It’s a special corner of St Martin, anchored by a spectacular beach, some of the island’s best shopping and a growing collection of smaller boutique hotels: Anse Marcel, one of the jewels of the French side of the island. 

Now, Anse Marcel is home to a new boutique property. It’s called The Forest, and the family-owned retreat has nine different suites in a lush corner of the Anse Marcel area. 

It’s a sleek, modern hotel with crisply-designed rooms, with opulent bathrooms, earthy interiors and kitchen amenities. 

The opening was announced by St Martin tourism officials during the State of the Tourism Industry Conference in Grand Cayman.

Several of the rooms come with their own private outdoor hot tubs. 

There’s a restaurant and a bar on site; the hotel team can also help you book tables at four different eateries in the nearby marina. 

It’s set in an area that gives you easy access to nearby Grand Case and its broad collection of restaurants, shops and bars, and Orient Bay, the island’s beach bar capital. 

So what does it cost?

Right now rooms are going for a little over $210, according to the direct booking website.

To learn more, visit the Forest Hotel. 

CJ Expert Take: The French side of St Martin is one of the most fascinating, rich vacation destinations in the Caribbean. It’s been years since the area has seen any notable hotel development. The arrival of a new boutique hotel like this (and others in the pipeline) are good signs for.