All About St Maarten: Getting to St. Martin, St. Maarten resorts, beaches, restaurants and more:
St Martin (in Dutch: Sint Maarten and in French: Saint-Martin) is a one of the largest islands in the northeast part of the Caribbean, approximately 150 miles east of Puerto Rico. St. Martin rests in the upper right corner of the Caribbean.
This 40 square-mile island is unique because it's shared by the French West Indies and the Netherland Antilles. The southern half is the "Dutch side" and is called Sint Maarten. The upper half is the "French side" and is St. Martin. Collectively, the two territories are known as, "St. Martin/St. Maarten", "St. Martins", or simply, "SXM"
The Dutch side is known for its nightlife, terrific beaches, and casinos. The French side, is known for its nude beaches, jewelry and clothes shopping, exotic drinks and rich French Caribbean cuisine.
St. Martin has all of the ingrediants of a great Caribbean vacation. It has more than 40 accessible beaches. Its clash of cultures means that the cuisine is easily the best of the Caribbean . And the size of St. Martin makes it a place with an abundance of resorts that can cater to any price level.
The weather is perfect. Average temps are 80 degrees year around with sunlight almost every day of the year.
Also, St. Martin is the perfect step-off place for day trips to surrounding Caribbean islands of St. Barts, Anguilla, Saba, St. Kitts and Nevis.
Getting to St. Martin/Getting to St. Maarten
St. Martin's Princess Juliana Airport is the main airport that serves the eastern Caribbean islands of St. Martin, Anguilla, Saba and St. Barts. Princess Juliana Airport is famous for it's short landing strip that runs right between a very pretty St. Martin beach (Maho beach) and St. Martin's main harbor.
The airport started life as a US Military base, built in 1942 to fight German Uboats and then converted for civilian use in the late 1940s. It's now one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean. In August of 2006, a brand new, modern terminal was completed to serve more flights from the US and Europe (photo on the right is of the new terminal taken from St. Martin's harbor).
The large landing strip allows direct flights from the states and Europe. The airport website has a great time table. Here are the airlines serving St. Maarten:
> American Airlines from Miami, JFK, and San Juan
> American Eagle from San Juan
> Air Canada from Toronto
> Continental from Newark
> United from Chicago-Ohare
> Delta from Atlanta
> KLM from Amsterdam
> US Airways from Charlotte
St. Martin Hotels & Resorts / St. Maarten Hotels & Resorts
St. Martin is a special Caribbean island for a number of reasons. One of which is the abundance of great places to stay and enjoy St. Martin. Below is a list of resorts that we've highlighted. A larger list of St. Martin resorts can be found here.
There are a number of top tier hotels to make your stay in Saint Maarten special. Click on any of the hotels below to find a great place to stay during your upcoming visit!
Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Resort
Overlooking Dawn Beach on the eastern coast, the Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Resort is located on the Dutch side. The resort is just over eleven kilometers from some of the Caribbean's best shopping and dining in Philipsburg. Activities include golfing, horseback riding, scuba diving, tennis and windsurfing.
Oyster Bay Beach Resort
This newly renovated and expanded resort sits on an 8-acre peninsula on the east shore of the island. Oyster Bay's architecture reflects a Moorish style with arches and natural stone towers. The Jade Restaurant offers international and Asian Cuisine. The Atlantic View Bar and terrace provide a haven to sip a soothing drink all day. Each of the rooms features either kitchenettes or fully equipped kitchens, and each bedroom has its own bathroom.
Le Flamboyant Resort
The Flamboyant Hotel and Resort is located on the French side of the island, facing the lagoon in the Nettle Bay area. This resort sits on beautifully landscaped, tropical grounds dotted with coconut palms and indigenous flora. Just two miles from Marigot, St. Martin's French-accented capital, guests of Le Flamboyant can enjoy easy access to shopping, dining and nightlife offered in town.
The Wyndham Sapphire Beach Club & Resort (pictured)
The Wyndham Sapphire Beach Club and Resort is a perfect escape for romantic couples and other travelers looking for unique tropical experiences. This resort stands on the Dutch side of the island, but is just minutes from the French side.
St. Martin Restaurants / St. Maarten Restaurants
St Maarten is well-known as a wonderful place for eating aficionados. Because of it's confluence of French, Dutch and Caribbean cultures, St. Martin has many amazing restaurants. Below is a partial list of great places to eat on both sides of the Island.
Dutch Side:
Temptation: A fine restaurant in the Atlantis complex whose cuisine is very tasty modern ecclectic type. Telephone 599 545 2254
Cheri's Cafe: A fun restaurant located in the Maho district. Cheri's has sandwiches for lunch and dinner and a large menu of dinner selections. Cheri's also features nightly entertainment and dancing until early in the morning.
Turtle Pier: An open air restaurant located by the airport and on Simpson Bay Lagoon. Wonderful selection of seafood entrees as well as traditional meals including steak, barbeque chicken and ribs. Telephone 599-545-2562.
Pizza Pasta Trattoria Italiana: A small restaurant located in the alley between Casino Royale and Cheri's. It is a fine Italian restaurant and one of the island's favorite. Telephone 599-545-4034
Sunset Beach Bar: Located just to the south on the airport runway. Excellent sandwich type meals including burgers and fries. It is a great place to watch the sunsets, the planes land and people's reaction to alcohol.
The Boat House: A very popular steak and seafood restaurant located in Simpson Bay. No reservations or credit cards are accepted. Good food that is not fancy and more like an American steakhouse.
da Livio: It is located out of the main stream in Phillipsburg at the western end of Front Street. It is a short ways on Front Street towards downtown, east of the Great Bay Hotel. Wonderful review saying good, wholesome food at reasonable prices. This one comes highly recommended by some very knowledgeable people.
French side:
Mario's Bistro:A fine French style restaurant located on the west end of Marigot just before the bridge into Sandy Ground. They have a fine dinner menu and everything we have had there is of very high quality. If you reserve early enough, you might be able to get a table next to the water. One can sometimes see the fish swimming upstream. Reservations highly recommended. Telephone 590 87 06 36
Tropicana: A fine French bistro located on the Marina port la Royale in Marigot. It is not large but the food is very good and the view is wonderful. Reservations are a must. Telephone 590 87 79 07.
Le Chanticlair: Another fine French bistro located on the Marina port la Royale in Marigot. A fine little restaurant offering fine evening meals and again, a wonderful view. Telephone 590 87 94 60.
Don Camillio: A great Italian restaurant located by Marina Royale that is air conditioned throughout for comfort and your pleasure. Excellent Italian food at reasonable prices. Service is great and is frequented by both locals and visitors. Dinner only. Telephone 590 87 52 88.
la Residence: Located on the 2nd floor of the downtown Marigot hotel of the same name. Decent prices, good food and good service. Popular for repeat clientele. Telephone 590 87 70 37.
Layla's: is an outdoor beach bar and restaurant located on the main road in Nettle Bay. Constantly changing menu but the food has always been terrific. We loved the outside atmosphere and the outside dining areas with shade provided by the terraces or the sea grape trees.
Fish Pot: A very good seafood restaurant located in Grand Case. Excellent service and food with a great location overlooking Grand Case beach. Telephone 590.87 50 88
LoLos: Excellent local eateries located on the beach and offer excellent food at very reasonable prices. Great place to go if you love BBQ chicken and ribs.
Alabama: A fine French Gourmet restaurant also located in Grand Case with a wonderful atmosphere and excellent food. Very much in demand so reservations are highly recommended. Telephone 590 87 81 66
Le Chanteclair: A French Gourmet restaurant in Marigot on la Marina port la Royale. Excellent food with wonderful deserts as well. Telephone 590 87 94 60.
St. Severin: A wonderful classical French restaurant with excellent food and service plus good size portions and reasonable prices. Located by the Marina port la Royale. Telephone 590 87 97 00.
MORE ABOUT ST. MARTIN: St. Martin Photos & St. Martin Weather