From: paul.graveline@travel.com (Paul Graveline) 
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: CARIBBEAN TRAVEL ROUNDU11
Date: 31 Dec 92 01:03:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Travel Online / St. Louis Online - St. Louis, MO
Reply-To: paul.graveline@travel.com (Paul Graveline) 

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because  they seemed awfully expensive if I would have done them all.  
We  did  tour  Hedo  and weren't impressed with the rooms. Swept Away  
looked  good from the beach and so did Sandals. I sure wouldn't go to  
Hedo  or  Grand  Lido for the nude beaches because that can happen at  
many places. 

St. Martin Report by Dan Rahman 
------------------------------- 

I  took  a  five  day  trip  to  St.  Martin  (SXM), not so much as a  
vacation,  but as a mental health leave from a very stressful job. My  
schedule  is  staggered  so  that I only had to take one day off from  
work.  I'd been to Martinique and Guadeloupe, two of the other French  
islands  and  had  considered  going back to one of them, but flights  
are  few and inconvenient-- arrive 10 p.m., leave 7:30 a.m. There are  
flights  out  to  SXM  early  in  the morning with after returns that  
would allow me to be at work by 10 p.m.  

  The island is about 145 miles west by southwest of Puerto Rico with  
a  population  of  about  50,000.  It is half French, half Dutch. The  
Dutch  side  being  part  of  the Netherlands Antilles (NA). They are  
independent  from  the  Netherlands  with  their own currency, though  
heavily  subsidized  by  the  Kingdom  of the Netherlands. The French  
side  is  part of France (similar to Hawaii in relation to the United  
States).   Both  sides  have  reasonable  living  conditions  without  
obvious  abject  poverty,  though the French side appeared better off  
than  the  Dutch.  I  was  approached  twice  one  night  by  men  in  
Philipsburg looking for handouts.  

Almost  everyone  speaks  English  on  the island. The French are the  
antithesis   of  the  stereotypical  Parisian.  Every  one  was  very  
pleasant.  Everything  on the Dutch side was written in English (even  
aisle  signs  in  the  supermarket)  while  almost all signs, and all  
menus one the French side were bilingual.  

The  arrival  procedure  in  St. Martin seems a little slow. I'm sure  
the  process is not helped by American and Continental having flights  
that  arrive  at almost the same time. I was glad I had only carry-on  
luggage  even  if  I had to carry it down the stairs that drove up to  
the  plane  since  everyone  from  the  Continental  flight was still  
waiting  for  luggage.  Be sure to fill out the bottom portion of the  
arrival  card  you  get  on the plane. It speeds up the line to clear  
immigration.  The  agent I had was less than cordial, and didn't like  
the  name  of  the  hotel  I had written. After repeating the name in  
French, he conceded, "Oh, it's on the French side."  

I  rented  from Avis since I've had good service from them when there  
were  car  problems. All the paperwork is done by hand--no computers,  
though  they  did  have  a computer printout with my reservation. You  
can  probably  get  a  cheaper  rate  than  the $23/day I paid, so if  
you're  not  concerned  about  the  company,  shop around. I rented a  
SMALL  car.  Many people rented Jeeps, which are undoubtedly fun, but  
it  rained quite a bit and I was dry. No road is so bad that you have  
to  have a Jeep. None of the companies are allowed to deliver the car  
to  the customer at the airport or offer complementary transportation  
to  the  car  pickup location (though some small companies will break  
the  law). This means you need to take a taxi to your hotel ($10-$25)  
or  the rental company office ($6 for Avis) to get the car. Hertz and  
National  have  offices  that are a reasonable walk [walk back toward  
the  arrival  area  from  the  renal  office,  turn left to reach the  
airport  exit,  and then turn right, going past the Stop and Shop] if  
you  have some one to watch your luggage while you go for the car. My  
departure  to  Avis  was  seriously  delayed  by Queen Beatrix of the  
Netherlands  visiting.  She  made  a major traffic jam. Hopefully she  
won't  visit  for quite a while now. [She went on to Saba after a few  
days.]  You can return your car at the airport. There is a common lot  
for the companies across the street from the airport.  

Just  about  any  map will do for the basics, though the one I got at  
my  hotel  was  the  best  for showing small roads, that were usually  
dirt.  Roads are better on the French side in general, though neither  
side  has exclusive rights to bad roads. There are speed bumps in key  
locations,  particularly  going from the airport to Marigot via Basse  
Terre  (Lowlands).  The  French post signs at the bumps on open road,  
and  they are very visible in Marigot. The Dutch surprise you, so you  
have  to  keep you eyes open. With time you can learn where they are.  
The  people there drive intensely, and seem to be in a big rush. They  
are  the  only  people on St. Martin who ARE in a rush. On the French  
side,  at  least, seat belts are required, though it didn't look like  
a  lot  of  locals  bothered.  In addition, you are supposed to leave  
your  doors  unlocked when you are driving on the French side, though  
I don't think you would actually be given a ticket.  

Beaches  are  probably  the main reason for most people to visit SXM.  
Topless  beaches  are  the standard on the French side (as in France)  
and  nudity can be found at times at Long, Plum and Red Bays. Even if  
not  a  nude  beach  the  French  may change from swim wear to street  
clothes  in  the  open  so if even brief nudity offends you, consider  
avoiding  the  French  side.  There  are  several places to windsurf.  
There  wasn't  enough wind while I was there, but I did inquire about  
prices.  It  runs $15 to $20/hr. for board rental. Due to patents you  
will  find  different  equipment on the two sides--BIC (like the pen)  
on  the  French  side, and American equipment on the Dutch. There are  
also sailboat for hire, jet skis and parasailing.  
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