Villas in St Martin
A French and Dutch island where gated Terres Basses estates face west-coast sunsets, with Grand Case dining and Orient Bay beach clubs a short drive away, and distances short enough to explore both sides.
Why Choose St Martin for a Luxury Villa Holiday?
St Martin fits two nations onto one small island, French Saint-Martin in the north and Dutch Sint Maarten in the south, and the distances are short enough that a single villa works as a base for both. Our homes are concentrated in Terres Basses, the gated Lowlands of the French west coast, a short transfer from the airport, where large estates look over Baie Longue, Baie Rouge and Baie aux Prunes. Orient Bay on the east coast is livelier. On the Dutch side, Pelican Peninsula, Indigo Bay, Guana Bay and Pointe des Fleurs all sit close to Philipsburg and offer a smaller choice of homes.
What a villa gives you here is space and privacy: gated grounds, private pools, terraces built for outdoor dining and sweeping sea views, many of them facing west for the sunsets. Housekeeping is included at most of our villas, and a private chef is easy to arrange. The island's defining pleasures are Franco-Creole cooking on the French side and days on the water, and with so little driving between them, many guests find a villa easier than a hotel. For a first visit we would base you in Terres Basses and explore outwards. Winter is the main season; the wetter months are covered in Best Time to Visit.
DESTINATIONS
Popular Areas in St Martin
27 VILLAS
Terres Basses
Terres Basses is the gated western tip of French St Martin, where villas sit above or right on the sand at Baie Rouge, Plum Bay and Baie Longue. Expect sea views to Anguilla, long sunsets, private pools, and Marigot's markets and Baie Nettle's restaurants a short drive away.
1 VILLAS
Indigo Bay
Indigo Bay sits on the Dutch side of St Martin, facing a calm lagoon rather than open sea. Expect warm water, temperatures that typically hover around 26°C to 28°C, easy access to Philipsburg and the island's beaches, and villa stays with a relaxed, private feel.
1 VILLAS
Guana Bay
Guana Bay sits on the quieter Atlantic side of St Martin, where trade winds roll in over a wild, open shoreline and the hillsides hold a handful of private villas. Temperatures typically stay around 26°C to 29°C, and the sea views stretch towards Anguilla and beyond.
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Best Time to Visit St Martin
Temperature units
December to May is the most reliable stretch in St Martin, with January to March typically the driest months. Temperatures change little through the year, so rain, trade winds and crowds are what decide the timing. Christmas and New Year are the busiest and most expensive weeks, and rates and crowds ease after Easter. The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June to November, and September to November tends to be the wettest and quietest period.
Historical averages for this area over the past 10 years: typical high and low temperatures, total monthly rainfall and peak wind speed. Conditions vary from year to year.
High season (December-April)
Reliable sun, lower humidity and fresh trade winds define these months, with highs typically around 26°C–27°C. Villa rates peak over Christmas and New Year, and minimum stays of 10 to 14 nights are common, so book many months ahead. January and February bring Tuesday evening street events in Grand Case and the best kitesurfing and windsurfing at Orient Bay, while the west-facing bays of Terres Basses stay calmer for swimming. The St Maarten Heineken Regatta fills Simpson Bay with yachts in early March, and humpback whales are sometimes seen offshore until about April. The French-side Carnival comes before Lent.
Late spring and summer (May-August)
After Easter, crowds and villa rates start to fall, which suits couples and families who want winter-season weather at lower prices. Dutch-side Carnival in Philipsburg tends to run from late April into early May. By July and August highs are typically 28°C–29°C and the air is more humid, with rain usually arriving as short showers. Emancipation Day on 1 July, Bastille Day on 14 July and Schoelcher Day on 21 July bring local celebrations. Terres Basses is a quiet base in these months. Flexible bookings and travel insurance are sensible once hurricane season starts, and larger villas still book early for July and August family groups.
Wettest months (September-November)
September typically sees around 133mm of rain and is the peak of hurricane season, so keep an eye on forecasts. Some restaurants and hotels close for part of September and October, and the island is at its calmest. The sea is at its warmest when the weather settles, and dry mornings suit hikes to Pic Paradis or Loterie Farm. St Martin's Day on 11 November is marked on both sides of the island. By then the island starts to reopen, and good-value stays return in Terres Basses and around Orient Bay before winter rates begin.
Month-by-Month Guide
| Month | Best For | Where to Stay |
|---|---|---|
| January | Winter sun, fine dining, long stays | Terres Basses, Orient Bay |
| February | Kitesurfing, couples, sailing, possible whale sightings | Orient Bay, Terres Basses |
| March | Heineken Regatta, beach days, families | Pelican Peninsula, Terres Basses |
| April | Easter breaks, Carnival begins in Philipsburg | Pelican Peninsula, Indigo Bay, Terres Basses |
| May | Value after the high season, quieter beaches | Terres Basses, Guana Bay |
| June | Snorkelling, calm seas, early summer value | Terres Basses, Pointe des Fleurs |
| July | Family holidays, Emancipation and Bastille Day celebrations | Terres Basses, Orient Bay |
| August | School holidays, warm-water swimming | Terres Basses, Pelican Peninsula |
| September | Flexible travellers, low prices, peak hurricane risk | Terres Basses |
| October | Quiet stays, warm seas | Terres Basses, Orient Bay |
| November | Shoulder-season value, St Martin's Day | Terres Basses, Guana Bay |
| December | Christmas, New Year, multi-generational groups | Terres Basses, Orient Bay, Pelican Peninsula |
Seasonal Highlights
- December to March: kitesurfing and windsurfing at Orient Bay, when the trade winds are steadiest.
- Christmas and New Year: celebrations from a private villa terrace in Terres Basses.
- Early March: the St Maarten Heineken Regatta, watched from Simpson Bay.
- January to April: possible humpback whale sightings offshore.
- Late April to early May: Dutch-side Carnival parades in Philipsburg.
- June to August: snorkelling at Creole Rock and Tintamarre in the calmer seas.
Concierge Travel Guide to St Martin
St Martin is one island with two nations. The French north (Saint-Martin) and the Dutch south (Sint Maarten) have shared its 87 square kilometres since the Treaty of Concordia in 1648, and you can cross between them without a border check. Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the Dutch side is the main gateway, with direct flights from several North American hubs and from Paris and Amsterdam, and Terres Basses is generally 10-15 minutes away by car. Grand Case L'Espérance Airport on the French side handles smaller regional flights, and ferries leave Marigot and Philipsburg for Anguilla and St Barths. A hire car is the easiest way to get around, though private transfers can be arranged in advance.
Where to Eat
Grand Case is the island's dining street, where French and Creole restaurants sit on the waterfront beside the lolos, open-air grills serving ribs, lobster and johnnycakes. Baie Nettle and Cupecoy, a few minutes from Terres Basses, have a good choice of bistros and wine shops, and Baie Nettle and Simpson Bay are favourite spots for sunset dinners. Marigot has good bakeries. French wine is imported widely and is reasonably priced, and on the Dutch side guavaberry liqueur is the local speciality.
Beaches
Baie Longue, below Terres Basses, is the island's longest and quietest stretch of sand, and the west-facing coast here is known for its sunsets. Baie Rouge and Baie aux Prunes, close by, are good for snorkelling. Orient Bay on the east coast is the busiest, with sunbeds, water sports and beach clubs. For somewhere calmer, try Happy Bay near Grand Case, which you reach on foot, or Guana Bay, where the surf is stronger. At Maho Beach, jets come in low over the sand on their approach to SXM. If you want the sea on your doorstep, our beachfront villas are the place to start.
Things to Do
Days here tend to be spent on the water. Sailing charters leave from Simpson Bay, kitesurfing and windsurfing are centred on Orient Bay, and snorkelling is good off Creole Rock, Tintamarre and Pinel Island. On land, Pic Paradis, the island's highest point, rewards an early hike on dry mornings, and Loterie Farm on its slopes has forest trails and zip lines.
With Children
Rainforest Adventures at Rockland Estate runs the Flying Dutchman, a steep zip line, and the Butterfly Farm near Orient Bay suits younger children. Boat trips go to Îlet Pinel and Tintamarre, both inside the Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin, where sea turtles are often seen. Travelling with older children? Our guide to the best Caribbean destinations for teens is a useful companion.
Culture
Marigot, the French capital, holds its market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, and Fort Louis above the town looks out over the harbour. Philipsburg has the 1793 courthouse, the Sint Maarten Museum and the shops along Front Street. Carnival and the Heineken Regatta are the big dates of the calendar; you will find them in Best Time to Visit.
Golf
Golf is limited. Mullet Bay on the Dutch side has historically been the island's only course, so ask our concierge whether it is currently open. Keen golfers often take the ferry to play the Greg Norman-designed course at Aurora Anguilla Resort.
What We Can Arrange
Our concierge team can arrange private chefs, catered dinners and charter days, so that a villa stay is as easy to run as it is to enjoy.
Find Your Perfect Villa in St Martin
The island's two sides feel noticeably different, so where you base yourself shapes the stay more than almost anything else. Our 36 villas are mostly in Terres Basses, the gated Lowlands of the French west coast, between Baie Longue, Baie Rouge and Simpson Bay Lagoon. The rest are spread across Orient Bay on the French side and, on the Dutch side, Guana Bay, Pelican Peninsula, Indigo Bay and Pointe des Fleurs.
| Traveller Type | Where to Stay | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Families | Terres Basses | Gated, quiet roads, gardens and pools, with many villas a walk from the beach |
| Couples | Guana Bay | A quieter east-coast setting on the Dutch side, close to Philipsburg |
| Large Groups | Terres Basses | The island's largest villas, some with separate cottages |
| Beach Lovers | Orient Bay | Beach clubs and watersports close by on the east coast |
| Food Lovers | Terres Basses | Close to Baie Nettle and Marigot, with Grand Case reachable for dinner |
| Wellness | Terres Basses | Villas with gyms, saltwater pools and lagoon decks |
| Sea Views | Pelican Peninsula or Indigo Bay | Sea-facing Dutch-side homes with views towards Saba |
Most of our villas include housekeeping, and many add private pools, outdoor dining, sun loungers and pool towels; air conditioning and WiFi are standard. Guests planning a celebration may like our wedding villas. Christmas and New Year book up months ahead, so check Best Time to Visit before fixing dates.