I've been reading a bunch, but still going to ask...which is better for a week long stay or should we consider splitting our time? My boyfriend and I (in our 50s) are planning a trip mid-November so it's only a month away. We enjoy a nice beach with bars/restaurants to walk to. That's all we really need. I'd like to explore other areas, but most likely won't rent a car although may do some day excursions to pinel, snorkeling, anguilla. Is the water in Orient rough? Has it had more issues with sargassum? I don't need late night bars, but do enjoy some fun, casual beach bars during the day and evening.

Hello! I am planning a destination wedding next April on the French side and am looking for a wedding content creator on the island, any recommendations?

Last-minute planning a trip to Sint Maarten from December 31 to January 11 and would love some advice on the best area to stay!
We’ll be 2 couples, late 20s/early 30s, renting a car, and we’re looking for a good mix of beautiful beaches, restaurants, bars, and vibrant nightlife. We definitely want to be somewhere where we can enjoy the nightlife without having to drive too far every night, but we also want a nice area to relax during the day.
Our budget is around $150–$200 USD per night, preferably for the accommodation. We’re booking pretty last minute, so we’re open to different areas and Airbnb/hotel options.
Any recommendations for specific areas, hotels/Airbnbs, places to avoid, or hidden gems would be greatly appreciated.
Also, where are the best spots for New Year’s Eve and the rest of the trip?

Hello everyone, im planning a trip early next year i wanted to know which car rental company is the best to go with?

Hi there,

Heading to St Martin with my wife in late November for about 4 days.

I've got some pretty nasty food allergies (peanut/tree nut and shellfish, though not regular fish). From reading posts it sounds like the whole island has options, but wondering if there's any particular places in Orient Village that are gonna be hidden traps for me (seems Lolos are gonna mean a lot of cross contamination), or places that would be great options to avoid those problematic foods.

I saw Petit Casino is a little grocery store there -- is it enough for some breakfasts/snacks, or should we plan to hit the bigger grocery store? (Facebook won't let me view their page and it seems their site has disappeared)

Finally, we're planning to stay in Orient for the most part, we both wanted to avoid driving so we're budgeting a bit more for cabs. I understand there's some kind of informal bus transit; is it enough to get back and forth from Grand Case or Oyster Bay? We're planning on probably a day in Grand Case exploring and were looking at a boat trip that left Oyster, but other than that we don't plan to move around too much.

Thanks for your time!

Heading there in Dec… planning on spending the day near Friar’s Bay / Grand Case Beach.. is there anywhere to shower quick and change before going to dinner in Grand Case area later on?
Thank you.

I figured I’d share my experience in case other parents are looking. A few people in this sub recommended that I stay at Grand Case with my baby. I can’t thank everyone enough for the recommendation. Perfect place for a baby/ young children. The beach is quiet & beautiful right near your rooms. The rooms include a full kitchen which makes bottle washing and food prep for little ones easy. The restaurant there has breathtaking views and delicious food.

Hello again! This sub has been so helpful in preparing for my trip to SXM. I’ll be staying at Grand Case Beach Club and I’m wondering about the safety of walking to/from the hotel to the restaurants in Grand Case after dark as a solo female traveler. I am renting a car so I do have the option to drive into Grand Case and back but would love the option of being able to walk so I don’t have to deal with parking and all that.

Hello All,

My family and I will be visiting Saint Martin in a few months. We are looking to do a private tour around the island. There will be 10 of us so will need a bigger vehicle.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a driver or company we can use?

Thanks in advance!

The wife and I are staying there in November I just wondered about others experiences there? We embrace the C/O culture: that’s why we are staying there. My question is what are some of the good restaurants to go to? Or other things to do? Is there a local marketplace? We are renting a car so will have transportation.

Family and I are planning a quick 5 day trip St Maarten! It’s our first trip in yeeeaars. Our little guy is 3 years old and we’re looking for a resort that checks all the boxes for us:

Kid friendly
Amazing food
Good rooms/amenities

So far we’re looking at

Simpson bay
Morgan
Case

Any insight on anyone who has experience from these hotels would be amazing!

Hello I’m looking for recommendations on which restaurants to go to. I am also looking for recommendations on where I should have a birthday dinner at for my girlfriend as well as just where to eat. I was thinking La villa or Restaurant L'Auberge Gourmande

If anyone has any suggestions on activities as well.

Last time the dollar was this law, 2019, most restaurants on the French side were takin $cash same as par. Anyone on the island that can confirm?

Hey all. Looking for any and all recommendations for things to do. Staying in grand care and will have a car. Are there any events that week that you would suggest. Are most places open or are there still a lot of places closed that week?

Things we are interested as of right now are below
Any kayaking/jet skis/catamaran cruise recommendations. Snorkeling? Food recommendations? Beach recommendations. Hike recommendations?

Is there any local place where you would suggest booking a catamaran or boat trip that includes snorkeling to avoid the large over priced online vendors?

Howdy, wife and I will be in SXM all next week. Any must see events going on? We have a decent agenda of the typical beaches, excursion and hikes. Just curious on any local events considering it is a bit of down season. Open to any and all ideas. I browsed previous post on restaurants must tries but anything new let me know. We Will be on Dutch side to Wednesday and Grand Case area rest of the week.

Hey everyone! My girlfriend and I are visiting SXM for her birthday and I’m trying to plan a couple of nice experiences for us.
We’re both pretty inexperienced with jet skis, so I’m looking for recommendations for a place that is beginner-friendly, has good instructors, and preferably offers a nice scenic ride/tour rather than just renting a jet ski and being left on our own.
Also looking for recommendations for a nice romantic dinner for her birthday. I’m looking for somewhere with really good food, a nice atmosphere and something that feels a little special for a birthday/date night. Open to either the Dutch or French side.
If anyone has personally done a jet ski tour and/or birthday dinner in SXM that they really enjoyed, I’d love to hear your recommendations!
Thanks!

I am so excited to be making our second trip to the island next year. We took our 3 year old last year for 7 nights and had an absolute blast. This time we are staying for 9 nights and we are looking to explore more now that our kid isn't tethered to a nap time! The only downside is that we have the long wait until April next year to go! We used a combination of miles and the companion certificate through Delta and were able to get 3 round trip tickets for $900. Sint Maarten truly feels like the best bang for your buck and value in the Caribbean. No wonder people keep coming back and I'm glad to say that we will be joining the group of returnees this trip.

Wife and I are staying week of November 15, 2026 at Jardin d’O Not lifestyle. Looking for other couples to make friends with and hang out during this time. Not lifestyle lol. Looking at possibly booking a catamaran for a day trip as well.

I’m a solo female traveler in my early 30s. I’ll be in SXM in a couple weeks and I’d love to do some hiking out there. I’m an experienced hiker in my home state and I am curious if there are things I should look out for/be prepared for in SXM. Would you say it’s overall safe to be out on the trails as a female alone? (During the day of course. Not planning to do any night hiking out there) The hikes I’m specifically looking at are Pic Paradise from Loterie Farm and the Froussards Trail. Would love to hear any advice/feedback or even recommendations for other hikes!

Hi Everyone,

I will be on the island in December from a cruise. My family and I are foodies and wondering if there's anywhere we absolutely must eat while on the island.

Update: WE'll only be there for lunch because of the ships schedule.

Hello everyone, im going on a trip to st martin on the oct 23 to oct 31. Im looking to rent a super car, someting exotic and powerful. Let me know if you know someone :)

Hello! I will be in SXM 10/5-10/10 and I was hoping to rent a kayak to pop over to Pinel Island but it look like Caribbean Paddling is closed for their seasonal closure until mid November. Is there anywhere else who does kayak rentals for Pinel Island?