What Most Travelers Don't Know About St. Martin
The most useful things to know about St. Martin start with its split: one small island shared by France and the Netherlands, each side with its own capital, language and pace. Add two airports, a large lagoon at its center and hills steeper than the map suggests, and you have an island that rewards a little planning.
None of this is hidden, exactly. It simply shapes a stay more than the beach photographs let on. Below, we walk through the details that matter most when you're choosing where on St. Martin to settle, how to move around once you arrive, and what kind of villa suits the side you pick.
Two Nations Share One Island, and Each Has Its Own Character
St. Martin has been divided between France and the Netherlands since the Treaty of Concordia in 1648. The French side, Saint-Martin, covers the northern part of the island and is the larger of the two. The Dutch side, Sint Maarten, covers the south and is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The two halves feel different in ways you notice within a day. French is the official language in the north, with Marigot as its capital. Dutch and English are official in the south, where Philipsburg sits on Great Bay. English is widely spoken across the whole island, so you'll rarely struggle to be understood on either side.
Currency follows the same divide. The French side uses the euro, as you'd expect from part of France. When you plan days out, it helps to remember that prices, menus and signage can switch with the border, even on an island this small.
Why the Split Matters for Your Villa Search
Choosing a side is the first real decision when renting a villa in the Caribbean here. The French side holds the western lowlands of Terres Basses and the eastern sweep of Orient Bay. The Dutch side holds Simpson Bay, Cupecoy and Philipsburg. Neither is better. They simply suit different trips, and we'll help you weigh them against how you want to spend your days.
Where Is St. Martin, and How Big Is It?
St. Martin sits in the northeastern Caribbean, among the Leeward Islands, with Anguilla to the north and St. Barths to the southeast. It's a small island of roughly 34 square miles, which makes it easy to see a great deal of it in one stay.
Small doesn't mean flat, though. A spine of green hills runs through the middle of the island, and Pic Paradis on the French side rises to just over 400 meters, the island's highest point. Roads curve around those hills and along the coast, so the route between two beaches is rarely a straight line.
That terrain is also what gives so many villas their views. Homes set into the hillsides look out over bays, the lagoon or the neighboring islands. When you study a map of St. Martin in the Caribbean, read the contour lines as well as the coastline.
Two Airports Serve the Island
St. Martin has two airports, one on each side. Princess Juliana International Airport is on the Dutch side, at Simpson Bay. Grand Case-Espérance Airport is on the French side, near the north coast.
Knowing which airport you're using helps you choose your base. Some of our listings measure their distance from both, which is the clearest way to judge an arrival. Our team can arrange transfers from either airport so the first part of your trip is settled before you land.
Simpson Bay Lagoon Sits at the Island's Heart
Simpson Bay Lagoon is a broad inland body of water on the western side of the island, and the border runs right across it. Marinas line parts of its shore, and the lagoon gives the west of the island a second waterfront, quite different from the open sea.
On its western side lie the lowlands of Terres Basses, which separate the lagoon from the Caribbean. This part of the French side is largely given over to private homes set on generous land. Its beaches, including Baie Longue, Baie Rouge and Plum Baie, line the outer coast.
If you're curious about the beaches of Terres Basses, our pages on Baie Longue Beach in Terres Basses and the wider French side of Saint Martin are a good place to start.
The Island's Quieter Corners Are Easy to Find
St. Martin has busy stretches, especially around Philipsburg and parts of Simpson Bay. It also has quieter, residential corners, and the trick is knowing what each area offers before you choose.
Here's how the main areas differ:
- Terres Basses: the western lowlands on the French side, with private homes, long beaches and wide sunset views.
- Orient Bay: a long, open bay on the east coast of the French side, with a lively beach and hills rising behind it.
- Grand Case: a seaside town on the north coast with a long-standing dining culture along its waterfront.
- Marigot: the French-side capital, with a harbor, a market and Fort Louis above the town.
- Simpson Bay and Cupecoy: the Dutch side's western shore, between the sea and the lagoon, on the same side as the international airport.
- Philipsburg: the Dutch-side capital on Great Bay, with a busy shopping street and a cruise port.
Each of these has its own rhythm through the day. Late afternoon brings the light that makes the western coast so photogenic. Plan your beach days and your town days separately and the island feels much larger than its size.
The East and West Coasts Feel Different
The east coast faces the Atlantic trade winds, and Orient Bay is the long, open bay that defines it. The west coast faces the Caribbean Sea and the sunset. Choosing between them is partly about the light you want at the end of the day, and partly about how you want to spend the hours before it.
Neighboring Islands and Offshore Islets Shape the Views
St. Martin rarely feels alone on the horizon. From the north and west coasts, Anguilla lies low across the channel, and on clear days St. Barths to the southeast and Saba to the southwest appear on the horizon. Several of our listings describe views of Anguilla, which says a lot about how present the neighboring islands are in daily life here.
Off the French side's east coast sit small islets, among them Pinel, off Cul-de-Sac, and Tintamarre, further out to the east. They're part of the seascape from the hills above Orient Bay, and they add depth to the view from a terrace in a way the open ocean alone can't.
These views are one reason villa position matters so much on this island. A home a little higher up a hillside, or turned a few degrees toward the west, can look out on an entirely different scene. When we suggest a villa, we look at which way it faces as closely as we look at the home itself.
St. Martin's Weather Follows a Clear Seasonal Pattern
St. Martin is warm all year, cooled by steady trade winds. The driest, most settled stretch usually runs from December through April, and the holidays are the high season.
Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Summer and early autumn bring more heat and humidity, with showers that are often short. If your dates fall in this period, travel insurance and flexible plans are sensible, and we're happy to talk you through the options.
Late spring and early summer sit between the two. The weather is still warm and generally fine, and the island feels more relaxed than it does at the holidays. For many trips, these weeks strike a good balance.
Practical Things to Know About St. Martin Before You Go
Some of the most useful things to know about St. Martin are the practical ones. They're small details, but they make a stay run more smoothly.
- Drive on the right. Traffic keeps right on both sides of the island, and a car gives you the most freedom to explore.
- Pack a universal adapter. Electrical outlets and voltage differ between the French and Dutch sides.
- Learn a few words of French. English works everywhere, but a greeting in French is always welcome in the north.
- Note which side your villa is on. It shapes your airport, the towns you visit most and your sunsets.
- Plan your first night's supplies. Our team can arrange provisioning, so the kitchen is stocked before you arrive.
Trust us on the last point. After a travel day, a stocked kitchen and a quiet terrace beat any dinner reservation.
Where Our Homes Fit on the Island
Our St. Martin villas span both sides of the island, from Terres Basses to Orient Bay and the Dutch-side beaches. These three show how differently a villa in St. Maarten or Saint-Martin can feel depending on where it sits.
Orient Bay on the French Side
On the hills above the east coast, Villa Karukera looks out across Orient Bay toward neighboring islands. Its listing describes a deck built around an infinity pool, a shaded gazebo and a covered dining area, with bedrooms arranged around the pool and outdoor showers. The pool is heated from October 15 to April 15, and the primary suite has its own outdoor hot tub. According to our listing, Orient Bay is about 1.7 kilometers away, and the listing shows housekeeping six days a week, a gardener and a pool attendant.
Also in Orient Bay, Monte Verde sits in an elevated position with ocean views, framed by lush greenery. The pool deck faces the sea, with lounging areas, an outdoor dining space and a barbecue area. Each bedroom opens onto its own patio with ocean views. Our listing places Grand Case-Espérance Airport about 3.8 kilometers away, and a housekeeper is listed Monday to Saturday.
Simpson Bay on the Dutch Side
For luxury villas on the beach, Vittoria sits on the sand of Simpson Bay with sunset views. Its Italianate design opens through sliding glass doors onto a covered terrace with direct beach access, and the listing shows a pool, outdoor showers and a barbecue. Our listing places Princess Juliana International Airport about 3.2 kilometers away, and the listing shows roundtrip airport transfers.
Between them, Villa Karukera and Monte Verde suit a stay built around the east coast and the French side, while Vittoria suits days on the Dutch side's western shore. Every home in our collection is personally inspected before it joins, and each stay is checked before you arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is St. Martin?
St. Martin is in the northeastern Caribbean, among the Leeward Islands. Anguilla lies to its north and St. Barths to its southeast. The island is shared by France and the Netherlands.
Is St. Martin French or Dutch?
It's both. The northern part is French Saint-Martin, with Marigot as its capital, and the southern part is Dutch Sint Maarten, with Philipsburg as its capital. English is widely spoken on both sides.
Which airport should I fly into for St. Martin?
That depends on your flights and where your villa sits. Princess Juliana International Airport is on the Dutch side, and Grand Case-Espérance Airport is on the French side. We can arrange transfers from either.
When is the best time to visit St. Martin?
December through April is usually the driest and most settled stretch, and the holidays are the high season. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Late spring and early summer offer warm weather with a more relaxed feel.
Plan Your Stay on St. Martin
The things to know about St. Martin come down to a few clear points: two nations, two airports, a lagoon at the center and a hilly island that's larger in feel than in size. Choose your side first, then your coast, and the right villa follows naturally.
We've been arranging villa stays since our founding in Jamaica in 1979, and Condé Nast Traveler has named us among its Top Travel Specialists for more than 15 consecutive years. Explore our homes across St. Martin and the wider Caribbean, and when you're ready, we're here.
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