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 we are going back this summer! 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 I can 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. 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 and the people we encountered were kind, and the epitome and 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 this summer. 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 as to how locals view this🤔 (genuinely curious). Depending on which side of the island you are on, the vibe is different. From my experience, the Dutch side is where the main airport is located so it is a lot 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 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 get a taxi, whatever floats your boat. From the itinerary I created (from 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 a few weeks before arrival via email. 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. 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), just 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 going on 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 here 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 there is always something 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 to me gives 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 selling 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, as we plan to island hop this time around. Anguilla, St.Barths, here we come!
Until next time 👋🏾
You can follow our journey on Instagram or TikTok @epicurlite
Don't forget to sign up and join the Epicurlite Community. Click the person icon or the hyperlink. 👇🏾
