Truthfully, my knowledge of Sint Maarten before this trip was nonexistent. The paradise revealed itself to me during my research for tropical travel destinations and I couldn’t be more grateful. The 6 days I spent in St Maarten with my partner were unforgettable—the island’s beauty, people, and culture made every second worthwhile. The great, lush mountains and heavenly blue waters calmed me immensely, and there’s much fun to be had on this island. Let’s get into my stay, from accommodations to activities—including booking details and expenses!

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Lodging

JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa

BOOKED VIA EXPEDIA
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARRIOTT

Now, there’s a variety of places to stay at on the island, from hotels and resorts to Airbnb’s. JW Marriott was our ultimate choice, it’s a fairly new resort, only just opening last year in Spring of 2024. At the time of our stay, it was at 30% occupancy, and I honestly enjoyed the tranquility of it all. It’s a quiet and calm resort, so if you’re looking for a party vibe, this isn’t it. There are lively moments, live music and karaoke by the pool was definitely a vibe, but not “young lit and turnt” vibes! More like wholesome? Mere steps away from the pool, you’re greeted by the ocean, and that’s my favorite thing about this resort.

We were treated wonderfully at this property, the staff was extremely gracious, kind, and professional. Over the duration of our stay, we were greeted and complimented generously and respectfully. Most of our interactions with the personnel was at the on-site restaurant, Carambola. In addition to the excellent service, the food is delicious. My personal favorites were the French Toast and Cauliflower Steak, see pictured below—BOTH PHENOMENAL.

Cons

Overall, we enjoyed our stay here. One of the only downsides is how expensive the food can be. This 4-item purchase totaled to $50. I couldn’t believe it, and the parfait had the nerve to be gross?! Honestly, I sort of love bland yogurt, but this was just nasty. I bashed on those purple Doritos though.

Another downside is how far away it is from the city and a lot of fun attractions. It’s 40 minutes away from the airport, and that may not seem bad but listen, it’s a small island. And when taxi’s cost about $30+ when going to and from each destination, it adds up quickly. To cut costs, you can rent a car on the island, but their traffic regulations are pretty much unenforced, and the fast pace can be overwhelming for outsiders.

Booking Details + Expenses

5 nights x 1 Deluxe Room (2 Queen Beds, Ocean View, Balcony)
➙ Expedia package (Hotel + Roundtrip for 2): $3,876.93
➙ Taxes and fees: $706.46
More fees
➙ Resort fee: $238.10
➙ Fees: $11.90
Total: $4,833.39
Food and drinks NOT Included

3.6/5

Activities

Prickly Pear Catamaran Tour to Anguilla

BOOKED VIA viator
PHOTO COURTESY OF Aqua Mania Adventures

We spent our first full day in St. Maarten going to Anguilla, funny right? But seriously, this boat ride was the perfect start to our trip. The ocean was beautiful, vibes were immaculate, food banging, and the beaches we stopped at were more than perfect.

There’s an open bar the entire ride, Caribbean lunch buffet midway, and light snacks (bread, cheese, and apple slices) for the remainer of the ride. I was nervous the lunch wasn’t going to be appetizing as a vegetarian, but everything was so delectable I cleared my plate with ease!

Meat eaters have additional options of chicken and ribs. Although this was tasty, I wish I had brought snacks onboard to keep me satisfied near the end of the ride.

This was my first boat ride and so many special memories were created on it. I had SO much fun, it was a day full of deep laughter, endless giggles, and “Summer” by Beyoncé on replay in the back of my mind.

Booking Details + Expenses

➙ 9:00AM-5:00PM (Day trip)
➙ $270.00 for 2 adults
➙ Food and drinks provided
➙ Use of snorkeling equipment
➙ Able to RSVP without payment

Rainforest Adventure

BOOKED VIA RAINFORESTADVENTURE.COM
PHOTO COURTESY OF RAINFOREST ADVENTURE

Did you know the steepest zipline in the world is in St Maarten? An activity like this wasn’t even a thought of mine, I’m honestly a scaredy-cat but hey, I’ll definitely do it for the plot! Rainforest Adventure offers a plethora of packages, even one including a mega-slide, but our focus was on the world record zipline! Leading up to the Flying Dutchman, we had a lovely chairlift ride up the mountains to the Sentry Hill Zipline for some little fun before the ‘big guy’. When it came time for the Flying Dutchman, my anxiety was through the roof, but I was equally—if not more, excited!

Unfortunately, our 30-minute wait more than doubled after the power went out. Scary right? I’m just glad we weren’t NEXT when the power came back, we were next, next, NEXT. For me, the ride was pretty underwhelming. I was expecting a death drop with how high it is, but it was a calm ride. I was smiling the whole time, enjoying the gorgeous view. Although it wasn’t as scary as I’d secretly hoped, the breathtaking views were definitely worth it. I LOVE the mountains!!!

Booking Details + Expenses

➙ Selected: Zipline Experience: Sentry Hill Zip & Flying Dutchman
➙ Flexible arrival times
➙ $219.30 for 2 adults (we received a $38.70 off holiday discount, “It’s St Patrick’s Day! :P”)
➙ $129 per person
➙ No food or drink included
➙ Able to RSVP by paying full balance

Rhino Tours

BOOKED VIA rhinotours.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF rhino tours

With this activity, you’ll have the most chaotic yet fun adventure! We rode on 1 speed boat and spent the next few hours visiting beautiful sights, saying hello to the fish while snorkeling, stopping at beaches, and just riding the waves in awe. It did get a bit turbulent at times, and the soreness from the ride was definitely felt the next day, but it’s an experience worth having!

Since we chose the package that included lunch, we finished our tour at a restaurant beachside, and the food was delicious!

This tour was on the more expensive side but was totally worth it for me!

Booking Details + Expenses

➙ 10:00AM-2:00PM
➙ $390.00 for 2 Adults + $6 per person due upon check-in
➙ Single rider $195 + $50 single rider fee (ouch)
➙ Snorkeling gear + food and drinks provided
➙ Able to RSVP with $50 deposit per boat

Cost Breakdown

Lodging: $4,833.39
Activities: $892
Food: $754
Taxis: $245
Spa treatments: $343
Total: $7,067.39

Lodging is the primary cost, $2,234 accounts for everything else. This trip can be more affordable if you seek a cost-friendly property.

Things to Know

The best time to go to St Maarten is December-April!
During peak season, the weather is PERFECT, there’s little to no humidity, it’s wonderful.
Dutch is the official language of the country, but English is widely spoken. Other well-known languages are Spanish, Creole, Papiamento, and French.
USD is widely used and accepted on the island. There are also many ATMs to withdraw money. (Small fee)
Depending on the activity, you can pay less if you pay in cash. To make the most of it, withdraw USD before the trip. If you’re keen to tipping, bring about $100-200+ extra.
Depending on where you’re staying, taxis are around $30 each ride, so $60 to get to and back from a destination. They do take card, but for an extra fee.
The drivers are such kind people, be sure to ask for their information (most of them have cards to provide you) to schedule rides, or immediate pickup. Use WhatsApp for easier communication. (Tip them if you can!)
St Maarten is a small island with only 1 main rode throughout the entire island. That means, if one car stops, all the other cars stop and have to simply wait (unable to go around), God forbid there’s an accident or prolonged issues. Throughout our 6-day stay, we only had about 2 bad traffic delays. Always prepare for 20–30 minute travel delays just in case!

That’s it for this travel diary! I’m so grateful for Sint Maarten for giving me memories that I’ll treasure forever. The island’s beauty and warmth can now be felt thousands of miles away, as I reminisce from the Midwest.