Great Bay Beach os one of 37 on the tiny Caribbean island of St. Maarten. -- Photo by David Langford, AP

Q: My wife and I, and three other couples are planning a winter trip to the Great Bay resort on St. Maarten. What attractions are on the island? -- R. Cowle, Toronto

A: As the smallest island in the world to be shared by two sovereign governments -- the Dutch and the French -- St. Maarten/St. Martin certainly lives up to its slogan "A little European. A lot of Caribbean."

According to Keith Graham, managing director of the Great Bay Beach Hotel & Casino, a $10 million US renovation will be completed by December.

Guest rooms, common areas and two existing restaurants are being refurbished. A new Beach restaurant will specialize in grilled food.

Nearby, Front St. is a popular strip for duty-free shopping, restaurants and nightlife. The St. Maarten Museum provides a primer on island history and the St. Rose Arcade is a great area for local colour.

Known for its 37 beaches and 12 casinos, St. Maarten is also famous for its cuisine with more than 350 restaurants.

A must is Johnny's "under the tree BBQ" in Cole Bay, which islanders say is a real Caribbean barbecue meal.

From St. Maarten, you can island hop by ferry to neighbouring islands such as St. Barth's (45 minutes), Anguilla (20 minutes) and Saba (1 hour).

For more, log onto the St. Maarten Tourist office at st-maarten.com.