St Martin holidays

There’s simply nowhere quite like it – a St Martin holiday is a unique experience...

The tiny Caribbean island of St Martin is so stunning that both the Dutch and French governments refused to give up their claims to it hundreds of years ago, meaning it’s still split between the two. And once you see this lovely rock at the north-east tip of the Caribbean island chain, you’ll understand why.

The sea here is a dazzling aquamarine, and many snorkellers say it hides some of the Caribbean's best opportunities for exploring life under the water. But it's not all about daytime activities on holidays in St Martin. The sea may be as clear as another of St Martin's famous attractions – white rum – but that's about the only similarity between the two.

In fact, St Martin is one of the Caribbean's best spots for after-dark fun and entertainment. And you'll quickly find yourself at home in the friendly bars, where rum cocktails are the perfect choice. The island also has numerous salsa bars and several major nightclubs – particularly in Simpson Bay, where venues are open around the clock.

Its French connections, meanwhile, mean that visitors on St Martin holidays are spoiled when it comes to dining, too. Despite the 50-50 ownership split of the island, France dominates in the culinary field. And the food capital of the island is considered to be Grand Case, home to some particularly fine eateries where you can try local specialities such as stuffed crab. For a cheaper meal, you can also try the cooking huts dotted on the roadsides, where delicious lobster, chicken and barbecued ribs can be enjoyed for next to nothing.

You can also save yourself some cash on hotels and car hire by bagging a bargain with the TravelSupermarket search tool. Car hire facilities are located at Princess Juliana Airport (SXM), where planes coming in to land just feet above the beach.

So get into the swing of your St Martin break now by using TravelSupermarket to search for great deals on holidays today.

St Martin is an all-year-round kind of place. A few showers from August to November will do little to dampen holiday spirits...

The tropical climate of St Martin means it enjoys average year-round temperatures of about 27C, peaking at around 32C in August. Evening lows rarely fall below 20C at any time of year. And while rainfall is more likely between August and November, showers are short and occur most often in the early hours.

The French and Dutch sides of the island often compete to lay on the best celebrations. It’s a win-win situation for you!

French Carnival; February/March: The northern towns and villages don their fancy dress and fill the streets with dancing, fireworks, food and drink for one of the two largest parties on St Martin.

Dutch Carnival; April: In April it's the turn of the southern half to host the fun as islanders celebrate “Sint Maarten” with, once again, colourful costumes, music and dance.

Billfish Tournament, June: Up to 40 fishing boats jostle for the best spots on the waves in an annual contest to see who can bring in the biggest catch. Competition is stiff and participation is popular, so if you want to take part make sure you book your place on a boat well in advance.