Destination Weddings and Honeymoons

Each half of St. Martin/Sint Maarten has a personality of its own. Dutch Sint Maarten is lively from dawn to dawn, its casinos and nightclubs packed with tourists. French St. Martin, on the other hand, closes its doors at 9:00 with the exception of a few bistros in Grand Case.

The French have perfected seclusion, and their beaches are exquisite. Try Prune Bay, Long Bay and Rouge Bay on the isthmus around the lagoon. At Orient Bay in the northeast, the sand is so white it glitters at night. Cupecoy Bay and Cole Bay have the nicest strands on the Dutch side.

When it comes time to dine, Grand Case is unquestionably the place to be. The town is, perhaps, second only to Paris in the quantity and variety of snails served, but second to none for lobster.

Three tiny islands lie off the island's east coast: Ilet Pinel, Caye Verte and, farther out, Ile Tintamarre, and all three are good for day trips.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

• Scaling Paradise Peak for gorgeous views of harbor and towns below
• Sunning on Cupecoy Beach, the stretch preferred by locals and those in the know
• Eating anything in Grand Case