For travelers who'd like to mix a Caribbean-style beach vacation with European food and flair, the Dutch/French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin is an ideal choice. Tucked at the top of the Guadeloupe Archipelago, just 144 miles from Puerto Rico, this island's two sides share beautiful beaches, hilly terrain, a host of coves and bays and hotels in every price range, but the pace and personality of each side differs tremendously.

If nightlife, casino gambling and a go-go atmosphere are for you, then the Dutch side, St. Maarten, is your best bet.

If you like to shop, Philipsburg, St. Maarten's capital city, is peppered with art galleries, jewelry stores, souvenir shops and even the minute and adorable Sint Maarten Museum.

Best of all, visitors can sample the sights and sounds of both, St. Maarten and St. Martin, without much trouble. At 37 square miles, it's relatively easy to get around, but make sure to bring along a good map, as many roads are less than well marked. Many travelers opt to rent a car for a day or so to soak up the island's full flavor; others opt for public bus service, or take a taxi after negotiating a rate.

Visitors often spend a day frolicking on the beach, head to the restaurant-rich village of Grand Case on the French side, St. Martin, for a sumptuous meal and repair to the casinos of the Dutch side, St. Maarten, before calling it a night.

In addition, St. Maarten is an ideal jumping-off point for visits to tiny Saba and neighboring Anguilla, both of which can be reached by ferry. English is widely spoken on St. Maarten.