text:
Saint-Louis

Saint-Louis is a city and a world heritage site on the Grande Cote in Northern Senegal, at the mouth of Senegal River which serves as the border with Mauritania. With some 259,000 inhabitants (2021), it's the country's eighth largest city.

Understand
The city of Saint-Louis is about 260 km north of Dakar on the coast and spreads across the mainland (Sor), Île de N’Dar (the Island), and the Langue de Barbarie Peninsula. The mainland is connected to the historical island, which is just 2 km long and 400 m wide, via the Pont Faidherbe Bridge, which was rebuilt in 2011.

The Île de N’Dar is linked to the Langue de Barbarie Peninsula via the Pont Mustapha Malick Gaye Bridge; the peninsula is home to the beautiful beaches of the Hydrobase as well as part of Langue de Barbarie National Park. Also accessible from Saint-Louis are the Parc National des Oiseaux du Djoudj and the Réserve Spéciale de Faune de Guembeul.

Saint-Louis was founded in 1659 as a fortification and was known as St-Louis-du-Fort to distinguish it from other places with the same name in the French Empire. The area had already earlier been an important trading point, but the island where the colonial city was founded was uninhabited as natives thought it was haunted.

During the age of colonization, in the 17th and 18th centuries, the town changed hands between the French and British a couple of times, and became one of the most important cities in West Africa, both culturally, economically and politically. It served as the capital of French West Africa until 1902, and capital of French Mauritania until 1957. Today Saint-Louis is more of a regional center, but the world heritage-listed old town reflects its glorious past.

By plane
Saint-Louis has an airport, but there are no flights as of February 2020. The nearest major airport is the one in Dakar.

By car
If you have your own car, from Dakar take Route N2 all the way to Saint-Louis. It is approximately 260 km from Dakar.

At Dakar Airport you can hire a car with or without a guide/driver. Prices with a guide start at roughly CFA 20,000 per day and increase depending on quality of the vehicle.

By bus
The easiest way to get to Saint-Louis from Dakar is in a sept-place, which is a seven-passenger station wagon. They leave from the main station in Dakar (also called Pompier). You wait at the station for the car to be full, which means the rest of the passengers are heading for Saint-Louis as well, so it's a direct trip. The going rate is about 5000 CFA. To rent out an entire sept-place it should cost about CFA 33,000-35,000.

Mini cars (vans) from Gare Pompier in Dakar to St. Louis (tourists on a tight budget): mini cars cost CFA3,500 from Dakar to St. Louis and you would have to pay a small amount for baggage (CFA 100-500 maximum for most suitcases or bags). Carry valuable items with you personally – not in baggage which will be carried elsewhere. Sometimes things of value inside can go missing. Also prepare yourself for a long day. These cars have a top cruising speed of about 50 km/h and make frequent stops.

Ndiaga Ndiaye (pronounced jegg-in-jaay) (big white Mercedes buses) from Gare Pompier in Dakar to St. Louis (Tourists on a tight, tight budget): Ndiaga Ndiaye cost CFA 2,500 from Dakar to St. Louis and you will have to pay a small amount for baggage (CFA 100-500 maximum for most suitcases or bags). Carry valuable items with you personally – not in baggage which will be carried elsewhere. Sometimes things of value inside can go missing. Also prepare yourself for a long day. These buses have a top cruising speed of about 50 km/h and make frequent stops. They can also take several hours to depart considering that they fill all the seats before departure. Always look inside and count the seats which are open before paying for your pass. Operators often lie about how many seats are left in order to get more clients and you could end up waiting for hours at the gare, which is not always pleasant.

Senegal Demm Dikk runs air conditioned buses from Dakar to Saint-Louis departing in the morning. These are comfortable and ultimately not much more expensive than taking a Sept-Place.

By taxi
You should be able to get a personal taxi from Dakar airport to St. Louis or Mouit for around CFA 60,000 depending on the condition of the taxi and negotiation skills. (4 people maximum.)

By train
Although there are tracks and a colonial railway station, trains have not served Saint-Louis since around 2003.

By public transport
You can usually count on taxis fares in Saint-Louis to be a solid fixed rate of 500 CFA. From the garage (gare routiere) to downtown or at night expect to pay 600 CFA. There is a fairly decent "car rapide" public transport system that shouldn't cost more than 100 CFA for your average stretch. On the Island of Ndar, there are caleche rides designed for site-seeing tourists. However, most of the historic city is easily accessible by foot.

By bike or scooter
To see more of Saint-Louis, why not rent a scooter or a bicycle, this is a great way to cover more ground and to explore some places that you might not be able to reach on foot. Located on the corner of Rue Blanchot and Quai Roume on the island. Scooters are available for 10,000 CFA/day and bikes for 5,000 CFA/day.

See
Saint-Louis was founded in 1659 and named after the French King Louis XIV in the 1700s, it is the oldest city to be created by Europeans on the western coast of Africa and served as the capital of Senegal from 1872 to 1957. It played an important cultural and economic role in the whole of West Africa, a stroll around the Ville (as the cab drivers know it as) quickly reveals the French colonial influence.

Many of the buildings hold their old character with many brightly colored buildings and beautiful balconies to be seen all around the island. The island was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000. Be sure to stop into the Syndicat d’Initiative of Saint-Louis in the Governance building opposite the bridge and pick up the urban walk they have mapped out.

Langue de Barbarie Peninsula
On the Langue de Barbarie Peninsula you can check out the fishing village of Guet N’Dar and watch the bustling fish market and catch glimpses of the colorful pirogues that are used for fishing. Further down on the Guet N’Dar is the fisherman cemetery and past that is the Hydrobase, a great place to spend a day at the beach. Occupying the very south end of the Peninsula is part of Langue de Barbarie National Park which is home to a variety of bird species.

Guided tours
There are two main tour operators that offer tours in and around the Saint-Louis area and northern Senegal, Sahel Decouverte and Saint Louis Jeunesse Voyages. Contact either of these for their offerings but some of the different daily tours include, a tour of the Island, the Parc National des Oiseaux du Djoudj, the Parc National de Langue de Barbarie and also a boat ride along the Senegal River to see mangrove trees. If you have more time there are longer trips available and it is best to contact the agencies below for the most up to date offerings. Another good resource is the Syndicat d’Initiative which also has a smaller offering of tours.

Learn
For those that are staying longer, classes in Wolof and French can be taken at the French Cultural Center, see the contact information above.

Buy
Saint-Louis offers a lot by way of shopping, you can check out the large market on the mainland as well as a smaller market on Guet N’Dar which if you look hard enough you can find boutiques filled with fabric down the side streets or you can check out any number of the small shops on the island to get your fix of locally made items and other tourist type offerings. Boutiques selling everything from water and candy to ice cream and basic staples can be found on just about every block as well throughout all of Saint-Louis.

Tourist markets
There are many boutiques on the island that sell locally made items, such as clothing, wood carvings, jewelry, post cards and many other Senegalese crafts. Check out Chez Adja Sokho Creations where the owner serves as designer and then has the designs made in Saint-Louis, located on Rue Blanchot and Rue Blaise Diagne. Also visit the fair trade shop of Keur Fall where the items in the store come from one of fifteen villages in the Diourbel region that make up an association called Ndem, the store is located on the Quai Roume. Another nice place to shop is the Galerie N’Dar, Cadeau and Souvenir Mama Africa, on Rue Blaise Diagne. You will also find an Artisanal Village on the main land of the Rue De La Corniche, be prepared to bargain when you visit here and be prepared to be hassled.

Supplies & provisions
A boutique can be found on nearly every block, you will find the boutiques stocked with snacks, sodas, and other beverages but for those looking to do some cooking themselves check out Exotica and D.S.K. Mini Prix both located on the Island on the Rue Khalifa Ababacar Sy both of which offer a larger selection of Western foods.

Gasoline
Fuel can be purchased at any one of the gas stations on the mainland. You will find gas stations along the Rue de la Corniche as you come into Saint-Louis from the south. There is also an Oil Libya off the Route N2 as you head north out of town and there are many stations along the Avenue General de Gaulle as well.

Daily market
The market runs daily up the Avenue General de Gaulle and offers vegetables, fruit, clothing, fabric, you can pretty much find anything you need here, including used clothing that comes from America and Europe, keep your eyes open for a chance to find some cast off t-shirts that are always good for a laugh. Wander down any of the side streets from the main market and you will find additional fabric stores, clothing stores, tailors and boutiques. Check out the smaller, less hectic market on Guet N’Dar just as you cross over the bridge, a walk down the side streets from the market reveals boutiques stuffed to the brim with different fabrics and tailors hard at work.

Eat
Given that Saint-Louis is a hot destination for French-speaking tourists and a home to many foreign-born residents, the offerings are plentiful on the island for food and drink. You can stop at any one of the unassuming Tangana shacks for Senegalese food or a simple sandwich which can be found in great numbers on both the Mainland or the Island or check out some of the restaurants and bars listed below for something a little different. Also don't be afraid to stop at one of the many sandwich stands set up on the street or any of the other street foods. You can also drink a cup of Nescafe or Cafe Touba for under 100 CFA at many places along the street. In general you will find that it is cheaper to have a drink on the main land as opposed to the Island.

Budget

Mid-range

Langue de Barbarie Peninsula

Religious services
There are two Catholic churches in Saint-Louis, one on the island and another on Sor.

Go next

 * Parc National de la Langue de Barbarie - Located just 18 km (11 miles) south of Saint Louis in the region of Gandiol, the park is home to over 160 different species of bird as well as other animals and is a great place for nature lovers, sightseers, photographers and bird watchers to visit. The park offers tours by boat, or explore on bike or by foot. There is a monthly bird count that visitors to the park can participate in that happens towards the end of each month, contact the park for details.

 * Parc National des Oiseaux du Djoudj - Located in the Senegal River Delta, this bird sanctuary is home to some 1.5 million birds covering 16,000 hectares and here you will find a wide variety of bird species. It is easy for bird lovers to take a day trip to the park and visit the third largest bird sanctuary in the world. The park is most easily accessible with an organized tour group which can be arranged through one of the agencies listed under the activities section. It was dedicated as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1981.

 * Réserve Spéciale de Faune de Guembeul - This natural reserve is home to many bird species, mammals and reptiles as well as to the African Spurred Tortoise and is about 10km south of Saint-Louis.

title: Saint-Louis


text:
Saint Louis (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Saint Louis:

Canada

 * Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! - a village in Quebec.

France

 * Saint-Louis (Haut-Rhin) a small town across the border from Basel

Senegal

 * Saint-Louis — a city in Northern Senegal

United States of America

 * Bay St. Louis (Mississippi) - a town on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi
 * East St. Louis (Illinois) - an Illinois town on the eastern side of the Mississippi River near St Louis, Missouri.
 * St. Louis (Michigan) — A city in Michigan.
 * St. Louis (Missouri) — A city in Missouri.
 * St. Louis Metro East (Illinois) - an area of Illinois near St. Louis, Missouri.
 * St. Louis Area (Missouri) - an area of Missouri near St. Louis.
 * St. Louis Park (Minnesota) - a suburb of Minneapolis.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Saint Louis (disambiguation)


text:
Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!

'''[http://www.saintlouisduhaha.com Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!]''' is a tiny village on the Trans-Canada Highway in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec.

Understand!!
Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! is an agricultural village of 1300 people (2011), rivals Wawa (a former mining town in northwestern Ontario named with an Indigenous word for "goose") as an example of a tiny place with a ridiculous-sounding name. It is the only town in the world with two exclamation marks in its name.

"Ha! Ha!" refers to nearby Lake Témiscouata, haha here being an archaic French word for an unexpected obstacle or abruptly ending path.

Most traffic from the Maritimes and Atlantic Canada must pass through the narrow Edmundston-Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!-Rivière-du-Loup highway to reach the other regions of Canada. There is one alternate route, an equally-narrow road from New Brunswick through Amqui to Rimouski, but the Trans-Canada mainline is the more direct route.

By car!!
Autoroute 85 is part of the Trans-Canada Highway. It connects from Rivière-du-Loup in the north, and the New Brunswick provincial border in the south. In New Brunswick, the highway is named Route 2, and continues to Edmundston.

See!!

Sleep!!
The primary hotel and motel district for Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! is 10 km to the east in Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, a small lakeside suburb on the main highway. The provincial park (Parc national du Lac-Témiscouata) is on the opposite side of this lake.

title: Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!


text:
St. Louis Metro East

St. Louis Metro East is a region of southwestern Illinois that includes the Illinois part of the St. Louis metropolitan area, plus surrounding counties. It consists of the counties of Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Fayette, Jersey, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair, and Washington. The most populous city is Belleville, which borders East St. Louis, once the most populous.

Cities

 * - historic homes, 50 antique shops, 9 golf courses, bed and breakfasts, meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, and Argosy Alton Casino among other things.
 * - Historically the biggest city in the southern third of Illinois, East St. Louis has experienced grave population loss since the middle of the 20th century and while vast is now less populated than many of the area's smaller cities.
 * - North of Belleville and was home to the U.S. Air Force's blimp squadron
 * - Historically the biggest city in the southern third of Illinois, East St. Louis has experienced grave population loss since the middle of the 20th century and while vast is now less populated than many of the area's smaller cities.
 * - North of Belleville and was home to the U.S. Air Force's blimp squadron
 * - North of Belleville and was home to the U.S. Air Force's blimp squadron
 * - North of Belleville and was home to the U.S. Air Force's blimp squadron
 * - North of Belleville and was home to the U.S. Air Force's blimp squadron
 * - North of Belleville and was home to the U.S. Air Force's blimp squadron
 * - North of Belleville and was home to the U.S. Air Force's blimp squadron

Other destinations

 * in Collinsville was the center of the largest prehistoric Native American city in the U.S. and one of only 20 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the nation.

By plane
is the largest airport serving St. Louis, with annual passenger traffic of approximately 13 million people. The airport is 14 miles northwest of the city center and is directly served by the MetroLink light rail line. A 2-hour MetroLink transfer ticket costs $4 from the airport. Uber vehicles are not allowed to pick up at the airport, although they may drop off passengers.

is 3 miles east of the city center and serves charter and cargo flights.

is 21 miles east and only serves Allegiant flights.

Car
The easiest way to get around, since this is a quiet suburban area.

MetroLink
The St Louis area's light rail system, it runs deep into Illinois. Many of the Illinois stations have free parking.

Bus
The Metro East is divided into Madison County (north) and St. Clair County (South).
 * St Clair County buses are operated by Metro St. Louis which is the main transit provider for the St Louis metro region. These buses tend to begin/end at MetroLink stops, providing local service.
 * Madison County buses are separately operated by Madison County Transit.

Ferry
Due to how remote Calhoun County is, ferries are used to connect it to both Illinois and Missouri. The Illinois Department of Transportation maintains two ferry services across the Illinois River for Brussels and Kampsville (normal bridge access is available at Hardin). These ferry services are free. Other private services also exist for various costs.

Do

 * visit Collinsville for the World's Largest Catsup Bottle Birthday Party held in July
 * visit Collinsville for the World's Largest Catsup Bottle Birthday Party held in July

Sleep
Built in 1907, Twiss House is a Queen Anne home in Aviston, IL listed in the National Register of Historic Places. More than 800 sq ft of attic space has been remodeled into a private suite. Approximately 35 miles east of downtown St Louis.
 * Twiss House Bed & Breakfast

 * Timmermann House Bed & Breakfast located outside of Aviston, with stargazing, sound of distant train whistles. Decorated with antiques and collectables with a gourmet breakfast.

Stay safe
East St.Louis has the reputation locally of being one of the most dangerous towns in the United States.

title: St. Louis Metro East


text:
St. Louis Park

St. Louis Park is a western suburb of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota in the United States.

title: St. Louis Park


text:
Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is an island nation in the Caribbean. Saint Lucia is a popular destination due to its tropical weather, lush and mountainous scenery, numerous beaches, local accommodations, and range of resorts. In recent years St. Lucia has become a significant, award-winning wedding destination

Other tourist attractions include a drive-in volcano and sulphur springs, the Botanical Gardens, the Majestic twin Peaks "The Pitons"--a world heritage site, Edmund Rainforest, the Tourille Waterfall (almost a drive-ion waterfall), Sapphire Jungle Spa, extensive reef for diving and snorkeling (all in Soufrière), and Pigeon Island National Park, which is home to Fort Rodney, an old British military base.

The twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton) are striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere that are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean.

Understand
Tourism is vital to Saint Lucia's economy. Its economic importance is expected to continue to increase as the market for bananas becomes more competitive. Tourism tends to be more substantial during the dry season (January through April), although there are a handful of events held at other times of the year attracting visitors including the St. Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival (May), Carnival (July), and the Creole Heritage Month (October). The island is called the "Helen of the West Indies,"due to its striking beauty.

History
Saint Lucia's first known inhabitants were Arawaks, believed to have come from northern South America around 200-400 CE. Numerous archaeological sites on the island have produced specimens of the Arawak's' well-developed pottery. Caribs gradually replaced Arawaks during the period from 800 to 1000 CE.

Europeans first landed on the island in either 1492 or 1502 during Spain's early exploration of the Caribbean. The British failed in their first attempts at colonization in the early 17th century. The island was first settled by the French, who signed a treaty with the local Caribs in 1660. Like the British and Dutch, the French began to develop the island for the cultivation of sugar cane on extensive plantations.

Caribbean conditions were hard, and many slaves died before they lived long enough to have children. The French (and later British) continued to import slaves until the latter nation abolished the trade, and then the legal institution. By that time, people of ethnic African descent greatly outnumbered those of ethnic European background. Following the abolition of slavery, the British brought in many indentured Indian labourers to work on the plantations instead, and a significant minority of Saint Lucians are of at least partial Indian descent.

Thereafter Saint Lucia was much contested by the two European powers until the British secured it in 1814. It was part of the British Windward Islands colony. It joined the West Indies Federation (1958–62) when the colony was dissolved. In 1967, Saint Lucia became one of the six members of the West Indies Associated States, with internal self-government. In 1979 it gained full independence.

Climate
Tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January through April, rainy season from May through September; The most recent hurricane tocause damage in St. Lucia was Beryl (end of June, 2024), although this storm was downgraded to a tropical storm, as it reached St Lucia's shores. Prior to this storm, Hurricane Thomas caused considerable damage in 2014.

Terrain
Volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys. Its natural hazards include volcanic activity and strong rains causing flooding. Its highest point is Mount Gimie at 950 m.

Tourist information

 * Saint Lucia Tourism website

Cities

 * – the capital
 * -- where the international airport is located
 * – old capital

Entry requirements
Citizens of the following countries do not need visas: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Beglium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (includes Faroe Islands and Greenland), Dominica, Estonia, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, and Zambia.

For dependencies:
 * The Dutch municipalities of Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and the Dutch constituent countries of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Marteen
 * The French overseas collectivities of French Polynesia and Saint Martin
 * The French overseas regions of French Guiana, Guadelope, and Martinique
 * The British Overseas Territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Saint Helena, and the Turks and Caicos Islands
 * All three British Crown Dependencies
 * Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

If your nationality is not mentioned anywhere above, you will need to apply for a visa. As of the moment, citizens of Haiti do need visas but this is temporary.

Most nationalities pay $50 for a single-entry tourist visa. It lasts 6 weeks, and extensions can sometimes be made at Saint Lucia's immigration department.

You must have a completed application form, passport, 1 passport-size photo, funds to cover your stay, the $50 fee, and a travel ticket for leaving Saint Lucia to get the visa.

Everyone will need a passport except citizens of countries in the OECS. For stays of 6 months or less, citizens of Canada or the USA can enter with any type of national ID card and proof of an onward ticket.

By plane
St. Lucia has two airports,
 * George FL Charles Airport, which is near Castries.
 * Hewanorra International, which is near Vieux Fort.

George FL Charles Airport is closer to many of the all-inclusive resorts, has a modest terminal and runway able to easily support inter-island commercial flights. For less-experienced pilots in high-performance aircraft, the over-water approach and hills on both sides of runway can seem a bit harrowing, but prevailing winds are usually favorable. The airport is right next to Vigie beach, so it's possible to top up your sun tan while you wait for your flight. The terminal is about two miles from downtown Castries, so it is walkable if you do not have much luggage.

Hewanorra is the larger of the two airports in St. Lucia. International flights from Europe and continental North America arrive at this airport. Many of the resorts in the north of St. Lucia require a 1 to 1.5 hour journey by car from Hewanorra. However, the journey north is a good way to see the island except if arriving at night. It is recommended to either have a rental car available or to take a taxi as public transportation is inconsistent throughout the island. Expect to pay 80 to 90 USD for a taxi ride to the Rodney Bay resort area in the north of the island.

More information on both airports can be found on the official website for the St.Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority

By boat
Cruise ships (usually one or two at a time) are frequent visitors to the small, picturesque harbour in Castries. An open air mall abuts the main pier and offers "duty free" shops. See "Buy" below. Visiting St. Lucia via a cruise is a popular option for travelers. During cruise season, many attractions throughout the island may be busy due to the volume of visitors from the ships.

Ferries to and from neighbouring islands are available, if rather expensive.

The most extensive official service is operated by Express des Isles, which runs services to Martinique, Guadeloupe, etc. E.g. one way to Martinique is €69 online + EC$33 harbour tax payable at ferry terminal.

Channel Shuttles Inc. operate a slightly cheaper ferry service (EC$235 including departure tax) to Martinique operating from Castries at 10:00 on Wednesday and 15:00 on Thursdays. They can be contacted on 7139701/4518161 or their office can be found in the ferry terminal just outside of Castries.

Catamaran rides from Soufriere to Rodney Bay are also offered through a local tour company.

Get around
The main way for tourists to get around Saint Lucia is by taxi, either arranged by the hotel, taxi agency or individual operators. The tours arranged by resorts are usually the most expensive way to travel but might offer food and drink. Using a local taxi operator to plan your own adventure will be much more affordable. Your hotel staff should provide you with a number of a taxi agency or operator that they use regularly. The prices are generally fixed but you can shop around to get the best rate if given several numbers. Many taxi drivers that run from the resorts to the marketplaces will offer tours of the island for around $145 per van load. Each van will hold between 6 and 12 people.

For the budget travellers or the more adventurous tourists, local buses provide a cheap and fun way of getting around. They are small vans which hold around 10-14 people and vary in quality. They run irregularly, but frequently from rural towns to urban centers, (i.e. Soufriere to Castries, Soufriere to Vieux Fort, Vieux Fort to Castries), each day most travelling to Castries in the morning and returning to Soufriere late afternoon. They are very affordable and provide a unique experience each time; the vehicle operators often decorate the interiors and play their own music, either a mix of Caribbean flavours or country. If you want to try and take a transport discuss your route and travel time with one of the local staff familiar with the bus system. Many of them likely take a transport to and from work.

Water taxis are a main source of income for many locals and can be a much quicker, convenient and picturesque method of traveling short distances to private beaches or coastal towns. Many water taxi operators in the Town of Soufriere can be found at the jetty. The rates of these drivers are a little high and can be bargained down. There are a few taxi owners who regularly play dominoes and sell drinks near the Hummingbird Hotel and Soufriere beach. They can offer a much cheaper rate. From Soufriere, you can take a water taxi to Anse Chastenet and Jalousie Beaches.

A helicopter taxi can be taken from Hewannora Airport to Vigie Airport and is a quick and spectacular way to get to the resorts on the northern end of the island.

Renting a car is also possible at rates similar to those found in the United States or Canada. Driving is on the left-hand side and drivers require a permit (US$12 for one day, US$21 for 3 months).

Talk

 * Languages : English (official), French patois

Virtually all residents will be able to converse with travellers in English.

See

 * The Pitons - Two volcanic plugs arising from the sea created by volcanic activity in the past. They are listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site and depicted in the national flag.
 * Pigeon Island nature reserve - just north of Gros Islet, the park has some of the oldest buildings on Saint Lucia and affords views across to Martinique.
 * The green flash, if you're very lucky. This is sometimes seen in the tropics in the last split-second of sunset, when just as the sun vanishes the sky above it is momentarily a brilliant green. Conditions have to be just right: you need a hot calm day, with a clear view out to the sea horizon. Even then, most evenings all you'll get is a false flash, when staring towards the sunset leaves a green after-image on your vision. You'll begin to doubt it exists, but keep watching for it every clear sunset. Once seen, never forgotten.

Do

 * The Sulfur Springs - just south of Soufriere, these hot springs are one of the main attractions on the island. There is a pool that the hot water runs through, so make sure to take your swimming trunks and go for a dip!
 * Rainforest hikes - there are several official hiking routes on the island. The Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries site has links to information about the ones they support.
 * Climbing the Gros Piton is an achievable goal for most people. The trailhead begins at an elevation of about 600 feet (approx. 180 m) above sea level and requires about two hours of moderate to strenuous hiking to reach the summit of about 2600 feet (approx. 800 m) above sea level.  A further 1-and-a-half hours are needed to descend.  Guides are required and entrance costs US$50.  Taxis or local buses can be used to reach the trail head.
 * Snorkeling is popular and a number of beaches are suitable.
 * SCUBA diving - done at Pigeon Island, one of the island's Historical Landmarks, as well as between The Pitons, a World Heritage Site. /.
 * Ziplining - Several courses are offered throughout the island. The courses in the northern part of the island are more complex and offer views of the rainforests. The course at the Morne Coubaril Estate by Soufriere is simpler and provides a view of the Pitons.

Money
The currency of the country is the East Caribbean dollar, denoted by the symbol: "$" or "EC$" (ISO currency code: XCD), which is also used by seven other island nations in the Caribbean. The EC dollar is subdivided into 100 cents. It is pegged to the United States dollar at an exchange rate of US$1 = EC$2.70.

Coins circulate in denominations of 5, 10 and 25 cents and 1 dollar. Banknotes circulate in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollars.

Shopping
Castries market is a good place to buy gifts as is the JQ Shopping Mall in Rodney Bay. There is also La Place Carenage, a duty free and gift and souvenir outlet located in the main harbour of Castries. There you will find fine jewellery arts and crafts, ideal for gifts.

Supermarkets have quite good prices on rums produced or bottled on the island, e.g., Elements 8, Admiral Rodney, and especially Chairman's Reserve.

Visits by cruise ships over the years have generated a duty free mall (at dockside, Point Seraphine, Castries) with jewelry, souvenirs, art, liquor/rums and other offerings typical for cruise shoppers.

You may also find lower, "duty-free" prices available across the island in strip malls and resorts. You may need identification as a visitor to qualify for duty-free treatment.

Local
Saint Lucian food consists mainly of fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and a variety of curry, jerk, rice and stewed dishes. The coal pot is a delicious stew, traditional to native carib cultures and can be found at many local restaurants in Castries, Soufriere and Vieux-Fort. Vegetarian and meat rotis can be found at a number of small local restaurants. Ask any local for the best roti shop and he or she will tell you how to get there. Rotis are usually made fresh in the morning so, if eating a spicy early lunch is of interest, it's highly recommended. Local cuisine is prepared throughout the island so, depending on where you are staying, ask a local if he or she knows someone/somewhere that prepares local food and you will be sure to be welcomed somewhere nearby. Many rum shacks in rural towns also prepare food if given advanced notice. Fish, veggie, chicken and goat meals are very common and usually come with a number of sides including salad, plantain, breadfruit, macaroni, and rice prepared a number of different ways.

For a quick snack, barbeques with chicken and pork can be found in any community on a Friday night. The food is well marinated and spiced. Soak up the sauce with a barbequed or fried bake. Fried chicken and fish can also be found, and are quite delicious.

There are weekly parties and festivals held in various communities throughout the island where you can also sample a range of local foods, including sea food, barbequed meats, salads and drinks. These festivals are filled with dancing, drinks, food and music. Let your hair down, try some cuisine and lime it up. Be sure to ask what is in the pots before you sample the food. For those environmentally conscious, blackfish is porpoise.

 * Friday night: Anse La Raye "Seafood Friday"
 * Friday night: Rodney Bay Jump-up
 * Every Second Saturday: Canaries Creole Pot
 * Saturday: Dennery (East coast) Fish Fry

International
Rodney Bay is full of people from all over the world and the restaurants reflect the diversity. You can find a variety of cuisines, from East Indian to Italian including local dishes of course, in a small area.

Drink
Saint Lucia Distillers produces a variety of rums across a wide price range.

 * 1931 - A super premium series of rum that's produced in limited quantity batches each year
 * Chairman's Reserve - Premium rum that includes a spiced rum, a white rum, and two dark rums
 * Crystal Lime - A rum-based lime liqueur
 * Bounty - A mass market red rum that's commonly drunk on the island
 * Marigot Bay Liqueurs - Rum-based cream liqueurs. Varieties include coconut and banana

In addition to rums, Piton Lager beer is brewed and bottled on the island and is quite good. It has 5% alcohol by volume, a slightly greater percentage than most American beers but very much in line with many European beers.

Sleep
Saint Lucia is home to a huge number of resort hotels as well as small boutique hotels and self-catering villas, condos, and vacation apartments.

All-inclusive resorts

 * East Winds Inn
 * Ladera - 5 Star, amazing views, Eco-tourist
 * Sandals - Exclusive, couples only
 * Rendezvous, The Couples Resort
 * The BodyHoliday LeSPORT Resort
 * Stonefield Estate Villa Resort
 * Anse Chastenet
 * Fond Doux Plantation - 3 Star
 * Coconut Bay Resort & Spa (Vieux Fort)
 * Calabash Cove Resort - Boutique, Ocean front cottages 5 Star

Learn
The island has a rather turbulent history. It's worth taking a "Jungle Safari" around the rainforests, as this also includes much information on the island itself.

There is a marine sanctuary (national park) on one side of the island by the Anse Chastenet resort. Great spot to learn about local marine life & ecology

Stay safe
St Lucia is not an incredibly dangerous place, but rates of homicide, rape, and mugging have increased drastically over the past several years. You should exercise the same caution as you would at home. You should also try to stay in groups and be careful in any secluded area. Muggings at gunpoint while you are in the water have become increasingly popular criminal activities, so make sure to hide your valuables. Pickpockets are in every country - just be careful in crowded areas. Use of camouflage bags is illegal in Saint Lucia if you're not military personnel. If you show up at the airport with one, it will be confiscated.

Street vendors are decidedly less aggressive than most Caribbean nations. A simple "no thank you" is sufficient.

Some of the locals will offer gifts when you stop, but don't be naive - they expect something in return, so either refuse the gift in the first place or be prepared to pay a dollar or two for the proffered "gift". These people are very poor and unemployment is high, so tourists are often the sole means they have to make some money.

Driving can be fun, but you should be a confident driver as driving is on the left, the roadways can be narrow, steep and in rough condition. A 4x4 or similar high-clearance vehicle is necessary if you decide to venture into the mountains. There's only one main roadway so it is difficult to get lost, but should it happen the locals will help you find your way.

Sexual acts between men are illegal and carry a custodial sentence of up to 10 years, though it is not known how strictly this is enforced. Gay travellers should be safer here than in, for example, Jamaica. However caution is advised and public displays of affection may be met with hostility. There is no law which explicitly forbids lesbianism.

Stay healthy
This island is a series of hills and mountains. The main west coast roadway is the most hair-raising series of winding hair pin turns you have ever seen, particularly between Castries and Soufriere. The east coast roadway is more direct but it still takes approximately 90 minutes to drive from the airport in Hewannora (UVF) to Castries and Gros Islet in the north. In preparation for the shuttle, people who are staying in the north and are prone to motion sickness should bring Dramamine and take it immediately upon arrival at Hewannora Airport.

Tap water is safe to drink; however, bottled water is widely available for those who desire it.

Respect

 * All beaches on St. Lucia are open to the public.
 * Nude sunbathing is illegal in St. Lucia.

title: Saint Lucia


text:
Saint Lucia (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Saint Lucia:

Caribbean

 * Saint Lucia - A country in the Caribbean.

South Africa

 * St Lucia (KwaZulu-Natal) - A town in KwaZulu-Natal.

title: Saint Lucia (disambiguation)


text:
Saint-Malo

Saint-Malo is a small walled coastal city in Brittany, France.

Understand
Once the feared base of pirates (corsairs), heavily fortified against Norman (or English) attack, today's Saint-Malo is one of the top tourist draws in Brittany. The star of the show is the atmospheric walled city (intramuros), largely destroyed in the second world war but painstakingly reconstructed. The newer towns of Parame and Saint-Servan lie outside the walls but are now part of the greater city.

By train
Saint-Malo's train station is located over a kilometre south of the intramuros area, but it's an easy 20-min walk straight down Avenue Louis Martin; there are also buses. There are a few direct TGV services daily from Paris (Gare de Montparnasse), which take about three hours. Most travellers, however, will end up connecting in Rennes, from where there are hourly TER Breizh Go services (50 min, €12) to Saint-Malo.

By ferry
From the UK you can arrive from Poole on Condor Ferries, or from Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries. From Jersey & Guernsey you can take Condor Ferries which offers direct routes from both islands.

By bus
There are two buses daily to Pontorson (line 17, 1 hour, €2,5), which depart from the train station and stop at the city walls. The buses are timed to connect to onward buses to Mont Saint Michel (20 min, €2,8), allowing a fairly comfortable day-trip.

By car
Saint-Malo is 70 km north-west of Rennes, and the D137 expressway takes you all the way. From Caen (170 km), the A84 motorway leads south-west to Avranches, from where you can take the N175/N176 expressway to a junction with the D137. From Paris (400 km), you can take either the A13 to Caen or the A11/A81 to Rennes via Le Mans, then follow the instructions above. From Saint-Brieuc (92 km), Brest (234 km) and other points west, the N12 leads onto the N176.

City centre parking is expensive and in short supply, but there is a 24-hr on Rue Paul Féval, off the main road into town near the racecourse (hippodrome). The site accommodates cars, motorhomes and small coaches, and has charging points for electric cars. €3.30 (car) or €7.50 (camper) buys you parking for 24 hours and a return ticket for a driver and three passengers on the number 2 bus to Intramuros. You pay when you leave, so if your plans change you can stay longer than 24 hours. (Sep 2023)

By plane

 * Rennes-Bretagne Airport (75 km to the south) receives a range of domestic and short-haul European flights.

Get around
Saint-Malo has a good bus system, with the main terminals located at the train station and just outside the walls (St Vincent). Get a booklet with maps and times from any bus driver. A one and a half hour ticket costs €1.15. Unfortunately there are no bus services late in the evening.

The walled city is easily covered on foot, but you can also opt for a dinky "Tourist Train" that takes you and your wallet for a ride (€5.50).

See

 * Ramparts (Remparts).
 * The walled city (La Ville Intra-Muros)
 * The Chateau
 * The walled city view from the "Memorial 39-45"

Do

 * Watch the impressive tide.
 * Walk (or jog) along the beach.
 * Walk around the walls of the walled city (free).
 * Visit the Festival des Folklores du Monde (World Folklores), which takes place at the beginning of July. There are dance and music performances from around the world. You can also dance when Celtic Breton bands play music in the main square of Parame district.
 * Look at the many hundreds of sailing boats of all sizes and ages in the harbour/s.
 * La Route du Rock is a music festival in August. The next is 16-19 Aug 2023.

Buy
Shops in the city center usually close by 19 hrs, but most of them now (as of 2010) stay open every Sunday. -Including high street cloth stores, which before 2010 were not allowed to open on Sunday and now are allowed-

Eat

Saint-Malo is a great place to sample Breton specialties.

 * Breton Pancakes: not just the world-famous sweet crêpes, but also savoury galettes.
 * Kouing Aman: this is a delicious Breton cake made with butter and sugar. Try to sample them piping hot, especially the ones with apple added in.
 * Mussels (moules): fished in the place and available in any restaurants.
 * Oysters (huitres): the best are from Cancale, a village near to Saint-Malo. In France, they are eaten raw.

The Intramuros area has what is quite possibly France's highest concentration of creperies and seafood restaurants. Most cater solely to tourists and are effectively identical.

 * Cafe de Saint-Malo, just inside Grande Porte. The restaurant here is unspectacular, but what makes this the best deal in Intramuros is the window selling fresh seafood to go.  For €5, you can get a dozen large oysters, preshelled, on ice and with a quartered lemon.
 * Captain-Ice, Rue Jacques Cartier, Intra-Muros. This may well be the best ice cream place in town. Try Amour de Glace (Love of Ice cream) for something really yummy. Prices are slightly high, but you get big quantities and very high quality!
 * Captain-Ice, Rue Jacques Cartier, Intra-Muros. This may well be the best ice cream place in town. Try Amour de Glace (Love of Ice cream) for something really yummy. Prices are slightly high, but you get big quantities and very high quality!
 * Captain-Ice, Rue Jacques Cartier, Intra-Muros. This may well be the best ice cream place in town. Try Amour de Glace (Love of Ice cream) for something really yummy. Prices are slightly high, but you get big quantities and very high quality!

In St Malo you can eat at any time of day. In smaller towns nearby, you can look for the lunchtime "menu ouvrier" (workers' menu). Often there is little to no choice of dishes, but what you get is genuine French home cooking for half the price, if that, of what you would pay in a tourist centre like St Malo or Mont St Michel (French lunchtime is sacred. Every French person observes it religiously.).

Drink
Brittany is not a region that's renowned for its wine, but it has other specialties:
 * Breton beer
 * Cider
 * Calvados: apple brandy (though originally from neighbouring Normandy)
 * Chouchen: mead (it's a blend with alcohol and honey; it is very sweet)
 * Muscadet: dry white wine, perfect with local seafood; true, it doesn't come from Brittany, but is from the nearest vineyard area, Pays de la Loire

Sleep
There are many accommodation options in Saint-Malo, including over 20 hotels within the walls, but they can fill up very fast in season — book ahead.

Connect
As of June 2023, Saint-Malo and its approach roads have 5G from all French carriers.

Go next

 * Visit nearby Mont Saint Michel - a monastery and town built on a tiny outcrop of rock in the sand, which is cut off from the mainland at high tide. It is one of France's major tourist destinations, and as such gets very busy in high season. Check the times of the tides before you visit!
 * Cross the Rance Tidal Dam (Barrage de la Rance) and see Dinard; especially in October when the town hosts its annual English Film Festival (lots of US films, too). Casino, sandy beaches, high cliffs studded with quaint, Victorian-era houses, many with conical tower tops; covered market.
 * Venture west beyond Dinard to the Côte d'Emeraude (Emerald Coast) to find even more luscious sandy beaches and little-known towns such as St-Lunaire and St-Cast (first French town to liberate itself from Nazis by own efforts, 1944) and the lonely, craggy, atmospheric Cap Fréhel, where in spring you can see gannets, the superb large seabird that never otherwise comes within sight of shore.

title: Saint-Malo


text:
Saint-Marc

Saint Marc is a city in Central Haiti.

Talk
Talk to and befriend young people. Many speak some English and most are eager to learn. And once you have a friend there, you are safe.

Get around
One can get around on foot, by 'moto', 'taxi' (sit on the back of a 'moto', by taptap (pickup trucks in various stages of disrepair): 'tap-tap' on the side to get on, or off, or by car

See
Downtown St Marc was once, clearly, a nice place. The houses and buildings are typical Caribbean with balconies, ornamentation and, at times, gardens. The is a large, older building located at the park in the center of St. Marc. The park, surrounded by a metal fence, could be lovely. It has several large trees, open grass areas and a large central fountain.

There are banks, stores inside as well as on side walks and the usual bustle of a city, but not as crowded as others. There is a store with imported goods across the park, near which is also the Western Union which, in turn, is near the ocean.

If, hopefully when, St. Marc is restored and fixed up, it will once again have a wonderful city center.

Do
ASK people what they need, and don't assume you know!

Stop at the unique places where they make iron work, carve wood furniture etc.

Volunteer through an organization, your church, whatever.

The beach has really nice spots, but stay far away from the river outlet. When seen from a plane, you will know why.

Let a vehicle take you for a ride through the neighboring countryside to absorb more of the culture, the Artibonite, the rice fields and the villages.

Don't 'see' the poverty, but 'see' the beauty, survival and strength of the people.

Smile, say 'bonju', and you will receive the same. It is a Haitian custom, strictly observed.

Visit a church service, especially Baptist or such. Very joyful. If possible, visit one outside St. Marc, a small village nearby. The singing is fantastic.

Visit a public school (not a church-related or orphanage-related school). Ask for permission in advance, make an appointment if allowed, and just watch and listen.

Go to Verrettes (road east) for the greatest Wednesday and Saturday markets! There are all daily fresh foods of all kinds and a great look at Haitian life, including a donkey-lot.

Take a walk along the 'coridor' from Verrettes directio Deschapelles, even if just a little way.

Take a car ride with a Haitian friend before sunrise along Route Nationale (1), and see what is done at that time of morning. No longer will you say that people are lazy. Just smart mid-day!

Eat
Eat fresh deep-fried chicken, citrus, dried, salted little fieshies, breadfruit...

Drink
Grenadine and rum!

Sleep
There are several nice, inexpensive places...

Stay safe
Understand that, for example, nobody yet has arranged regular garbage pick up. Someday they will. This happens when people do NOT have a functioning tax system!

title: Saint-Marc


text:
Saint Marks

Saint Marks is a city on the Forgotten Coast of Florida.

Eat

 * Riverside Cafe, 69 Riverside Dr. Tel. 850.925.5668
 * St. Marks River Cantina, 859 Port Leon Dr. Tel. 850.925.9908
 * Sunset Grill, 30 Old Palmetto Path, Tel. 850-925-7882

title: Saint Marks


text:
Saint Martin

Saint Martin is an island in the Caribbean that is split between the French collectivity of Saint-Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten. Beauty abounds on the island, with bluffs overlooking pretty harbors, sandy-cliffed beaches and tranquil rocky coves where fish provide the beauty.

Cities

 * is on the French side and has excellent restaurants.
 * is the largest town and capital of the French side.
 * is the capital of the Dutch side. This is where most cruise ships dock.

Understand
The northern, French side of the island is known as Saint-Martin, and is. The southern, "Dutch side" of the island is known as Sint Maarten, and is. The Dutch side has its own government and legal system, with its relations with the "French side" to remain unchanged. To avoid confusion between the three variations on the name, the two regions are commonly referred to as "the French side" and "the Dutch side".

Although this island is controlled by two different countries, there is no real border. There are only monuments and signs that delineate the border. Over 350 years ago the two countries decided that residents of either country could travel across both sides of the border without worrying about any trouble. The two countries live peacefully without difficulties, which helps tourism considerably. Any separation is more from separate and dissimilar utilities systems, e.g., power on French side is 250 V 50 Hz, while the Netherlands side is 110/120 60 Hz. In addition, take care when dialling from the French to Dutch or Dutch to French side as it is, in effect, an international call and requires special dialling instructions. These instructions are typically posted at hotels and tourist locations.

The Dutch side, Sint Maarten, has become a leading destination in the property market with more and more developments being constructed. There are high-rise flats and waterfront communities, all of which are popular to buyers, especially Americans. Tourists on the streets are frequently approached by time-share offers for them. The language on this side of the island is Dutch, but almost everyone speaks English.

On the Dutch side, grocery stores and other businesses may have prices expressed in Netherlands Antilles florins (NAF) which is the local currency also called guilders, but the US dollar and the euro will be accepted at these establishments. The florin is officially pegged to the USD, with a fixed rate of 1 USD = 1.79 NAF. Many large resorts have been built and on many days cruise ships flood Philipsburg with their passengers. Philipsburg is one of the Caribbean's best shopping towns. If shopping's not your thing, you can sit out back on Philipsburg's harbour beach and have a drink. Or play at one of the casinos just down the street. There are nine on this side. When it all gets too mellow, go rip it up with a 4x4 excursion around the island. Visit the Maho and Cupecoy area for some of the best nightlife on the island and some of the best beaches.

The French side, Saint-Martin, consists of the northern two-thirds of the island. It is governed by the neighbouring island of Guadeloupe, and is more European than the Dutch. The native language is French and has the same laws as France. There are no casinos on the French side. It is less developed than the Dutch side, but contains more of the island's natural wonders. The French side is popularly known for clothing-optional Orient Beach and the adjacent nudist resort, Club Orient (the clothing optional portion of the beach lies at the far southern end, and can be easily recognised by the large bright yellow beach umbrellas; while the Club Orient does own its beach area, it is open to the public, so you will see both clothed and unclothed people on this particular stretch. However the towns of Marigot and Grand Case provide some of the best gourmet meals anywhere and plenty of interesting shops.

Tourist information

 * Saint-Martin Tourism website
 * Sint Maarten Tourism website

Talk
Dutch and French are the official languages on their respective sides of the island. English is an official language of the Dutch side as well and is widely spoken on both sides, especially in tourist areas. Children on both sides of the island are educated in French, Dutch, English and Spanish. Language is typically not a barrier when visiting the island.

Entry requirements
Countries eligible for a visa-free entry to the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten are shown in cyan on image to the right.

Other countries require obtaining a visa, which is valid for Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands and allows multiple entry for a maximum period of 90 days within 180 days. The maximum uninterrupted stay in one of the individual countries is 30 days. The visa is not valid for the European part of the Netherlands.

By plane

When leaving St. Martin by plane, travelers pay an exit tax at the Phillipsburg airport. Travelers departing on international flights pay US$30. Exempt are passengers flying with certain airlines, transit passengers and children under two. This tax is included in some airfares but for others travelers must pay at the airport. The exit tax to the other Netherlands Antilles Islands such as Saba and St. Eustatius is only US$10. The exit tax does not apply to in transit travelers.

By boat
On a typical day, thousands of people visit the island by cruise ship, landing mostly in Philipsburg on the Dutch side. Four very large cruise ships, or 6-8 others can dock at once. Very occasionally in high-season, a few ships must moor or anchor off-shore.

In high-season, passengers from those ships make the city of Philipsburg the busiest city on the island, offloading perhaps 18,000 or more passengers. In low season, one occasional ship is more common. You can find usually-accurate schedules for this and many ports and dates at.

These docks are approximately a 1.6-km walk to the east end of Front Street leading into the main shopping area. However, a short walk from the cruise ship docks you'll find:
 * A fleet of taxis (and cars/guides) for hire as noted under "Get around" below.
 * A water taxi service: continuously running boats in a circular route to Philipsburg in either order, to a dock near the east end of Front Street and another opposite the courthouse on Front Street center, before returning to the cruise ship area.
 * Both stops offer ready access to a large beach and Front Street shopping. Several boats run while multiple cruise ships are there.
 * You can buy single-trip wristbands at modest cost, or wrist-bands for unlimited travel all day for slightly more.
 * You'll see long lines when many cruise ships are docked, but the number of water taxis employed rises to meet demand, so you'll rarely have a long wait.

Marigot port on the French side is limited to hosting one small cruise ship at a time, but is also served by attractive marinas supporting many yachts of all sizes. Most inter-island ferry service also arrives/departs at Marigot.

It is possible to travel to/from the neighboring islands: Saint Barthelemy, Anguilla, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and St. Kitts.

Traveling between St Martin and St Barthélémy

 * Voyager company offers crossings every day, except on Sundays and on public holidays. The boat leaves from Marigot or Oyster Pond (Saint Martin) and arrives in Gustavia (Saint Barthelemy). A return ticket costs arount €90 and €140 (2021), depending on the type of seat selected.
 * Great Bay Express offers daily crossings as well. The boat departs from Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg (Saint Martin) and arrived in Gustavia (Saint Barthelemy). A return ticket costs between €95 and €115 (2021).

Traveling between St Martin and Anguilla
Funtime Charters offers daily crossings. The boat departs from St Maarten-Anguilla Doc, Airport Road (Saint Martin) and arrives at Blowing Point (Anguilla). A return ticket costs around €116. The price includes transfer from Princess Juliana Airport (SXM). The crossing takes about 20 minutes.

Calypso Charters offers several crossings per day. A return ticket costs around €108 (2021). The boat departs from St Maarten-Anguilla Doc, Airport Road (Saint Martin) and arrives at Blowing Point (Anguilla).

Traveling between St Martin and Saba
Dawn II offers crossings on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The boat departs from Dock Maarten Marina in Philipsburg (Saint Martin) and arrives at Fort Bay (Saba). The crossing takes about 90 minutes. A return ticket costs around €91 (2021).

The Edge offers crossings on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The boat departs from Simpson Bay Police Station Dock (Saint Martin) and arrives at Fort Bay (Saba). A return ticket costs around €91 (2021).

Makana Ferry offers crossings on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The boat departs from Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg (Sint Maarten) and arrives at Fort Bay (Saba). Round trip tickets cost $110 (2023).

Traveling between St Martin and Sint Eustatius

Makana Ferry offers crossings on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Saturday. The boat departs from Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg (Sint Maarten) and arrives at Gallows Bay (Sint Eustatius). Round trip tickets cost $106 (2023). However, you will have to stop in Saba on the way to get your passport stamped.

Traveling between St Martin and St Kitts

Makana Ferry offers crossings on Monday and Friday. The boat departs from Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg (Sint Maarten) and arrives at Port Zante Marina, Basseterre (St. Kitts). Round trip tickets cost $199 (2023).

It is possible to book your tickets between Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy, Anguilla and Saba on StMartinbookings.com.

By car
Rental cars are available at Princess Juliana International Airport at a dedicated area outside of the airport. You'll find most of the major rental car companies available at the airport. The roads are narrow, sometimes quite bad on both sides of the island, and often very crowded between Philipsburg and Marigot. See also "Stay Safe" below.

If you are driving (especially on the French side) expect a lot of scooters and motorcycles to speed around you on both sides of the road. This can be startling to drivers not used to two wheeled traffic as it can create a dangerous situation. If you stay in your lane and don't waver you can trust most of the time that the cyclists will pass you safely. It's better to just let them pass you at a steady pace then try and slow down, pull to the side, etc.

By motorcycle
Motorcycles, quads and scooters are also available for rent, however it is advisable that you have some experience on these vehicles before venturing into St. Maarten's sometimes very hectic traffic.

By taxi
Taxi cabs are usually vans, which are geared towards servicing the cruise ship traffic. To go completely around the island will cost about US$25 per person. Most drivers are quite willing and able to hire-out as tour guides. Most charge US$45-50 per hour, and can offer a custom experience for 3-4 people that can be less expensive and more versatile and satisfying than large bus tours offered by cruise ships or hotels.

By minivan
Saint Martin has a bus system using small minivans. You can get most anywhere on the island for just a few dollars, usually US$2/persons, during the day between cities. A short trip will cost you $0.50. They run frequently between Philipsburg and Marigot. Ask a local where the bus stops are, and look for license plates that say (oddly enough) "bus". It is possible to flag them elsewhere and they may stop if safe.

By foot
Once you reach Philipsburg, Marigot or Grand Case, you can get around nicely on foot. The distances in each are not long. Take some care in Philipsburg and Marigot with heavy traffic, narrow, sometimes missing sidewalks, and the midday sun.

See

 * Pic du Paradis, Route de Pic du Paradis from Friars Bay Beach. Pic du Paradis is the highest point on the island (1400 ft/427 m) with two viewing areas that provide great views. The road is steep and isolated and four wheel drive is required. This is also an isolated area and is safest seen as part of an excursion or tour.
 * Pic du Paradis, Route de Pic du Paradis from Friars Bay Beach. Pic du Paradis is the highest point on the island (1400 ft/427 m) with two viewing areas that provide great views. The road is steep and isolated and four wheel drive is required. This is also an isolated area and is safest seen as part of an excursion or tour.

Do
Beaches are a main attraction on the island of Saint Martin. It has 37 beaches, with hotels holding property on most of them. Beach bars and cafés are very popular attractions on the island. Many offer unusually good dishes with European and Caribbean inspiration. Frozen cocktails are also a trendy treat to keep down the heat.
 * Orient Bay, for example, has an underwater marine reserve where snorkeling and other water sports are available.

All beaches of Saint Martin are fine for swimming and sun bathing, though the west half of the good beach at Philipsburg has better water. The island caters to all, with beaches of fun things to do as well as secluded and more private ones.

Clothing optional beaches. As a European island, topless sun bathing is frequently seen. Some tourists come to Sint Maarten/Saint-Martin because there are clothing optional beaches & resorts on the island. Not every beach is clothing optional.
 * On the Dutch side, there is Cupecoy Beach in the far western tip of the Dutch jurisdiction. The beach is not clothing optional, but the local administration does look the other way on nude sunbathing on the far western edge of the beach (Cupecoy is a very small beach located at the base of a cliff face). No other beaches on the Dutch side tolerate it, and you will be fined by the Sint Maarten Police for indecent exposure and/or lewd behavior.
 * On the French side, nudity is permitted at the Club Orient beach (Papagayo Beach), and topless sunbathing for women is accepted throughout the French jurisdiction. Nude sunbathing is "tolerated" at some of the smaller, less touristy beaches (the southern ends of Prune and Rouge Beaches) generally on weekdays when there are fewer beach patrons. As long as beach guests do not make spectacles of themselves, French gendarmes (police) may overlook your lack of clothing.

One particularly famous beach is Maho Bay beach on the Dutch side. The beach is situated at the end of the airport's runway, so landing large aircraft fly just feet over the beach. Some people attempt to hold on to the fence on airport premises as aircraft depart. This is not recommended due to flying gravel and debris. People have been injured, a very few killed doing this. However, the spectacular view of airplanes landing so close is one that you might find stunning. The greatest number of large aircraft arrive and depart in the early-mid-morning and mid-late afternoon.

Just beyond Maho Bay is Mullet Bay; some say it has the nicest beach on the island, with food and drink vendors and beach lounger rentals but few facilities. Virtually all beaches are described in web sites for the island. A full complement of tours and excursions are also available as well as water sports and para-sailing. Casinos are also a popular attraction on the island, but only on the Dutch side. Some of them are in the Cupecoy, Maho, Cole Bay areas, while in Philipsburg you'll find five.

Loterie Farm, Rte. de Pic du Paradis, or. Location features an excellent restaurant, a lounge with tapas, hikes and ecotours on a 150-acre preserve, and "The Fly Zone" a fun zip line experience with rope zips and an obstacle course high up in the trees. Also has a "Ti' Tarzan" zip course for the kids and "The Fly Zone Extreme" a new Zip that goes up over 30 m/100 ft. On the French side but patronized by many American tourists, prices are shown in euros and dollars. You should call in advance for prices and to check whether a cruise ship shore tour is visiting, as it is pretty packed on those days. If you're going on the zip lines, wear closed shoes: flip flops are a no-no. The activities are open only during the day, but the restaurant and lounge are open in the evenings as well. Try the Curry Chicken.

Money
US dollars and euros are commonly accepted on both sides of the island, as are credit cards. However there are many places that do not accept cards, so you should ask. Always have some cash on you in small denominations for small purchases and for transport. Expect change in local currency for lesser cash transactions.

Shopping
The island has a deserved reputation as an excellent place to shop, rivaling Saint Thomas in the US Virgin Islands for price, but with somewhat fewer stores. Some shoppers report better prices for some items than the USVI. Both sides of the island offer a wide range of quality, and shopping is duty free on both, with no tax or duty paid directly by buyers. Merchants on the Dutch side do pay a five percent "turnover tax" on all items they sell. A few sellers may try to add it as a separate cost item on sales slips, despite instructions from the tax authority not to do so.

The French side has fewer retailers, and their goods (e.g., clothing, perfumes, wine) tend to be premium, European brand-name or designer items, at fairly competitive prices. Items are often priced in euros, so some are or appear to be more expensive (after currency conversion) than on the Dutch side or elsewhere in the Caribbean. Many stores on the French side close between noon and 3PM.
 * Unique items (e.g., souvenirs, spices) particularly at the water-front open-air market (large and growing) in Marigot are very reasonable, and the banter among vendors is worth the visit, especially mornings on Wednesday and Saturday.
 * French wine and delicacy lovers may find premium offerings that are available perhaps nowhere else in the Caribbean.
 * Rum « island cane » the French rum made and bottled on the French side, awarded a silver medal in 2018 at the famous general agricultural competition in Paris, concours général agricole.
 * If you are shopping on Sunday, forget the French side: the only places open will likely be restaurants and some food stores.

Dutch side. Front Street in Philipsburg is the center of shopping on the Dutch side. Numerous stores offer jewelry, liquor, cosmetics, cameras, electronics and tobacco, with souvenirs everywhere. You'll find a small open-air bazaar behind the courthouse.
 * Those looking for well-priced beachwear and souvenirs might try the few places on Back Street, one block farther from the beach than Front Street and parallel to it.
 * Grand Marché and Sangs supermarkets (the latter beyond the east end of Front Street) both offer a wide range of grocer's items, e.g., mild Dutch Gouda "wheels" are popular buys.
 * Shops are generally open from 8 or 9AM until noon, and then again from 2 until 6PM. If one or more cruise ships are visiting, many stores remain open during the "lunch" period and on Sundays.

Warranties: Any electronics (including cameras and lenses) purchased here may have an international warranty, or are grey-market with no warranty. You should clearly understand what "protection" any such product includes, e.g., what's necessary to obtain service at home.

Store recommendations by cruise ship port shopping "advisers" are usually reliable, but recommended stores pay very large fees for those "endorsements". They're ultimately paid by you. Virtually all recommendations apply to stores on the Dutch side. Recommended by advisers or not, large or small, most stores are reliable and will rectify any problem truly their responsibility. Still, you're wise to thoroughly examine an item before purchase & obtain a warranty, or formal appraisal for pricey gems and jewelry.

Most merchants touted by those "advisers" are near or east of the courthouse on Front Street. Those stores and others offer excellent selections. The center and easterly parts offer pleasant walking despite heavy vehicle traffic and sometimes crowded sidewalks. (If more than a very few cruise ships are in port, nearly all of Front Street may be "pedestrianized".) Many liquor stores there box bottles and may deliver to your hotel or ship if purchased early enough. West of the courthouse, you'll find a few smaller stores offering aggressively discounted liquor, often cash-only, boxes only for multi-bottle purchases, usually no delivery (so you'll need a sturdy bag and padding to safely carry bottles). (See Saint Thomas for tips on returning home with such purchases.)

Whenever considering a significant purchase, negotiate amiably; you may well save a bit.

Anyone on the streets touting "freebies" or "cash" will likely lead you incrementally and smoothly to a distant, on-site sales pitch for resort condos or timeshares. Once there, you'll encounter high-pressure tactics over an extended time, with "freebies" governed by willingness to buy. If you have only a day for your visit, it may be essentially consumed at the sales pitch. Duty Issues:
 * St Martin is a duty-free port, so merchants pay no up-front duty or tax as they price merchandise. They must, however, pay the above 5% turnover tax (TOT), and those funds come from somewhere (you).
 * It offers no special customs duty advantages over other Caribbean islands, and for U.S. citizens a slight disadvantage compared to the U.S. Virgin Islands. But, don't allow yourself to be dissuaded from a purchase here just for fear of customs duties, which may be modest even if you exceed your limit.  You may find well-priced items here that you won't find elsewhere, and prices on commodity items (e.g., some premium liquors, wines) may be better than the USVI.
 * Take care when calculating cost per liter for liquor and wine purchases, and when declaring total liters purchased for Customs as you return home; bottle sizes can vary. (See Saint Thomas for U.S. Customs details.)

Eat
The island has some 300 restaurants with a wide variety of offerings available to tourists and locals. Tuesday evenings in Grand Case are not to be missed. The main street dons carnival atmosphere and opens up to street vendors. The excellent local restaurants are open 'till late. Restaurant L'Auberge Gourmande is one of the region's culinary highlights with exceptional French dining.

The French cuisine and local creole fare is an exciting experience to most, but if you are apprehensive about trying new things, there are other restaurants. The island has restaurants that are American, Mexican, Chinese, Italian, vegetarian and more. If self-catering, you'll find large modern supermarkets with excellent selections of American, European and other products as well, all imported.

If you are not feeling adventurous, the Dutch Side has several American fast food franchises. In Philipsburg, you'll find a McDonald's a block west on Front Street - convenient for a cold soft drink (even a beer) during your "hot" shopping.

If you want to save some cash, eat where the locals eat on the cheap, both the French and Dutch sides of the island feature many Chinese restaurants, but the Dutch Side is the hands down winner with over 40 of them. In addition to the regular far eastern fare, these inexpensive eateries feature many local dishes, and "Caribbeanized" Chinese food. Want to try something really different? Stop at one of the roadside food trucks for some take-away, one of these trucks located in Phillipsburg serves some of the best Suriname food on the island. Try the Chicken Sate with Bami or go light with a Soato Soup.

Enjoy lunch, swim on a beautiful beach and watch the airplanes land at Tortuga at Maho.

Saving money, etc.
When dining:

 * Some restaurants on the island will add 15% to your bill and it will be listed as Tax or SC (Service charge). The truth is, the island has no dining tax so the restaurant may be taking advantage of North American tourists used to paying tax. You can consider the 15% your tip, those who aren't aware may pay another 15% to 20% when the "Tax/SC" is really a tip already going to the waiter.
 * If you ask for water in any restaurant they will assume you mean bottled water which can be US$4-5 per bottle depending on the restaurant. Surprisingly this is sometimes more expensive than beer or wine. If you don't want to pay the higher price make sure you specify very clearly that you want tap water.
 * In many countries it is illegal to print the full credit card number on any receipt, on many islands it is not. Therefore, when you are signing a receipt make sure to check if your CC# is on the merchant copy and scribble it out. It's not illegal to do so and it protects your card.

When making an international phone call: Be sure to investigate pre-paid phone cards. The most expensive type of international phone call is to use a credit card. Companies like International Satellite Communications, which handle credit card calls, charge exorbitant connection fees and per-minute rates.

Drink
The drinking age in town is sixteen, but in tourist areas they are not so strict about it. St. Martin's nightlife consists of many bars, nightclubs and casinos where drinking is prevalent. Start out with a happy hour at "Bamboo Bernies" where drinking is free for a half an hour and continues until 7pm with the highest drink price of a dollar! Many of the clubs have ladies' nights and other nightly drink specials. The Dutch side of the island has more night clubs than the French, so if you're up for the party scene, this side is the one where you should stay.

Large wine menus are also usually available at most restaurants.

Privé. Trendy sky bar and lounge, indoor with an open terrace on the top of the Mega Yacht Building and views of Simpson Bay strip and lagoon. Open 6PM - 3AM everyday. On the Simpson Bay strip at the top of the Market Garden Supermarket

Bliss Night Club. At Caravanserai Beach Resort. Not far from the Princess Juliana International Airport Has restaurant, 2 bars, cabana seating around a pool and ocean views.

Tequila. In Palapa Village, next to Rancho in Simpson Bay. 2nd floor bar overlooking the lagoon as well as the streetside. Mexican sports bar. Various tequila-based drinks, sport events shown on big screen. Free Wifi internet. Open 5PM - midnight every day.

Sleep
St. Martin's hotel rooms, almost without exception, rent for US$100 per night and often much more, and generous taxes and service charges are then also applied. High season is from December through April. Accommodations are considerably less the rest of the year. If you are doing last minute travel when you call ahead ask for the "local rate" rather than what you will normally get which is the "walk-in rate", it can save you a considerable amount of money in some situations.

Budget

 * Palm Court, Cap Caribe, La Hoste

Mid-range

 * La Plantation - It is within a 5-minute walk to Orient Beach. It is setup in a bungalow format with stove, microwave, refrigerator and security safe. There is a complimentary breakfast usually consisting of ham, boiled eggs, cereal, different types of bread, juices (orange, guava), tea and coffee. It is on the French side of the island and its coordinates are N18 05 19.97,W63 01 29.64. Also as an additional tip, make sure the hotel you desire takes the credit card you have. All major cards are not accepted by all major hotels.

Splurge

 * Esmeralda, Caribbean Princess
 * Orient Bay has many beautiful hotels and spas on site, and the most popular beach on the island is just steps away. All Orient Bay hotels are far from the main airport, so you will never hear or see an airplane. The ride is only about 15-20 minutes depending on traffic.
 * La Samanna , Baie Longue, or . On 55 acres with an incredible stretch of beach, top notch service, activities and facilities. It's the place to spend your lottery winnings in style.
 * La Samanna , Baie Longue, or . On 55 acres with an incredible stretch of beach, top notch service, activities and facilities. It's the place to spend your lottery winnings in style.

Budget

 * Beacon Hill Towers, Beacon Hill Road, with access to beaches on Burgeaux Bay and Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten, or . Suitable for a large family as each unit has 4 bedrooms and students of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), rates start at US$700 per week, and up to $2,200 per month for long term rentals.

Stay safe

 * Sun You can burn within a remarkably short time; use sunscreen or block frequently depending on how long you're exposed.  Do not fail to reapply it as recommended depending on where you are (e.g., swimming, on boat, beach walking), with special attention to feet and backs of knees and neck.  Brimmed hats, umbrellas and light clothing can offer further protection.
 * Crime Though the island is generally a safe place, like everywhere else in the world there is crime, and you should be aware of your surroundings at all times. Obviously you should lock your doors, avoid unpopulated areas and do not flash your money and jewelry around. Remember that this is a foreign country, and act accordingly.  Tourists report many instances of parked rental cars being rifled.  Organized teams can break in effortlessly.  Best advice:  Leave nothing of value in them at any time.
 * Drinking Be aware that drinking is practically a national pastime in St. Maarten, and it is relatively easy and inexpensive to obtain alcoholic beverages (US$1.25 ice cold Heinekens are available almost everywhere including McDonalds and gas stations) and therefore extremely easy to over-do it. Driving while impaired on the island is very risky as there are many places where you could end up in the ocean or down the side of a cliff. When in doubt, call a cab.
 * Drugs Like most places, drugs are readily available for those interested, but despite what someone may tell you, marijuana is not legal and certainly is not regulated as in the continental Netherlands.
 * Parking Take care in Philipsburg: There is very little parking and the tow zone areas are very poorly marked.  If the spot is free and you think it shouldn't be, then it is probably a tow area.
 * Jet blast If you're on Maho Bay, watch out for approaching and departing planes. Get too close and a jet engine from a plane taking off can blast a lot of air, sand, or water into your face, or worse cause serious injury or death.
 * LGBT travellers – If you are LGBT be careful of your surroundings: as with many other Caribbean islands, the local culture doesn't have the same level of acceptance found in other countries. While not a large problem, each year there are reports of attacks based on sexual orientation. Public displays of affection by LGBT individuals (especially on the Dutch side) may not be well tolerated, so practice discretion.

Stay healthy
Pharmacies are denoted by a cross symbol, usually in neon, and there are hospitals with ambulance service on both sides of the island.

Tap water comes from desalinization and is drinkable.

Respect
Dress codes are uncommon on St. Martin, but some high-end restaurants and night clubs do have them, so when in doubt, check in advance.

St. Martin has a great deal of cultural diversity, and true locals are far outnumbered by immigrants from poorer and less urbane areas. Dressing too risqué can give the impression that you are looking for a "good time" and attract unwanted attention.

It is illegal to wear a swimsuit except when you're at the beach or pool, and it's also disrespectful and likely to result in poor treatment

Connect
The Dutch part is part of the North American Numbering Plan, so its country code is +1. The French part has country code +590. Phone calls over the border are charged as international calls. People with a cell phone subscription from the European Union are generally charged the same rates to use it in French Saint Martin as in all other parts of the EU. However, in Dutch Sint Maarten, which is not a part of the EU, the costs are higher, as in other parts of the Caribbean.

Go next
Short-hop flights and ferryboats from various points on both the Dutch and French territory, are available to nearby islands such as Saint-Barthélemy, Anguilla, and Saba. Water crossings can occasionally be quite rough, but take only 30 minutes or so to St Barts and Anguilla. There is a comprehensive website for all ferry and boat routes: StMartinbookings.com. Schedules & routes for local carriers such as Voyager (to Saint Barths from Marigot and Oyster Pond), The Edge ferry (to St Barths from Simpson bay and to Saba from Philipsburg), Dawn II (to Saba from Philipsburg), Calypso and Funtime charters (to Anguilla from SXM Airport) are available there or directly via the sites of each individual company.

title: Saint Martin


text:
Saint Martin (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Saint Martin, St. Martin, Saint Martins, San Martin, Sint Maarten or other variations of that name:

Caribbean

 * Saint Martin - An island in the Caribbean that is divided between two countries, French Guadeloupe and Dutch Netherlands Antilles. It is one of the smallest land masses divided between two countries.

Saint Martin

 * Saint-Martin is the name the northern, French side of the island is known by.
 * Sint Maarten is the name the southern, Dutch side of the island is known by.

Bangladesh

 * Saint Martins Island (Bangladesh) - An island in Bangladesh.

France

 * Saint-Martin de Ré - a city in the Charente-Maritime departement of the Poitou-Charentes region of western France.

Peru

 * San Martín or San Martin - a region in northern Peru.

Switzerland

 * Saint Martin (Switzerland)-A village in the Surselva.

title: Saint Martin (disambiguation)


text:
Saint Martins Island

Saint Martins Island is in the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh and lies about 10 km southwest of the southern tip of the mainland.

Understand
Saint Martins is a tropical cliché and the only coral island in the country, with beaches fringed with coconut palms and laid-back locals. It's a clean and peaceful place with nothing more strenuous to do than soak up the rays — even mosquitoes are a rarity. There's a naval base near the center of the island, and the USA looked into setting up one of their own. The island was devastated by a cyclone in 1991 but has fully recovered, and was untouched by the 2004 tsunami.

It is possible to walk around Saint Martins in a day since it measures only 8 km2, shrinking to about 5 km2 during high tide. Most of the island's 7000 inhabitants live primarily from fishing, and between October and April fishermen from neighboring areas bring their catch to the island's temporary wholesale market. Rice and coconuts are the other staple crops, and algae is collected and dried from the sea rocks and sold for consumption to Myanmar.

Most things are concentrated around the far north of the island, with the center and south being mostly farmland and makeshift huts. There is no electricity on the island, though the larger hotels run generators in the evenings for a few hours.

November to February is the main tourist season with the best weather, though keep an eye on the forecast, as the occasional cyclone can strike during this time.

By bus
Getting to Saint Martins Island by bus is a two-step process. First you'll need to come Teknaf which is on the very southern tip of Bangladesh, near Myanmar. One can come Teknaf by bus from Dhaka, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar. Dhaka to Teknaf bus fare is Tk 850-950 non-A/C and Tk 1300-1700 A/C as of January 2012. Several bus services depart from Fakirapool, Dhaka to Teknaf. Maximum bus starts at night and the journey is near about 11-12 hours.

From Teknaf, mid-level ships run daily and take around 1½-2 hours, named Kutubdia, Keary Sindabad, and Shundorbon Service. The fare ranges from Tk 450-2500 as of January 2012. All the ships and cruises stars journey from Teknaf to Saint Martin at 9AM-9:30AM and return journey starts from Saint Martin at 3PM-3:30PM. During the off-season (May–August/September) these ships do not provide services because of bad weather. The peak season is September–April. The total distance from Dhaka to the island is 510 km.

From Teknaf, you can cruise to Saint Martin's Island with the largest and the safest ship, LCT Kutubdia, and reach Saint Martin's comfortably in 2 hours or less. LCT Kutubdia cruise journey is a pleasant one as you will see the spectacular views of Teknaf Hill on one side and Myanmar on the other side while she cruises along the Naf River. You will arrive at the, at the northeastern part of the island.

Ferries depart the island around 3PM. If you do not already have a round-trip ticket, you can book the return leg at the Keari Marzaan restaurant (+88 01727 266077, 01819 682091, just before Saint Martin's Resort, off the main road). The restaurant only caters to day-trippers on tours arranged by Keari Tours. The one-way fare was Tk 300 and the return fare was Tk 750 as of 2011.

By plane
By plane you have to reach firstly in Cox's Bazar from Dhaka/Chittagong (inter-country) by Biman Bangladesh Airlines or with private airlines like Rigent Airlines, United Airlines, and US Bangla Airlines. The fare from Dhaka-Cox's Bazar is Tk 4000-6200 as of January 2021. Cox's Bazar airport is the only airport near Teknaf.

After reaching Cox's Bazar by Plane, from Cox's Bazar there are several ways to get to Teknaf. Private car rental services cost Tk 300. The public buses from Cox's Bazar to Teknaf cost Tk 150. Another way is for a group to rent a mid-level micro bus or jeep and travel to Teknaf.

By cruise ship
Luxury cruise ship “MV Bay One” sails from Chittagong to St. Martin's Island.

Get around
 After arriving at the ferry terminal, you will walk through a strip of basic restaurants and shops, and hit a T-intersection. If you go left, you will go toward the eastern beaches (the cement ends shortly before the scuba dive center). If you go right instead, you will go along main cement 'road' where most of the hotels and guesthouses are, ending at the northwest part of the island.

At one point a left turn leads around the newly built hospital and into the center of the island. It's an interesting walk and eventually leads out to the western beach just north of the Sea Turtle Hatchery, after a couple wrong turns.

Flatbed cycle-rickshaws are the only transport aside from walking. There are no motorized vehicles on the island, not even motorcycles (yay!).

See

 * Sunrise on the east side of the island, and after a lazy day head over to the west side for sunset. Sunset Point is a rocky peninsula on the northwest corner of the island, near Saint Martin's Resort, which exists only at low tide — a popular spot if sunset and low tide coincide.

The first tag was attached in 2000, and in January 2003, a total of 65 tags had been attached to nesting Green and Olive Ridley turtles. The conservation project has so far included activities such as: monitoring of nesting turtles along the coastline; in situ conservation efforts, including protecting nesting beaches; protecting nesting females from predatory hazards, such as dogs; ex situ conservation through hatcheries; and an awareness-raising campaign about sea turtle conservation.
 * Village life is slow-paced — most work happens in the morning and evening, while midday is reserved for drying fish and rice and selling your coconuts. Or, more likely, sitting in the shade chewing paan.
 * There's a Sea Turtle Hatchery on the west side of the island south of Shemana Pereye Resort. It's not open to visitors, but it's usually empty and the gate unlocked. If it's the right season there will be several bamboo cages in the sand with eggs buried under them — not much to see, but it's nice to know that good work is being done. This is under the Sea Turtle Conservation Project STURCNET (Sea Turtle Conservation Network).

 * Stars are amazingly plentiful on a moonless night, due to the lack of electricity on the island.

Do

 * Walk the beach to the southern island of, accessible on foot along a narrow strip of land at low tide, or by way of a boat shuttle (Tk 5 per person) at high tide. Beware of sharp rocks if wading through the water; sandals are ideal. Walking the length of the island takes around 1½ hours. Take some sunscreen and water (although there's an occasional shack selling drinks, coconuts, and snacks). If you walk far enough, you will reach the.
 * Walk the beach to the southern island of, accessible on foot along a narrow strip of land at low tide, or by way of a boat shuttle (Tk 5 per person) at high tide. Beware of sharp rocks if wading through the water; sandals are ideal. Walking the length of the island takes around 1½ hours. Take some sunscreen and water (although there's an occasional shack selling drinks, coconuts, and snacks). If you walk far enough, you will reach the.

Buy
There are many small shops near the dock/port and along the main road selling very basic necessities and the odd souvenir t-shirts, hats, dried fish (recommended), shoes, tinned food, cosmetics, toiletries, sunglasses, etc. relatively cheaply. There are also few decent restaurants along with the main road of Saint Martins Island.

Sea shells and things made from them are sold by little children around the island, but it's illegal and leads to the depletion of sea life.

Eat
Food is a little more expensive here than on the mainland.

The food shacks that line the road to the port all cook up similar fare: parothas (Tk 8), omelettes (egg, Tk 20) and vegetable curry (Tk 20) for breakfast, and (fish, dal, rice and veggies at Tk 130) the rest of the day. Cha is Tk 8.

All of the hotels also have restaurants with basically the same typical Bangladeshi offerings, with higher prices and better quality than those near the port. Chicken is sometimes available but not very tasty, and lobster and crab may be available occasionally at very high prices. The restaurant at Blue Marine Resort and Appayan at Saint Martin's Resort are the best on the island.

The islanders also sell dried fish, which is a bit more expensive but fresher than those available upshore in Cox's Bazaar.

Early morning is the best time to get fresh fish from the fisherman near the market, you can often bring it to your hotel chef and ask him to fry it up the way you like, or some places may do a nice evening barbeque. Some places may even give you kitchen access to cook it yourself if you ask.

Drink

 * Coconuts are the drink of choice (Tk 25), and coconut pushers are to be found along the length of the island, getting slightly less aggressive as you move south.
 * Alcohol may be available at the larger hotels or if you ask discreetly near the port, though there is not even a hint of nightlife.

Sleep
There are several budget guesthouses along the main road such as Hotel Sea Heart, Bay of Bengal Guesthouse, Coast Guesthouse, Hotel Sadek, Oceanview and Coral Reef Guesthouse, all similarly dark and characterless with dank attached bathrooms and no running water. Anywhere else these rooms would cost Tk 500–700, but here you'll be lucky to pay Tk 1000 and be asked for as much as Tk 1500.

Most evenings will be candle-lit since there's no electricity on the island, but a few of the more expensive hotels have generators.

 * There's a government resthouse signed only in Bengali on the main road next to Bay of Bengal Guesthouse. Rooms are a little larger and cleaner than the surrounding guesthouses and have mosquito nets. It's not possible to prebook rooms and, even if they're available, whether you can stay will depend on the mood of the man on duty. Rooms ~Tk 600.

Respect
The island has seen a massive increase in tourism (mostly Bangladeshis) over the last few years, and the fragile ecosystem on the island is not well equipped to handle it. Do what you can to encourage eco-friendly practices, and definitely don't litter the island. It's also a good idea to avoid eating fish at every meal on an island where overfishing is a major problem and sea life is rapidly vanishing.

If you come across sea turtles or their eggs, keep a reasonable distance and don't disturb these fascinating but fragile creatures.

Westerners should be alert to the modest lifestyle of the islanders, especially women. It is not a good idea to swim in public places in western bathing suits, and modest dress is appropriate for both women and men.

Connect
There are no landlines, but cell phones work well, due to a few very imposing cell phone towers dotted around the island. Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink, and Airtel are the service providers and well establish here.

There is no internet on the island, the nearest is in Cox's Bazaar. Otherwise there is internet modems which use the same signal of mobile companies with decent speed.

Cope
There is a small located in the northern portion of the island.

Go next
As tempting as it may be to cross into Myanmar, the border is closed. Simply enjoy the views of the coast during the boat journey. If you are intent on going, head up to Dhaka, get a visa, and fly from there.

title: Saint Martins Island