St. Maarten is a low key island with a relaxed atmosphere that bears a startling resemblance to a true paradise.  With restaurants catering to every discriminating palette, jewelry stores with unsurpassed array’s  that dazzle the eye, but are easy on the wallet, and enough action and activity for all who crave excitement; a St. Maarten villa vacation is the total package for parents and their teenagers alike. 

Enjoying a St. Maarten Vacation: Daytime Outings

Whether hiking up Pic Paradis, riding the ocean waves, jet skiing across the Caribbean waters or daringly parasailing at Orient Beach, there is plenty to keep your adventuresome teenager busy.  Or perhaps your son is like mine and just can’t get enough of waking up at the crack of dawn with his father and enjoying an early morning round of tropical golf in the breezy heat.  Personally, my daughter and I prefer to soak in the Caribbean waters.

After spending several days sampling the distinctively different beaches encircling the island, an absolute favorite of my son and daughter’s is to take a day’s excursion to Pinel Island.  Setting off in a small wooden boat in French Cul de Sac brings you to this tiny jewel of an island devoted solely to sunbathing, snorkeling and just plain delighting in the warm turquoise waters. This excursion never fails to make my teenagers feel like they’ve just been transported to a magical Gilligan’s Island.

Exciting Island Night Life

At night the island comes alive with music, dance and song.  Enjoying a “virgin” tropical drink as we watch the sun set from any one of the countless bars poised for perfect viewing has become a St. Maarten vacation family tradition. Dinners are always an important event that we all take quite seriously as we decide which cuisine to sample each night.  Although we each have our own favorite restaurant that we love to revisit each year, we take turns deciding on where to eat based on how casual or exotic we may feel that night.  Our “adult” tastes lean more towards refined French cooking with rich sauces, but we can always find a good compromise for our teenagers who crave the wide selection of exotic pizzas, tacos or salads with a tropical flair that so many restaurants offer alongside their more elaborate fare. 

After stuffing ourselves and promising each night that this will be the very last night we indulge in any more deliciously decadent desserts, the next big decision is where to go for after dinner dancing and clubbing.  Faced with the “unpleasant“ prospect of being seen with their parents, our teenagers usually agree to try a different club each night to experience the true flavor of a St. Maarten vacation with unlimited choices ranging from Phillipsburg to Maho to Marigot.  Cheri’s has always been a family favorite with their nightly show that always gets us up and dancing.

Basking in a St. Maarten Villa Paradise

And when at last we head back to our “digs” our kids are always eager for their nightly midnight swim and star gazing by our private pool.  Our favorite spot is Casa Boco, a private St. Maarten villa that we’ve been renting for many years.  As soon as we step through the door of Casa Boco and hear the waves crashing against the seawalls of the villa, and glimpse at the gleaming turquoise water under the vast stretch of crystal blue sky littered with soft white clouds, we know we’ve entered our own private paradise for the week.  To see our island getaway visit, http://www.stmaartenvillavacations.com/Casa-Boco.

Just minutes away from Maho, and an easy drive to Phillipsburg and all of our favorite beaches, Casa Boco is the ideal villa retreat for a week spent vacationing with teenagers.  While they’re sleeping late, we’re relaxing by the pool enjoying a leisurely brunch in the outdoor dining area overlooking the ocean.  Some days we all simply choose to linger at the villa, soaking up the rays by the pool away from the “hustle and bustle” until the sun goes down casting red hues across the sky.

Unexpected Finds

Strolling along the streets while deciding on my latest jewelry purchase, my son and daughter came upon “That Yoda Guy”, and they being the Star Wars enthusiasts that they are, couldn’t have been happier!  Check it out: One of the leading special effects geniuses who helped to create the endearing Yoda character of Star Wars has retired to St. Maarten and has set up a Stars Wars mini museum where you can view the exhibit with a small purchase from his movie memorabilia line of merchandise.  I must admit this was just about as exciting for us as it was for our kids!

All in all, experiencing a St. Maarten villa vacation as a family with two active teenagers has become a much welcomed tradition. There are endless opportunities to create memories that will forever be treasured by us all.  I hope that you and your family will be fortunate enough to enjoy such cherished times as well on your next visit to St. Maarten’s villas, the perfect place to vacation with your teenage children!