St Maarten Facts & Travel Tips

Definitive Caribbean Blog: Help us Update our Guides to St Maarten and St Martin?!

2010-01-26T10:01:00.000-05:00

St. Maarten Villas & St. Martin Villas

Blue Ocean Villas represent an extraordinary selection of private vacation villa rentals on St Maarten and St Martin. Interested in a St. Maarten Villa? Call Sonja. You can view our company's extensive selection of island properties online, so that you can select from vacation rentals in the Dawn Beach, Oyster Pond, Tamarind Hill, Mont Choisy, Orient Beach, Terre-de-Bas area (Lowlands). Whereever you choose you will discover that, Saint Maarten and St Martin offer unsurpassed luxury and unparalleled views to make your vacation an experience you will never forget. For our United States travelers interested in a St. Maarten villa rental, check our extensive menu on the left that offers important travel information. The Staff at Blue Ocean Villas speak fluent English, French, German and Dutch. Access our web site and tour through our exclusive listing of St Maarten villas and St Martin villas. Click here to contact us.

St. Maarten Carnival schedule

2008-03-29T07:30:00.004-04:00

St. Maarten Carnival schedule

PHILIPSBURG--The official schedule for St. Maarten 2008 Carnival Season is set and flyers have been prepared for distribution to the public.

The first activity for this year’s Carnival under the theme “Let’s Make It Great” will be the Junior Queen Pageant, Junior Calypso and Junior Road March Competition at Celebration Palace on Bush Road, Sunday, April 6, starting at 4:00pm.

To officially open the gates to the Carnival Village, otherwise known as the Festival Village, the annual opening jump-up will be on Thursday, April 17, starting at 8:00pm. The first local show in the Festival Village will be the From Us 2 U III: King of Kings Competition on Friday, April 18, starting at 8:00pm.

R&B will meet Soca at the Festival Village on Saturday, April 19, when US R&B singer Keisha Cole along with headliners Destra and Ziggy Rankins hit the stage during the first international concert on the agenda. The show will start at 9:00pm.

St. Maarten’s youth will fill the streets of Philipsburg during the Junior Carnival Parade scheduled for Sunday, April 20, starting at 2:00pm. The Senior Calypso Eliminations will follow the next day Monday, April 21, starting at 9:00pm.

Hott Reggae Vybes, the second international concert on the agenda, will feature Tarrus Riley, Tessanne, Demarco and several others and will take place on Tuesday, April 22, starting at 9:00pm. The annual Youth Extravaganza will be hosted on Wednesday, April 23, starting at 9:00pm. The PJD2 Caribbean Beauty Pageant will take place on Thursday, April 24, starting at 8:00pm.

The Senior Road-march Competition with guest appearances by Bomani, Small Axe, Assylum, Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons will be hosted on Friday, April 25, starting at 8:00pm. This event will flow right into the annual Jouvert Morning jump-up on Saturday, April 26, starting at 4:00am. The night event on this same day will be a Zouk/Kompa Concert, the third international concert featuring Tabou Combo, Patrick Elol and more and will commence at 9:00pm.

The Senior Calypso Finals with guest appearances by King Arrow and Mighty Sparrow is scheduled for Sunday, April 27, starting at 9:00pm. The fourth international concert will be a Latin concert featuring Las Chicas del Can and others on Monday, April 28, at 8:00pm.

The Grand Carnival parade is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, starting at 10:00am and the second parade day will be the next day Wednesday, April 30, starting at 2:00pm. The fifth international concert Caribbean Soca Explosion II will follow on Thursday, May 1, starting at 8:00pm and will feature Alive Band, 4 M Band, El-A-Kru, Nu Vybes and 17 plus.

The sixth international and final concert on the agenda will be a Reggae concert featuring amongst others Jah Cure and Elephant Man and is scheduled for Friday, May 2, starting at 9:00pm. The 2008 Carnival season will come to an end with a closing jump-up on Saturday, May 3, starting at 8:00pm and the burning of King Momo at 12:00 midnight.

BlueOceanVillas.com the leading travel agency for the Island of St.Maarten unveiled their newly designed website and joint venture.

2007-12-14T08:36:00.000-05:00

St Maarten, Netherlands Antilles – December 13, 20007 - BlueOceanVillas.com the leading travel agency for the Island of St.Maarten unveiled their newly designed website and joint venture.

Press release
One of the Island’s leading online travel companies announced the launch of its redesigned St Maarten travel site to meet the needs of St Maarten travelers. BlueOceanVillas Ltd added several innovative tools to their new website to support the growing number of customers concerned with airfares, flight schedules, St. Maarten weather forecast, immigration issues & TSA policies and news feeds from the Caribbean.
BlueOceanVillas has signed a joint venture with www.st-martin-vacation.com for search engine optimization strategies. In the coming months, the company will be pursuing joint ventures or other partner relationships that meet the ever-changing needs of its customers.

BlueOceanVillas Travel Services
"Blue Ocean Villas" proudly offers privately owned luxury accommodations and style, service and privacy for your next villa vacation, with all the comforts of your home. We represent some of the finest luxury Caribbean villa rentals in St Maarten, Netherlands Antilles. Our company with its extensive listing of properties for rent in the Dawn Beach, Oyster Pond area and St.Martin has a constant presence on the island. Visit our website at www.blueoceanvillas.com to review all these unique properties we offer.

St Maarten and St Martin
A spicy marriage of European and Caribbean cultures, Sint Maarten & Saint Martin boasts lavish elegance and secluded beaches. Many people head to mile-long Mullet Bay Beach or Maho Beach on the western side of St Maarten. Cupecoy Beach, with its gorgeous swath of white sand backed by sandstone cliffs. Oyster Pond Beach on the eastern side of the island is a favorite for surfers and nearby Dawn Beach has some good snorkeling. Baie Longue on the French side of the island is a beautiful beach that is almost never crowded and one of the most famous beaches is Orient Beach with its European atmosphere. St. Maarten and St. Martin are also known as the capital of the gastronomy in the Caribbean and famous for its dynamic nightlife scene.

About BlueOceanVillas Ltd
BlueOceanVillas is St Maarten’s leading online travel company, empowering business and leisure travelers with the tools and information they need to easily research, plan, book, and experience travel. We are in the travel industry for over 17 years and have personal knowledge of all the villas offered. By consistently offering unsurpassed expertise and service we have built and maintained a large base of loyal customers who turn to us year after year to assist them with locating exceptional villas, car rentals and other special services. We provide personal service, which can match you to the perfect property for your Caribbean vacation.

Media Contact : R.H. Detiger, Communication Officer
Phone : 1 877 311 7759
Email : info@blueoceanvillas.com
Website : http://www. BlueOceanVillas.com

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Travel Accommodation: June 8 - September 30, 2007

2007-09-15T10:46:00.000-04:00

The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced Friday, June 8, that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region, who have applied for, but not yet received passports, can re-enter the United States by air. This accommodation will expire at the end of September, and beginning October 1, 2007, all U.S. Citizens traveling outside the United States will be required to present a valid passport to enter and depart from the United States. This accommodation does not mean that Americans are exempt from meeting the entry requirements of Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region, some of which require a passport, certified birth certificate, or other evidence of citizenship for entry.

House delays rules requiring passports

2007-07-02T23:15:00.000-04:00

The House voted overwhelmingly Friday to delay for 17 months new rules requiring passports for U.S. land and sea travelers entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

The State Department has been flooded with passport applications since new rules requiring passports for air travelers went into effect in January. The resulting backlog has caused delays of up to three months for passports and ruined or delayed the travel plans of thousands of Americans.

In response, the government last week already temporarily waived a passport requirement for air travel, provided people can demonstrate they've applied for a passport.

Prinses Juliana Airport

2006-11-07T17:57:00.000-05:00

Smiling faces, praises and proud feelings dominated the operational opening of the new terminal building of Princess Juliana International Airport. As with the opening of any large operation there were also a few hiccups, and procedures like checking in took a bit longer. But overall, everybody was in high spirits.

The new US $87 million terminal building has “top of the line” facilities in terms of checking, baggage handling and screening systems, departure gate systems such as jet bridges and bussing, escalators introduced for the first time in St. Maarten, food courts and a blend of local and international shopping. All systems meet international safety and security standards.

This facility will play a major role of St. Maarten/St. Martin as a premier tourist destination and the island’s role as hub in the Northeastern Caribbean.

Travel Policies

2006-11-07T17:50:00.000-05:00

Travel Policies

Beginning 9/26/06, travel-size toiletries in a single, clear, one-quart plastic bag are allowed. Passengers are prohibited from taking liquids, gels and/or aerosols through the passenger screening checkpoint EXCEPT:

One clear transparent re-sealable 1 quart (1 liter) size plastic bag containing liquids, gels and/or aerosols in containers of 3 oz. (90ml) capacity or less per container.

The contents of the plastic bag must fit comfortably inside and the plastic bag must be completely closed/sealed and subjected to x-ray inspection separate from the carry-on bag.

Passengers may have the following items, but must declare them to TSA at the screening checkpoint if items are not contained in a clear transparent re-sealable 1 quart (1 liter) size plastic bag and/or are over 3 oz. (90ml):

One clear transparent re-sealable 1 quart (1 liter) size plastic bag containing liquids, gels and/or aerosols in containers of 3 oz. (90ml) capacity or less per container.
Medications (liquid, gel and aerosol)
Liquids (to include juice) or gels for diabetic or other medical needs

Passengers may be subjected to secondary screening if they enter the screening checkpoint with liquids, gels and/or aerosols on their person or in their carry-on bag.

New Requirements for Travelers

2006-07-30T19:28:00.000-04:00

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. In order to facilitate the implementation of this requirement, the Administration is proposing to complete it in phases following a proposed timeline, which will be published in the Federal Register in the near future.

In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed timeline will be as follows:

December 31, 2006 - Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
December 31, 2007 - Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.
This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement.

St.Maarten Facts

2006-07-30T18:02:00.000-04:00

Luxury Vacation Villa Rentals
St. Maarten and St.Martin have some of the finest luxury vacation villa rentals located in the Caribbean. Hills, mid sized mountains and spectacular ocean views. Spacious, sunny terraces and shady verandas make outdoor living the most relaxing you've experienced yet. Many properties have a view that will take your breath away, whether its the turquoise blue sea, a panoramic view from a hillside, or the twinkling lights at night. Fully equipped kitchens are found in each home, with some of true gourmet quality. Maid service can be provided 6 days per week, and most have a private pool, TV/VCR/DVD and stereo systems.

About BlueOceanVillas
BlueOceanVillas represents an extraordinary selection of private villas on the island of St.Maarten and St.Martin. Our company with its extensive listing of properties for rent in St. Maarten. With a constant presence on island and the consistent inspections preformed by our staff, each member of our team is personally familiar with all properties represented. We pride ourselves in giving personalized service, which can match you to the perfect property for your Caribbean vacation