Are you wondering where to stay in St Maarten?
After having lived on the island twice and having visited countless times, I’ve seen most hotels and would love to share my tips with you!
Because what the best hotels in St Maarten are depends a bit on what you are looking for.
So, in this article I’ll give a description not just of the best places to stay in St Maarten, but also an explanation of what makes certain locations worth it.
The Best Hotels in St Maarten & St Martin
1. Divi Little Bay Beach Resort
I used to live very close to this resort, so this is probably the hotel in St Maarten I’ve come to know best.
If you are looking for an all-inclusive resort in St Maarten, on a nice beach, then this resort might suit you well.
It’s a family-friendly resort with three swimming pools and plenty of activities. It feels like a little village that’s lovely to walk around in. Do walk up to Fort Amsterdam for a nice view of both Little Bay and Great Bay.
Go snorkeling off the beach, although your best underwater experience around here will be with Sea Trek, which I describe in this article.
The resort has a gym, several dining options (including a cute coffee shop), and a mini-market.
The rooms are nice and spacious and the resort is generally well maintained. The resort has been around for a while though, and here and there it could do with some TLC.
The one downside to staying at Divi when you visit St Maarten is that, although it looks close to Philipsburg, it’s actually a bit of an unpleasant walk to town, partially along the main road.
But, to explore the island you really want to rent a car anyway, and Divi has ample parking available.
2. Holland House
Holland House is a very comfortable and well-maintained hotel in Philipsburg. Their restaurant is one of my favorite higher-quality restaurants on the Dutch side of the island.
But, there are some pros and cons to this hotel.
The biggest pro, and the reason why I decided to list this as one of the best hotels in St Maarten, is the location.
Located on the boardwalk, in the middle of Philipsburg, you have easy access to everything. You are right by the beach, restaurants, shops and watersport activities.
The downside is that Holland House doesn’t have a swimming pool and feels more like a city hotel than an island resort.
3. Simpson Bay Resort
One of the best areas to stay in St Maarten for nightlife is Simpson Bay.
While Philipsburg quiets down after sunset, Simpson Bay becomes more lively.
The area is packed with bars and restaurants, and staying here means you don’t have to drive home at night.
Simpson Bay is nice during the day as well though, with plenty of water sports and nice beaches.
Kimsha Beach I would say is the nicest part of Simpson Bay, and that is why I would recommend staying at Simpson Bay Resort, which is located right next to this beach.
The resort has 5 swimming pools, 4 restaurants, a gym, a spa, and on-site water sports facilities.
From the resort you can walk to bars, restaurants, shops, and casinos.
I’d recommend renting a car no matter where you stay on the island, but, if you’d ask me where to stay without a car, it would definitely be here.
The only downside for me to this resort is the size. I got lost trying to find the exit once! It’s a lot of square buildings that all look the same, filled with hotel rooms.
4. CocoVaa Boutique Beach Hotel
If you are looking for a quiet boutique hotel in St Maarten, then check out CocoVaa.
It has a relaxed, more small-scale vibe and is located right on the beach.
You can see planes come in from here, or walk over to Maho Beach (nicknamed airport beach) to see the famous airplane landings you’ve no doubt seen dozens of pictures and videos of.
The rooms at this boutique hotel are all suites with nice seating areas, giving you more space than a standard hotel room.
Their beach bar and restaurant is really nice and offers good food.
The one downside to staying here is that there isn’t a lot you can easily walk to from here. But if you’re renting a car and prefer a boutique hotel over a larger resort, this is a good choice.
5. Sonesta Ocean Point
The most popular thing in St Maarten is without a doubt the crazy airplane landings.
This St Maarten resort puts you right next to where you can watch those crazy landings.
And, this is one of the few adults-only resorts in St Maarten.
Sonesta describes this as ”a resort within a resort” because Ocean Point is located on the same premises as Maho Beach Resort, which is Sonesta’s All-Inclusive family resort.
Ocean Point is a stylish resort with beautiful views, good service, and good food. Guests also have full access to all services and facilities at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa.
If you are traveling without kids, I’d definitely recommend Sonesta Ocean Point over their main property, Maho Beach Resort.
Of course, do be aware that you are close to the airport, so you will hear airplanes land and take off.
6. Mary’s Boon Beach Resort & Spa
If you are looking for a more budget-friendly place to stay in St Maarten, Mary’s Boon might be your best choice.
This small-scale resort is located on a nice, quiet beach, yet not far from the more lively parts of Simpson Bay.
The rooms are a bit dated, but clean, and you can book a room with a kitchen.
With lush vegetation, a nice pool, and located right on the beach, this place is good value for money.
Walk to Karakter Beach Bar for a nice afternoon on the beach or a good evening out. They often have live music there.
7. The Morgan Resort
This is one of the newer hotels in St Maarten. And if you are looking for a modern, stylish, high-end resort, this might be the place for you!
Their rooms are beautiful and spacious, and the resort facilities are great. The pool is beautiful, the food is good and the service is friendly.
They also offer special wheelchair-friendly rooms.
You can easily walk to Maho Beach to watch the airplane landings from here. But apart from that, the location isn’t great for exploring things on foot. You’ll want to rent a car (or pay for a taxi) to go to restaurants and explore the island.
The Best Places to Stay in St Martin
Although often St Maarten is used to refer to the whole island, technically St Maarten is the name of the Dutch side of the island, and St Martin is the French side.
Most people, when looking for where to stay in St Maarten, end up on the Dutch side. But the quieter French side has some good hotel options as well.
Therefore, these next places to stay are my recommendations for where to stay in St Martin, the French side of the island.
8. Esmeralda Resort
One of the most popular things to do in St Maarten is visiting Orient Bay.
So, why not stay here?
This resort, right by the beach, is lovely. It offers villa-style rooms, some with kitchen facilities.
The resort consists of several separate blocks, each with its own pool. But, the pools are simple and you’ll most likely spend most of your time on the long, sandy beach.
There are many different restaurants and beach bars to check out on Orient Beach, and plenty of water sports to keep you entertained.
Don’t forget to leave the beach as well though. Check out La Place du Village, located just off the beach on Avenue des Plages. It’s a cute plaza with good restaurants and a nice vibe in the evening.
9. Bleu Emeraude Hotel
Another favorite place to visit on the French side is Grand Case.
This beautiful, small town is known for its lovely beach but even more for having some of the best fine dining options anywhere in the Caribbean.
Bleu Emeraude is a casual apartment hotel that puts you within walking distance of everything Grand Case has to offer.
All their apartments come with a fully equipped kitchen.
10. Hommage Hotel
A more remote part of the island is Nettle Bay.
If you are looking for some peace and quiet and a beautiful beach, this is a great area to stay in St Maarten.
With beautiful artwork, flowers and a great ambiance, Hommage is a good hotel option.
It’s located on the lagoon side, but the beautiful Nettle Bay beach is only a short 2-minute walk, and one of my favorite places for late afternoon / sunset drinks.
But, if you want to explore St Maarten from here, you really do need a car, and everything is a bit of a drive from here. Relatively speaking of course, because you’re on a small island.
And That’s It, My Recommendations for the Best Hotels in St. Maarten!
I hope it helped you decide where to stay, depending on the type of vacation you are looking for.
Now if you are wondering what to do while on the island, check out my article Things to Do in St Maarten & St Martin.
Have a great time on the island!
Also Read:
- Why You Shouldn’t Buy Seashells or Take Them From the Beach
- How to Snorkel – Easy Beginner Tips
- Where to Go for the Best Diving in the Caribbean
- The Best Caribbean Islands to Visit & Why
- The Most Romantic Caribbean Islands to Visit
- Living in St Maarten – Interview With an Expat
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Gracias Sanne, muy detallado el artículo.