8 Best Hotels in St. Martin and St. Maarten

Be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the ocean below at one of the 11 spacious apartments in this tidy complex that sits right on a sliver of Grand Case Beach. Studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments (the biggest one accommodates six people) all have great views—with big sliding-glass doors to showcase them—and are beautifully furnished in with blue or red  accents. Apartments are accessible to those in wheelchairs by elevator, and there is both outdoor and indoor parking. You can request a crib or high chair, but availability is limited.

Bordering gorgeous Little Bay, this centrally located property is awash with water sports, restaurants, and an awesome multilevel pool with breathtaking views of neighboring islands. Full-size apartment units in its time-share section have granite countertops in kitchens and modern bathrooms, but there are also rooms and studios, and all-inclusive units at the new adjacent Oceans at Divi Little Bay. The resort provides concierge service for a spectrum of great island activities. It's also a quick trip to the heart of Philipsburg. If you think you would enjoy watching the cruise ships arrive, ask for a bay-front unit. Families like the casitas. Expect some construction nearby, but it should not impact your stay at all. 

Easily the finest beach resort in Grand Case, "GCBC" has a friendly staff and incredible sunset views. Sunset Café, the restaurant on property, is a gem with delicious food, and stunning views over the beach below and of Anguilla and Creole Rock in the distance. The beachfront property is located on a small peninsula at the east end of Grand Case, with Grand Case Beach on one side and La Petite Plage on the other. Studios and one- and two-bedroom units are individually owned, well-appointed, and clean and comfortable; each has a balcony. There is some work underway, but it's relatively minor. Units on upper floors generally have the best views. The resort has a fitness facility, a pool with views of Grand Case, and non-motorized water sports available for guests' use. Ocean-view rooms are in high demand and also quieter. Wi-Fi service is free throughout the property. Room service is available from Sunset Café.

This hotel is in an ideal location for shoppers and sun worshippers; it faces Front Street and to the rear are the boardwalk and a long stretch of Great Bay Beach. Rooms, all of which have balconies, are decorated in a clean Euro-modern style. The four spacious junior suites have separate seating areas and two flat-screen TVs and are worth the extra cost. Rooms facing the street can be noisy: the street can be loaded with thousands of cruise-ship passengers during the day. The hotel has a first-rate restaurant. It's often no more expensive to get a package that includes breakfast, and the buffet is terrific. Be careful when booking through a third-party site, as there have been many reports of reservation confusion.

Fans return year after year to the classy, loft-style suites in this immaculate family-owned and -operated boutique hotel, located on a hill overlooking Grand Case village and its harbor. Units are tastefully decorated in dark wood, tropics-style, with big four-poster beds; modern kitchens are sleek and stocked with basics before you arrive. The bathrooms have chic waterfall shower heads and double vessel sinks. There is a lovely pavilion for daily morning yoga (classes are complimentary for guests), and a nicely designed spa, too. Attention to detail and great service are hallmarks of Kristin & Marc Petrelluzzi, who also own Le Petit Hotel nearby on Grand Case Beach. Private terraces have astounding, postcard-perfect sunset and bay views, but you might hear your neighbors enjoying their sundowners, too. The resort's pool, which is heated with a swim-up bar, is in a picturesque garden and is the place to be for cocktails and gatherings. You'll have to walk about 5 minutes down the hillside to reach Grand Case Beach--then back up the hill to return, or take the complimentary shuttle to the beach at the sister hotel, where you have access to the water sports equipment.

With some of the best restaurants in the Caribbean just steps away, this attractive beachfront boutique hotel exudes charm and has the same caring, attentive management as Hotel L'Esplanade. A Mediterranean staircase leads to nine spacious rooms and a one-bedroom suite, all of which are tastefully decorated. There's no pool, but the beach is right there and there is a complimentary shuttle that takes guests to the pool, yoga temple, and spa at the sister hotel L'Esplanade. Remy and his wife Yamina, the managers of the hotel, are available to make restaurant reservations and the complimentary shuttle makes looking for a parking in Grand Case unnecessary. Baskets are provided at the self-serve breakfast buffet so you can take your croissants, coffee, and freshly squeezed juice back to your private terrace overlooking the ocean.

One of the few remaining authentic West Indian properties on St. Maarten is steeped in history; in fact, the island's oldest hotel once served as the governor's mansion. Walls of the entranceway are lined with pictures of Dutch royalty. Specialty rooms (such as the Queen's Room, referring to now retired Queen Beatrix) have hand-carved furniture, four-poster beds with mosquito netting, and private balconies, although they are more about atmosphere than creature comforts. Standard rooms have more of an island feel, with plantation-style furniture. The hotel's restaurant, set in the tropical garden, serves reasonably priced meals and has enjoyed wide popularity for years; the view looking out over Great Bay isn't bad, either. In case you're wondering, pasanggrahan means "guesthouse" in Indonesian.

This hotel and time-share, which is right on the beach in Philipsburg, is painted an eye-popping shade of coral that is hard to miss. Decor includes rattan furnishings, TVs, bathroom sinks, and other pleasant touches. Balconied rooms boast views of the cruise ships sailing into Great Bay. Each unit has a fully equipped kitchenette. Restaurants are a brief walk away, as are many souvenir shops and the popular Walter Plantz Square.