PHILIPSBURG:--- The cosmopolitan island of St. Maarten/St. Martin (www.vacationstmaarten.com) has been named in the Top 10 Most Popular Destinations Worldwide in 2013 among American travelers, according to Fodor's Travel. St. Maarten/St. Martin is the only Caribbean island to appear in the top 10 on the Fodor's list.
Of the 7,500 destinations Fodors.com covers around the world, the leading travel publisher identified the top 50 worldwide travel locales in 2013 based on destination-guide page views from natural searches by American visitors to Fodors.com, which receives more than 4.5 million unique visitors each month.
The idyllic island was named the seventh most popular worldwide destination in 2013, keeping company in the Top 10 with such alluring destinations as Paris, New York City and Maui, HI.
"We are honored to be featured among the top destinations worldwide by Fodor's Travel as the tribute reflects the satisfaction that visitors have felt from their trips to our island," said Edward Dest, interim director of tourism for the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau.
The undisputed gastronomical capital of the Caribbean, St. Maarten/St. Martin is home to 37 square miles of breathtaking beaches and boasts numerous historical and family-oriented attractions.
During the day, watersport enthusiasts can take full advantage of the island's scuba diving and snorkeling facilities, while the capital of Philipsburg offers duty-free shopping with a bustling city atmosphere.
By night, travelers can visit one of fourteen world-class, Vegas-style casinos or dance the night away to the beats and rhythms of the world's trendiest DJs at a variety of nightclubs, providing non-stop entertainment.
With the widest variety of dining experiences compared to any other island in the world, Dutch and French St. Maarten offer a wide range of international and local cuisines with more than 365 restaurants. It is also the only Caribbean island with more than one establishment ranked on TripAdvisor's Travelers' Favorite Fine Dining Restaurants - Caribbean 2013 list, defining the destination as a stand-out culinary experience for visitors and reinforcing its reputation as the gastronomic capital of the Caribbean.
For more information on St. Maarten, visit the official site of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau at www.VacationStMaarten.com.
