1. The essentials in 30 seconds
- The right area. Grand Case for dining and sunsets, Orient Bay for the beach and beach clubs, Simpson Bay and Maho for nightlife on the Dutch side.
- Where to stay. Grand Case’s small hotels have only 8 to 11 rooms, right on the sand. For top-end luxury: La Samanna on Baie Longue.
- Sunsets. The west and northwest coast (Grand Case, Baie Longue, Cupecoy, Simpson Bay) faces the setting sun, or better yet, watch it from a catamaran.
- Car. A rental car opens up the quiet coves. At night, take a taxi if you are having wine with dinner.
- When to go. December to April: drier but pricier. May and June: a good compromise. September to November: hurricane season.
- Documents. A passport each and the Sint Maarten ED Card, see entry requirements.
2. When to go as a couple
The sea stays between 79 and 84 °F all year. The month-by-month details are in our weather guide.
- December to April: The driest. The most pleasant season, but also the most expensive and the busiest.
- May and June: The sweet spot. Fewer people and lower prices: a great choice for a honeymoon.
- September to November: Hurricane season. The peak of hurricane season (June 1 to November 30): more rain and more uncertainty. Get travel insurance that covers weather cancellations.
3. Where to stay as a couple
The area matters as much as the hotel: it shapes your evenings. Each area is covered in our where to stay guide.
Grand Case, for food lovers
- Le Temps des Cerises (Grand Case). 8 beachfront rooms, a boho-chic feel, a beach restaurant and views of Anguilla. No pool or spa.
- LOVE Boutique-Hotel (Grand Case). 11 rooms on the boulevard’s beach, 6 of them sea view with a terrace, facing the sunsets over Anguilla. No pool, spa or restaurant: the boulevard’s restaurants are right outside.
- Le Petit Hotel (Grand Case). 10 beachfront rooms, free kayaks and paddleboards, yoga, an evening shuttle to the restaurants, and access to L’Esplanade’s pool and spa.
- Hotel L’Esplanade (Grand Case, on the hillside). Bay views, private terraces, a heated pool and the Ti Spa. Not on the beach: a sloping path leads down to the boulevard.
Hideaways and luxury
- Karibuni Boutique Hotel (Cul-de-Sac). 6 suites with a private pool or hot tub facing Pinel Island, breakfast served in your suite, in-suite massages and a free boat shuttle to the island. No direct beach access.
- La Samanna (Baie Longue). A 5-star Belmond hotel with a calm beach, sea-view suites and villas, and a spa. Very high budget; you will need a car or taxi to leave the resort.
- Esmeralda Resort (Orient Bay). Creole villas with private pools in a tropical garden, the fine-dining restaurant L’Astrolabe, and the beach 100 m (330 ft) away.
Beach and buzz
- La Playa Orient Bay (Orient Bay). Beachfront junior suites, a pool and a spa, with no family rooms.
- The Morgan Resort & Spa (Maho). A design resort with an infinity pool facing the sea, the Blu Spa and a rooftop terrace. Planes fly overhead now and then: this is Maho.
4. Beaches for two
Every beach on the island is public. For peace and quiet, pick the ones that take a short walk or a boat ride, and go early in the morning.
- Baie Longue. Nearly a kilometer (over half a mile) of sand in Terres Basses, rarely crowded, with lovely late-afternoon light. The sea can get rough depending on the swell.
- Happy Bay. Park at Friar’s Bay, then walk 10 to 15 minutes along the coastal trail. No facilities and little shade; snorkeling near the rocks when the sea is calm.
- Pinel Island. A 5-minute boat shuttle from Cul-de-Sac, shallow turquoise water and two restaurants. A trail leads to the wild beach, deserted and with no facilities.
- Baie Rouge. Dramatic cliffs, no facilities, and a colorful staircase down to the sand. Waves can be strong: swim only when the sea is calm.
- Cupecoy. Small coves beneath ocher cliffs, gorgeous at sunset. Access is by stairs that are sometimes in poor shape; the beach is clothing-optional.
- Tintamarre. A long, empty white-sand beach on an island in the Nature Reserve, reachable only by boat, for example on a catamaran day trip.
What about Lovers Beach?
Lovers Beach, between Galisbay and Friar’s Bay, gets its name from its size: there is barely room for two. It is very photogenic, but has no facilities and is hard to reach: the way down is slippery, so skip it in flip-flops or when the sea is rough. Some people prefer to go by kayak on a calm day.
5. Where to watch the sunset
The sun sets between about 5:45 p.m. and 6:50 p.m. depending on the season. Get there half an hour early to grab a good spot.
- Grand Case. The bay faces Anguilla: have a drink with your toes in the sand at Korner SXM, JAVA SXM or the Sunset Cafe, or from the roof of the Rainbow Cafe.
- Terres Basses. Baie Longue and Baie aux Prunes: quiet beaches you may have almost to yourselves late in the day.
- Cupecoy and Maho. The cliffs of Cupecoy, then a cocktail on the rooftop of Mimosa Skylounge or at Tortuga Maho, facing the planes.
- Simpson Bay. The Kim Sha beach clubs, such as Karakter, and the classic beach bar at Mary’s Boon.
- At sea. The Lambada Sunset Sail leaves Simpson Bay for 90 minutes on a catamaran at sunset, with an open bar and snacks.
6. Where to have a romantic dinner
Grand Case is the island’s culinary capital: along a kilometer-long boulevard, fine-dining restaurants sit next to local lolos. The places below are grouped by mood.
Fine dining
- Le Pressoir (Grand Case): an old Creole house, tasting menus and a great wine list.
- L’Auberge Gourmande (Grand Case): a historic Creole house with a terrace and refined French cuisine.
- Le Cottage (Grand Case): indulgent French cooking and a sommelier.
- Bistrot Caraïbes (Grand Case): an institution since 1994, with grilled lobster and a great wine list.
- La Villa Hibiscus (Mont Vernon): an intimate restaurant with tasting menus and panoramic views.
- L’Astrolabe (Orient Bay): fine dining by the pool at the Esmeralda.
- 978 Sanctorum (Rambaud): gourmet Creole cuisine with a pool and jazz nights.
By the sea
- Coco Beach (Orient Bay): a gourmet beach restaurant run by chef Laurent Saudeau.
- Ocean Lounge (Philipsburg): the Holland House terrace on the boardwalk, facing Great Bay.
- Mezza Luna and Kalos (Baie Nettlé): Italian and Greek, with your toes in the sand.
- La Perle Bleu (Cole Bay): a terrace on Simpson Bay Lagoon and an elegant setting.
- Big Fish (Oyster Pond): fish and seafood, dinner by reservation.
To end the night
- The Jazz Spot (Marigot): a jazz speakeasy at Marina Royale.
- Oualichi Rhum (Cul-de-Sac): rum tasting around a fire pit.
- The Red Piano Lounge (Pelican Key): a piano bar with live music.
In the mood for something simple? Grand Case’s lolos, such as Cynthia’s Talk of the Town or Lolo’s Ribs Shack, serve ribs and grilled lobster by the sea.
7. Things to do as a couple
Between beaches, something to share an adventure, or to do nothing at all.
On the water
- Lambada Sunset Sail (Simpson Bay Resort Marina, Sint Maarten, from $45). Sunset catamaran sail, on Thursdays according to its listing.
- Scoobi Charters (Anse Marcel / Grand Case, Saint Martin, from €145). A catamaran day in the Nature Reserve: Tintamarre, Pinel and Creole Rock, with lunch and an open bar.
- Random Wind Charters (Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten, from $145). A catamaran day from Simpson Bay: snorkeling, paddleboarding, lunch and an open bar.
- Rhino Safari (Simpson Bay / Cole Bay, Sint Maarten, from $149). A guided tour in a mini boat you drive yourselves, with snorkeling.
- Caribbean Paddling (Pinel Island pier, Cul-de-Sac, Saint Martin, from $79). Kayak or paddleboard to Pinel Island from Cul-de-Sac.
- Under SXM (Little Bay, Sint Maarten, from $49). Guided snorkeling at the Little Bay underwater sculpture park.
- Jet Paradise (Marina Royale, Marigot, Saint Martin, from $236). Jet skiing from Marigot, out to Maho or Simpson Bay Lagoon.
On land
- Hike up to Pic Paradis or along the coast: see our hikes and viewpoints.
- Rainforest Adventures: the Sky Explorer chairlift and the Flying Dutchman, the world’s steepest zipline.
- Loterie Farm, at the foot of Pic Paradis: a pool in the middle of nature and the Jungle Room restaurant.
- ATV Island: an ATV, buggy or Jeep to tour the island.
Pamper yourselves
Hotel spas are the easiest option: the spa at La Samanna, the Ti Spa at L’Esplanade, the Blu Spa at The Morgan, the spa at La Playa, or in-suite massages at Karibuni. If you are not staying there, ask whether they welcome outside guests.
8. Three romantic day plans
The sun is strong in the middle of the day: beach in the morning, lunch in the shade, and save the late afternoon for the sunset.
West side, beaches and sunset
- Morning. Baie Longue, nearly empty in the morning.
- Lunch. Lunch with your toes in the sand at Baie Nettlé, at Mezza Luna or Kalos.
- Late afternoon. Sunset at Cupecoy, then a cocktail at Mimosa Skylounge.
Pinel and Cul-de-Sac
- Morning. Kayak or paddleboard to Pinel Island with Caribbean Paddling.
- Lunch. Lunch on the island, then a nap in the shade.
- Late afternoon. Rum tasting at Oualichi Rhum, then dinner in Grand Case.
Grand Case, from cove to dinner
- Morning. Happy Bay, on foot from Friar’s Bay.
- Lunch. A lobster roll at Korner SXM, with your toes in the sand.
- Late afternoon. Sunset over the bay, then dinner at Le Pressoir or L’Auberge Gourmande.
9. Honeymoon, anniversary or proposal
A few ideas to make it special:
- A suite with a private pool: at Karibuni, facing Pinel, or in a villa at the Esmeralda.
- Sunset at sea with the Lambada Sunset Sail, or a day at Tintamarre with Scoobi Charters.
- A tasting menu at Le Pressoir or La Villa Hibiscus.
- To pop the question: Baie Longue or Happy Bay late in the day, both calm and full of light.
10. Getting around
- A rental car is the easiest way to reach the coves: Happy Bay, Baie Rouge, Cupecoy or Baie Longue.
- Roads are often narrow and winding. After a dinner with wine, head back by taxi (see our taxi guide).
- In Grand Case, the hotels on the boulevard let you do everything on foot at night. Le Petit Hotel has an evening shuttle to the restaurants.
- A scooter is tempting for two, but traffic is heavy: leave it to experienced riders.
11. Where to splurge, where to save
We do not publish a price list: rates change often, so check them on each business’s website. A few pointers:
- Free. The beaches, the sunsets, the coastal trails and a stroll along the Grand Case boulevard.
- Lodging. This is the big one. Small hotels in Grand Case and Orient Bay cost less than the large resorts; La Samanna is in the highest bracket.
- Dinners. Alternate a fine-dining night with a lolo: the food is excellent for much less.
- Tipping. Often included on the French side; elsewhere, plan on 10 to 20 percent for good service.
- Currency. US dollars and euros accepted everywhere on the island (see money and payments).
12. Frequently asked questions
Which side of the island is best for a romantic trip?
On the French side, Grand Case for food and sunsets, or Orient Bay for the beach. On the Dutch side, Simpson Bay and Maho for bars and nightlife. The island is small: you can stay on one side and have dinner on the other.
Where is the best sunset?
On the west and northwest coast: Grand Case facing Anguilla, Baie Longue, the Cupecoy cliffs or Simpson Bay. At sea, the Lambada Sunset Sail offers 90 minutes on a catamaran at sunset from Simpson Bay.
What is the most romantic beach?
Baie Longue, long and rarely crowded, and Happy Bay, reachable only on foot, are the quietest. Lovers Beach lives up to its name, but it is tiny, has no facilities and is hard to reach.
Which hotel is best for a honeymoon?
For top-end luxury, La Samanna on Baie Longue. For privacy, Karibuni and its suites with private pools facing Pinel. For food lovers, the small beachfront hotels in Grand Case: Le Temps des Cerises, LOVE or Le Petit Hotel.
Do I need reservations for Grand Case restaurants?
Yes for fine dining such as Le Pressoir, L’Auberge Gourmande or Le Cottage, especially in high season. Lolos and beach bars usually work without reservations.
When is the best time for a honeymoon?
December to April is drier but pricier. May and June are a good compromise, with fewer people. September to November is the peak of hurricane season.
Read next
- Where to stay in St. Maarten
- Things to do in St. Maarten
- Hikes and viewpoints
- Weather and best time to visit
- Car rental
- Entry requirements
- St. Maarten with Kids
Ready to pick your hotel? Every hotel on the island, with its vibe and our tips. See the hotels · See the beaches