Travel to Ile de Saint-Martin

Explore

Ile de Saint-Martin, Saint Martin

Discover Saint-Martin with Voyager. The shipping company offers several departures a day and deals : boat only, boat + rental a car, boat + visit to the island + lunch. Two excursions are suggested. 1 / Departure from St Barthélemy to St Martin Marigot , you will discover the North of St Martin, East Bay, the island of Tintamarre, Marcel Bay, Grand Case, Happy Bay, and Friar's Bay. Marigot ..! If the captain decides to go through the south of St Martin, you will discover Pointe, Philipsburg Bay, Simpson Bay, Mullet Bay, Cupecoy, and the beaches of Lands Bass (Baie Rouge, the Plums Bay, Long Bay) before arriving in Marigot. 2 / Departure from St Barthélemy to St Martin Oyster Pond the boat will go along the Fork and Groupers islands before arriving at Oyster Pond. The lucky ones will catch a glimpse of whales and flying fish!

The island of Saint-Martin has specialities that its two better-known neighbouring islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique do not. It has, for instance, the reputation of being the gastronomic capital of the Caribbean. If the adjective is a bit excessive, it is not however usurped. The small village of Grand Case is home to an impressive number of quality restaurants. The local people of Saint-Martin claim to have 80 hotels aligning the main street. On the menu: the "French touch" which has set Americans crazy, the first visitors to the island. Therefore, you would not be surprised to read on the maps that the chef offers an "grilled entrecôte sauce, speciality of the chef" or a "duck breast with honey and spices" that can accompany a great vintage of French wine. As there too, menus are amazing, consistent and high-end, capable of making any connoisseur look plain. The Tastevin, the Fish Pot and the Pressoir are among the restaurants often cited for quality reference. To appreciate the Creole inspired cuisine, you need to go to a "ti'lolo". The area, often a wooden cabin with lambrequins and a veranda, overlooks the Grand Case beach. Combine then the traditional accras, cod fritters or shrimp, very American ribbs, as well as spare rib in barbecue sauce. Also unmissable : fresh lobster straight from the tank. Beware that living costs on the island are expensive: Epect to pay ? 15 for a main dish, always generously served. Another speciality of Saint-Martin is its division into two parts, one Dutch and one French. The hotels that we visited are situated in the French part, which is the largest part, best managed and most pleasing to the eye. Indeed, it is not invaded by building blocks offered as a time share in the dutch section, something that harms the peace of visitors, under false pretexts, to buy an apartment.

Beautiful beaches
A constant climate all year round
Quality restaurants
The nightlife
It is a fairly small island where everything is easily accessible

cons

Expensive lifestyle
A destination designed for Americans
The price of flights is more expensive than for Guadeloupe or Martinique
Limited cultural appeal
Traffic jams

Weather Ile de Saint-Martin - choosing the best time to go

Saint-Martin - Ile de Saint-Martin

All overall indicators 62/100 Good
Temperature indicators 74/100 Good
Bad weather indicators 32/100 Bad
Sunbathing indicators 42/100 Average
Swimming indicators 88/100 Excellent
Wind indicators 78/100 Good
Temperature indicatorsVery hot :
The maximum temperature is <24°, temperature felt between 33°C and 36°C.
Bad weather indicatorsRainy :
Rainy - averaging between 3.5mm and 4.5mm per day.
Sunbathing indicatorsSunny intervals :
Cloudy with sunny intervals (40% to 60% cloud cover).
Swimming indicatorsVery pleasant / Optimal :
High air temperature (>24°C), high sea temperature (>24°C), light to moderate winds (between 7 mph and 12 mph).
Wind indicatorsWarm breeze :
Near optimal comfort: strong to moderate winds (between 12 mph and 18 mph) in a warm atmosphere (>24°C).

Weather finder : Ile de Saint-Martin / May Annual weather finder : Ile de Saint-Martin

See all spots

Visit Ile de Saint-Martin

To see

The Baie Orientale beach is Saint-Martin's largest and most famous, but also the most animated. Along its 1.8 miles, it is equipped with everything you need to practice water sports, daydreaming on a deck chair or enjoying a drink in one of the many trendy bars and restaurants. Quieter, Baie Longue is one of the most beautiful beaches, spit of white sand surrounded by a sea of changing colours from blue to green. You can also spend a pleasant day on the beach of Pinel Island, off the Baie Orientale (within 3 minutes of boat shuttle). First-time divers will appreciate, less than 10 meters in depth, fish and corals of the Creole Rock (off Great Case) and massive corals that identify the desert island of Tintamarre located 1.2 miles from Saint-Martin, on the side of Baie Orientale. Experienced divers should head for the Dutch island of Saba (south of Saint-Martin) the seabeds deemed among the most beautiful Caribbean.

More

To do

On this zero-tax island, you can give in to a shopping trip. In Marigot, the "capital" of the French part, you will find all major national clothing and jewellry brands. In Philipsburg, the main city in the Dutch part - called Sint-Marteen - there are jewellers (to American taste, very kitch) and hi-fi, audio and video shops that clutter the streets. In the evening, head for the Dutch part (there is no border) to play casino. Mullet Bay offers several casinos designed in the spirit of Las Vegas with flashing signs, slot machines and dozens of roulettes.

More

To think about

On the Dutch side, do not hesitate to bargain - in English - but you will quickly notice that here, as in Marigot, prices, just as the standard of living of the USA, are not very attractive.

More
To avoid

Avoid sunbathing in the hot hours of the day, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, do not forget your sun cream when you go to the beach and drink a lot of water.

Talking about water, Saint Martin's island drastically lacks this vital resource. Use it sparingly to avoid wasting it.

It is best to avoid planning a holiday in Saint Martin in September or October as this corresponds with the hurricane season.

More

To try

In harmony with the ambiance, gulf down of a good old hamburger at the Maho, on the Dutch side. We also recommend that you have a drink at Bliss, also in Maho, near the airport. The planes skim over the bar. Impressive ! Moreover, the bar is very nice, decorated with Balinese furniture, in a softened atmosphere, it even offers a dance floor for the free and easy ... Caliante atmosphere !!!

More

To bring back

Many shops will delight fans of shopping ... Clothing, accessories and jewellry present no shortage in the windows!

More