New guides, history, and the weekly island update from This Is SXM, the independent guide to St. Maarten and St. Martin.https://thisissxm.com/https://thisissxm.com/this-week/https://thisissxm.com/this-week/A genuinely quiet stretch of high summer. Two cruise calls land midweek, Rhapsody of the Seas on Tuesday and Allure of the Seas on Wednesday, and the port sits empty the other five days. The week's rhythm comes from the standing nights: the Tuesday pop-up market and daily live music at Tortuga, Wine Down Wednesday at Mix at Oceans, and happy hour on the Philipsburg boardwalk. The French side's Staycation promotion rolls straight into August, and next Monday, August 3, is August Monday, the famous beach party a short ferry hop away on Anguilla. Every date and source is below.Mon, 27 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://thisissxm.com/history/o-sweet-saint-martin-land-anthem/https://thisissxm.com/history/o-sweet-saint-martin-land-anthem/The story of O Sweet Saint Martin Land: the Dutch priest who wrote it in 1958, its two language versions, its real official status, and where you hear it today.Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://thisissxm.com/guides/getting-around/https://thisissxm.com/guides/getting-around/The honest answer on getting around St. Maarten and St. Martin: when to rent a car, what taxis really cost, and the $2 buses almost no guide explains.Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://thisissxm.com/guides/where-to-stay/https://thisissxm.com/guides/where-to-stay/Every area of St. Maarten and St. Martin compared honestly: who each place suits and its real tradeoffs, so you book the right base for your trip.Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://thisissxm.com/guides/which-side-to-stay/https://thisissxm.com/guides/which-side-to-stay/An honest Dutch vs French side comparison: atmosphere, food, beaches, prices, plugs, and safety, plus which side fits your kind of trip.Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT