Coming to SXM w/ my wife at the end of December (before NYE)... Been reading through forums and a bit lost about where to stay... Would prefer to be by a nice beach but ideally also walkable to some beach bars/restaurants/town/etc...

Philipsburg area seems to hit a lot of those but also read its busy w/ Cruise people and nightlife is more clubs.. We are 30's/40's so would more prefer lounges/Supper Clubs/Beach bars/Speakeasy type vibes..

Orient Bay and Grand Case are the other two options.. I was leaning towards Grand case as it sounds like thats where a lot of the restaurants are, its walkable and one of the better beaches but someone mentioned "Grand Case has no real beach after Hurricane Mathew".. Is this true? They also said that it might not be as safe to walk around as Orient Bay... Would love some thoughts and recommendations on this.

Also any good restaurant lounges would be appreciated.

My wife and I are going to SXM for the first time at the end of March - and are looking at some of the logistics. One, of course, is getting cell phones set up. We’re from Canada, so not willing to pay the insane Roam like Home prices.

The Flow website shows $20USD for the 10 day card at their stores.

I’ve seen people mention that tourist SIM cards can be purchased at the airport, but cost more.

We land mid afternoon, and we’d rather not have to drive to a store location in either Phillipsburg or Marigot during what will likely be rush hour in our way to our rental (in Cul de Sac).

Does anyone know what this SIM is going for in the airport, and where to buy it?

Thanks!

I’m travelling this Friday from SXM to JFK. Just wondering how early I should get to the airport?

Is it possible to walk from Mary’s Boon, west, past the Morgan to get to Maho? It is hard to tell from satellite imagery. Thanks

How long is the check in process if you already did all of your paperwork online? Travelling with my two younger kids, and after my 2 year olds outburst during Moana I don't know how long they will last after the flight.

#WishMeLuck

Hey everyone,

I am looking to transport some heavy boxes from Philipsburg to Marigot Bay.

Online I found a taxi should be around 20$ and a car rental for the day around 25$.

Now I contacted a few taxi companies and didn't get any quotation under 50$... I cannot get a rental card because I don't have a credit card.

Would a bus let me put my boxes in the hold?

I'm on a tight budget 😟😟

Traffic warning - it is only about a 15 kilometre drive, but it took us an hour to get from the Mont Vernon to SXM airport yesterday morning.

We were warned in advance by two local residents that this now happens fairly often owing to an increase in the number of cars on the road so we had allowed for it. It was bumper to bumper traffic most of the way.

If we were to go to places like Le Cottage or L'Auberge Gourmand, this December, is there a dress code for dinner?

Hi! We purchased a lovely ocean front studio several years ago, and have been lucky enough to be able to rent it out pretty consistently. Unfortunately renting it remotely from Canada hasn't been easy, so we would appreciate recommendations from folks that have used a rental management company on St. Maarten to rent their units, or folks that have used a good rental team that provided good service. Thanks!

Going for first time in March. We plan on bringing our own chairs to the beach and want to sit where it isn’t too crowded. Budget would be around $250CDN per night. Also need a kitchenette to prepare meals.

Could someone recommend or dissuade some places or recommend resources to use?

I have some experience in taking buses in sxm. However my question is what is the general working hours for buses in sxm. For example if I’m heading to Simpson bay after 9pm; are buses still active at that hour

Hey guys! We’re in Grand Case, thinking of doing Blue Martini tonight for Latino Music. Any other suggestions for great live music over the next few days? We leave Monday. Cheers.

Coming to the end of our week and want to grab some really good pizza. Any suggestions?

We're staying at Simpson Bay Villas for two days with my wife and two kids (ages 2 and 4) before heading to St. Barths for a week to attend a wedding.

I’d love your tips on the best things to do, what to avoid, and any life hacks that can make our trip smoother, especially with little ones in tow. Any advice on managing the ferry ride, must-see spots, kid-friendly activities, or travel essentials would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hi

Is it possible to find any hotel deals for Christmas 2025 on the French side? I know it’s a reach but just asking.

Hello everyone! My wife and I are about ready to make our first trip down to SXM and are very excited to come and celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. I do have a couple of questions before booking it!

1. Has anyone stayed at Orient Beach Hotel or La Playa? We are leaning towards OBH since many people have suggested that.

2. How common is topless sunbathing on the main beach? My wife does like to tan topless (not nude) and we are just curious about that. She’d prefer to not be the only one so if there is suggested spot or beach area, please let us know.

We are excited to visit and TIA!

I’m just excited because this’ll be my first trip across seas and I’m just ready to have a good time!!! I’ll be staying on the Dutch side so if you have any recommendations plzzz feel free to share!

I know there are lots of threads about safety and walking in the area and I did some searching but couldn't quite find a discussion reflecting my circumstances, so thank you in advance and sorry for a question that has probably been asked many times.

I am travelling solo as a mid-30's male, first time in the Caribbean but have done a little travelling elsewhere, so not an easy mark, but I am a little more apprehensive and cautious these days. I really need a get away and some personal time to recharge and love that the island appears to be reasonably small and safe. I really love walking everywhere, and have debated if I would rent a car but I love walking and saw a great opportunity to get 20k+ steps a day to explore a bit. A few specifics I was hoping for some insight on:

• I would like to spend some time exploring Philipsburg, but was thinking of staying in Simpsons Bay/Pelican area. I was thinking of bussing to there (it is only a 2 hour walk but the road doesn't look like it would be a good place to walk?). But from Philipsburg would it be advisable / safe to walk during the day time from the beach in through Pond Island and then up towards Oyster Pond? I've read some areas in Suckergarden aren't the best to be walking through, but I wasn't sure if that was a nighttime thing or daytime thing, or if that area is best avoided if at all?

• There are some gorgeous looking walks (Devil's Cupper and Wander Route Coastal Trail) that go up to Guana Bay Beach and Naked Boy Hill looked like a cool spot to go up for some views. Would this be ok to walk alone as a solo traveller during the day?

• I was planning to walk along the beach to/from Maho just as a way to get steps in and enjoy some scenery and relax. I assume this would be fine during the day, but inadvisable at night?

Depending on accessibility for walking and feedback, I was debating splitting my week there into a handful of days at one end and a handful at the other. Renting a car may be easier but I drive to/from work daily in a big city and just like the idea of not being behind the wheel for a week. And it's not that I am scared to death of something bad happening while walking, I've been in sketchier places (and I'm sure WAY sketchier places in the US) - I just like to ask in advance so I can avoid putting myself in a situation I don't want to be in if it can be avoided. I remember the first time visiting San Fran many years ago and casually walking through Tenderloin, and then arriving at my hotel that night and chatting with the clerk and telling them where I went to hang out and explore that day and I'll never forget the wide eyed expression he gave me and he said "I would not have gone there if I were you" 😂. That stuck with me, and clearly nothing bad happened and was unlikely to happen, but I think of that and sometimes it is nice to know if there is a spot you can put yourself in where you are a little more likely to have something uncommon go wrong! Thank you :)

Going to Sint Maarten in about a month for a week and looking for answers to the following questions:

• Car Rental: where is the best deal, and do you recommend having one for the whole time or would a few days of meandering the area we’re staying in be a decent way to save some $$$? (Staying in Little Bay)

• Do we need to purchase our own beach chairs, or can we just bring our own towel and throw them over chairs at the beaches? (Not at All inclusive)

• where in Little Bay is best to grab sunscreen/body wash/etc for price?

Thanks!

Hi everyone! I am planning a trip for my girlfriend and I to SXM in July 2025 and wanted to hear any recommendations on places to stay. I have looked at both sides of the island and really don’t have a preference but wanted to hear from people who have spent time there. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Hi all, my wife and I have reserved a private charter with Capt. Alan to do a nude day trip to St. Barth's on Jan 20th. We'll have a private boat, open bar, lunch and snacks provided. We will visit the nude beaches of St. Barths. If anyone is interested in joining, we have a few spots left. Feel free to reach out, but the itinerary will be this: https://nudetrips.net/COSB If we get a few more people, the costs will be about $237 per person, and that includes the fees for St. Barths.

We’d like to rent an apartment in Orient Bay next year for a full year. When I try to search it comes up as mostly vacation rentals. Anyone know if there is a classified type listing for long term rentals in the area? Checked out a few of the real estate sites but so far they are for the Dutch side.

Sadly just finishing our trip to St. Martin. Here’s our review of Orient Beach Hotel, the restaurants and the beach.

This was our 4th trip to SXM and first time staying on the French side. We stayed at OBH for 6 nights. It was an amazing hotel. The staff were great and its close proximity to any restaurants or shops you could want. Breakfast at KKO is a 30 second walk in the morning.

For food we travelled around to restaurants in the village and were never disappointed. There is lots of variety and simply put the meals were amazing.

We spent most days at beach chairs of various restaurants like bikini, KKO and La Playa. OBH had chair privileges at all except La Playa.

Wai Gym is good to visit if you want to exercise while you’re there. We did a HIIT class each morning at 745 and it was a great way to start the day. If you’re not an avid fitness person they will adjust the exercises for you. There were people of all ages and body types working out.

We ventured to the south side a couple of days and really enjoyed it. It was a bit intimidating as it was our first time but the nervousness quickly left as we settled into our chairs. Everyone is relaxing and enjoying being nude in the sun or the ocean. No one is concerned with what you look like naked. We would definitely go back on a return trip.

We spent our last day and night on the Dutch side at Royal Islander and while it’s nice, we definitely enjoyed the experience on the French side more. I would sum it up as if you want to relax then I would recommend Orient, if you want to party then head to Maho.

Overall we loved the experience and the island. Can’t wait to come back.

If you’re planning a trip and have any questions about what we did, please feel free to ask.

I am flying into SXM on a Saturday during the holiday season, landing at 2:30pm. I would like to get to St Barths that evening.

Will I likely make the 5:30pm ferry from Philipsburg, or should I book the 6:55pm from Marigot to be safe?

Thank you very much

Planning my next visit in January 2025 after a 5 year hiatus following COVID, family matters, etc... and just wondering how much PJIA is near its completion after Hurricane Irma? Back in December 2019, I recall tents being used for arrivals and departures as the terminal was still closed with repairs underway. Thanks!

I'm having issues getting https://www.entry.sx/ to work. What's the process if I don't feel it out online?

We were thinking of perhaps going to Loterie Farm but only for light walking/hiking, not the zip line or difficult or high elevation hike. Maybe go to the pool and or eat there. I've been reading conflicting information online. Does that require a reservation or can we just show up early one day? We're not really sure yet what day we'd want to go.

Same question for Pinel Island.