Sun-Kissed Bliss: A December Birthday Getaway to St. Martin
My goal is to visit all countries in the Caribbean, but Saint Martin is making it difficult to want to go elsewhere.
We went to the island of St.Martin/Sint Maarten to celebrate my birthday. It exceeded my expectations so much that I think about revisiting it often! For those who travel often, I think we do it for different reasons, right? Some of us are looking for a place we call "home away from home," and for me, the island of St. Martin feels like home. Will it change as I continue to travel? Maybe, but for now, I am trying to figure out how to visit this place every year; it's that serious. haha
My goal is to visit all countries in the Caribbean, but Saint Martin is making it difficult to want to go elsewhere.
When we went in 2021, we found the island was not so crowded even though December is considered the start of peak season(i.e., the end of hurricane season). Albeit COVID regulations were in place, it felt like EVERYONE (on social media) was heading to this island during the pandemic (when restrictions to travel started lifting, that is). The vibes overall were pleasant. The people we encountered were kind and the epitome of island hospitality. The only place I can compare this feeling to is St. John's, USVI. I assume that since travel bans have been lifted and restrictions have been removed since our trip, we anticipate it will be a lot more crowded over the summer months. Even still, I am genuinely looking forward to it.
Have I sold you on going to St. Martin yet? Keep reading to find out what we did on our trip, and stay tuned for part two.
Before we begin, I must point out that the spelling will be interchanged throughout this post. This is because the island is split; the French side is called Saint Martin, and the Dutch side is referred to as Sint Maarten. Each side has its own respective culture and vibe, but I am curious about how locals view this🤔 (genuinely curious). The vibe is different depending on which side of the island you are on. From my experience, the Dutch side is where the main airport is located, so it's busier, and most of the nightlife is also here, vs. the French side, where the water is calmer and would lead you to remain on the beach the entire day. Granted, it's an island, so you can go to the beach on both sides, but again, from my perspective, the French side was more my speed in terms of relaxation. Having the choice to go from one side to the other is one of the many appeals of this island. This leads me to my first recommendation:
Rent a car. It will be the most convenient way to explore.
You can easily drive or take a taxi, whatever floats your boat. Based on the itinerary I created (based on weeks of research on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram), it was best to rent a car to accomplish everything on our list.
We made our reservations in advance, so once we landed at Princess Juliana Airport (SXM), we waited in the designated area for the rental car company to pick us up. This airport is rather small, so most, if not all, of the rental car companies are located about a ~3-minute drive from the airport. We had our rental keys in hand within 20 minutes of leaving immigration, which was fantastic! especially because we were rushing to get to our first destination, Loterie Farm.
Visit Loterie Farm on Sunday for a great day party!
Loterie Farm (pronounced LOT-TREE and located on the French side), is a well-known destination when visiting St. Martin. Here, you can have brunch, go zip-lining to see the monkeys, take a dip in the pool, relax, and enjoy life. However, I think the hidden gem is that on SUNDAY afternoons, it's LIT!
We made reservations via email a few weeks before arrival. We rented a cabanita for the two of us. At the time, a cabanita was 85€ for the day. Our reservation came with a half bottle of rosé or two cocktails. If you are traveling in a group, you can rent a cabana that holds up to 10 people for 220.00€ (prices may have changed, so message on Instagram @loteriefarm for details).
Now on to the vibes... even though I am writing this post over a year later, to this day we are talking about going back specifically to Loterie Farm, OK?! 😊 The DJ was incredible! I wish I knew his name, but he played all types of music which made me appreciate the fact that I was in the middle of the Caribbean in DECEMBER! Afrobeats, Dancehall, Hip-Hop, Soca...all the best songs. T'was truly was a vibe.
Visit the historical remnants and landmarks around the island:
If you want to get a little bit of history on this trip, there are a few places on the island to check out: Fort Amsterdam, Fort St. Louis, and historical churches. There are also a few lookout points and sites to consider: Rotary, Marigot Bay Port, and Maho Beach (where the airplanes fly over), to name a few.
Fort St. Louis
Eat Curry Conch at Lay Back Bar and Grill
Lay Back Bar and Grill is located in Philipsburg. With views of the beach while you eat, it is a meal you cannot miss. My partner is still talking about this meal. It is on our list to visit again next time around.
As for me, I want to go back to...
Rosemary's Seafood Cuisine for breakfast
Listen, it was a bit of a trek (Google Maps failed us) trying to find this place, but I was determined to find Rosemary's, and I am so glad I did. Rosemary does not have great reviews for no reason. Rosemary's Lolo (a small traditional restaurant) is located in Marigot. Her shop is sandwiched between other lolo's but I recommend going there at least once. For me it was the snapper, it was "chef's kiss". It felt like a home-cooked meal, to say the least.
Rainbow Cafe
One last bit for food recommendations, especially since breakfast/brunch is my favorite meal of the day. Check out Rainbow Cafe. We made two trips here during our 4-day trip. Since we had such a tightly packed schedule, we didn't get to go back for the other events they have during the week, but Rainbow Cafe is open for lunch/brunch and dinner. They also have events throughout the week, so something is always going on. At this cafe, you can watch planes land at the nearby Grand Case-Espérance Airport, shop the boutique located on the second floor, or rent a beach chair for the day. If I remember correctly, you can rent a beach chair by paying a flat fee, or you can get a discounted rate when you dine in.
Spend the day at Coco Beach
Coco Beach gives me luxe beach vibes. You can dine on the beach or close to the bar. We chose the former. The waves were a bit rough on the day we visited, so we people-watched, took in the view, and ate. Don't be surprised if you see merchants offering massages, souvenirs for sale, or coconuts. Support the locals if you can; it's also a good way to strike up a conversation.
There is so much more I did not cover in this post, but I cannot stress enough how much we enjoyed our time in Saint Martin. We plan to go back this summer, so stay tuned for part deux. This time around, we plan to island hop. Anguilla, St.Barths, here we come!
Until next time 👋🏾
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