<Ron wrote: Any difference between the French side and the Dutch side?> Given that there is no line in the water and nothing other than a sign on the roads and a change in the accents there is nothing to distinguish where you are. The perps roam the Island.....not one country on the other. There is a warning posted in the police station/immigrations to advise land travel only in groups and not "hitchhike" as is common in most other islands. Tourists have been picked up by look a like "taxies" taken to the bush robbed and left. I have not heard of anyone being killed but this is only a matter of time, IMHO. Boaters, as long as you are on the water, are most likely safer than on land at night. Sint Maarten/St Martin has always been a free port with a bit of the wild west in it. As a trafficking center for drugs, people and other "goods"it has more than its share of bad folks. With a basically unregulated immigration system it has grown faster than it can employ the new arrivals. This has led to the rapid increase in crime there, IMO. Ironically in the last 5 years it has become a Mega Yacht Center. Many factors have made this possible. Good direct air service from overseas, the "free port" i.e. no customs duties which allows parts, goods and services to be readily available. A location where the guests can choose if they wish to go south or west or remain near the casinos. Big money that flows freely has developed marinas capable of handling the 1-200 ft yachts. These marinas have tight security as do most Mega Yachts today. The two best anchorage, Marigot Bay on the French side and Simpson Bay Lagoon which is shared by both French and Dutch have no security except your own. In June when we were there we heard many, many calls on channel 16 for assistance and not one of them was answered by the coast guard nor the police. Only by other cruisers!! 3 of the boats robbed were within 2-300 yards of the beautiful new Dutch Coast Guard Station in daylight........hmmmm All this is not to say that you can't go to St Martin/Maarten and have a good time. Heck, you might just have a better time than on any other Caribbean Island if you are a party type and high roller. Running naked on the beaches is also great fun ;-) However, this is a place where good street smarts and personal security practices are necessary 24/7. If you have a police department and a coast guard who is complacent then I don't think the Director of Tourism is going to help very much.....the "advisory", aka warning letter, posted in the police station may have been put out by the Tourism Office!! As always YMMV.... Dave & Nancy Swan Song Roughwater 58