So you’re planning on going to St. Maarteen, huh?! Great idea! Maybe you’re thinking of traveling here for the first time, or maybe you’re a returning visitor. Either way, you’re going to have the time of you’re life! Here, I’ll give you all the details, of where we stayed, things we’ve done, and some activities that I would have done if I had had more time. Oh, and a quick lesson; Sint Maarten and Saint Marten are two different Countries on the same Island. Sint Maarten (Dutch Side), Saint Marten (French Side). Ok, so here we go….
**To see video footage of my trip, check out my Sint Maarten Highlight on Instagram!**
First, let’s get through all the boring Covid procedure stuff…
• You’ll need to provide a negative Covid PCR test (not rapid!) within 120 hours of your arrival into Sint Maarten (if coming from the USA – other countries have different timeframes, usually within 72 hrs of arrival). I would stick to a 3 day timeframe, though, just to be safe. Your results will then have to be uploaded into their Application and be pre-approved before entering Sint Maarten. The process is fairly quick.
• Each traveler will have to purchase Covid insurance for $30. You purchase this directly in the application.
• Upon returning to the U.S, you will, again, need to provide negative Covid results no more than 3 days prior to your departure flight. Your airline will have its own procedure for uploading your results. But we flew with United, and downloading their app made everything a breeze.
• Covid testing is offered at numerous locations. First, check with your hotel/resort to see if they can assist with scheduling testing on-site. If not, or if you are staying at an Airbnb, you can utilize offsite testing locations. Here are a few:
• Princess Juliana Airport – Avoid if you can! Way too expensive. Current testing prices are $125. I could have sworn I saw somewhere that they used to be $110? Either way, it’s way more than I would like to pay for it.
• Bellevue Pharmacy – (Where we got ours done). They test from 9a -12p and we paid $45 each for rapid testing. Try getting there early, we waited for about an hour and a half to get through the entire process because of the crowd. Test results came back in about 20 minutes. 
Marigot 97150, St. Martin (this is the French side of the island).
• Healthcare Laboratory – $90 rapid tests12-13 Orange Grove Road, Cole Bay, Sint Maarten
• Orange Grove Pharmacy – $70 rapid tests. Right next door to Healthcare Laboratory. Orange Grove Road 1 Orange Grove Shopping, 18 Ctr, Cole Bay, Sint Maarten
Please keep in mind, Covid rules and testing pricing were in affect on the dates of our travel, and my have changed! Check Sint Marteen’s Government website and and individual testing sites for the most up to date and accurate information!
Where we stayed
There are so many nice hotels and resorts here! I’m not typically the resort type, because I prefer the freedom and uniqueness of Airbnb’s or boutique hotels, but because the trip was gifted to me, we stayed at Sonesta Ocean Point Resort. This is a beautiful, all inclusive adult only property, that sits directly on Maho Beach. Thinking of a family vacation? Don’t let the ‘adult only’ aspect scare you away. The premises houses a sister resort, the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino, and its perfect for all ages.
The Pros: What I liked most about the resort? The free drinks of course! One think about an all inclusive venue is, you’re going to stay with a cup in your hand! Or Atleast we did… I’m not a fan of hard liquor, but I definitely enjoyed all the Piña Colada’s, Frozen Daquiri’s and Rum Punch’s I could handle. Another upside to the resort was the view. I absolutely loved it! We had the Beach View Junior Suite. The perfect spot to catch the sunrise, sunset and landing planes from the comfort of your own balcony. We left the doors open while we slept, to listen to the ocean waves and feel the breeze. It reminded me a lot of my stay in Florida. And I miss it already.
I also appreciated the pools (especially the one with the swim up bar and water slides), the welcome drink, the cold eucalyptus scented towel they give you upon arrival, the nightly performances, late room service hours and kind staff. They also help with setting you up with Covid testing for $55 (ask about redeeming Resort credits if you’re staying for 3 nights or longer). But be sure to register at the front the desk the day before you have to take the test! We missed the deadline and had to do it elsewhere.
The Cons: I wasn’t a fan of the food. None of their restaurants served anything I would want to eat everyday. So although our meals were included in the price of our stay, I was still urged to eat somewhere else most of the time.
Also, cats and birds GALORE! I can’t stand cats, and this resort is literally crawling with them. Good luck with eating outside for breakfast without birds taking food off your plate (see my Instagram highlight
!), or for dinner without the cats running under your table and rubbing against your legs 
. The extra check in fees ($330 worth – taxes plus deposit, the deposit you get back) and $16 per night parking didn’t rub me too well either.
All in all though, I enjoyed my stay. Would I choose to stay again? No. For the reasons listed above, and again, I’m not really the resort type of gal.
Activities
Now for the fun stuff! I’m not going to lie, when I knew we would be vacationing here, the only thing I wanted to do was capture good footage of the planes landing on Maho Beach. I honestly think that’s what attracts most people here. But baby, there’s so much more to it!
Flying Dutchman Zipline
If you know one thing about me, it should be that I’m ALWAYS up for a thrill. So when I found that the Island houses the worlds steepest Zipline, it’s NO WAY I wasn’t doing it. Rainforest Adventures offers a variety of packages including not only the Flying Dutchman, but 5 different activities! We went with the Flying Dutchman Package for $99/pp. And honestly, it includes all you really need. You have access to the museum, the Sky Explorer and Scenery Hill (which has a bar 
).
Note: If you have a GoPro or any other camera or recording device that you can attach to your arm or chest (without having to hold it in your hands) bring it with you! I wore my GoPro in a chest harness, but was told that I would be asked to put it away before we were allowed on the line (because they kind of want to force you to buy their media instead), and I’m so sad I listened! Once we got to the top of the mountain, is was very clear that they only needed your hands to be free. So try your luck! If for some reason they ask you to put it up, you are provided with a small bag that you can put your items in (it’s attached to you during your ride).
• They do not provide video footage, only a couple of photos. You can purchase a digital copy or a printout for $15.
Dune Buggy or Atv rides
You’ll se a lot of tourists riding around in these things, and they’re way too much fun not to rent. Touring the island in our Dune Buggy gave us a totally different experience. Imagine riding through a foreign land… engine revving and hair blowing as you’re passing some beautiful people, colorful homes and cultural landmarks. It’s a ride I didn’t want to stop. It was exhilarating, exciting and most of all; a super cool memory.
We rented from Electric Adventures Buggy rentals for $180. We were given 6 hours to tour the island, which only takes about 3 hours to do. We were also given a map and a very detailed explanation on how to reach certain areas. And as much as we appreciated this information, we drove without using the map at all. The fun was in getting lost, blindly exploring and just enjoying ourselves.
* **A quick note about driving around 1) some of the streets are very narrow, so be careful! 2) use Google Maps! Apple Maps just didn’t work well for me.
Atv companies to try:
• Blue Bubble Sports and Tours – Also offers water sports!
Horseback Riding
I know, a typical activity. But if you’ve never been riding through water, you might want to give this a try as well. You can start by looking into Seaside Nature Park for this activity, and more.
Get a Beach Massage
You can schedule a massage on the resort, or separate from the resort, on Maho beach, offered by a local. Simple, but a massage always seems like a good idea.
Culture
You don’t want to miss out on seeing the island in it’s pure form! Don’t waste away your vacation staying on any resort, you won’t be doing yourself any justice. Everything that makes Sint Maarten what it is – the culture itself– lies way beyond your hotel room. Get out and explore it!
While giving ourselves a self guided tour, we passed so many captivating murals, small shops and various beaches.
We also took the time to explore the Boardwalk, local restaurants and scout out a few famous landmarks and statues. It was honestly the best part of the trip for me! I couldn’t imagine vacationing anywhere without experiencing the Country’s natural state.
Maho Beach
The main attraction! You simply cannot come to Sint Maarten without catching the landing aircraft! It’s a wonderful experience that you won’t get anywhere else!
Aside from the airplanes, you also get to relax on one the most beautiful bodies of water, and eat at the infamous Sunset Beach Bar.
Oh, and if you’re wondering how these pictures came out so perfect, I have Lili Patterson to thank for that! I did. A quick search for a photographer before we got there, because I didn’t need Jamil messing up my pictures! If you want a photographer during your visit, she’s the one!!!! Reasonable pricing, completely professional, patient and fun to work with. Thanks Lili!!!
Visit Pinel Island
Pinel Island is a beach location on the French side of Island, that offers a number of activities including; hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding and you can even feed the iguanas! There are also a couple of restaurants and a sand bar. And the best part about it? Nudism is allowed in some parts 
. To get there, you will need to catch a ferry (they run from 9:30am to 5pm), kayak or paddle board.
I will definitely be visiting Sint Maarten again! And when I do, a Pinel Island will on the top of my list.
Loterie Farm
Loterie Farm is a natural reserve, on the French Side, with a bunch of things for you to do. Not only is the atmosphere beautiful and relaxing, the farm offers hiking trails, zip lining , dining, a pool, cabanas and a lounge. This is smoother activity I won’t be missing when I return.
Nightlife
Ok, first let me say that I was not prepared for the amount of “turn up” we were going to to be doing. I had no idea that Sint Maarten could get as live as it did. There are countless amounts of lounges and bars to keep yourself entertained for the duration of your stay (and yes, most of the places have hookah 
).
District 721
This was one of the first spots we went to, and baby we had a GREAT TIME! Between the good food, the fire performances, the live crowd, the decor and the drinks, I think this venue should definitely be put on your itinerary. Outdoor and indoor seating is available, two restaurants in one venue, a bar and a hookah lounge.
*Most of the popular clubs and restaurants are on the same street as this lounge. So literally just take your pick!*
Lotus Nightclub
Right along the same strip as District 721, another hot spot you should try out is Lotus. Here you can enjoy some of the island’s most popular Dj’s, a VIP lounge and premium drinks.
721 Hookah Bar and Lounge
A much smaller lounge, but still makes for an ok time. It’s just a few steps away from the resort we stayed at, alongside a number of restaurants, Casinos and gift shops. Get there before the crowd, because there aren’t too many seating spaces (maybe about 10 small couches and a bar). Also, food isn’t served here. So if you’re looking for a nice place to watch a game, chill, enjoy a good DJ, drink and smoke a little. This is it.
Kim Sha Beach
Typical beach by day, party zone by night! If you’re traveling with a group, this spot would be perfect! What’s better than a beach party with friends? Various tours and restaurants are also nearby.
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The takeaway….. Get there! I loved every single second of my time spent in Sint Maarten. So much so, that I’ll be making a second trip.
Have you been to Sint Maarten yet? What was your experience like?! Let’s talk! Check out my Instagram under the St. Maarten highlight!
Don’t forget to check out HeadSlay for cool accessories!
Happy Travels!
Lexi 
