Where to Stay in Sint Maarten

Sint Maarten has roughly 37 beaches packed into 34 square miles, and they vary more than you would expect on an island this size. Mullet Bay on the Dutch side is the swimming beach most locals recommend: long, gently sloping, no waves in the morning, beach chairs and a couple of low-key bars. Maho is the famous one with planes landing overhead, fun to visit once. Orient Bay on the French side is the big resort beach: clear water, beach clubs, lunch on the sand, and the closest thing to St. Tropez in the Caribbean.

For a quieter day, head to the French side. Baie Rouge, Baie aux Prunes (Plum Bay) and Baie Longue all sit on the Terres Basses peninsula and are usually near-empty even in February. Cupecoy Beach is the sunset beach, dramatic limestone cliffs and small sandy coves. Guana Bay and Dawn Beach on the east coast face the Atlantic and have real surf, fewer crowds and morning sun.

Off the beach, the rhythm is restaurants and water. Grand Case is the dining capital of the Caribbean (roughly 30 restaurants on a half-mile stretch, French and Caribbean cooking that holds its own against any island). Marigot has its waterfront and a good Wednesday and Saturday market. Philipsburg has duty-free shopping along Front Street and the cruise port. Yacht charters out of Simpson Bay run day trips to Anguilla (45 minutes by ferry) and St. Barths (90 minutes), both of which are easy day or overnight excursions.

Sint Maarten is one of the safer islands in the Caribbean for villa travelers. Most properties Coral Villas manages are in gated estates or on private peninsulas (Terres Basses, Indigo Bay, Pointe Pirouette), with security gates, locked terraces and motion-sensitive lighting. Petty theft from unattended cars is the most common issue people run into; treat it like any major US city and lock valuables out of sight.

Currency on the Dutch side is the US dollar (also officially the Caribbean guilder, but USD is used everywhere). The French side runs on euros, though most restaurants and shops accept dollars at a reasonable exchange. Credit cards are widely accepted at sit-down restaurants, hotels, and larger shops. Cash is useful at beach bars, local markets and for taxi rounding. ATMs are plentiful in Philipsburg, Simpson Bay and Marigot.

Tipping: most restaurants on the Dutch side do not include service. 15 to 20 percent is standard. French-side restaurants usually include service (look for "service compris" on the bill), and an extra 5 percent is appreciated for good service. Tip the bag handlers a dollar a bag, the housekeeping team $5 to $10 per day at the end of your stay.

Electricity is 110V on the Dutch side (US plugs work directly) and 220V on the French side (European two-pin plugs, US devices need an adapter). Tap water is desalinated and safe to drink, though most guests stick to bottled water. The mosquitos pick up after rain; the villa stocks repellent or your concierge will drop some off.