By Alexander Britell
June is nearly upon us, meaning it’s time for another Caribbean island. With the mercury rising, we recommend you try the wonderful French Caribbean destination of St Martin next month. For just one half of a small island, French St Martin is a remarkably diverse destination, excelling in so many different fields — it’s almost certainly the culinary capital of the Caribbean, but it’s so much more, from top-level beaches to fascinating art galleries to, well, just about whatever you’re looking for. Here are some things you need to know before you go.
Where to Stay
One of the most charming things about St Martin is its broad stock of lovely small hotels. There are no megaresorts, just well-designed boutique hotels (and some medium-sized ones) oozing with personality. The destination’s best all-around hotel is the beloved Grand Case Beach Club, minutes from bustling Grand Case (ground zero for culinary exploration). For a full-fledged luxury experience, there’s La Samanna on spectacular Long Bay, while honeymooners and romantics should head to Le Karibuni (above), a tiny hillside lodge that has its own beach bar on the offshore Pinel Island.
Where to Eat
Simply put, there is a higher concentration of world-class restaurants in St Martin than anywhere else in the Caribbean. But you pretty much can’t go wrong at any restaurant on the island, whether a haute-cuisine eatery or a food truck. Right now, the destination’s top restaurant is Le Pressoir in Grand Case, led by Caribbean Chef of the Year Franck Mear. But the town is filled with similarly excellent eateries, from Le Soleil (the duck is superb) to Spiga (try any ravioli) to Le Tastevin (an exquisite place to eat). Beyond Grand Case, the must-try lunch is at Anse Marcel Beach Restaurant, while the under-the-radar Palm Beach is a lovely spot at the edge of Orient Bay. And then there are the famous Lolos, the Creole food stalls of Grand Case.
What to Do
We wouldn’t blame you if you just wanted to lounge on the sand all day, but there is so much more to explore here, from the shops and galleries of Marigot to the natural sanctuary of Loterie Farm. If St Martin has one must-do excursion, it’s a trip to the aforementioned Pinel Island (above), home to two terrific beach bars and a marvelous beach. It’s accessible via very affordable public ferries from the Cul de Sac area of St Martin. For a simple pleasure, take a stroll down Grand Case Boulevard at twilight. If you’re looking to explore, there is always the trip to the Dutch side of the island, where St Maarten boasts broad shopping opportunities and casinos. For a bolder trip, take the short ferry for a day trip to nearby Anguilla.
Beach by Beach
St Martin doesn’t lack for beaches, but some are better than others. We’re partial to Nettle Bay (above, home to Le Sand, a beach lounge with the French side’s best rum selection), the always-energetic Orient Bay and the typically quiet Friar’s Bay, home to St Martin’s oldest beach bar, Kali.
How to Get Here
The island’s Princess Juliana International Airport, located on the Dutch side, is readily accessible from Europe on Air France and KLM, and American Airlines flies daily from Miami (along with daily flights from Charlotte , and JetBlue operates daily flights to the island out of New York. Spirit also operates service out of Fort Lauderdale, while Delta operates daily flights out of New York and Atlanta. United also operates to the destination out of Newark and Washington.