St Martin is a small island, about 87 square kilometres, but where you stay changes the trip more than you might expect. The north is French, the south is Dutch, and the villa areas range from a gated, low-density estate with three quiet beaches to a hillside above a busy watersports bay. This guide covers the areas where our St Martin villas and Sint Maarten villas are, who each one suits, and what to check before you book.
The short answer
For the widest choice of private villas and quiet beaches: Terres Basses, on the French side. For restaurants within walking distance: Grand Case. For a lively beach with watersports: Orient Bay and the hillsides above it. For the shortest drive from the airport: Cupecoy and Simpson Bay on the Dutch side. If you are still deciding between the two sides, our guide to St Martin vs Sint Maarten covers currency, rules and practicalities.
Terres Basses: the main villa area
Terres Basses is a gated, residential peninsula at the island’s western tip, and it holds most of the private villa stock on St Martin: 29 of our villas are here. There are no hotels lining the beaches and no commercial strip inside the gates, just houses set among gardens and three beaches: Baie Longue, Plum Bay and Baie Rouge. Princess Juliana Airport is a short drive across the border, and Marigot and Grand Case are within easy reach for dinner.
The largest houses on the island are here, including the twelve-bedroom Mes Amis and the ten-bedroom beachfront Château des Palmiers. For houses directly on the sand, look at Le Rêve and L’Oasis, or Les Palmiers and Beau Rivage on Baie Rouge, which can be booked together for a four-bedroom stay. Hillside houses such as La Pinta & La Nina trade direct beach access for space and views.
Best for: families and groups who want privacy and a quiet beach, and are happy to drive to restaurants. Trade-off: you will want a car or a driver for every outing.
Grand Case: for restaurants on foot
Grand Case is a small seafront town on the French side’s north-west coast, known for its strip of restaurants and its casual grills, the lolos. Staying here means walking to dinner, which almost nowhere else on the island allows. Our two villas, Petite Plage 4 and Petite Plage 5, have five and six bedrooms with access to the beach.
Best for: couples and groups who plan to eat out most nights. Trade-off: more people and evening noise than Terres Basses.
Orient Bay and Mont Vernon: beach life on the east coast
Orient Bay is the island’s best-known beach: long, breezy, lined with beach bars and watersports operators. The villas sit on the hillsides above it rather than on the sand. Beauvoir has four bedrooms near Orient Bay, and Venus in Mont Vernon has four bedrooms with views over the bay.
Best for: active groups who want a busy beach a few minutes away. Trade-off: the longest drive from Princess Juliana Airport of the French-side areas, so allow extra time on arrival day.
Anse Marcel and Cul de Sac: sheltered and quieter
Anse Marcel is a sheltered cove on the north coast, with calm water and a small marina. Privilège Estate, with nine bedrooms on the hill above, is one of our largest houses outside Terres Basses. Cul de Sac, a little further east, is where the boats leave for Pinel Island, a small island with calm, shallow water; Vogue Art has five bedrooms there.
The Dutch side: Cupecoy, Simpson Bay and Indigo Bay
The Dutch side has more condominium towers, casinos and nightlife, and its villas are mostly in newer developments close to the airport. In Cupecoy, on the cliffs near the border, Diamond Villa sits on the oceanfront with five bedrooms, alongside Farniente and The Cove Penthouse, a four-bedroom apartment in a residential building. Villa Vittoria has six bedrooms on the water in Simpson Bay.
Indigo Bay, between the airport and Philipsburg, has three of our villas with ocean views: Villa Aqua, Aqua Vista and Aqua Dream.
Best for: short stays, easy airport transfers, and guests who want nightlife nearby. Trade-off: busier and more built up than the French side.
Guana Bay and Oyster Pond: the east of the Dutch side
On the quieter east coast, Amalia has six bedrooms on the hillside above Guana Bay, a surf beach with strong currents that is better for watching than swimming. Five Minutes More has four bedrooms above Oyster Pond, close to Dawn Beach.
What to check before you book
Beachfront, beach access or view. Only a handful of villas on the island sit directly on the sand, and most of those are in Terres Basses. We label each villa by its actual position, and our guide to St Martin beaches explains which beach is which.
Travel time. Distances are short, but traffic around Simpson Bay and Marigot can be heavy at busy times. Ask us for realistic transfer times from the airport to the villa you are considering.
Getting around. Outside Grand Case, plan on a car or a driver.
Staff and meals. Housekeeping is standard on most villas, and a private chef can be arranged on request. We confirm in writing what is included for each house.
Find the right villa
Tell us your dates, your group and whether quiet beaches, restaurants or easy airport access matter most, and we will shortlist the villas that fit, with every charge itemized in a written quotation. Send your villa request, or browse all St Martin villas and Sint Maarten villas.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in St Martin?
For a private villa, Terres Basses on the French side has the most choice and the quietest beaches. Grand Case suits those who want restaurants on foot, and Cupecoy or Simpson Bay on the Dutch side are closest to the airport.
Is it better to stay on the French or Dutch side of St Martin?
The French side is quieter, with more private villas and the island’s restaurant town, Grand Case. The Dutch side has the airport, more nightlife and newer developments. You can cross freely between the two at any time.
Where are the beachfront villas in St Martin?
Most are in Terres Basses, on Baie Longue, Plum Bay and Baie Rouge. On the Dutch side, a few villas sit on the water in Cupecoy and Simpson Bay.
Do I need a car in St Martin?
Yes, unless you stay in Grand Case and plan to eat locally. We can arrange a rental car or a driver for the stay.
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