SXM Strong

If you follow my blog, you already know that I am dating the scuba instructor I met in Nicaragua. He was in Nica on a break from his job on a liveaboard dive boat based in Sint Maarten. His last day working was January 6, so I boarded a plane on that day for an island ‘getaway’ together after a few months long distance. I wasn’t sure what to expect of the island after the devastation it faced during Hurricane Irma. Many people asked me why I was choosing to go to Sint Maarten now. Of course, the main reason was to be with Tim, regardless of location. However, I can now say that I absolutely adore this charming island. There is still plenty to do here! Visiting the islands impacted by the hurricane is one of the best ways to help them rebuild. Plus, you will be rewarded with fewer crowds and lower prices on accommodation! Side note…Dutch side is called Sint Maarten and the French side is called Saint Martin, so both are right 🙂

In my mind, I pictured Sint Maarten having a high-end vibe, but the island is so laid back. I love being able to walk into any establishment in flip-flops without judgment. It’s the Caribbean lifestyle!

After finally being reunited with Tim, we checked into our home for the next 10 days. A gorgeous Airbnb apartment located in Simpson Bay, minutes away from a nice beach and a strip of restaurants. It’s a little pricey but totally worth it! I also suggest renting a car, which makes getting around so much easier.

Since Tim had been on the island for a year, he knew a lot of great beaches and restaurants. I basically had my own personal tour guide, with some benefits 😉 We hit up Mullet Bay, Baie Rouge, Karakter, and Kim Sha Beach, which was right down the road from our Airbnb. Baie Rouge is an off the beaten path beach, void of crowds. There were about 8 other people sharing the beach with us plus the staff working the tiny bar. So serene and calm, a perfect spot to laze the day away. My only complaint is that there are no cushions on the loungers :p

Karakter is a cool restaurant and bar on Simpson Bay Beach. We spent Saturday and Sunday lounging here. On Sundays, it turns into a party with everyone dancing and drinking the night away. One way we saved money was by bringing our own drinks to the beach. We bought a cooler and insulated cups to keep our rum punches cold in the blazing hot sun. Anytime I taste rum punch now, I am instantly reminded of my blissful time on the island.

Kim Sha was our local beach, just a few minutes away from our apartment, so we frequented that one most often. They have nightly activities such as movie night, girls night, and family night! There are always ladies walking around offering massages and Tim treated me to a foot massage one day. They use aloe vera, which is super refreshing and good for your skin, especially while being in the sun.

With Tim being a “local” he knew about a natural pool on the island. Devil’s Cupper is located in Phillipsburg, close to Geneve Bay. Once you park, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the pool. We did it in flip flops, but I would recommend gym shoes as there are some big rocks. It was stunning to see the contrast of the bright blue sea compared to grass and mountains.

Like Tim anticipated, we had the pool to ourselves! It was so nice to enjoy this beautiful scenery without anyone else around. Just be careful not to step on any sea urchins!

Near Baie Rouge, in Nettle Bay, is La Belle Creole, an abandoned resort dating back to 1964. The resort was the brainchild of famous French hotelier Claudius Charles Phillip. Due to money trouble, construction was halted for many years and Phillip died without his dream coming to fruition. The property got a new owner in 1988 and was reopened on a much smaller scale, 300 acres cut down to 25 with only 156 rooms finished instead of the intended 300. It was abandoned in 1995 after being damaged by Hurricane Luis. Today it remains an eerie reminder of past hopes and dreams. It was so strange to see the gorgeous blue sea in the middle of this disarray.

It’s always a good idea to rent a Jeep so that A) you look cool, and B) you can do some off road exploring. We used ours to drive up to a viewpoint Tim knew about called Pic Paradis. The bumpy ride was exhilarating and the view breathtaking.

While we tried to be economical and eat at home as much as possible, we had plenty of chances to check out the restaurant scene. For our first dinner out, we hit up a great sushi joint, Little Bamboo. For a drink, I recommend their Moscow Mule. So good!

If you want to get a taste of the Mediterranean, go eat at Beirut. Good prices and the portions are huge. We were so full when we left. They also give you a delicious lentil soup as a complimentary appetizer.

An awesome spot for some live music and creative dishes is Lagoonies Bistro and Bar.

For breakfast, we went to Cafe Atlantico a few times, an adorable French bakery, for bagels. I love all things lox, so naturally, I ordered a lox concoction. If you are in the mood for delicious, and huge, pizzas, Pizza Del Sol is your place.

For our last night on the island, we treated ourselves to the high-end Italian restaurant, Sale and Peppe. Everything was absolutely scrumptious.

While many parts of the island are in great shape and we had an amazing vacation, it is important for me to showcase the destruction that hit. I want to spread awareness of the current state of the island, while also inspiring travelers to visit and support these islands that need our help.