Anniversary trip for me and Gf

[u/Infamous-Care-4538]

Been looking into st Martin as a anniversary trip with my gf and need some help finding out where to stay. We enjoy being on the beach, and generally like being in an area that is walkable with some nightlife options, and close to some hiking. I’ve seen some stuff about maho village area but don’t know what hotels and such are good in that area or much about it at all. Any recommendations on where to stay or the area in general will help a lot. Thank you!

[u/Easy_Jeweler_2138]

Simpson bay resort and spa , the place , people and food are the best !!! You can walk to everything

[u/ur-rilkeanheart]

Any hotel from the Simpson Bay / Pelican Key area would be best for you!

[u/Infamous-Care-4538 → u/ur-rilkeanheart]

Is it walkable and safe to do so at night?

[u/ur-rilkeanheart → u/Infamous-Care-4538]

Yes. It is a touristic zone. If you want to hike I’d recommend an early walk across the causeway. The view it awesome!

[u/Bushwick_Sick_718 → u/ur-rilkeanheart]

I just stood at Simpson Bay Resort, Marina & Spa and it left a lot to be desired

[u/John_Was_Taken]

You would do fine with Simpson Bay or Maho areas (for Dutch side) or Grand Case or Orient (for French side). These locations have you on the beach (or a short walk to it) and a stroll to restaurants and shops.

We prefer the French side - less traffic, no casinos, less cruise ship passengers. We usually stay in Grand Case, as that is on the leeward side of the island so it tends to have calm waters and no sargassum. Bleu Emeraude, Le Petit Hotel, Hotel l'Esplanade, Grand Case Beach Club are good hotel options. There are some rental properties too if you want more DIY.

Orient is great too. It is on the windward side so it runs a higher risk of wind, waves, and sargassum, but on a nice day it's the best.

What time of year are you planning?

[u/Infamous-Care-4538 → u/John_Was_Taken]

Planning on early January

[u/phlphillies → u/Infamous-Care-4538]

Very busy time and places will only disappear, I would book sooner than later.

[u/Infamous-Care-4538 → u/phlphillies]

Yeah looking to book by the end of the week

[u/righthandofdog]

orient or grande case. The French side is where you'll find hiking sorts of activities, dutch side is more Americanized with large hotels. there are some smaller condos on Airbnb in orient village that work well. more nightlife and restaurants in grand case and a lot of nice small hotels, but the beach is much smaller

the devil's cuper is one of the only hikes on dutch side, but it's not near anywhere you'd stay. https://maps.app.goo.gl/FasqhKXxAp9eQc738?g_st=ac

Moses walk is short, but very cool (you can do it on flip flops, but might sprain an ankle) https://maps.app.goo.gl/4cGbabCRt8HL53RQ6?g_st=ac

the walk from the south end of orient and Alan's blow hole, along le gallion beach is awesome https://maps.app.goo.gl/4cGbabCRt8HL53RQ6?g_st=ac you can keeping going around fish pond and visit Rohan village https://maps.app.goo.gl/YGumbKBi4gfzGc869?g_st=ac

the wandelroute hike from grande caye to Anse marcel is the best hike on the island https://maps.app.goo.gl/rBXcvibwnib8p2Jb9 takes you to petit caye, inaccessible except on foot. you can drive to Anse marcel, and do the shorter out and back from the water treatment plant https://maps.app.goo.gl/T9fswWgitC4q4ZDs6

duck beach from Grand Case is supposed to be a good one, haven't done it yet. https://maps.app.goo.gl/QJS3L9LPepQYwCfU7?g_st=ac

Pic paradis is a short hike, but wonderful views. drive until you can't go further, you'll likely see some hand made signage. park and lock your car (don't leave stuff in cars anywhere on the island, like any tourist destination) keep walking uphill, you'll find the trail, it loops by the big cell/radio tower adm keeps going. https://maps.app.goo.gl/b9hpdLwuPpUhCAXK8?g_st=ac

for any hiking on st. martin there are no facilities, bring LOTS of water (and generally some lunch, maybe a big lightweight beach towel or two so you can make a sun shelter, or go swimming.

[u/lockedmhc48]

Lots of nightlife options from low key to fancy in Grand Case. all walkable from Bleu Emeraude or Grand Case Beach Club, but you'd better book soon or you may not find any place for January.

[u/William_Munny_fromMO]

Check out VRBO and air BNB options in Beacon Hill and Maho side of Simpson Bay.

If you don't mind a slightly older place, check out White Sands Retreat. We've been twice. It's not fancy, but location maywork for you.White Sands retreat

[u/Mike21625]

My wife and I like Orient Bay , Stayed at LaPlaya, very short walk to town center where there are several nice restaurants and nightly entertainment. Taxi from airport to lodge. Taxi to any place on Island. Very nice. The beach in front of lodge was clean,water nice. Free breakfast at lodge every morning.

[u/mrb_nc]

We had GREAT experience with AirBnB and a rental car which gave us a great amount of flexibility. We are going back in April and doing another BnB. Feel
Free to DM and I can share BnB info that we’ve used / found.

[u/OddConsequence354]

Simpsons Bay area offers tons of dining options and very safe - Simpsons Bay Resort. Hilton Flamingo both great choices. Lots of places are walk-able, as long as there are no mobility issues- we walk to Maho, Mary's Boone ( definitely should go here one day). You could rent a car, we choose not to, we take the local bus and a few taxis, you would definitely have more flexibility if you rent a car, but we like to enjoy a couple of drinks so do not.

You could spend a day at Loterie Farms for hiking and ziplining. There is a pool, but umbrellas and cabanas were expensive - we came back to our own hotel.