Hotel La Samanna

The La Samanna is overlooks the beautiful Long Bay beach, west of the Island, several minutes away by car from the Dutch sector and the Juliana international airport (3 miles away). Marigot the "French capital" is 4 miles away (10 minutes) and Philipsburg, "capital" of the Dutch sector, about 6 miles (15 minutes) away.

The hotel is closed in September and October.
Rent a car to discover Saint-Martin.

A hotel of the Orient Express chain, the La Samanna belongs to the group of Leading Hotels of the World including high-rate establishments, renowned for their elegance and quality services. Pillars, archways and other rounded shapes of this low-profile two-storey white structure, viewed from some angles, give it an oriental look. It dominates the Long Bay beach, a beautiful white sand crescent bordered by a beautiful blue lagoon of the Caribbean sea. You need to go down a few steps to reach the small swimming pool, and a couple more to set your feet on the sand. The fitness centre (with a bay window opening on to the outside), the beauty centre (providing numerous and quality treatment) and the tennis courts are isolated, hidden by the estate's lush vegetation. Eight suites are built on a cliff overlooking the Caribbeans, the villas and others are built along the beach facing the sea. The lobby is elegant, all in white archways, wooden furniture and fancy ethnic decoration. It opens on to the restaurant overlooking the sea.

The 30 guestrooms are in the main building. Eight of the 51 suites (for 3 to 5 persons) are built on a cliff; 40 single-storey suites open on to the sea, while the others are in the main building; the 6 villas (that can host up to 7 persons) also face the beach. All the lodging units have a big terrace arranged with sturdy teak furniture, deckchairs, chairs and tables in mosaic and have a view on the Caribbeans. Their size is comfortable (from 30 m²) and their equipment complete : individually adjustable air-conditioning and ceiling fan, satellite television (some 30 channels), safe, complete mini-bar (with Hédiard drinks, half bottles of alcohol), direct international telephone, beautiful bathrooms with hand-painted Mexican ware and equipped with double washbasin, shower and bathtub, bathrobes, beach towel, hairdryer, sufficient welcome products and condoms. The decoration is Afro-Caribbean in style, and the furniture is Filipino and Indonesian. There is, therefore, much wood, colour but not exaggerated, dark warm ochre tiling. The suites also have a hifi system with a collection of CDs and a fax machine. You will be welcomed with champagne and a fruit basket. Some - the most luxurious ones - were even   equipped in 2005 with a small private swimming pool on the roof.

For breakfast, the restaurant serves grillings and salads in a room whose entire length opens on to trade winds and offers a stunning view of the changing blue of the water. In the evening, it serves sophisticated and renowned Creole and French cuisine, sometimes original. The red snapper and spiny lobster are all fresh from the day's catch, ostrich steak and beef are either from Argentina or Mexico. The bread is home made. It is delicious, light and excellently served ( quite "nouvelle cuisine" ). The wine cellar is particularly interesting. It has, amongst others, a 1991 Romanée Conti 1991 that costs close to 3200 Euros a bottle? Allow 15 to 25 Euros for lunch and 30 to 40 Euros for dinner.
The bar is decorated in bright local colours, all in mosaic and brightly coloured tapestries facing the swimming pool. The snack-bar on the beach serves grilled spiny lobsters for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays.

Long Bay is one of the loveliest beaches in Saint-Martin, a long sand crescent skirted by transparent water with a changing vivid blue colour. It has a water sports centre, deckchairs and sunshades reserved for the La Samana guests who will enjoy clean, fine white sand in an uncrammed setting. Surrounded by some houses and palm trees, Long Bay is in fact moderately patronised by pelicans. The water level is unfortunately rather deep.
As a novelty, in 2005, the La Samana set a series of 6 luxury tents on its beach, each with an equipment to listen to   music, a selection of   champagne and   beauty products. Guests may request cosmetic treatments (massage, manicure...)   or have lunch and even dinner there in strict privacy.