You won’t find a tropical island where the food is as delectable as on St. Martin/Saint Maarten! No doubt that’s because the “Friendly Island” (as it’s dubbed) is half French and half Dutch.

One of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean, it charmed us so much when we visited a few years ago that we had to go back.

So we did, making like the French for almost three weeks this time – sipping chilled rosé at swank beach clubs, sailing, getting our fill of escargots, foie gras and frogs’ legs and enjoying many more fun St. Martin activities.

We stayed at three of the best resorts in St. Martin (all small boutique hotels).

And because we’re hotel lovers (and reviewing hotels is in our blood!), we spent the day at a fourth uber-luxury hotel also on the French side of St. Martin (the posh Belmond; see #3 below), checked out the best hotels on the Dutch side of St. Maarten – and inspected several more top lodgings on the island.

The Belmond La Samanna is positively dreamy!

Best resorts in St. Martin and St. Maarten

So if you want to know where to stay on St. Martin/Saint Maarten, read on – because here are the 17 best hotels in St. Martin and Saint Maarten!

Contents: Best places to stay in St. Martin and St. Maarten

About St. Martin and St. Maarten

Where to stay in St. Martin: French or Dutch side?

Best part of St. Martin to stay

Best St. Martin hotels (French side)

1) L’Esplanade

2) Le Petit Hotel

3) Belmond La Samanna

4) Esmeralda

5) Grand Case Beach Club

6) La Playa Oriente Bay

7) Orient Beach Hotel

8) LTC Hotel

9) Secrets St. Martin Resort

Best resorts in St. Maarten (Dutch side)

10) Sonesta Ocean Point Resort

11) Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Spa

12) The Morgan Resort & Spa

13) Oyster Bay Beach Resort

14) Coral Beach Club

15) Oceans at Divi Little Bay

16) Holland House Beach Hotel

17) Simpson Bay Resort

One thing that makes the accommodations in St. Martin and Saint Maarten especially attractive is that most of the hotels (even the smallest) have kitchens or kitchenettes, so you can be self-sufficient if you don’t feel like eating out all the time.

It’s worth stopping at one of the island’s large Carrefour or U super markets to stock up on a few supplies for breakfast, light meals and/or nibblies.

The French wine and cheese selections are truly fabulous, and you’ll also find delicious yogurt, paté and other goodies not readily available in North American groceries.

Costs for many of these delicacies are relatively low too, as a lot of products are duty-free on the island.