been’there
Google
It looks pretty from above but nothing prepares you for what you will find while exploring the island of Saint Martin. Overall, it looks like a beautiful tropical island with turquoise waters and the temperature is ideal. To be fair, it feels like a trap to not say "prison". There is not a lot of culture because it's a tiny island, and it's not a country. It feels like the Caribbean and it feels safe, quiet and relaxing. There is color everywhere, even if colors don't make sense, you know you are in an island. The bad, there is garbage, plastic and pollution present everywhere including the ocean and storm drains that bring the waste directly to the ocean. It's definitely overcrowded, and poverty can't hide by any means. Philipsburg looks somewhat picturesque but also it has a dark/weird vibe to it too. Locals are typically friendly, and kind but there are exceptions. I think, the French side is better than the dutch side because it feels less developed, food on the French side I think it's better too. On the Dutch side the food is plain and everything is for tourists. So much chicken you can scream. Everything closes very early and there is not much to do in the day but once the night comes it all goes dead fast. 3 Stars is fair my opinion for a boring island. Most locals are trapped here and they know it too.
