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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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.
