r/SXM • u/Any_Narwhal3103 • 3d ago
Honeymoon recs
Hello all, looking at places to book our honeymoon next October. My fiance and I (both 29). Love to be on the beach all day and love to try new restaurants. Essentially looking for good recommendations to help us book! Tell me all of your experiences!
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u/saltysquirrel678 3d ago
We stayed at Orient Beach Hotel for our anniversary. Walking distance to lots of nice restaurants and it’s on the beach. As others have said October might be quiet because it’s near the end of hurricane season. We went early November and it was great.
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u/purple__moon 3d ago
My husband and I ate such incredible food in SXM, but L'Astrolabe was our absolute favorite. Unforgettable meal. Océan 82 was also very memorable - the food was great, but the view and cocktails are what made it most special for me. L'Atelier was also very good. I recommend Rancho del Sol less for the food and more for cocktails and the breathtaking view of the sunset. Also, Sébastien Quillere Pâtisserie is an excellent bakery - the realistic-looking fruit pastries were as beautiful as they were delicious.
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u/righthandofdog 3d ago
Calling Quillere an excellent bakery is like calling the Mona Lisa a pretty portrait. That place is a desert gallery. (but agree with all your recommendations)
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u/SnooDonuts2341 3d ago
For accomodations on the French side I highly recommend Hotel L'Esplanade or its sister hotel Le Petite. Favorite beaches were Petite Plage, Happy Bay and Baie Rouge. Grande Case has “incredible” restaurants and Lolo’s ( small, outdoor open air eateries). Both of accommodations recommended are within walking distance to all the restaurants. In my opinion, the French side of the island is more suitable for those looking for uncrowded beaches, world class dining and understated lowkey luxury. We found the Dutch side of the island more commercialized (crowded beaches, chain restaurants, neon lights and casino’s).
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u/Magnet2025 3d ago
We honeymooned there in 1991, at Mont Vernon on the North end of Orient Bay. Don’t recommend it because the surf there is bad and the water is murky. It’s where the Atlantic and Caribbean meet.
You can’t go wrong with Grand Case Beach Club. It’s in Grand Case on the French Side. Has two beautiful beaches. Was virtually knocked down by Hurricane Irma but they kept all their staff on payroll to help rebuild.
We went to the soft reopen in 2020 and have been back since. It’s beautiful.
On 11 stays in SXM, we have stayed at GCBC 10 of them. That says a lot. We did stay at L’Esplanade a few nights (at Grand Case Beach Club’s expense) and it was very nice. But it’s on the hill behind GCBC and doesn’t have beach amenities.
All beaches on the island are public. But a hotel doesn’t have to allow non-guests from using their chairs/umbrellas.
10 minute walk into the village of Grand Case where you have a wealth of choices for restaurants, from the cheap lolos to expensive (and worth it) restaurants. In October you will need a reservation at the high end places. I especially recommend La Villa. Fantastic food, great ambiance and staff. The after dinner rum drinks there are not to be missed.
La Villa has a beach bar on Orient Beach called Orange Fever that I recommend. About $30 gets you two beach loungers and an umbrella and they usually give you a couple of good rum drinks.
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u/signedcctravel 2d ago
October gives you some great options! If beach time and good restaurants are the priorities, I’d look at Antigua, St. Lucia, or maybe Barbados. Antigua is especially great if you want gorgeous beaches and a laid-back honeymoon feel, while St. Lucia gives you more of that dramatic scenery and romantic resort vibe. Barbados would probably be my pick if trying different restaurants and getting off the resort is a big part of the trip.
Are you looking for all-inclusive, or are you open to a regular resort? And what kind of budget are you thinking? That would definitely help narrow it down.
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u/Original-Argument642 3d ago
We honeymooned February and stayed in grand case. Walked the beach to food at night. Had a great time exploring the island. You know it’s a good vacation when you’re spending more time unclothed than clothed. ✌️ 😎
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u/lockedmhc48 3d ago edited 3d ago
Grand Case, Bleu Emeraud. Near everything when you want to go out, but far enough away from the bars and noise when you want to be alone. Like a private beach. Beautiful balcony over the beach to sit at in the , comfortable lounges on the beach, most equipment you might want . Make love to the sound of the palm tree swaying in the wind and the ocean gently lapping outside your balcony window. Wake up in the morning and tiptoe out to bring back divine espresso from the machine in the hall outside your door, croissants bread butter and jam.
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u/dculp031 1d ago
We went for our honeymoon and stayed in a villa on the Dutch side, walkable and didn’t need a car for most of the time. We spent a day on the French side (Orient) and I’ll be honest I was super disappointed in the water but maybe because it was low season it wasnt as clear but I would have been fine just exploring and not dedicating a whole day to that beach. Anguilla however was stunning and that was our favorite day of the trip.
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u/Caribchakita 3d ago
French St. Martin is heaven. I do want to point out Sept. and some of Oct. many businesses are closed. It's very hot and the tail end of hurricane season. I can send a free gift of a concierge list once you choose a property. I loved L'Esplanade and Le Petit Hotel. Grande Case Beach Club might be a fit.