What to know about traveling to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and …

St. Maarten and St. Martin

Two countries on one island, St. Maarten and St. Martin are both bouncing back from the hurricanes’ destruction. St. Maarten, the Dutch side of the island, has seen electricity restored to 95 percent of the country, and telecommunications have been almost fully restored, said acting tourism minister Cornelius de Weever.

While recovery efforts continue at the harbor, cruise ships are docking, and the airport is open, with its departure lounge in a new provisional structure and a provisional arrival pavilion scheduled to open in March, he said. Currently, the arrival lounge is under a tent. The main terminal of the airport is scheduled to reopen later this year.

“The island is recovering well,” de Weever said. “The good thing about the island now is, on the days the cruise ships are not in port, the island is very quiet, and it kind of reminds you of St. Maarten 30 years ago. You can actually be on a beach all by yourself and just enjoying it.”

In November, the newest attraction on St. Maarten opened: the Rainforest Adventures’ Rockland Estate eco-park, which includes the Flying Dutchman, pictured, touted as the world’s steepest zip line, and the Soualiga Sky Explorer chairlift. Emilio’s restaurant is a new addition to St. Maarten’s culinary options, de Weever said.

There are currently 27 accommodations open, totaling 669 units, while 36 others will begin reopening in the coming weeks and months. Belair Beach Hotel is tentatively reopening in March, while the Sea Palace Resort hopes to open its doors again April 1. 

The annual Heineken Regatta will take place March 1 to 4, and the St. Maarten Carnival is scheduled for April 12 to May 3. 

In St. Martin, the French side of the island, Grand Case Airport is operational, and more than 60 restaurants are open, as are about 300 hotel rooms, with at least 10 more hotels scheduled to reopen before the end of 2018. Hotel La Plantation in Orient Bay will have a partial reopening on April 16.

More information is available at vacationstmaarten.com and st-martin.org.