My Top 5 Compelling Reasons to Choose St. Maarten for Your Next Getaway!

If you’re planning a trip to St. Maarten, you’ve hit the jackpot by landing on this website. With 23 years on the island, 30 years in the hospitality industry, and countless island adventures, I’m here to spill the beans on the absolute best things you can experience in this Caribbean paradise. So, grab a refreshing drink, put on your shades, and let’s get into my personal favorite things about St. Maarten and the reasons why I’m proud to call this place home.

Before we begin, I want to be completely honest with you. This blog post is all about my own experiences and thoughts. You might come across some links to products or services I recommend. Just so you know, if you buy anything through these links, I might earn a commission. It won’t cost you extra. Thanks a lot for your support.

1. 37 Beaches

We love to promote St. Maarten as the 37 square mile island with 37 beaches. It sounds great, doesn’t it?In all honesty though, while we certainly have 37 bays, not all bays are accessible, and neither do all 37 bays offer a great beach experience. However, there is no shortage of spectacular beaches to enjoy when you’re here. Some with beach restaurants, bars, and water activities, and others with no amenities at all, just beautiful sandy shores.

From the iconic Maho Beach to the less popular Guana Bay, St. Maarten has the perfect beach for any taste and any preference. I suggest you book a beach-hopping tour or rent a car and drive from beach to beach. Take your time to explore all of them. Believe me, each one of our beaches has something special to offer.

Some of my favorite beaches include Grand Case, Petit Plage, Mullet Bay, and Great Bay.

Local Recommendations:
If you want to book a beach hopping tour there is one company I recommend and that is Alpha Transportation. Mention this website when booking your tour to receive a discount. And if you’d rather cruise around in a rental car, go see my friend Jimmy at Leisure Car Rental and don;t forget to mention TTIG for a discount.

2. One Island – Two Nations

One of the best things about living here is that I can be in one country one minute and another the next. Thanks to the island’s dual-nation status and open border I can easily hop from the Dutch part to the French side and back with ease.

I live on the Dutch side of St. Maarten and love to lounge on the French side whenever I have some time to myself. Having easy access to French culture and cuisine is one of the best things about living here. Now, I’m not saying that the French side is better than the Dutch side, by no means. In my opinion, it is still one island, one people. But it’s mighty convenient that this small little rock offers so much European combined with a whole lot of Caribbean.

Having a Dutch and a French side mean also that we get to have amazing staycations on the opposite sides from where we live and still have an experience as if we have traveled to a different country.

3. The Food

My palate loves to travel as much as I do and luckily I live on and island with over 100 different nationalities, all bringing their influences and cuisine. If there’s one thing I’m absolutely passionate about, it’s the food in St. Maarten. The island serves up a culinary adventure like no other. When it comes to choosing a restaurant, you will have options galore. I must warn you though that it is easy to get overwhelmed with the many excellent restaurant options.

And don’t worry, there are enough local restaurants where they dish up amazing creole and local dishes too. Be adventurous when you’re here. Get out of your comfort zone and try everything!

The downside to this is that my bar is set quite high and I am sometimes disappointed at the quality of food I get in other countries.

4. Island-Hopping Made Easy

I already mentioned how much I love to travel. My brand’s name is the TRAVELING Island Girl after all. But traveling is not always in the budget and sometimes a staycation just doesn’t cut it. Insert number 4 on this list, and my absolute favorite thing about living here: Short trips to nearby islands

St. Maarten is surrounded by other islands that are equally as gorgeous but at the same time so completely different. The fact that I can be in Saba, Statia, or St. Barth in less than 2 hours by ferry, and Anguilla in just 30 minutes is one of my absolute favorite things about living here. St. Kitts and Nevis are also just a 20-minute flight away, while Antigua and the Virgin Islands can be reached in 40 minutes by plane.

Saba, St. Barth, and Anguilla can be seen from the St. Maarten shores and because of their proximity, you can discover these islands for the day. I love to pack a backpack and go hike in Saba for the day, or explore Anguilla’s beaches, or gawk at celebrities in St. Barth. Leave in the morning and return to St. Maarten in time for dinner, there is nothing better.

5. Adventures On and Off the Water

Yes, we have amazing beaches, so the fact that we have great watersport activities should come as no surprise. Boating, sailing, parasailing, jet skiing, paddle boarding, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, kitesurfing, you name it, it’s possible here.

But by far my favorite thing to do on the water is boating, and if that boat comes with a captain, drinks, and food, even better.

But the adventures one can have here are not restricted to the ocean surrounding us. There is so much adventure to be had on land. Here is something a lot of first-time visitors do not think about when booking a trip to St. Maarten, and that is hiking. The island’s mountainous landscape makes for perfect trails leading to spectacular views. Amongst my favorites are Pic Paradis and the trail to the natural pool.

So, when packing your suitcase for your St. Maarten vacation, do not forget those hiking shoes.

Local Recommendations
My absolute favorite boat to cruise around St. Maarten with is Pyratz. They offer all-inclusive days on the water with a 3-course menu including lobster (if that’s your fancy), top-shelf drinks, and all the water toys you can possibly need.

So there you have it, my top 5 favorite things about St. Maarten, straight from this local’s heart. Remember, there’s more to this island than meets the eye, so come with an open mind and an adventurous spirit. Whether you’re a beach bum, a foodie, a culture vulture, an explorer, or an adrenaline junkie, St. Maarten has something for everyone. Enjoy your island escapade, and come back to my website time and time again for more insider tips and Caribbean tales!