Hotels in St Martin St Maarten

Choosing a hotel here is really about choosing the right side of the island.

The French side feels smaller, quieter and more local, with boutique hotels, beach villages and great restaurants. The Dutch side is more resort-style, with nightlife, casinos, airport convenience and larger hotels. This guide helps you understand the difference before you book.

Hotel planning guide

Start with the right side of the island

Choosing a hotel in St Martin / St Maarten is not just about finding a beautiful room. On this island, location changes almost everything.

Orient Bay does not feel like Grand Case. Grand Case does not feel like Simpson Bay. And Maho is a completely different experience again. The beach, the restaurants, the need for a car, the nightlife, the level of service, even the rhythm of your mornings — all of it depends on where you stay.

The French side is usually where travelers find smaller hotels, boutique properties, guesthouses, beachside addresses, and a more local rhythm. The Dutch side offers more resorts, easier airport access, casinos, nightlife, larger properties, and a more full-service experience.

This hotel hub is here to help you make sense of those differences before you book. Instead of giving you every hotel on the island, I’ve organized the options by area and travel style, so you can start with the places that actually match the kind of St Martin vacation you have in mind.

Jump to

→ Best hotel areas
→ French side hotels/Dutch side hotels
→ All-inclusive resorts
→ Featured hotel reviews
→ Check availability
→ FAQ

Find the right hotel area first

In St Martin / St Maarten, the hotel you choose matters — but the area matters even more. A stay in Orient Bay will not feel like a stay in Grand Case, Simpson Bay, Maho, or Anse Marcel. Before comparing rooms and prices, it helps to understand what each part of the island is really like.

Orient Bay

The best choice if you want beach clubs, restaurants within walking distance, watersports, and the liveliest atmosphere on the French side. It feels easy, social, and very vacation-ready.

Read the Orient Bay area guide →

Grand Case

Ideal if food, sunsets, and a more intimate village atmosphere matter more to you than resort-style facilities. Hotels are limited here, but the setting is one of the most memorable on the island.

Read the Grand Case area guide →

Anse Marcel

A quieter, more protected corner of the French side, with a sheltered beach, marina, and a slower rhythm. A good fit for travelers looking for calm, comfort, and less movement.

Read the Anse Marcel area guide →

Simpson Bay

One of the most convenient areas on the Dutch side, with restaurants, nightlife, marinas, beach bars, and easy access to the airport. Practical, lively, and central.

Read the Simpson Bay area guide →

Maho

Best for travelers who want resorts, casinos, nightlife, airport convenience, and the famous plane-spotting experience. It is not the quietest area, but it is one of the most active.

Read the Maho area guide →

Philipsburg & Great Bay

A practical Dutch side base for shopping, cruise access, boardwalk restaurants, Great Bay Beach, and easy exploring. It works well if you want services nearby without staying in Maho or Simpson Bay.

Read the Philipsburg area guide →

Choose your side

French side vs Dutch side hotels

French side hotels

Small hotels, beachside stays, and a more local rhythm

The French side of St Martin was never built around large resort tourism, and that is exactly what gives it its charm. Hotels here tend to be smaller, more personal, and more connected to the places around them — a beach in Orient Bay, a restaurant-lined street in Grand Case, a quiet garden near Anse Marcel.

This is the side I usually recommend to travelers who want atmosphere over infrastructure: good food, walkable beach villages, boutique stays, and a softer pace. It is not always the most convenient option if you want casinos, nightlife, or big resort services, but for many visitors, it feels more like St Martin.

See my French side hotel picks

Dutch side hotels

Resorts, nightlife, airport access, and a more full-service stay

The Dutch side of St Maarten is where the island becomes more developed, more energetic, and more convenient. Around Simpson Bay, Maho, Little Bay, and Philipsburg, you’ll find larger hotels, beachfront resorts, casinos, marinas, nightlife, beach bars, and easier access to Princess Juliana International Airport.

This is the side I usually recommend to travelers who want more services close by: bigger pools, more dining options, nightlife within reach, resort facilities, and a simpler base for a shorter stay. It does not have the same intimate rhythm as the French side, but for many visitors, it makes the island feel easier to navigate.

See my Dutch side hotel picks

Browse by location Orient Bay hotels → Grand Case hotels → Anse Marcel hotels →

All-inclusive resorts

When you want the easiest version of St Maarten

All-inclusive hotels are not the dominant style of accommodation in St Martin / St Maarten, which is exactly why choosing the right one matters.

The island is better known for independent restaurants, beach clubs, small hotels, villas, and condos — but there are a few resort-style options that make sense if you want a simpler, more contained stay.

The main all-inclusive resorts are on the Dutch side, each with a very different personality. Some are better for families, some are better for adults who want a quieter escape, and some are made for travelers who want Maho Beach, nightlife, and everything happening around them.

My guide compares the all-inclusive resorts I’d actually consider, with a clear look at the atmosphere, location, and type of traveler each one fits best — so you can choose faster and book with more confidence.

Compare all-inclusive resorts

Hotel reviews worth reading

Two stays I’d look at first

Beachfront · Orient Bay

Orient Beach Hotel

Orient Beach Hotel is the only hotel sitting directly on the sand at Orient Bay — and location matters more than any amenity list here. You step out of your room and you’re already there. No car, no planning, no ten-minute walk. Just the beach, the light, and the sound of the water.

The rooms are spacious junior suites, most with ocean views and a small kitchen — recently renovated, clean, and well thought-out for a beach stay. Guests come back year after year, which tells you everything.

It’s not a luxury resort. It’s something better for this location — a place that gets Orient Bay exactly right.

Read my full review of Orient Beach Hotel

Pomme Cannelle Luxury Suites and Spa in St Martin

Boutique stay · Orient Bay

Pomme Cannelle Luxury Suites & Spa

Six suites. A Balinese pool in a tropical garden. A private jacuzzi on almost every terrace. And two owners — Pauline and Jérémy — who left solid careers in France to build something personal in St Martin, from scratch.

Pomme Cannelle sits at the entrance of Orient Bay, close enough to the beach to walk there in minutes, far enough from the strip to feel like a different world entirely. It’s intimate by design — no crowds, no anonymity, and breakfast delivered to your room if you want it.

If you’re traveling as a couple and want Orient Bay without living in the middle of it — this is the one I’d point you to first.

Read my full review of Pomme Cannelle

Check availability

Compare hotels across St Martin / St Maarten for your dates

Once you have a better sense of which side of the island fits your trip, the next step is simple: check what is actually available for your dates. Beachfront hotels, boutique stays, and well-located resorts can disappear quickly, especially during the winter season and major holiday weeks.

Frequently asked questions

Hotels in St Martin / St Maarten — FAQ

Which side is better for hotels in St Martin?

It depends on the kind of trip you want. The French side is usually better for boutique hotels, beach villages, restaurants, and a quieter local rhythm. The Dutch side is better for larger resorts, nightlife, casinos, airport convenience, and a more full-service hotel experience.

Is it better to stay on the French side or the Dutch side?

For a softer, more local vacation, I usually recommend the French side: Orient Bay, Grand Case, and Anse Marcel all have a very different rhythm from the Dutch side. For a shorter stay, nightlife, airport access, casinos, or resort facilities, the Dutch side can be more convenient, especially around Simpson Bay, Maho, Little Bay, and Philipsburg.

What is the best area to stay in St Martin without a car?

Orient Bay is one of the easiest areas on the French side without a car because you can walk to the beach, restaurants, beach clubs, and watersports. On the Dutch side, Maho and Simpson Bay are more practical if you want restaurants, nightlife, and services nearby. That said, a rental car still makes the island much easier to explore.

Are there all-inclusive hotels in St Martin?

Yes, but only a few. The main all-inclusive resorts are on the Dutch side of St Maarten, mostly around Maho and Little Bay. St Martin / St Maarten is not mainly an all-inclusive destination; it is better known for beach restaurants, boutique hotels, villas, condos, and independent stays.

Is Orient Bay a good place to stay?

Yes, especially if you want the French side with an easy beach-village feel. Orient Bay has beach clubs, restaurants, watersports, vacation rentals, and a few hotel options close to the sand. It is one of the most convenient places to stay if you want a lively beach atmosphere without choosing a large resort area.

Should I book a hotel or a villa in St Martin?

Choose a hotel if you want daily service, a simpler arrival, and less to organize. Choose a villa or condo if you want more space, privacy, a kitchen, a private pool, or better value for a longer stay. For couples on a short trip, a hotel can be easy. For families, groups, or stays of a week or more, a villa or condo often makes more sense.