St Maarten Ocean View

St-Maarten.com

St Maarten - St Martin

Two countries, one island, 37 square miles. The Caribbean's most compact contradiction — duty-free jewelry, 300-odd restaurants, legendary nightlife, and beaches for every taste. This site has covered it honestly for decades. No cruise line talking points. No tourism board spin.

St-Maarten.com — The Caribbean's Most Interesting Island St-Maarten.com — The Caribbean's Most Interesting Island
Find what you need
Beaches of St-Maarten
Beaches
All beaches reviewed without the hype — including which ones to skip.
All beaches covered
 Jewelry shopping in St-Maarten
Jewelry
Duty-free diamond shopping in Philipsburg. Who to trust, how to appraise.
10 jewelers reviewed
 Rental cars in St-Maarten
Rental Cars
You need one. How to get a fair deal and avoid the common scams.
6 companies + guides
 Restaurants and dining on St-Maarten
Dine
The gourmet capital of the Lesser Antilles. Beach bars to fine dining.
30+ restaurants
 Nightlife on St-Maarten
Nightlife
Casinos, clubs, adult entertainment. SXM nights are legendary for a reason.
Casinos · clubs · bars
 Activities and tours on St-Maarten
Activities
Island tours, boat charters, Pinel Island day trips, and more.
12 operators listed
 Real estate on St-Maarten
Real Estate
Dutch side, French side, offshore investment. The market explained plainly.
Dutch · French · offshore
 Hotels and accommodation on St-Maarten
Stay
Hotels, resorts, and timeshares on both sides of the island.
9 properties listed
From the editors

What the ship
won't tell you

The cruise line gives you a port map, a list of recommended shops, and a return time. What it doesn't tell you: the recommended shops pay for that endorsement, the best beaches are a rental car away, and the most interesting meal you'll have costs half what the ship charges for lunch.

Decades of knowing this island. Read the guide before you dock.

Read the cruise guide →
Also worth reading
Rental car scams to avoid on SXM The worst beaches — where not to go Nightlife: putting the sin in Sint Maarten Casino guide — what to know before you play
Top beaches
Maho Beach St-Maarten Dutch side
Maho Beach
Planes land 20 m overhead. The most famous beach in the Caribbean for a reason.
 Orient Beach St-Martin French side
Orient Beach
Clothing optional on the southern end. Water sports, beach bars, the works.
 Cupecoy Beach St-Maarten Dutch side
Cupecoy Beach
Sandstone cliffs. Semi-official nude beach. Protected from the wind.
 Great Bay Beach Philipsburg Dutch side
Great Bay Beach
Philipsburg's waterfront. Walk off the cruise pier and straight onto the sand.
 Dawn Beach St-Maarten Dutch side
Dawn Beach
Sunrise side of the island. Calm, clear water, fewer crowds.
 Pinel Island St-Martin French side
Pinel Island
Ferry across, beach on arrival. One of the few genuinely unspoiled spots.
 Friar's Bay St-Martin French side
Friar's Bay
Sheltered bay. Good for families. One of the least-hyped good beaches.
All beaches
Including which ones to skip →

You need a rental car. Here's what to know before you book.

The island is small but the distances are not. Taxis are expensive, buses are unreliable, and the best beaches are not within walking distance of the cruise pier. Read the guide — then book directly at the airport and skip the commission.

Rental car guide →
Weekly Edition

The Weekly Edition — St-Maarten.com's print newspaper

Distributed at Princess Juliana Airport on arrival. News, dining, events, and what's actually happening on the island — for visitors who want to know more than the brochure tells them.

Browse current and back issues →