PHILIPSBURG:--- With 37 square miles of pristine shorelines along its coast, St. Maarten (www.VacationStMaarten.com) has been featured by CNN.com as one of the top five destinations in the world for beach goers in the website's list of "17 Beaches We'd Like To Be Lounging On."
While other contenders on the list were highlighted with individual beaches within a destination, St. Maarten as a whole was chosen by CNN.com readers as a best spot for beach lovers to lounge and relax on.
"We are incredibly proud to have our beaches highlighted as some of the best in the world by a distinguished outlet such as CNN.com," said Edward Dest, interim director of tourism for the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau. "Our island's picturesque shorelines and diversity of beaches help make St. Maarten a favorite destination of travelers around the world."
With 37 beaches, one for every square mile of the island, travelers can take comfort in knowing there is a perfect beach for each visitor. From clothing-optional beaches on the French side of the island, to the Dutch side's popular Maho Beach (one of the few places in the world where aircrafts can be viewed in their flight path just outside the end of the runway), there is an ideal lounging area for everybody.