St Martin/St Maarten / Accommodation

St Martin/St Maarten is a heavily developed holiday island with a wide range of accommodation. Small beach hotels, large scale resorts and luxury villas are its strongest suits and you can find great places to stay whether you're a couple, family, single traveller or here on business. Some of the hotel stock is pretty old, although significant refurbishments and upgrades do take place – most new developments are villa or condo complexes on St Maarten. The island gets a lot of repeat visitors, mainly North Americans in the winter who come for four to five nights, then the European and Caribbean market takes over in the summer with guests generally staying for a week or two.

The atmosphere on either side is markedly different. In St Martin, all the hotels are no higher than four storeys. The standard of cuisine is good and families are welcome – providing they are well-behaved. There is plenty to do and the beach scene is very appealing. Some properties may close for a spell in the low season – which could mean any time from June to November.

In St Maarten, where big resort hotels, swanky marinas, gaudy casinos and high-rise condos are the norm, the mood is more brash and ready-to-party. There are a lot of timeshare properties, some of which offer hotel rooms. Quite a few resorts and hotels are close to Princess Juliana International Airport but no-one seems to mind.

Wherever you stay, it's worth remembering this is an island where everyone comes for  beaches and sunshine. You'll probably spend very little time in your room, and the best way to spend your money will be to get out there sailing, shopping, sightseeing and enjoying some fine dining.

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