Thirty years ago, our good friend said he had a great island in the Caribbean for us to visit. He said that we would love the beaches, food, people, hotels, and European influence and that it is a legal piece of France and Holland.
My husband, Jon, and I used to go to the island of Saint Martin five times a year. When JetBlue Airways started nonstop service from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) daily, we decided to take advantage of this service, especially in the winter. Delta Airlines also began nonstop service from JFK, but only once a week. We had not been there in two years, but we were very motivated to go back to celebrate a big birthday of mine. Also, JetBlue now flies two flights a day from JFK, and on some days, they fly three times a day.
In 2017, Hurricane Irma hit Saint Martin, and it was the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the Leeward Islands on record. Princess Juliana International Airport and most structures on the island were devastated. In addition, the COVID pandemic delayed the island’s recovery. It took the past seven years to finally rebuild the airport and it now has brand new terminals and facilities. Two years ago, it still had tents up while the rebuilding was completed.
We have always enjoyed staying on the French side of the island at Orient Bay. La Esmeralda Hotel is now our favorite, although we have stayed in several hotels on the Dutch and French sides of the island. The hotel’s 50 rooms and suites are spread across 14 villas. Each villa has its own private swimming pool, and the beach is steps away.
We were surprised when we checked in on November 18th this year. The whole area of Orient Bay had a major power failure the day before. No one had any idea when the electricity would resume. Since we were going to spend the afternoon on the beach, we did not care. However, after the sunset, there was still no electricity, and our hotel was in total darkness. The hotel provided its guests with flashlights and candles. We had to sleep with our terrace door shut due to the lack of screens and various wildlife that could walk or fly in. When we returned to the hotel the next day after going to the beach, the power was restored, and the hotel gave us a 50% credit on our first night.
Although this island has many beautiful beaches, our favorite is Orient Beach, which is on the Atlantic Ocean side of the island. It stretches for about two miles, and there are several concessions for renting chairs and umbrellas. These places also serve lunch and cocktails and have a wonderful atmosphere. The ocean here is very calm and easy to swim in. There are several places to rent equipment for water sports, especially kitesurfing, windsurfing, parasailing, and snorkeling. Many types of boating excursions travel around the island. You can find a naturist beach on the extreme south of the bay. There is also something special here that we have never experienced anywhere before… wild donkeys walking on the beach. They are very friendly and can be fed by hand at any time.
It is possible to drive around the island in one day. However, if you are going to stay in the northeastern sector where Orient Bay is located, it is necessary to leave a lot of time to get to the airport. All the roads on the island are single-lane, and the traffic can be heavy during the day. Taxis are also readily available, and the airport to Orient Bay rate is approximately $50(US). It is possible to rent a car, depending on where you stay. At Orient Bay, there is a town square with several restaurants and shops that are easy to walk to.
Our next visit to Saint Martin will be during the first week of February. We are taking a 10-day Caribbean cruise from Miami, stopping in Philipsburg, the island’s main port; this will be our first time visiting this island from a cruise ship, so stay tuned for an update in early 2025.
