Travel to the West Indies – Episode 916

Hear about travel to the West Indies, to the islands of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin, Anguilla, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, and Sint Eustatius, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jeff Ohlfs about his island-hopping adventure.

Why should you travel to these 5 islands?

Jeff says, “Some of them are not visited at all. Some of them are overly visited. They’re all near each other, so it makes for a nice little grouping. I used St. Martin as a base. St. Martin is known as the friendly island and you can do daily flights to each of the other islands.”

Jeff recommends an itinerary that includes visiting five of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, known as the British, Dutch, and French West Indies. His suggested itinerary includes the following islands:

1. St. Martin (French and Dutch)
   • Use St. Martin as a base for island hopping.
   • Stay at the Azure Hotel and Art Studio on Simpson Bay Beach.
   • Explore both the Dutch side (Philipsburg) and the French side (Marigot).
   • Visit historical forts like Fort Amsterdam and Fort St. Louis.
   • Experience the famous Princess Juliana International Airport at Maho Beach.
   • Recommended dining: Beirut Restaurant (Mediterranean), Mary’s Boon Restaurant (local fish), and Villa Royale (French side, goat curry).
2. Anguilla (British)
   • Take a ferry from St. Martin.
   • Rent a car from Junie’s Car Rental.
   • Visit Native American sacred sites like Big Spring and Fountain National Park (petroglyphs).
   • Lunch at Scilly Cay, a restaurant on an island off Island Harbor, featuring grilled crayfish and rum punch.
3. Saba (Dutch)
   • Fly to Saba, known for its shortest commercial runway.
   • Explore Mount Scenery National Park, hiking trails, and volcanic rock tide pools near the airport.
   • Visit Windwardside village, known for its quaint charm and lace-making tradition.
   • Lunch at Island Flavor, try their local Saba Spice (homemade rum punch).
   • Tour the capital, The Bottom, located in the caldera of an extinct volcano.
4. St. Bartholomew (French)
   • Fly into the luxury island of St. Bart’s.
   • Rent a Mokie (doorless recreational vehicle) from Cool Car Rental for a unique driving experience.
   • Spend time at Saline Beach, a beautiful natural reserve.
   • Explore Gustavia, the capital, and visit forts like Fort Oscar and Fort Gustav.
5. St. Eustatius (Dutch)
   • Fly to St. Eustatius (Statia), a quiet and historic island.
   • Visit Fort Orange and the town of Oranjestad.
   • Hike up the Quill, a dormant volcano, and explore the national parks.
   • Stay at the Papaya Inn and leave via ferry to St. Kitts and Nevis.

Jeff emphasizes pre-planning, noting that most islands can be enjoyed in a day each, except for extended stays at resorts. He recommends off-season travel (like April) to avoid crowds and reduce costs.

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Show Notes

Winair
Saint Martin (island)
The Azure Hotel and Art Studio, Sint Maarten
Fort Louis (Saint Martin)
Explore St. Martin Nature Reserve
Sint Maarten
Fort Amsterdam (Sint Maarten)
Mary’s Boon Hotel – Beach Resort, Restaurant and Bar
Villa Royale
Anguilla
Junie’s Car Rental, Anguilla
Protected Areas | Anguilla National Trust
Big Spring Anguilla
The Fountain Cavern-Shoal Bay Anguilla
Scilly Cay
Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve Beach Bar
Saba (island)
Triple T Taxi Service
Mount Scenery
Sulphur Mine Trail
Flat Point Tide Pools
Windwardside
The Bottom
Sacred Heart Church, Saba
Island Flavor Restaurant, Saba
Saba Spice
Fort Bay Harbor
Saint Barthélemy
Cool Rental
Nature Reserve of Saint Barthélemy
Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy
Fort Karl
Sint Eustatius
F. D. Roosevelt Airport
Fort Oranje (Sint Eustatius)
Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius
Quill/Boven National Park
The Quill (volcano)
Papaya Inn, Oranjestad
Oyster Bay Beach Resort

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