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The Difference Between French Kisses and Dutch Ovens

St. Martin has typically been considered the brief stopover island for fabulous jetsetters who then fly onward to St. Barth's. That is until our writer Shira Levine discovered that the bipolar island with a French and Dutch identity crisis is worth lingering on for a few days. Questions or suggestions? Let us know.

“Go out on the Dutch side, sleep on the French side,” is local St. Martiner and St. Maartiner Kate Richardson’s motto. (Her family heritage hails from both French and Dutch sides, although she relates considerably more with the French side.) Half a day on the island and you'll figure out whether you're more into St. Martin (the French side) or St. Maarten (the Dutch side) because folk definitely have their allegiances.

Despite the playful and, more-for-tourists turf wars, visitors don’t need a passport between the two sides of the 37-square mile island. Both sides do have their own government, but there's no real border and definitely no checkpoint or fence. Instead, there's just a “Welcome to the French Side” or “Welcome to St. Maarten." (That said, we aren't sure how any extradition laws work in these parts.)

Good news for Yanks--American dollars are accepted everywhere. The French also accept euros, and the Dutch are all retro with accepting the old school gilder. (Perhaps some "forgotten" change from those coffeehouse chillouts in Amsterdam?)

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