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St. Maarten / St. Martin The 'new Millenium' saw St. Maarten carve itself a special niche as one of the most attractive 'service centres' for professionally crewed yachts, throughout the entire Caribbean. Last season, this was once again portrayed with the marina dockage space being occupied ‘Back to Back’ by some of the most notable and well known boats in the business, who were choosing to base out of St Maarten and take advantage of all it has to offer. St Maarten has a superb range of technical services available to service yachts in 10 different marina facilities... from sails / canvas fabrication, mechanical engineering, carpentry, GRP works, painting, welding / fabrication, electrical and systems integrated electronics, CCTV, fuel cleaning, refrigeration and rigging... right through to a private aircraft charter company, a computer sales / service outlet, custom catering services, a specialist Tender Service Centre... and a variety of refit / repair companies, seriously worthy of consideration. There are a number of highly respected Yacht Services agents, ready to assist in any way they can; and a first rate selection of provisioning options... from little gourmet stores and a choice of excellent supermarkets, through to some of the Caribbean's top 'specialist provisioning' outlets and dedicated fine wines suppliers (with companies like Vins Sans Frontieres, also offering specialist wine appreciation courses for crewmembers). The island's duty-free status, combined with its direct links (through 'Mother' countries France and Holland) to Europe, gives yachts the opportunity to purchase any spares / equipment / provisions, without paying tax or import duties... and with both Budget Marine and Island Water World - the Caribbean's two largest chandlery chains - based from here, one is assured the fastest possible access to any spares requirements. There are some of the best dedicated electrical spares and galley hardware stockists, a selection of fine florists, a fantastic dive shop, a superb retail electronics store, two great surf shops and one of the best card/gift shops throughout the entire Caribbean. Beyond all this, when the week's work is done... one can rent a Harley Davidson motor cycle to tour the island; enjoy some great watersports, windsurfing, and kiteboarding up on Orient Beach; rent a bicycle or kayak; do some horse riding; scuba diving; visit the Butterfly Farm; let your hair down at Waikiki Beach Club; spend an afternoon at the Loterie Farm enjoying their latest ‘Fly-zone’ extreme canopy tour, or simply relaxing at one of their trendy open plan restaurants or bars… and in the evening, sample some really fine dining at any one of a great selection of top class restaurants, before taking ‘St.Maarten nightlife’ to its infinite limits at Bliss…and beyond. The St. Maarten Marine Trades Association will be hosting the 2nd Annual St. Maarten Charter Yacht Exhibition on the 6th-9th December 2008; and the other exciting event is the St. Maarten / St. Martin Classic Yacht Regatta, which will see three days of classic racing between 22nd - 25th January 2009.
Saba In fact, getting high in Saba has a whole new meaning in itself… with its towering Mt. Scenery Volcano ascending to 2853ft above sea level and a veritable ‘galaxy’ of steps wrought into the island’s hillsides… of a number which may easily exceed the entire Saban population! So, whether you arrive there by plane with WINAIR (see ‘Airlines’ section in St. Maarten section) or even rent a bareboat yacht from Horizon or Select Yachts (see ’Yacht Charter / Sales’ in St. Maarten section) and sail across… Saba really does offer a thoroughly enjoyable and revitalizing ‘getaway’ experience.
St. Maarten / St. MartinTelephone Dialling Codes: Tel - Dutch to French side: Area
Code - Followed by Number Cell - Dutch to French side: Area
Code - Followed by Number Tel & Cell - French to Dutch side: Area
Code - Followed by Number Tel & Cell - Dutch to French USA: Area
Code - Followed by Number Tel & Cell - Dutch to French Europe: 00 + Country Code - Followed by Number
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