Shopping and Casinos  : Saint Martin

An island with a French side - Saint Martin - and a Dutch side - Sint Maarten - this destination has sailing, surfing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, sea scooting, water-skiing and parasailing and about 35 beaches. The French side occupies the northern half and is known for excellent food. The Dutch side, with Philipsburg as its capital, occupies the southern 17 square miles of this 37-square-mile island. On both sides, enjoy the local markets, the flowers and the beaches. For those who love to shop, Saint Martin is a duty-free capital with an emphasis on luxury and fashion - and a regular influx of cruise ship visitors. This is the smallest island in the world shared by two governments in peaceful coexistence for over 350 years.