I love to travel! When thinking about my sabbatical, I knew that travel was an essential part. While I love visiting areas all over the world. The Caribbean is my favorite region to visit. Besides the fact that I have Caribbean roots and I have traveled there since 6 months of age, I believe it has the best beaches.
In January, I was invited on a trip with my friends to celebrate a birthday, and it was a fantastic way to start my sabbatical.
Fun facts about St. Maarten
- The island is actually St. Maarten (the Dutch Side) and St. Martin (the French Side)
- From the island, you can easily visit other neighboring islands by ferry including Anguilla and St. Barths.
- The airport is next to the beach and creates sandstorms when it lands.
St. Maarten trip details
Best Areas to stay
Simpson Bay. I truly enjoyed the walkability of the area with access to the beach, restaurants, and nightlife.
Accommodations
- Airbnbs are great especially if staying with a group of people. We stayed here.
- Simpson Bay Resort – Since I was on sabbatical, I extended my stay and moved to this hotel. It was a very larger resort that had a shuttle to take you to various parts of the resort including the beach, restaurants, casino, and nightclub.
Flights
- Airfare approx. $400 in January for the roundtrip flight from Philadelphia. This was a great price since I booked the flight only 2 weeks before the trip.
Transportation
- Taxis are easily accessible. However, it may be better to have a set driver as the cost would vary
- Bus (Van Service)- Ideal for a solo traveler or a few friends as you can travel from Maho Beach to Phillipsburg or even to the French side for $1.50US a ride.
- Rental cars
Things to do in St. Maarten
- Day trip to Anguilla – Beautiful excursion on a ferry to visit the island of Anguilla and Shoal Beach.
- Tour around the Island- Red Rose Island Tours showed us around the island with just enough time to explore each site without feeling rushed
- Horseback Riding – We visited Lucky stables for a 45-minute horseback ride through a trail and then into the ocean.
- Day trip to St. Barth’s – I had to visit St. Barth’s to see what the hype was all about. The ferry ride was bumpy and felt like I was on a water roller coaster ride. However, the island was gorgeous. St. Maarten locals joked with me that a hamburger was $28. And they were right. Everything was expensive! I did enjoy an amazing Lobster pasta at Lil’ Rock Beach Club. Reservations are highly recommended.
Best Food
Lolo’s on the French side in Grand Case. Cynthia’s Talk of the Town had the best seafood as I ate there twice during my trip.
Best Beaches
All the beaches were gorgeous! I visited Maho Beach, Simpson Bay, Kimchee Bay, Grand Case beach, and Mullet Bay. Mullet Bay was my absolute favorite with calm waves, clear sea, and access to beach chairs and umbrellas on the entire beach.
Best Restaurant
Best Restaurant: Palapa Grill, hands down! This restaurant was such a vibe! The ambiance was magnetic. The food was delicious. The drinks were perfect!
Best Nightlife
Nowhere Special was an open-air bar that had great vibes in an intimate setting. Each night different local bands were playing different genres of music including r&b, pop, reggae, kompa, and soca songs. Thursday nights are ladies’ nights where women receive free mimosas and cosmopolitans.
Looking for a quick getaway? I would highly recommend St. Maarten! Check out my IG for video footage.