St-Martin & Sint Maarten

This petite offshore islet is fab for a sun-soaked afternoon. Refreshingly undeveloped (it’s part of the Reserve Naturelle Saint Martin or St-Martin Nature Reserve), Pinel’s calm west-facing beach has excellent swimming and decent snorkeling. Rent gear from Caribbean Paddling by the ferry pier in French Cul-de-Sac from where boats head to the island roughly every 30 minutes (five-minute trip, cash only). Casual Yellow Beach and more upscale Karibuni provide sustenance and sun loungers (€20 for two, including umbrella).

Loterie Farm is the brainchild of former actor Bill 'BJ' Welch who left the Hollywood rat race to turn a former plantation into a private nature reserve. You can explore the lush grounds on an easy 45-minute tropical forest hike (maps provided) or a one-hour treetop canopy tour with a high-ropes course, zip lines and elevated bridges. Many people, though, just come to relax by the spring-fed amoeba-shaped swimming pool ringed by cabanas or for lunch at the on-site restaurant.

The most famous of St-Martin's Creole lolos is a cluster of a half dozen or so open kitchens where ribs, cod fritters, lobster, chicken and stuffed crabs are fire-tickled to perfection on big grills. Sides such as coleslaw, potato salad, rice and beans, or fried plantains usually cost a couple of euros extra.

Tours lasting 1½ hours take you behind the scenes of this distillery, where you learn the history of rum-making in the Caribbean and view the creation, blending and bottling processes, followed by a tasting session. Infusions include coconut; spice; banana, vanilla and cinnamon; mocha; and white chocolate and raspberry. You can bottle your own rum to take home.

At the end of the runway, this beach bar is a rite of passage for plane-spotters: where else can you sip an ice-cold beer while jets take off right above you? A surfboard shows the daily flight schedule (it's usually busiest around midday) – rent a beach chair and umbrella for US$10 or take a dip in the pool.

A four-hour tour by air-conditioned bus is a tasty way to discover this multicultural island's French, Dutch and Caribbean flavors. Tours meet at the Amsterdam Cheese & Liquor Store, starting with a cheese tasting, before heading off to sample such treats as sizzling barbecue, local rum, seafood and Sint Maarten–made gelato, learning about the island's history en route.