St. Maarten has been on my radar ever since my brother raved about the unforgettable adventures he had there during a wild college trip. So when the opportunity arose to embark on a press trip to indulge in the island’s vibrant culinary scene—and the timing just so happened to make this my uterus’s grand farewell tour before a hysterectomy—I knew it was meant to be! We splashed around in warm waters, enjoyed culinary delights on the Dutch side of the island and made memories with old friends and new! We did pop into the French side a couple times but most of this trip was spent on the Dutch side of the island.
Disclosure : I was hosted but Vacation St. Maarten but, as always, opinions are TOTALLY mine!
Table of Contents | Plan your St. Maarten Holiday
Travelling from Toronto to St. Maarten tips
Best Places to Stay in St. Maarten
Traveling from Toronto to St. Maarten
Before we proceed any further, I should highlight that this Island in the Caribbean is home to TWO nations. There’s the Dutch side (St. Maarten/Sint Maarten) and the French side (Saint Martin). You can easily drive between the two sides without the need for passport checks and no matter which side you’re staying in, you’ll be arriving at the same airport if you choose to fly in (if you’re sailing in then you can choose either side to dock at!). I joined one of my favourite people to travel with, Solmaz, and left gloomy Toronto in mid November for a quick weekend getaway. We flew with West Jet from Toronto and landed in the newly renovated Princess Juliana International Airport about 5 hours later. Air Transat and Air Canada also offer direct flights to St. Maarten and you can usually find return flights for under $500 a person (though I’ve also seen them go up to $1000).
Our WestJet flight was a bumpy one (yes I slept through the turbulence) because some November storms were circulating the area but we landed safely and immigration was a breeze because we had filled out the mandatory St. Maarten Entry Form before checking in for our flight.
During our travels Canadian citizens did not require a visa to enter St. Maarten for tourism or business visits up to 3 months. If you’re a PR card holder (but not a Canadian passport holder) you can still visit with no additional visa required. I should also mention that if you hold a multiple-entry visa for the United States or Canada and are a national of one of the countries down below, you also do not need a visa.
● Bolivia
● China
● Colombia
● Cuba
● Dominican Republic
● Guyana
● Haiti
● India
● Jamaica
Sadly Sri Lanka is not on that list but my Indian passport holders should be happy! More details can be found here.
Upon deplaning we were able to walk on the tarmac and head in to the airport building and once we were done with immigration and collected our bags, the St. Maarten tourism team was there to welcome us on this workation!
Our return trip was surprisingly smooth despite a torrential downpour that saw Solmaz and I get stuck on chair lift!! More on that story below but I will mention that Priority Pass members have access to the Princess Sky Lounge. It’s a pretty basic offering (with one drink chit-something I haven’t seen anywhere else) but it’s nice to have a free snack before boarding your flight. The airport’s food court has more substantial offerings if you’re in need of lunch or dinner!
As for currency, when visiting the Dutch side, the Netherlands Antillean Guilder (ANG) is the official currency but the US Dollar (USD) dominates daily transactions from what I observed. We were able to use credit cards at most places too.
Things to do on a St. Maarten Girls’ Trip
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach getaway or a cultural immersion, St. Maarten has something for every mood. Although the focus of our girls’ trip to Sint Maarten was the Flavours Food Festival (and eat we sure did!), we also managed to soak in a few cultural experiences during our Sint Maarten weekend getaway. Before I proceed I want to highlight that traffic on the island can be rough so time things properly. Avoid the morning and evening work rush because you WILL be sitting in traffic for hours at a time. We were picked up at the airport around 4 p.m. but didn’t get to the hotel until 5:30 p.m. even though it was supposed to be a 30 minute ride. If it rains, expect similar delays. We happened to be visit during a storm so rain did prevent us from doing a few St. Maarten excursions we had in mind, but I’ll still list them below because they definitely sound very fun! We thought we were visiting outside of hurricane season but global warming certainly is showing us who’s boss!
Take a Cooking Class
The island is home to a melange of flavours and the history of various dishes was fascinating for me. We took a Johnnycake making class at TJs Cassava Coal Pot, where Chef Jewel taught us not only how to make them but she also shared her family’s love of cooking and how they continue to share the Caribbean flavours with guests who visit their family run restaurant.
Johnnycakes aren’t sweet, they’re more of a bread base and enjoyed throughout the island from breakfast to dinner. We got in the kitchen and with hairnets and gloves on, we did the mixing, kneading and shaping. Learning to make them was fun and I plan to razzle the kids and Chris by making them at home one day soon!
After making the Johnnycakes we got to enjoy them with a saltfish dish Chef Jewel made for us. If I ever return to St. Maarten, I plan to dine here for a proper meal because there’s a lot of soul in every dish she makes!
Spend the Day at a Beach Club
A beach hang is definitely called for when visiting any island- that’s my hot take anyway. While most folks might opt to plane spot on Maho Beach (iconic for sure), I think a girls’ trip calls for something a bit more posh. Make your way to Kalatua beach club on Mullet Bay Beach where you can not only enjoy the beach, but you also have access to some delicious eats and drinks. You’ll be parking by the Casino and a complimentary golf cart will take you to the beach club-so the chill vibe is set from the moment you pull up!
They also had a DJ spinning during our Friday afternoon visit and it certainly was a party vibe. You also have access to watersports here and can book everything from paddle sessions to glass bottom boats and seabobs! I’ll share more about the food here when I tell you about the best places to eat in Sint Maarten.
Now if you find Kalatua Beach Club too fancy for your mood and would prefer something waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more laid back then D’s Beach Bar is what you might be looking for.
We went here for dinner one rainy evening and while I wouldn’t say this is a culinary stop, it certainly was a party stop. There was a DJ spinning and there were fire dancers as well. The drinks were flowing (think mainstream cocktails) and while they did have a full menu, it’s the beach access that caught my eye. This beach bar not only gives you Simpson Bay beach access but they have a patio where you can watch the planes (a favourite time pass on the island) and they also have beach volleyball and tennis on offer in addition to watersport rentals. It is a family run spot and we had the chance to chat with the siblings whose family also own a spot in USVI.
Wander Around Phillipsburg
Plan to spend a few hours with no agenda here. The capital of the Dutch side is home to shopping, a bustling boardwalk and street art. An ideal day in Phillipsburg would involve ducking in and out of shops (hello duty free shopping) and taking time to learn about the street art scene.
You’ll also want to try the food at beach side stands and be sure to sample some guavaberry liqueur (made from oak aged rum, cane sugar and ripe hand picked guavaberries).
Get ON the Water
You’ll want to ensure the water is calm before you decide on a water adventure. Don’t be like us okay? We spent 3 hours on the water with Rhino Tours and I am so grateful that Solmaz and I decided to take one boat between us. The water was insanely choppy and my body was definitely hurting at the end of the day. I was holding on to dear life when Solmaz was driving (more because of the rough waters than her crazy speed demon ways) and needed a massage as soon as I got back to Toronto because my shoulders were still tight three days later! Given that I don’t even a driver’s licence, I am rarely in the driver’s seat but I had a great time driving in Saskatchewan, that I figured this would be a challenge I should rise to. I did rise… 2 feet up in air at times!
Although I may have some emotional and physical scars from this HARD CORE adventure, piloting your own watercraft should be on your list of things to do in St. Maarten ON A CALM DAY. Instead of the usual Maho beach plane shot, we were able to plane spot from the middle of the sea and get a pretty fun photo.
We stumbled upon this breathtaking spot that gave me serious Magdalen Islands vibes, but unfortunately, the water levels were way too high for us to explore the cave. Honestly, a calmer day would have been ideal—especially for those of us who aren’t exactly mermaid material when it comes to swimming.
The staff, bless them, were happy to listen to our requests. The moment we mentioned we weren’t super confident in the water, they stayed close by, making sure we didn’t drift off into the abyss. And then came the real adventure—getting back on the boat after swimming with Blondes Who Eat and Stick a Fork in Me. After an embarrassingly ungraceful attempt (the crew initially tried to hoist me up like a prize-winning tuna), they quickly realized that the more dignified (and logistically sound) option was to just drive our boat toward the shore so I could step in like a normal human.
Learn about We Culture
We Culture is more than a phrase representing the island’s history and diversity, it’s an actual museum in Sint Maarten! Unfortunately we missed visiting this museum because of traffic but friends who went said it was a fun experience. Not because of the open bar but because of the many hands-on activities there! Visit here if you want to be taken on an immersive journey into the rich traditions of Caribbean Carnival. The 8000 sq ft. museum was founded by renowned Carnival costume designer Gerald Hart and has interactive exhibitions featuring Caribbean instruments, costumes and art.
Soar Above St. Maarten
Where are my adrenaline junkies at? I’m not one but I couldn’t resist checking out the Flying Dutchman when we were in St. Maarten. This adventure park is on Emilio Wilson Estate property and there’s a small museum in the property’s restored plantation house if you want to learn more about Trace Wilson who was born into slavery on the estate in 1818. Emilio Wilson is her descendant and he purchased the property to educate current and future generations about the conditions of plantation life as well as the customs, traditions and history of Sint Maarten.
Now, weather certainly wasn’t on our side during our visit and let me WARN you – DO NOT. I REPEAT. DO NOT go here in a torrential downpour! Weather really threw some curve balls at us during our November visit to St. Maarten because it was sunny one minute as we were loaded into the chair lift and the next minute it was pouring rain and the wind picked up. Yes, while we were suspended in mid air with no service station in sight. The staff were wonderful though and that island hospitality came through when they managed to get us off at the first station and provide some shelter until it was somewhat safe for us to head back down. You guess it, we were huddled like Penguins looking for warmth and there was no way any of us were continuing up that mountain. To add another layer of fun, Solmaz and I were planning to do this “quick attraction” and then zip off to the airport for our flight so getting stuck in the mountain did layer on some uncertainty!
Now if it weren’t for that pesky storm circling us what we would have enjoyed (and what hopefully you WILL enjoy) is riding the Soualiga Sky Explorer to enjoy an aerial view of St. Maarten. The main attraction of course is the Flying Dutchman which is a zipline where one is harnessed in a chair and launched down the mountain on a flight line dropping 1050 feet in elevation over 2800 ft. GULP. It is the steepest zipline in the WORLD after all. I was planning to do it because even though I am not a fan of traditional ziplines, the seated ones (like in Niagara Falls) isn’t as intimidating. Let me know what the real experience is if you go, because ours was a bit traumatic as we watched lightening strike as we were suspended in air on metal contraptions. Remember-you need closed toed shoes when you visit this St. Maarten attraction.
Dive into the Nightlife Scene
What’s a girls’ trip to St. Maarten without some dancing? Sure, a nightclub adventure wasn’t on our official itinerary, but hey—that’s island life for you!
It all started when Chris’ cousin in Newfoundland raved about Red Piano Bar when I told her of my St. Maarten plans. Fast forward to our last night, and after dinner, our larger group was still in “one more drink” mode. So, off to Red Piano we went, expecting a night of cocktails and live music. What we didn’t expect? Country Night. And not just that—a full-on birthday bonanza with enthusiastic karaoke singers belting out twangy tunes like it was an episode of Nashville’s Got Talent. Definitely not the vibe we had envisioned, but hey, we rolled with it. A few shaken cocktails later we were clapping along like honorary country fans.
In true island fashion, the DJ who was spinning at dinner had mentioned that he could get us all into a nightclub and so someone tracked down someone who ensured that DJ Prince was indeed true to his word. Solmaz and I partied with the youngins under the watch of a Buddha statue and terracotta soldiers at Lotus. We took shot after shot as we danced to old school hip hop and R&B tunes. It certainly was a fun way to end our girls’ trip to St. Maarten.
Best Places to Eat in St. Maarten and St. Martin
The island is known as the “Culinary Capital of the Caribbean” because of its diverse mix of French, Dutch and Caribbean influences and you WILL enjoy some great flavours during your stay in Sint Maarten. As I’ve mentioned earlier, Flavors St. Maarten was the main reason we were in St. Maarten in November. During Flavors restaurants and bars offer a signature dish or cocktail combination for $17.50 (one course), $49 (three course meal) or $69 (three course meal). It’s similar to our winterlicious and summerlicious in Toronto. Most of the restaurants (not all) we visited were part of Flavors but we couldn’t help but order ALL of the things when were enjoying the St. Maarten culinary scene. So, if you’re looking to get a bite of St. Maarten’s food scene, the below restaurant options won’t steer you wrong even if you’re not visiting during Flavors!
Zee Best
If you’re looking for some solid baked good options or a fab breakfast, check out Zee Best. We lucked out and met the owner when we swung by for a sit-down breakfast at their Simpson Bay location and could easily feel the passion they have for providing a great experience to their guests.
Visitors and locals flock here for their French pastries and the almond croissant I had was absolutely perfect. Fluffy and flakey and in the right places and filled with a delicious almond flavour. The bagel I had was also good and they served up Dutch style pancakes that brough back a flood of memories from our visit to Amsterdam with kids. Oh, I know this is random but the hash browns were solid here and they had turmeric tea!
Original Fat Boy BBQ
This family run BBQ spot has been serving smoky goodness since 1984 and we had an delicious meal cooked by the owners-Graham and his daughter Alicia. Not only did they have a Flavors special but they had so many other delicious things- including crab curry- that we tried to sample as much as possible after our day on the water.
I saw the Johnnycakes fried in front of us and the famous Jerk Chicken on the grill-there might be await because this is a busy spot but it’s worth it.
We sat by the road side picnic tables and devoured our meal but it was large enough that I brought the leftovers back to the hotel and enjoyed it after our night of clubbing. Sadly they didn’t have any conch and dumplings during my visit but I heard they usually serve it on weekends!
Cindy’s Roti Lolo
If you’ve never heard of Lolos, not to worry. Neither had I. At first I was told it stood for locally owned and locally operated but then I heard that a Lolo is basically an open-air kitchen by the road side. Either way, if you’re looking for street-food style dishes oozing with flavour and you’re on a budget, then Lolos are calling your name.
We were told by the locals that Cindy’s is a hot spot for Trinidadian doubles and that we had to get there before 11 a.m. because they sell out quickly. We listened and they were delicious. I had grand plans of returning for some goat roti but unfortunately never did make it back!
L’Atelier
While we mostly hung on the Dutch side, we did venture over to the French side (St. Martin) one evening for dinner. The meal was so fantastic that we had to take a mini group shot outside!
Owner Alex greets every table and ensures that the family vibe that he enjoyed growing up in France is still in place at his restaurant. The menu changes often and is inspired by his grandmother’s cooking. If you’re looking to linger and enjoy delicious cocktails and a meat heavy menu, this is certainly the place for it. Our meal at L’Atelier was truly fabulous and I still dream of the Bone Marrow Bruschetta.
There are quite a few restaurants in Orient Bay Square (it was a bit of a bustling market with vendors selling their wares) so it might be difficult choosing where you want to dine but let me tell you that there’s real soul here and a personal touch that comes through in the cooking. Also, definitely add the truffle pasta as a side to any dish you order!
Kalatua
I promised you I’d share about the restaurant and so here I am. Yes you can chill on the beach and enjoy drinks and nibbles but you can also plan a visit to dine at the restaurant. The Kalatua beach restaurant is open from noon to 3 p.m. and you can enjoy a wide range of Mediterranean dishes here.
They offered something for everyone and had vegan, seafood and meat options – I dug into them all! Even if you’re not planning to lounge by the beach, it’s worth coming here for a meal because the service and the food were both fab!
Resort Stay in St. Maarten
The best place to stay in St. Maarten will depend on the vibe you’re looking for. Those looking for an active social life, bars and restaurants will most likely lean towards Simpson Bay. During our culinary tour we stayed at the newly opened J.W Marriott St. Maarten on Dawn Beach. This St. Maarten resort was no where near the action so you will need vehicle access to move around but if you’re looking for some solid R&R, this is the place you want to stay at! Each staff member I encountered went out of their way to make our St. Maarten girls’ trip a wonderful one. If you appreciate kind and attentive service, this resort is calling your name!
This used to be a Westin property but is now part of the J.W Marriott family. I was welcomed as a Gold status member and told that my friends and I were in one of the best sections of the property. Our rooms unlocked with a tap of a bracelet – you know I LOVE this. I also appreciated the decor and vibe of the room. The views at sunrise were fabulous and the only advice I’d recommend is booking a lower level room if you want you own plunge pool! Mind you, there’s no real privacy since everyone can look down and see everything, but it’s always nice to have your own splashy fun. Keep in mind that those plunge pool rooms are more than double the price of the other rooms!
Not to worry, the bathtub was luxurious and a heck of a lot more private in the upper level room, so I did still enjoy enjoy my nightly soaks-and no one was looking! The cleaning staff were kind enough to leave bath salts for me nightly!
As you can see, the room was spacious and comfy. I slept in and enjoyed a slow start to my day on our day of departure, thanks to the breakfast I ordered to the room.
I did pop by their Carambola restaurant for breakfast one day and enjoyed the a la carte menu (even though there was a breakfast buffet on offer too). I sadly did not have time to check out Liguira, their Mediterranean restaurant (which did look fab). So if you’re looking to stay at this St. Maarten resort, know that you have a couple options for your meals.
If you do end up staying at the J.W Marriott St. Maarten, can you book a session at the Cooking Club and let me know how it is? I saw some folks shaking up cocktails in there one day and they looked like they were having loads of fun. I did bump into one of the head chefs during my visit and I have a feeling that taking a cooking class with them would be hella fun! There is a spa and gym on-site – though I went to neither. I also noticed the kids’ club which is a service parents can pay into if they want to enjoy some childcare. What I did enjoy LOADS was the pool area. It was always a vibe and I was informed that it’s the largest infinity pool on the island!
There was live music one afternoon which encouraged Solmaz and I to enjoy a few in-pool cocktails. I was pleasantly surprised by the well shaken drinks here. The bartender was so lovely that he even went indoors to get the “good espresso” for our espresso martinis! I should mention that friends of ours were staying at the Princess Condo next door at a time share property and they had access to the J.W Marriott Resort & Spa facilities-something to keep in mind if you’re looking for more multi-room accomodations.
I walked by the pool area at night too because YOU KNOW I ended each day with a beach walk. It’s something I always do on Momcations and this was no different. The sunsets by the beach are soul-warming, so if you’re around be sure to catch at least one!
If the J.W Marriott is not the vibe you’re looking for and you’d much rather an all inclusive party spot, some of the younger folks on this trip stayed at the Sonesta St. Maarten and seemed to have a great time. It’s a large property and we swung by there for a quick change of clothes before our flight so I got a peek at one of the rooms. There’s an adults only section as well as an all-ages St. Maarten resort with a kids and teens club. Both sides offer all-inclusive benefits so you’ll enjoy drinks and meals on-site.
St. Maarten 3 day Itinerary | Weekend in Sint Maarten
If you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway from Toronto, St. Maarten can certainly be a solid option. Here’s how you can spend a weekend in St. Maarten with your girls!
Day 1 : Arrive, roam around Phillipsburg, take a cooking class or visit We Culture, catch sunset and end with dinner
Day 2 : Breakfast, Rhino tour, Beach Club in the afternoon and into sunset (or relax at the resort), dinner and night out
Day 3 : Breakfast, Flying Dutchman, lunch and depart
Have an amazing time in St. Maarten y’all!
