your feet. Could there be any place more charming than this picture perfect cove called the Grand Case Beach Club ? Two powder white beaches. Fresh water pool. Day and night tennis. Delightful dining. Invigorating water sports. Shopping and excursions. Everything your heart desires. For reservations see your travel professional or call 1-800-344-3016. www.gcbc.com 32 D28-D35.indd 32 12/20/13 9:01 AM http://www.vacationstmaarten.com http://www.stmartinisland.org http://www.gcbc.com http://www.gcbc.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend January 2014

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Aloft Hotels
Tour Talk: Swain Destinations
Uniworld's Queen Isabel
Disney Magic
Delta Air Lines Travel Guide 2014
Macau
Egypt Update
Scandinavia Exposed
B Hotels & Resorts
What's New in Las Vegas

Recommend January 2014