Expan Experience: Adventure on the Dutch side of Saint Martin

Exploring the island of Saint Martin offers a dual travel experience, a true blessing. On one hand, there's the French side , which makes travelers feel like they're in Europe even though they're on a Caribbean island. On the other, there's the Dutch side, with a more lively and youthful style, and plenty to discover .

Recently, we shared the Expan Experience of Cynthia Moya , Sales Supervisor, on the French side of Saint Martin , an adventure that allowed her to discover the other corner of this paradisiacal island in the Caribbean Sea: the Dutch side, known in the language of the Netherlands as Sint Maarten.

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As previously explained, he participated in the FAM Fly-In , so named because upon arrival, participants had a car at their disposal to explore the island and follow the designated itinerary . Below, we expand on his experience in this post .

More youthful atmosphere

" On the Dutch side, there are more all-inclusive options, and you can also see that there are more affordable food options . There are many franchises like McDonald's, Burger King, and Domino's Pizza. The Dutch side seems to have a more youthful atmosphere; there are people looking for parties. There are casinos, there are many nightclubs, so it's geared towards that type of clientele ."

Philipsburg , the capital on the Dutch side, is a very long beach where most cruise ships dock . It's a large beach that's very well-prepared and equipped to receive many tourists. Just the day I went, a large Royal Caribbean cruise ship was arriving, and everyone was getting ready to welcome the tourists .

All the people renting beach chairs and umbrellas, carrying a basket of beer… It's very busy, especially when the boats arrive . The beach is very beautiful and peaceful, and the area is full of restaurants and souvenir shops. There's a boardwalk, and across from it, facing the beach, on a parallel street behind it, there are lots of jewelry stores, like diamond shops or Pandora, all that kind of stuff, and cheaper than in other areas. There are also brand-name stores like Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, and souvenir shops. It's very much geared towards tourism .

The vibrant Maho

" On the Dutch side, I also visited Maho, where there are two all-inclusive hotels: the Sonesta Maho Beach, which is family-friendly, and the Sonesta Ocean Point, which is adults-only . That street is lined with restaurants, bars, and casinos, making it the hub of nightlife for people looking to go out and stay out late, geared more towards a younger crowd ."

Nearby is Maho Beach, the beach next to the airport where planes fly very low, a truly fascinating experience . Large planes arrive between approximately 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and tourists and guides provide information about upcoming flights. Experiencing it firsthand after seeing it on video was incredibly exciting because they really do fly very, very close. This beach is more for watching the planes than for spending the day, and the all-inclusive hotels are very close by .

Also on the Dutch side I visited Simpson Bay, a bay-like beach with a marina, restaurants and supermarkets, where there's a lot of activity . There's a hotel with apartment-style rooms ."

The adventure in the Pyratz of Saint Martin

" I took a tour on a yacht called Pyratz , and honestly, it was the best tour I did during my stay . This tour departed from Simpson Bay and traveled along the island's coast, arriving at the beach of the La Samana hotel, which is my favorite Belmont hotel . We reached that coast, and from the bottom of the yacht, there were several activities like stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking ."

They also lay out a long mat in the sea, where you can jump in and sunbathe while floating . They bring you drinks like beer and tropical cocktails. The most exciting part of this trip is the food. Right on the yacht, they prepare a gourmet lunch on a grill, featuring lobsters and tomahawk steaks . They serve a luxurious lunch with a selection of wines .

The excursion was truly a great experience, with high-quality food and drinks, and a luxurious atmosphere . We returned at sunset, enjoying beautiful views of the island. Everyone was extremely happy .

Tips for visiting the Dutch side of Saint Martin

" It's important to plan your trip to Saint Martin taking weather conditions into account. Hurricane season, which runs from August to October, is not ideal for visiting the island , as many hotels and restaurants close during this period, reducing the options available to travelers ."

When traveling to Saint Martin, especially if you plan to explore the island by car (which is ideal), a good internet connection is essential for using navigation apps like Google Maps . The distance between the Dutch and French sides is less than half an hour .

Opting for an eSIM can be an excellent solution . I got one from Airalo through an app for just $10, and I got 1GB of data, which was more than enough to get around easily. However, it's important to mention that the eSIM only works on the side of the island where you sign up, just like roaming .

Crucial tips for those visiting Saint Martin: wear sunscreen at all times, travel with travel insurance, and bring US dollars . While it's true that the French side uses euros and the Dutch side operates with dollars, bringing dollars can be more convenient, as in many places the exchange rate is one to one; if something costs 30 euros, you'll also be charged 30 dollars .

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