not to worry, just a little aliteration. the area around phillipsburg has NO fab hotels! also i would not stress over french-side/dutch-side amenities. while there are some generalities, individual reviews are the best barometers here. this is practical because barring traffic jams (usually high season) the island is easily navigatable and surprising proximities access expediency (takes
less than 2 hours to circumvent entire island). at the risk of coming off a little smugly (just that st martin familiar and dear to me) i give my recs:
hotel accomodations: 1. la samana only 4-5 star on island. haute-monde!
restaurant to die for, actually on french side in tere bases but close to dutch border. situated on longue beach (rocky and narrow) 2. Le meridian le habitation 3-4 star on cove something or other. nice little secluded beach. restaurant ok. beautiful views definitely. atmosphere more (pedestrian) than la samana, short drive to tiny Grand Case gastrognome capital of the tropics, 5 or so touted restaurants NO bad choices. (la testeven my fav) now my #3 hotel could be uhh, dont know name of it. i say this because it is on dawn beach/gorgeous not too small family best. from our vIlla viewed construction over couple years. finished about 2006. inquire thru carimo realtors because i think it has condos/ rental short stay as well. actually is on dutch side.
Hotel in St. Maarten
in SeaDream Yacht Club
Posted
not to worry, just a little aliteration. the area around phillipsburg has NO fab hotels! also i would not stress over french-side/dutch-side amenities. while there are some generalities, individual reviews are the best barometers here. this is practical because barring traffic jams (usually high season) the island is easily navigatable and surprising proximities access expediency (takes
less than 2 hours to circumvent entire island). at the risk of coming off a little smugly (just that st martin familiar and dear to me) i give my recs:
hotel accomodations: 1. la samana only 4-5 star on island. haute-monde!
restaurant to die for, actually on french side in tere bases but close to dutch border. situated on longue beach (rocky and narrow) 2. Le meridian le habitation 3-4 star on cove something or other. nice little secluded beach. restaurant ok. beautiful views definitely. atmosphere more (pedestrian) than la samana, short drive to tiny Grand Case gastrognome capital of the tropics, 5 or so touted restaurants NO bad choices. (la testeven my fav) now my #3 hotel could be uhh, dont know name of it. i say this because it is on dawn beach/gorgeous not too small family best. from our vIlla viewed construction over couple years. finished about 2006. inquire thru carimo realtors because i think it has condos/ rental short stay as well. actually is on dutch side.
hope this helps!! happy sailing.