Sea Palace

Sint Maarten, a 16-square-mile constituent state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is known for duty-free shopping, dining and nightlife and casinos. Sea Palace Resort, known affectionately as the “Crown Jewel of Sint Maarten,” has a central location in and incredible views. The capital of Sint Maarten is Philipsburg, and the Sea Palace Resort is located in the heart of the city, oceanfront and on the Philipsburg Boardwalk. The resort has studios and one- and two-bedroom suites equipped with private glass balconies, free Wi-Fi, fully equipped kitchens, granite countertops, dining areas and washer/dryer units. Philipsburg is known as a cruise ship destination and as a shopping mecca. While Dutch and French are official languages, English is also an official language in Sint Maarten. Goods are duty-free in Sint Maarten, and in Philipsburg there is a mile of boutiques and jewelry stores on Front Street. There’s also Old Street with more shopping and art galleries, and Back Street with a local market and less expensive goods, including clothing. Philipsburg also has many restaurants and bars. Fresh seafood with Caribbean flair, such as conch and dumplings, is a specialty, along with barbecued chicken and ribs and johnny cakes, which are like fried cornbread. Casinos also abound! It was reported in 2014 that Sint Maarten had “more gaming machines per resident than any other country in the world.”