Four Reasons To Skip St. Barts and Head to St. Martin. WSJ
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JEK
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Victoria Pollack
4 minutes ago
We used to go regularly to St. Martin and loved both the Dutch and French sides, but have been back only twice since Irma devastated much of the island in 2017. It seemed like they were having a hard time rebuilding when we were last there three years ago. Has it mostly bounced back?
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Anthony Taylor
14 minutes ago
Well, that wasn't my experience. Phillipsburg is certainly nothing to write home about and good luck finding a place to eat anytime a cruise ship isn't in port. The French side is even worse, mired in bueaucratic paralysis years after a devastating hurricane destroyed properties all over that part of the island. Choose another vaca spot in the Caribbean for a better time.
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steve goldner
29 minutes ago
we spend 2 weeks last week at St Martin, first the Dutch, then the French side. Both wonderful, fun, reasonable. in AirBNB. great beaches, water, take bug spray for sand-biters.
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A Arguello
1 hour ago
The natural beauty of the Caribbean is fantastic. The poverty in every port detract from the experience. I have only been to places where the cruise ships go, so maybe I am missing some neat places.
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- MH
Mark Harnett
30 minutes ago
You are missing the best places, cruising has ruined every town it is allowed.
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PAUL MORAIS
1 hour ago
Marigot has metal shutters that cover every store at night and loose dogs roaming around that make it look like a scene out of Mad Max during non business hours.
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T NOYES
1 hour ago
Agree completely. Stayed at Belmond last Feb. It was unbelievable. I also recommend houses in the orient beach area. Only problem the french side has the sargassum, the dutch side does not. Also recommend a short hop to Saba, where Jeff Bezos spent 2 weeks on his yacht. A must if you are a scuba diver.
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David Kaplan
2 hours ago
As a child, some 60 yeasrs ago, I lived and went to school in Gustavia well before St. Barts was “discovered “. Reading this article, I can’t help but smile.
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Richard Leeds
2 hours ago
The real trick is to find a place before too many other people do
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Peter Belonojko
4 hours ago
For my money, Anguilla beats both St Martin and St. Barts, a true paradise with unique culture and beautiful beaches.
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- MH
Mark Harnett
31 minutes ago
shhhh.... don't tell anyone, Peter! Let them bicker over St Barts vs St Maartin, we don't need more people going to Anguilla
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- MH
A V Alexander
6 hours ago
A bargain hotel at "$1,640 and up" -- hard pass
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- WW
William Watson
8 hours ago
We stayed on the Dutch side and peeked at the rich folks on the French side.
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Dan Meyers
8 hours ago
I've been to St. Martin twice. Great place to kick back and relax.
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- DY
Don Young
9 hours ago
I used to be a regular winter visitor to St. Barths and then the last couple years it got out of hand with pricing, the locals even confided they were getting complaints and seeing a drop off in long time customers.
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- KM
Kevin Murphy
10 hours ago
St. Bart's is so expensive it's a great place to get fleeced. It's one thing to go to a five start resort and pay for a great experience. St. Bart's is a lot of fun but it's not worth the price.
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A Ren
11 hours ago
Thrill-seekers can go to Maho beach adjacent to SXM airport to get blown off the beach by jets taking off.
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Eric Nelson
8 hours ago
Think of it like a free exfoliation
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Stone NYC W
11 hours ago
I was there in 2008. Lovely place
Beachcomber
SBH Insider
Your experience will depend on where you go on the Island. We were there for a week over Thanksgiving. Someone told us there were 5 cruise ships in town and the island was very crowded. We didn’t see any of that. Cruise ship people eat on the boat and they tend to go from Phillipsburg to Orient bay for excursions. We stayed on our side of the Island and traveled between Terre Basses to Grand Case. The lack of traffic we encountered was a huge surprise for me.
Beachcomber
SBH Insider
As a 35 year plus SBH traveler I understand your skepticism. After spending a week in Terre Basses and taking stock of the pluses and minuses I can honestly say the trip felt like an upgrade rather than a compromise.
sweetiegal
SBH Member
love them both
In 1989...we got married...honeymoon on SXM...young...27yrs old...didn.t know better...me, being the adventurer said to my wife, wife...there is a little French island 12 miles away and we can take a catamaran there for a day trip...we did, and I found my French mistress...in love at first sight...sorry wife, you have to share me...returned back in 1989...stayed at the Guanahanai....dinner first night at the Marigot Beach Club...lunch at the Lafayette Club...dinner at the Hideaway so many times I can't remember...36 years later..same wife, 2 grown sons who grew up every Spring break on SB, and now a future daughter in law...the island, the people, the vibe...still have my French mistress...hopefully, she hasn.t picked up any bad habits that can't be rid of with good planning (the influx of social media and rude, over the top $$$)....haven.t spent a single night on SXM in 36 years...
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Congratulations! A happy story of love & marriage!
dadto6
Senior Insider
Hello hydraaa
Anita and I stayed on St. Maarten back in 1985 when Eastern Airlines offered discounted weekenders. Then we discovered St. Barth (our Happy Place) and had no desire to every stay again on St. Maarten. Excepting in 2024 when we were forced to spend the night because our United Airlines flight from Washington Dulles was extremely delayed due to mechanical difficulties. Our flight did not arrive until 7:00pm, we stayed at a local hotel. We got out of there as fast as possible the next morning arriving at our HAPPY PLACE!
Saline Man
SBH Insider
That extra flight from SXM adds a somewhat of a barrier.
cassidain
Senior Insider
But not as high barrier as SBH €€€€€€
Beachcomber
SBH Insider
I used to appreciate the extra plane ride because I thought it kept the unwashed mobs away from my happy place. Alas, they have crashed the gates and over run my refuge from the real world. My new plan is to confine my travels to Terre-Basses (I don’t consider it part of SXM) up to Grand Case. I’ll then pop over to SBH and stay at Salines Garden and walk between Tamarin, L’Esprit, Grain de Sel, and the beach for 3 or 4 days. It will be like camping out Old School style on my favorite beach. My luggage will consist of mainly Rose’ and yummy things from the Super U.
amyb
Senior Insider
Sal8ne…the new dining Capitol?
Beachcomber
SBH Insider
I like to have a picnic lunch on the rocks all the way to the left.
