A St. Maarten Getaway

Winter’s chilling bite is the perfect excuse to jaunt to paradise. Consider a second property in sexy St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, only a three-hour flight from both New York and Miami.

Porto Cupecoy is a Mediterranean-style condo community nestled along a seaside village with a gorgeous deep-water, 54-slip marina hosting humble sailboats as well as luxury mega-yachts. The inlet also features clothing boutiques, a grocery stocked with gourmet goods, and varied dining options like La Bateau Ivre Lounge Bar (relaxed, with a tapas menu), Aux Quatre Vents Restaurant (fine dining), Rendez-Vous Lounge (casual fare), and the Ernest & Fidel Cafe, perfect for an iced latte and a snack.

Condos come with generous-size kitchens equipped with cherrywood cabinetry and stainless steel appliances. The one to four bedrooms range in size from 1,000 to 6,000 square feet. From the sizeable travertine-marble-lined bathrooms to the huge balconies with marina views, luxury is standard. Porto Cupecoy is also attractive fi nancially: There are no property or capital gains taxes in St. Maarten. If you want to give the property a test drive, many of the owners participate in the vacation rental program.

Are your bags packed yet?