Sint Maarten, savoured slowly.
Honest local guides to the island we call home, the two sides, the beaches, getting around, and the French pastry we bake every morning in Simpson Bay.
Sint Maarten vs Saint-Martin: Two Countries, One Island
One island, two nations, no border gate, here is what really changes when you cross from the Dutch side to the French side.
Read the article → 5 min read PlanningThe Best Time to Visit Sint Maarten
The island is warm all year, so the real question is about crowds, rain, and the Atlantic hurricane season.
Read the article → 5 min read PlanningMoney in Sint Maarten: Currency, Cards & Tipping
The short version: bring US dollars and a card on the Dutch side, a little euro for the French side, and you will be fine.
Read the article → 5 min read PlanningWhat Languages Are Spoken in Sint Maarten?
English will get you everywhere on the island, but a few French words go a long way on the northern side.
Read the article → 4 min read PlanningA Long Layover at SXM: How to Spend It Well
Princess Juliana might be the only airport where a layover feels like a prize.
Read the article → 5 min read Getting AroundMaho Beach & SXM Airport: The Plane-Spotting Guide
Everything you need to watch the famous low-flying jets at Maho Beach safely, and the history of the runway behind them.
Read the article → 6 min read Getting AroundGetting Around Sint Maarten: Cars, Taxis & Buses
A plain-spoken look at your options for moving around the island, from rental cars to shared vans.
Read the article → 5 min read Getting AroundDutch Side vs French Side: How to Experience Both
One island, two nations, here's how the Dutch and French sides differ and how to taste both in a single day.
Read the article → 6 min read Getting AroundOne Perfect Cruise Day in Sint Maarten
A realistic, unhurried plan for making the most of a single day in port on the Dutch side.
Read the article → 6 min read PlacesPhilipsburg: Front Street, the Boardwalk & Great Bay
The Dutch-side capital is a compact grid of duty-free shops backed by a long curve of beach, easy to walk in an afternoon off the ship.
Read the article → 5 min read PlacesMarigot & the French Side: Markets and Fort Louis
The French-side capital trades duty-free buzz for a market on the water, a fort on the hill, and a slower, café-paced way of spending a morning.
Read the article → 5 min read PlacesA Local's Guide to Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten
On the Dutch side near the airport, Simpson Bay wraps one of the Caribbean's largest lagoons, with marinas by day and a busy strip after dark.
Read the article → 6 min read PlacesThe Best Beaches of St. Maarten / St. Martin
A two-sided round-up of the island's best-known beaches, from the plane-watching crowd at Maho to the long French-side sweep of Orient Bay.
Read the article → 6 min read ExperiencesDay Trips by Boat: Pinel Island, Tintamarre & Beyond
The small offshore islets are the island's quietest pleasure, and getting there is half the fun.
Read the article → 6 min read ExperiencesSint Maarten With Kids: A Family-Friendly Island
Calm water, short distances, and easy days make this a gentle island for traveling with children.
Read the article → 6 min read ExperiencesFirst-Timer's Guide to Sint Maarten: Tips That Matter
The handful of practical things that make a first trip to this two-country island go smoothly.
Read the article → 6 min read ExperiencesA Slow Sunday on the Island
The case for doing almost nothing, well, on a Caribbean Sunday.
Read the article → 5 min read Food & CultureHow to Do a Proper French Breakfast
A French breakfast is small, sweet, and built around bread and coffee, and it travels beautifully to a warm island morning.
Read the article → 5 min read Food & CultureThe Croissant, Explained: What Makes a Great One
Lamination, butter, and patience are the whole story, here is how to read a croissant before you even bite it.
Read the article → 6 min read Food & CultureA Little Lexicon of French Pastry
A plain-language guide to the words on a French bakery counter, and what actually separates one pastry from the next.
Read the article → 6 min read Food & CultureCoffee and the Slow Caribbean Morning
What espresso and café crème actually are, what to drink with a croissant, and why the island earns a slower cup.
Read the article → 5 min read Food & CultureThe Best Picnic Spots in Sint Maarten (and How to Pack for Them)
A practical guide to the island's picnic-friendly beaches and how to pack a bakery spread that survives the tropical heat.
Read the article → 5 min read Food & CultureEating Out in Simpson Bay: How to Plan It
A local-minded guide to the rhythm of Simpson Bay dining, from lagoon-side mornings to the evening strip.
Read the article → 5 min read Food & CultureProvisioning a Villa or Yacht in Simpson Bay
A practical guide to keeping a villa or charter stocked with fresh bread and pastry, including how to set up a standing morning order.
Read the article → 5 min read Food & CultureCatering a Celebration on the Island: A Simple How-To
A straightforward guide to planning the bread, pastry, and grazing for a celebration, from estimating quantities to keeping it fresh in the heat.
Read the article → 6 min read Food & CultureBreakfast in St Maarten: A Local's Honest Guide
The island's best meal isn't dinner, it's the one most visitors sleep through.
Read the article → 5 min readGuides like this, once a month
Where to eat, when to go, and what comes out of the oven that week. One letter a month from the bakery, never more.
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