British Anguilla is located only about 10 minutes away by plane and is quite popular for its quiet and beautiful beaches. Many famous Hollywood movie stars enjoy some of the private villas that are available on the island. The Shoal Bay Beach is one of the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the entire Caribbean.

Saba is about a 20-minute flight from St. Maarten and it has a breathtaking landing, due to the shortness of its runway. Once a volcano, the five-square-mile island only has about 2,200 inhabitants. Nevertheless, Saba has some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean. The entire mountainous coastline of the island is designated a marine preserve.

Statia is also a popular location for locals and tourists. The island's government was actually the first to salute and recognize the independence of the United States from Britain in 1776. The flight is less than 30 minutes away in the Twin Otter airplane.

St. Barth's is part of the Commune of Guadeloupe as is the French side of St. Martin. The island is known for its shopping and high-class restaurants and hotels. Many rich and famous can be found on the streets of the island, which is known as a more exclusive location.

St. Kitts and Nevis has a deep history and culture. Museums and historic buildings can be found on the two joint islands. St. Kitts is only about a 30-to- 45-minute flight from St. Maarten.

How does one get to these destinations? A Dutch St. Maarten government company called Windward Islands Airways uses a Canadian-built, twin-engine aircraft. The Twin Otter aircraft seats 19 and is known for its ability to take off and land on short runways, like the one on Saba and even St. Barth's. A passenger can truly appreciate the abilities of the specially made, twin-engine plane in those challenging landing locations.

"We don't compete with the Dash 8 to Antigua with its 40-passenger load. We do a separate type of business with small flights to closer destinations," said John Strugnell, managing director of the airline. Island hopping is very important to his business.

WinAir will eventually be privatized, but Strugnell is confident that service will not be compromised. The company plans to implement a code-share agreement with other airlines soon. This service will allow a passenger in Washington, D.C. to fly directly to the small-island destination, without having to stop and purchase a WinAir ticket in St. Maarten.