The Caribbean Island of St. Martin

By chang - September 24, 2013
  • Yacht-centric St. Martin has numerous options for day cruising.

    Yacht-centric St. Martin has numerous options for day cruising.

  • Paddling past the powdery white sand of Baie Longue, one of St. Martin’s longest beaches.

    Paddling past the powdery white sand of Baie Longue, one of St. Martin’s longest beaches.

  • The lunch board at Simpson Bay restaurant.

    The lunch board at Simpson Bay restaurant.

  • Service with a smile at an Anse Marcel café.

    Service with a smile at an Anse Marcel café.

  • Looking back at the mainland from Ilet Pinel, a tiny, uninhabited isle just of the coast of French St. Martin.

    Looking back at the mainland from Ilet Pinel, a tiny, uninhabited isle just of the coast of French St. Martin.

  • Lunchtime at the beachside Karibuni restaurant on Ilet Pinel, the perfect place to laze a day away.

    Lunchtime at the beachside Karibuni restaurant on Ilet Pinel, the perfect place to laze a day away.

  • A view over the marina and grounds of the Radisson Blu Resort at Anse Marcel.

    A view over the marina and grounds of the Radisson Blu Resort at Anse Marcel.

  • Strolling through the colorful seaside town of Grand Case.

    Strolling through the colorful seaside town of Grand Case.

  • Whichever side of St. Martin you end up on—here, it’s the French part, on the waterfront at Grand Case—you can expect classic Caribbean scenery.

    Whichever side of St. Martin you end up on—here, it’s the French part, on the waterfront at Grand Case—you can expect classic Caribbean scenery.

  • The warm azure waters that encircle St. Martin are irresistible, even to locals.

    The warm azure waters that encircle St. Martin are irresistible, even to locals.

  • Hanging out on the jetty at Grand Case, just north of Marigot.

    Hanging out on the jetty at Grand Case, just north of Marigot.

  • A quintessential Caribbean snack of fish fritters and shrimp.

    A quintessential Caribbean snack of fish fritters and shrimp.

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THE DETAILS

GETTING THERE
All overseas flights (major carriers include KLM, Air France, and United) land at Princess Juliana International Airport at Simpson Bay on the Dutch side of the island.

WHERE TO STAY
On the French side, the 81 well-appointed rooms and eight villas at La Samanna (Baie longue; 590-590/878-786; doubles from US$445)—part of the Orient-Express Hotels portfolio—are arguably the island’s most sophisticated, and stretch across 22 hectares of beachfront. Another good option is the radisson Blu Resort Marina and Spa (Anse Marcel; 590-590/ 876-700; doubles from US$192) at the northern end of the island; a larger, more family-friendly property, it was extensively refurbished in 2011. Just over the border in Dutch Sint Maarten, the 314-room Westin Dawn Beach Resort (144 oyster pond rd.; 721/543-6700; doubles from US$169) offers views of St.Barts and all the diversions one could wish for, including a Vegas-style casino.

WHAT TO DO
Apart from swimming all day and partying all night, St. Martin’s attractions include Loterie Farm, an 18th-century plantation turned nature retreat on the slopes of Pic Paradis, the island’s highest peak; activities include zip-lining and hiking. Day trips to Ilet Pinel, also on the French side, start with a five-minute ferry ride from the pier at French cul de Sac. And for offshore views of both sides of the island, join Rhino Safari (599/557- 4466) for a two-and-a-half-hour excursion in a two-person inflatable dinghy.

WHERE TO SHOP
Most of the shopping on this duty-free island unfolds in Marigot and Philipsburg. In the latter, head to Front Street for a lineup of jewelers and diamond merchants, and visit the Guavaberry Emporium (721/542-2965) to pick up a bottle of guavaberry liqueur. In the capital of French St. Martin, be sure to visit the stalls at Marigot Market, which is at its most colorful on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

This article originally appeared in the June/July 2013 issue of DestinAsian (“The Two Sides of St. Martin”)

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