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The calm, clear water and sand of Grand Case beach

Where to Stay on Sint Maarten & Saint-Martin

Dutch side or French side, resort or boutique, beach or boardwalk — the areas compared, and the hotels we would look at first.

The first decision is the side, and it is less momentous than it sounds: nothing on the island is more than forty-five minutes from anything else, and you will cross the border constantly. Still, the two sides feel different to wake up in.

The Dutch side has the larger resorts, most of the all-inclusives, the casinos and the nightlife, and it is closest to the airport and the cruise port. English is the first language and the sockets are American. Choose it for convenience, for a lively atmosphere, for a short stay or a pre-cruise night.

The French side is quieter and more residential, with small hotels, villas and apartment residences rather than big resorts, and the best restaurants on the island at the door. Prices are in euros and the sockets are European. Choose it for food, for a slower pace and for beaches like Orient Bay and Pinel. You will want a rental car.

We list no prices here because rates on this island swing enormously between September and February. Every card links to Trip.com for live rates, availability and guest reviews.

Where to stay

Dutch side: Maho, Simpson Bay, Philipsburg and the east coast

Resorts and beach hotels within easy reach of the airport, the boats and the cruise port.

Sonesta Maho Beach All Inclusive Resort Casino & Spa

📍 Maho Beach, Dutch side

The big all-inclusive beside the airport beach: several pools, a casino next door and the Maho strip of bars and restaurants on the doorstep. Families and first-timers like having everything in one place — and the planes come free.

  • All-inclusive, family-friendly
  • Steps from Maho Beach and Mullet Bay
  • A few minutes from the airport
See rates & availability

Sonesta Ocean Point Resort

📍 Maho, Dutch side

The adults-only, all-suite sister of the Maho resort, set on its own point with its own pools and restaurants, plus access to the larger resort next door.

  • Adults only, all-inclusive
  • All suites
  • Use of the neighbouring resort’s facilities
See rates & availability

The Morgan Resort Spa & Village

📍 Beacon Hill / Maho, Dutch side

A newer, design-led resort beside the airport runway with a large pool and day-club atmosphere. A stylish base for a short stay, a stopover or serious plane-spotting from the sunbed.

  • Modern rooms and big pool
  • Walk to Maho Beach
  • Closest resort to the terminal
See rates & availability

Simpson Bay Resort Marina & Spa

📍 Simpson Bay, Dutch side

A large apartment-style resort on the quieter western end of Simpson Bay beach, with kitchens, several pools and its own marina. Good value for families and longer stays.

  • Studios and apartments with kitchens
  • On Simpson Bay beach
  • Marina — boat trips leave nearby
See rates & availability

Mary’s Boon Beach Resort & Spa

📍 Simpson Bay beach, Dutch side

A long-established small beach hotel directly on the sand of Simpson Bay, with a low-key, old-Caribbean feel that the big resorts cannot copy. Close to the airport; you will hear the occasional aircraft.

  • Right on the beach
  • Small and characterful
  • Short ride to restaurants and the airport
See rates & availability

Holland House Beach Hotel

📍 Philipsburg boardwalk, Dutch side

The best address in the capital: a contemporary hotel on the Great Bay boardwalk with the beach in front and Front Street behind. Ideal before or after a cruise and for travellers who like a town around them.

  • On Great Bay Beach
  • Front Street shopping at the back door
  • Close to the cruise port and the St Barths and Saba ferries
See rates & availability

Divi Little Bay Beach Resort

📍 Little Bay, Dutch side

A resort spread over the peninsula between Great Bay and Little Bay, next to the ruins of Fort Amsterdam, with a calm beach, several pools and water sports. Popular as an optional all-inclusive.

  • Calm, sheltered beach
  • Fort Amsterdam on the doorstep
  • 5–10 minutes from Philipsburg
See rates & availability

JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa

📍 Dawn Beach, Dutch side

A large full-service resort on Dawn Beach on the Atlantic east coast, formerly the Westin. Big pool, spa and a sunrise view towards St Barths; you will want a car or taxis to explore.

  • Full-service resort and spa
  • On Dawn Beach
  • Quiet east-coast setting
See rates & availability

Oyster Bay Beach Resort

📍 Oyster Pond, Dutch side

A resort on the headland between Oyster Pond and Dawn Beach, right on the border with the French side. Infinity pool, sea breezes and a quieter, residential neighbourhood.

  • Next to Dawn Beach
  • Suites with kitchens
  • Good base for the east coast
See rates & availability
See all Dutch-side hotels on Trip.com

French side: Grand Case, Orient Bay and the quiet corners

Boutique hotels, beach residences and one grand hideaway, close to the island’s best tables.

Grand Case Beach Club

📍 Grand Case, French side

Apartment-style rooms on the headland at the end of Grand Case bay, with a small beach of its own and the restaurants of the boulevard a short walk away. A long-time favourite with repeat visitors.

  • Walk to Grand Case restaurants
  • Kitchens in every unit
  • Own beach and sea views
See rates & availability

Hôtel L’Esplanade

📍 Grand Case hillside, French side

A small, family-run hotel of suites and lofts on the hill above Grand Case, with a pool, a view over the bay and a reputation for warm, personal service.

  • Boutique scale
  • Suites with kitchens and terraces
  • A few minutes’ walk down to the village
See rates & availability

Le Temps des Cerises Hotel Beach

📍 Grand Case beach, French side

A handful of stylish rooms directly on the sand in the middle of Grand Case, above a beach restaurant. For couples who want to walk out of the door onto the boulevard.

  • On the beach
  • In the heart of restaurant row
  • Small and design-led
See rates & availability

La Playa Orient Bay

📍 Orient Bay, French side

A beachfront hotel on Orient Bay with bright suites, a pool and loungers on the sand. The beach clubs and the restaurants of the village square are within walking distance.

  • Directly on Orient Bay
  • Suites with kitchenettes
  • Walk to restaurants and water sports
See rates & availability

Esmeralda Resort

📍 Orient Bay, French side

Villas grouped around private pools in a garden at the quieter end of Orient Bay, with beach access and a restaurant on the sand. Good for families and groups who want space.

  • Villa-style rooms, shared private pools
  • Beach access
  • Quiet garden setting
See rates & availability

Karibuni Boutique Hotel

📍 Cul-de-Sac, facing Pinel Island, French side

A tiny hillside boutique hotel looking straight across to Pinel Island, with suites, private or shared pools and a great deal of peace. Best with a rental car.

  • Views of Pinel and the reserve
  • Only a few suites
  • Very quiet
See rates & availability

Le Domaine Anse Marcel Beach Resort

📍 Anse Marcel, French side

A resort on the sheltered cove of Anse Marcel at the island’s northern tip, reached by a steep road over the hill. Calm water, a marina next door and a get-away-from-it-all feel.

  • Sheltered, calm beach
  • Marina and boat trips next door
  • Secluded setting
See rates & availability

La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel

📍 Baie Longue, Terres Basses, French side

The island’s grand luxury hotel: a white, Mediterranean-style hideaway on a cliff above Baie Longue, one of the longest and emptiest beaches on Saint-Martin. Priced accordingly.

  • Top-end luxury
  • On Baie Longue beach
  • Spa, tennis and fine dining
See rates & availability
See all French-side hotels on Trip.com

The areas compared

Area Good for Less good for Price level
Maho & Cupecoy (Dutch) Plane-spotting, all-inclusives, casinos, Mullet Bay, five minutes from the airport Peace and quiet; aircraft noise by day $$–$$$
Simpson Bay (Dutch) Restaurants and bars, boat trips, long beach, apartments with kitchens Traffic at bridge openings; flight path at the western end $$
Philipsburg & Little Bay (Dutch) Pre- and post-cruise stays, shopping, ferries to St Barths and Saba Quiet evenings — the town empties when the ships leave $$
Dawn Beach & Oyster Pond (Dutch, east) Resort stays, sunrise, sea breeze, away from the crowds Going out without a car; rougher sea $$–$$$
Grand Case (French) Food lovers, couples, a village to walk around, calm beach Big-resort facilities; distance from the airport $$–$$$
Orient Bay (French) Beach life, water sports, families, a walkable resort village Calm, seaweed-free water every single day $$–$$$
Anse Marcel, Cul-de-Sac & Terres Basses (French) Seclusion, villas, honeymooners, Pinel on the doorstep Anyone without a car $$$–$$$$

How to choose

  • First visit, four or five nights: Simpson Bay or Maho for convenience, or Grand Case if restaurants matter more to you than nightlife.
  • Before or after a cruise: Philipsburg, to be within walking distance of the port.
  • Families: an apartment-style resort on Simpson Bay, or Orient Bay for the beach and the village.
  • Couples: Grand Case, or one of the small hotels facing Pinel.
  • All-inclusive: the Dutch side — true all-inclusives are rare on the French.
  • Splitting a week: three nights on each side is a very good way to see the island.

Good to know before you book

  • Taxes and fees: both sides add a government room tax, and many properties add a service or resort charge on top. Compare final totals, not headline rates.
  • Seasonal closures: some French-side hotels close for several weeks in September and October.
  • Timeshare: several large Dutch-side resorts are partly timeshare properties and may invite you to a presentation; you can simply decline.
  • Aircraft noise affects hotels near the runway in Maho, Beacon Hill and western Simpson Bay during the day. There are very few night flights.
  • Villas and apartments are a large part of the market, particularly on the French side; check that a rental car and parking are practical for the address.
Accommodation links go to Trip.com. We may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you. Hotels are chosen for location, character and reputation; none has paid to be listed.
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Good to know

Where to stay: FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to stay on the Dutch or French side of St Martin?

Stay Dutch for convenience, resorts, nightlife and proximity to the airport and cruise port; stay French for food, quieter beaches and a more European feel. With a rental car you can enjoy both from either.

What is the best area for first-time visitors?

Simpson Bay is the most practical base on the Dutch side; Grand Case is the most charming on the French. Both are within half an hour of most sights.

Are there all-inclusive resorts on Sint Maarten?

Yes, mainly on the Dutch side at Maho and Little Bay. The French side has very few; its hotels expect you to eat out — which, here, is a pleasure.

Where should I stay the night before a cruise?

In Philipsburg, a 15–20 minute walk or a short taxi ride from the cruise piers, or at Little Bay just beyond.

Do I need a car if I stay on the French side?

In Grand Case or the Orient Bay village you can manage without one for a few days, but to explore — and for anywhere more secluded — a car is close to essential.

When are hotel prices lowest?

From late April to mid-December, and lowest of all in September and October. The Christmas–New Year fortnight and February–March are the most expensive.