Zee Best Breakfast! Voted best breakfast on the island. Authentic, fresh-baked French pastries, light-as-air crepes and scrumptious lunches. Open daily in two locations; Simpson Bay and Marina Port-de-Plaisance with a lovely view of the marina.
The World in Microcosm: Island Hopping
By Pat Cantor
St. Maarten/St. Martin is a thriving international hub (the second busiest airport in the Caribbean after San Juan). Every day of the week you can fly to the exciting capitals of the world, though there really is no need. Within 36 miles of St. Maarten/St. Martin, you'll find four very special islands that are well worth investigating — Anguilla, Saba, St. Barths and St. Eustatius, aka Statia.
All four contain fabulous places to explore, dine, stay and play whether you are planning on a day trip or an overnighter. It's very easy to reach Anguilla, Saba, St. Barths and Statia — just book a flight on WinAir. They service each island with several flights a day. To reserve at their ticket office at PJIA, call 599-545-4237 or go online to www.fly-winair.com. You can also reach some of the islands via ferry services, which run daily every 30 minutes from Marigot, St. Martin to Blowing Point on Anguilla.
From St. Maarten to St. Barths, The Edge I and Edge II high-speed catamarans (Aqua Mania Adventures; 599-544-2640) depart from Pelican Marina in Simpson Bay for St. Barths and also go to Saba. Day-long island trips to Anguilla are available on the Lambada and Tango (also Aqua Mania Adventures) and Bluebeard Charters' Heineken cat (599-557-5935).
Prickly Pear
To visit St. Maarten/Martin and miss seeing Prickly Pear Cay would be a shame. This perfect, teeny, speck of a Caribbean island in the British West Indies lies just a short distance off the coast of Anguilla. A long, white sandy beach beckons to explorers, as do the three reefs surrounding the island in the translucent turquoise waters. Prickly Pear's shallow waters are perfect for families with little children.
Aqua Mania Adventures (599-544-2640) offers trips to Prickly Pear every Tuesday and Thursday on the Lambada, a 63-foot sail catamaran equipped with seating, a walk-up bar and two restrooms. Guests are served cold drinks, French baguettes, Gouda cheese and apples en route.
You can also visit Prickly Pear with Blue Beard's all-inclusive charters (599-557-5935), which provide lunch and stops in Anguilla as well.
Take a quick trip on Edge I or Edge II the fastest way to get to neighboring islands. These high speed ferries allow you to enjoy day trips for diving, hiking or touring: St. Barts.Saba.
Bluebeard Charters
Bluebeard Charters out of Simpson Bay features day-sail trips on its Heineken Cat to Anguilla that include a fabulous snorkeling stop at Prickly Pear, a magical white-sand beach surrounded by three reefs teeming with marine life and bathed by translucent sapphire-colored waters. Guests are treated to a barbecue lunch and plenty of cold drinks. Contact: Bluebeard Charters.
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Zee Best Breakfast! Voted best breakfast on the island. Authentic, fresh-baked French pastries, light-as-air crepes and scrumptious lunches. Open daily in two locations; Simpson Bay and Marina Port-de-Plaisance with a lovely view of the marina. 
St. Maarten/St. Martin is a thriving international hub (the second busiest airport in the Caribbean after San Juan). Every day of the week you can fly to the exciting capitals of the world, though there really is no need. Within 36 miles of St. Maarten/St. Martin, you'll find four very special islands that are well worth investigating — Anguilla, Saba, St. Barths and St. Eustatius, aka Statia.
From St. Maarten to St. Barths, The Edge I and Edge II high-speed catamarans (Aqua Mania Adventures; 599-544-2640) depart from Pelican Marina in Simpson Bay for St. Barths and also go to Saba. Day-long island trips to Anguilla are available on the Lambada and Tango (also Aqua Mania Adventures) and Bluebeard Charters' Heineken cat (599-557-5935).
Take a quick trip on Edge I or Edge II the fastest way to get to neighboring islands. These high speed ferries allow you to enjoy day trips for diving, hiking or touring: 
Bluebeard Charters out of Simpson Bay features day-sail trips on its Heineken Cat to Anguilla that include a fabulous snorkeling stop at Prickly Pear, a magical white-sand beach surrounded by three reefs teeming with marine life and bathed by translucent sapphire-colored waters. Guests are treated to a barbecue lunch and plenty of cold drinks. Contact: 
