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I get it. I was exactly there once, twenty-five years ago, when I packed everything wrong for my first Caribbean summer. Too many clothes, the wrong shoes, no adapter for the French side, and absolutely no idea that the mosquitoes at sunset in Orient Bay would eat me alive.
I’ve figured it out since then. This is the list I send every friend flying in.
The first rule of packing for St Martin is this: go lighter than you think you need to. You’ll want room in that suitcase for things you pick up here — a bottle of local rum, a sarong from the market in Marigot, something you didn’t plan for.
I recommend the Travelpro Maxlite for anyone who wants reliable and light without paying a fortune. If you want something that will last a decade, the Travelpro Platinum Elite is worth every cent.
Inside the suitcase, packing cubes sound like a small thing until you’ve spent ten minutes digging through a bag on a boat looking for your sunscreen.
🧣 Note for the ladies — Planes and airport terminals can get surprisingly cold — and from November to February, evenings here can turn genuinely breezy. The Zestt Dreamsoft scarf lives in my carry-on year-round — blanket on the plane, wrap at dinner in Grand Case, extra layer on a cool winter terrace.
Light enough to forget it's there, warm enough when you need it.
→ Shop the Zestt Dreamsoft scarf on Amazon
Here’s something that catches almost every American visitor off guard: the French side of St Martin runs on 220V European electricity. Your US plugs will not work. Not even a little.
Most hotels will have adapters available, but if you’re renting a villa or a condo on the French side — Orient Bay, Grand Case, Terres Basses — it’s hit or miss. Sometimes there aren’t enough, sometimes there aren’t any at all. Having your own means you never have to think about it.
The Ceptics universal travel adapter is the one I recommend — compact, handles everything from phones to laptops to hair tools, and works in over 150 countries. Once you own one, you’ll take it on every trip for the rest of your life.
🔌 Staying on the Dutch side (Maho, Simpson Bay, Philipsburg)? Standard US plugs work fine there. But the moment you cross to the French side, you’ll want this in your bag.
→ Shop the Ceptics adapter on Amazon
The sun in St Martin is not the same sun you know. Even in December, even with a breeze, even when it’s slightly cloudy — it will get you.
I’ve watched people arrive pale on a Monday and spend the rest of their week in pain. Don’t be that person.
I’ve been using Sun Bum SPF 50 for years — it’s lightweight, it doesn’t leave that white cast, and it smells like an actual beach holiday. For a longer day on the water or at the beach, I go with the SPF 50. For a casual afternoon in Grand Case or Marigot, the SPF 30 is fine.
If you’re traveling with kids, the Sun Bum Kids formula is gentler on sensitive skin and just as effective. Non-negotiable in this sun.
And after a full day at the beach — because there will be many — the Sun Bum body lotion is what you reach for. It keeps your skin from feeling like sandpaper by day three.
☀️ The corals around St Martin are fragile. I always recommend mineral or reef-conscious formulas — Sun Bum ticks that box, and your skin will thank you too.
→ Sun Bum SPF 50 · SPF 30 · Kids · Body lotion
This is where St Martin earns its reputation. The water is warm, clear, and extraordinarily alive — and you’re going to want to be in it as much as possible.
If you’re serious about snorkeling — and you should be, because the reefs around Tintamarre and Creole Rock are genuinely spectacular — bring your own gear. Rented masks leak, rented fins don’t fit, and a bad mask ruins the experience completely. The Cressi snorkeling set is what I recommend: Italian quality, short fins that fit in your suitcase, silicone mask that actually seals. You’ll use it every single day.
For the days on a catamaran or kayaking to Pinel Island, a waterproof phone pouch is non-negotiable. It comes in a pack of two — one for you, one for whoever is with you.
The Turkish beach towels are something I converted to years ago — they dry in minutes, take up almost no space in your bag, and look infinitely better than a regular beach towel. The pack of six means you never run out.
For a beach bag, I like the SCOUT Deano tote — water-resistant, folds flat in your suitcase, and comes in enough colors that you’ll actually want to carry it. And for protecting your eyes on the water, nothing beats Maui Jim polarized sunglasses — the glare off the Caribbean is brutal and polarized lenses make a real difference.
Some beaches here have rocky entries — Happy Bay, Friar’s Bay, parts of Long Bay. Water shoes save your feet and your mood.
And finally — my personal favorite thing to recommend, the one that makes people laugh until they try it: the SLOOSH inflatable pool floats. Pack of two, inflate in seconds. There is nothing better than spending an entire afternoon with your feet in the warm Caribbean water going absolutely nowhere. I’ve been doing it for years and I have zero regrets.
🤿 Pro tip — the best snorkeling on the island is at Creole Rock in Grand Case and around Tintamarre island. Both accessible by boat tour.
I’m not going to tell you to pack light on tech and then list fifteen gadgets. But there are a few things that genuinely make a difference on this island.
The GoPro is the one I hear people regret not bringing most often. The water around St Martin is extraordinarily clear — you will be snorkeling above sea turtles, colorful fish, and coral gardens that deserve to be remembered. A waterproof camera that fits in your pocket changes everything. You don’t need to be a photographer. You just need to point it at the water.
Holidays are also, finally, the time to read. The Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof, glare-free in full sun, and holds more books than you’ll ever get through in a week. Pair it with the protective case and it survives beach bags, boat spray, and everything in between.
And if you’re anything like me, your phone never leaves your hand. A full day exploring the island — Grand Case for lunch, a beach or two, sunset somewhere — will drain it completely. The Belkin portable charger is small enough to slip into your sling bag and keeps you going without hunting for an outlet.
📷 If you’re doing a catamaran tour or a snorkeling excursion, the GoPro goes in the water with you. Mount it, forget it, and come home with footage that will make everyone at home deeply jealous.
→ Shop the GoPro on Amazon
Orient Bay, Grand Case, the mangroves around Simpson Bay — as soon as the sun starts dropping, they come out. It’s not dramatic, it’s not dangerous, it’s just the Caribbean. But if you’re sitting on a terrace for dinner or watching the sunset from the beach without anything on your skin, you will notice.
These Avon Skin So Soft mosquito repellent wipes are handy to have in your beach bag — individually wrapped, DEET-free, easy to use on the go. Slip a few in your sling bag before heading out for the evening and forget about it.
🦟 Sunset on the beach is one of the best things about St Martin. Don’t let the mosquitoes cut it short.
I see it every week. People arrive with enormous suitcases and spend seven days in the same three outfits. Which is exactly right, actually — they just didn’t need the suitcase.
During the day, St Martin is simple: swimsuit, sarong, sandals. That’s it. You’ll live in that combination from breakfast to late afternoon, whether you’re on a catamaran, at Orient Bay, or wandering through Marigot market. Don’t overthink it.
Evenings are a different story — and one of the real pleasures of this island. Grand Case has some of the best restaurants in the Caribbean, and people dress for it. Not formally, but beautifully. Women wear light dresses, something that moves in the evening breeze. Men wear a clean shirt and trousers — linen if you have it. Nobody wears a suit. Nobody wears a tie. But nobody shows up in board shorts either.
The vibe here is what I’d call island chic — relaxed but put-together. You don’t need to pack formally. A few light dresses, a nice shirt for the evenings, comfortable sandals. St Martin has its own effortless style and you’ll find it naturally once you’re here.
👗 One nice dress and one good pair of sandals will take you everywhere on this island. Pack those, leave the rest.
But most of all — leave your worries behind. The ones you’ve been carrying for weeks. The ones that feel urgent until you’re standing at the edge of the Caribbean and suddenly, inexplicably, they’re not.
St Martin has its own time. We call it island time, but it’s really just life at its natural pace — the one we forget exists when we’re somewhere else. Lunch stretches into the afternoon here without anyone rushing you. The water is warm enough that you lose track of what day it is. The sunsets are long and unhurried and they ask nothing of you except to stop and watch.
I’ve lived here for decades. I’ve watched thousands of people arrive tense and leave transformed.
The island does that. It’s quite good at it.
Pack light. Arrive open. St Martin will take care of the rest.
🌴 The best thing you’ll bring back from this island isn’t in your suitcase. It’s the memory of a afternoon that lasted forever and a sunset you didn’t photograph because you were too busy living it.
Yes — if you're staying on the French side. The French side of St Martin runs on 220V European electricity, which means your standard US plugs will not work. Hotels usually have adapters available, but if you're renting a villa or condo, it's hit or miss. Bring your own universal adapter and you'll never have to think about it.
It's not legally required, but it's strongly recommended. The coral reefs around St Martin are fragile and chemical sunscreens cause real damage over time. Reef-conscious formulas like Sun Bum protect your skin just as effectively and are much kinder to the marine environment you're there to enjoy.
Sunscreen, a waterproof phone pouch, a light cover-up, and a GoPro if you have one. Most catamaran tours provide snorkeling gear, but bringing your own mask guarantees a better fit and clearer views. A Turkish towel takes up almost no space and dries in minutes on the boat.
Yes — particularly at sunset, near mangroves and beach areas. They're not dangerous, just annoying. A few individually-wrapped repellent wipes in your bag are all you need for an evening on a terrace or watching the sunset from the beach.
If you plan to snorkel more than once — and you will — yes. Rental gear is generic and often poorly fitting. A compact snorkeling set with short fins fits easily in a checked bag and makes a huge difference in the water, especially around Creole Rock and Tintamarre island.
Heavy luggage, formal clothes, and your work laptop. St Martin is a casual, warm, unhurried island. You'll live in swimwear, light linen, and sandals. Leave room in your suitcase for things you'll pick up here — local rum, a sarong from the market in Marigot, something you didn't plan for.
I've lived in St Martin for 25 years — and I'm an epicurean at heart, in love with my island. I've been giving out insider tips for almost 15 years.
Let me help you plan your perfect vacation in St Martin / St Maarten!
→ Vacation Rentals : Start with our own curated selection of villas and rentals — some owners accept direct bookings. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, VRBO and Booking.com have a wide selection.
→ Hotels : TripAdvisor and Booking.com are our go-to for the best rates.
→ Car Rental : Renting a car is essential in St Martin. DiscoverCars searches all local companies for the lowest rates.
→ Tours & Excursions : I book through Viator and GetYourGuide — both offer free cancellation on most tours.
→ Flights : I search Expedia for the best deals to SXM Airport.
→ eSIM : Skip the roaming fees. Airalo works perfectly in St Martin.
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