On a recent visit to Saint Martin, I was invited by the tourist board to visit some unique properties on the French side of the Island.

Saint Martin is a Caribbean island easily accessible by air, offering 37 beaches, tagged 'The Friendly Island' offers festive nightlife and its gastronomy is made of the fusion of French, Creole and other flavours.

The island is divided up between the French side and the Dutch side. During the 17th Century, there was intermittent rivalry between the Dutch and French for control of the island and its salt mines which eventually lead to a treaty to divide the island peacefully.

Photo: Map of Saint Martin by Saint Martin.org

Orient Bay Area

All three hotels we visited on Orient Beach, were boutique-style, European meal plans. Local restaurants on the beach are charged directly to your room. Most rooms had equipped kitchens.

Orient Beach Hotel

Ideally located on the famous pristine Orient Bay Beach, you will find Orient Beach Hotel, the only hotel directly on the beach, a unique luxury boutique resort.

This new gem offers the perfect combination of luxury, comfort, and pampering with its 35 beachfront Junior Suites decorated with sophistication.

All our rooms are 48m² with a terrace (517 square feet) and feature: free high-speed WiFi, flat-screen smart TVs, cable, air conditioning, equipped kitchenettes, safe, and many more amenities. We offer on request two ground floor rooms accessible to people with reduced mobility (PRM).

Our daily rates include: Daily continental breakfast, beach chairs & umbrellas on Orient Beach*, maid service, free parking & Orient Beach Hotel’s Privilege Card (for signing privileges at bars & restaurants* in Orient Bay.)

Photo: Orient Beach Club by Lorie Davis

La Playa Orient Bay

The hotel is steps away from Orient Bay. This side of the island has incredible body surfing waves, comfortable water temperatures and a gentle breeze to counteract the searing Caribbean sun. The hotel 4 stars has a freshwater swimming pool, a private beach with sun loungers and a bar-restaurant where you can especially have your breakfasts facing the sea, feet on the sand.

All the rooms are Junior Suites. Spacious and authentic of 48 m², split between the Classic Junior Suite, the Premium Junior Suite Garden, the Premium Junior Suite Ocean, and the Deluxe Junior Suite located on the 2nd floor. All totally renovated mid-2019. They all have furnished terraces or patios offering an extra living area with views of the gardens or towards the Ocean. Our handicapped-accessible rooms are on the lobby floor and are equipped with a special handicapped-accessible bathroom.

All the suites have kitchenettes (except the Classic junior suite).

Photo: La Playa Beach Club by Lorie Davis

Esmeralda Resort

Located on the beach at Orient Bay on the French side of the island, The Esmeralda Resort **** offers luxurious villa-style accommodations throughout a tropical garden setting among the bougainvillea, hibiscus and a coconut grove.

The fifty rooms are spread out within eighteen luxurious villas, each with its own private pool. Graceful open-air colonial-style architecture, a setting combining refined and intimate ambiance makes the Esmeralda Resort **** a truly unique hotel.

Photo: Esmeralda Beach Club by Lorie Davis

Secrets St. Martin All-Inclusive

European culture fuses with a true Caribbean flair as romance radiates through the air. Guests can spend their days basking in the sun alongside the beach, infinity pool or the oceanfront whirlpool. Evenings will be filled with gourmet dining, curated cocktails and world-class nightly entertainment. Secrets Resort & Spa has made its home in a secluded, tranquil cove in Anse Marcel Bay where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea, all complete with our signature Unlimited-Luxury experience.

Secrets® St. Martin’s 258 suites feature spacious accommodations with marina, and partial ocean and mountain views and include swim-out options with private furnished balconies or terraces. Immersed in cultural flavours, guests will experience the stylish, vibrant locale with the extensive inclusions of Unlimited-Luxury® experience including 24-hour room service with a private Secrets Box, daily refreshed mini-bar, and twice-daily maid service.

Photo: Secrets Saint Martin by Lorie Davis

LORIE'S TOP PICK IS THE GRAND CASE BEACH CLUB!

This resort has a super cool vibe with beautiful views and walking distance to some of the best restaurants on the island.

The Grand Case Beach Club

Grand Case Beach Club, is perfectly located a short walk from St. Martin’s renowned town of Grand Case. Enjoy the vitality and pulse of the village’s many restaurants, eateries (“lolos”), bars and shops - then return to the tranquillity and serenity of Grand Case Beach Club to unwind and refresh from the explorations.

Our graciously-sized and newly renovated guest rooms offer a distinct, understated design with neutral tones, modern design highlighted by colourful plein-air artwork by renowned Saint Martin artist, Sir Roland Richardson.

All room types share comparable amenities, other than the view (Ocean and Garden).

Garden accommodations are more spacious, and as with all of our rooms, just meters from the beach. They offer more privacy, as they are in less trafficked areas, and of course, our year-round tropical foliage is verdant and ever-changing.