8 of St. Martin's Best Resorts

At Sonesta Ocean Point, a sleek and modern adults-only, all suite resort, it’s all about choices. At this limitless, all-inclusive getaway, you can choose from soaking, sunning, socializing or swimming at three pools, including an infinity pool with a zero entry cliff-side beach.

Hungry? No worries. You can dine, nibble or sip at your choice of two restaurants and five bars and lounges. Take in the dramatic ocean views during dinner at the resort’s open-air cliff-top Azul restaurant while you dig into dishes from an international selection with Mediterranean influences.

Head upstairs to Casa Blue Tapas restaurant and bar for 360-degree vistas of the ocean,craft cocktails and Caribbean fusion fare, such as jerk chicken and curry goat.

Resort entertainment includes three shows a week, but should you choose to venture out, Sonesta Ocean Point is close to shopping and nightlife. Guests also have access to Sonesta Maho Beach Casino, Resort and Spa, with five more restaurants and bars to enjoy and explore.

The dazzling white buildings of Belmond La Samanna Resort hug the soft sandy beach where the azure waters lap the shore. Book a cabana, complete with Wi-Fi and shower on the private beach and relax with a complimentary bottle of bubbly just steps from the surf. If that’s not scenic enough for you, take an excursion on the resort’s private boat.

At the L’ Oursin restaurant, tuck into dishes such as lamb shank with sweet potato puree, green peas and confit garlic. Take to the shaded terrace at Laplaj restaurant and enjoy fusion fare, such as codfish fritters with Creole sauce made with fresh local ingredients. Cool off with one of Laplaj’s refreshing frozen specialty cocktails such as the Purple Frozen Rain, crafted with white and dark rums, orgeat syrup, fresh blackberries, acai berries and rum.

At the lushly landscaped spa, guests can unwind by indulging in a tropical Lomi Lomi massage. For something more active, enjoy a workout at the fitness center, lounge or splash about at one of the resort’s two pools, or take to the tennis courts. Guests who are artistically inclined can book a session painting with Caribbean Impressionist painter Sir Roland Richardson at his 19^th-century Creole townhouse/gallery.

Situated on Orient Bay Beach, Esmeralda Resort is nestled within a fragrant floral setting surrounded by hibiscus, bougainvillea and coconut trees on the French side of Saint Martin.

An aquamarine motif brightens the beachy décor in the lobby and guest rooms. Bright, airy guest rooms, housed in 18 villas, have white walls and colorful artwork, some with timbered, vaulted ceilings. Each villa has its own private pool for guests to enjoy.

At the resort’s Astrolabe restaurant, taste delectable French-inspired gourmet cuisine. Dishes include the Caribbean grouper served with crushed potato with olives and bacon, creamy eggplant with vegetables topped with red butter with black olive and capers, as well as the duck liver trilogy crayfish.

Guests can take to the waters off of the resort’s white sand beach to try their hand at a range of water sports, including parasailing, jet skiing, wind and kite surfing and catamaran.

You’ll know The Atrium Beach Resort and Spa by the Art Deco curves of its modern white façade ensconced amid palm trees on the Simpson Bay beach. Guest rooms have balconies and you can book one with views of the Caribbean and watch the sun set.

With a pool, spa and children’s pool, The Atrium Beach Resort and Spa is an excellent choice for families. Reserve a spacious two-floor three-bedroom penthouse for your crew, decorated in cheery hues, complete with a dining area and a gourmet kitchen. Luckily, if you’d rather dine out than cook, the resort is close to restaurants.

Oyster Bay Beach Resort follows the shape of the coral reef it’s built atop, overlooking the dazzling blue-green sea, its infinity pool hugging the reef’s edge. Grab a chair under an umbrella on the sparkling white sands of Dawn Beach. Sit back and order a bite to eat ranging from spring rolls to Southern Caribbean fried chicken from Beau Beau’s, the resort’s beach-side bar and restaurant.

Views of St. Barth’s and the ocean elevate outdoor dining at the resort’s The Infinity Restaurant. Its menu of international gourmet cuisine ranges from dishes such as seared salmon fillet with ancho chili-infused quinoa to homemade lasagna and lobster thermidor.

Book an invigorating mango papaya salt glow at the spa or sip craft cocktails on a plush banquette around the fire pit. The resort’s easy access to the marina means less time getting there and more time to enjoy water activities and aquatic sports.

Located on a private peninsula flanked by Great Bay and Little Bay, Divi Little Bay Beach Resort can be your base for a stay that’s as action-packed or as relaxed as you would like.

The resort’s three outdoor swimming pools compete for your leisure time, while five restaurants are primed to sate your hunger. At Divi Little Bay Beach Resort’s Pureroc restaurant, watch with mouth-watering anticipation as your meal is cooked on a hot lava rock.

You can swim up to the bartender at the resorts Pure Ocean Pool & Bar and order a cool cocktail, like the Aruba Ariba, concocted with vodka, rum, banana liqueur, triple sec, fruit punch and coecoei. Sway contentedly in a hammock, stretch out on a lounger in a cabana, soak your cares away in the hot tub and then gather around the outdoor fire pit to watch the sun set.

Conveniently located close to shopping and nightlife, the Simpson Bay Resort and Marina sprawls along the beach and is set among tropical gardens. You’ll find six fresh water swimming pools to choose from, as well as a children’s pool, while Simpson Bay itself beckons snorkelers.

Guest rooms have tropical décor with terraces or balconies. At the adjacent Villas at Simpson Bay Resort, two-bedroom villas feature kitchens and can accommodate up to six guests each. The Villas also offer a fitness center, a boardwalk that’s perfect for evening strolls and a fresh-water pool with a bar.

Among Simpson Bay Resort and Marina’s restaurants, La Patrona dishes up authentic Mexican cuisine, including seafood dishes such as grilled fish marinated with achiote served in banana leaf. If you’re in the mood for something lighter, Coco Beach Bar serves cocktails, beer and snacks.

Sports fans can catch the latest games at the sports-themed Replay restaurant while snacking on crowd-pleasing appetizers, sushi, pasta or pizza— the house specialty is the lobster pizza. Celebrate your team’s win with a specialty cocktail, such as the Slam Dunk, concocted with bourbon, lime, mint and passion fruit. If you have the kids in tow, milk shakes are on the menu too.

Nestled between Nettle Bay and Simpson Bay Lagoon, close to the beach, Hommage Hotel and Residences (formerly Hotel Mercure St. Martin Marina and Spa) offers a tropical getaway dedicated to art. Guest rooms have terraces with lagoon views and walls painted in vivid hues hung with colorful artwork depicting local scenes. The hotel also features a museum garden with eye-catching artwork by international and local artists.

Guests can lounge beneath the palm trees beside the pool, enjoy French bistro-style fare and creative libations at Lilly’s Café, and book treatments with international flair including a body scrub and hammam at Aqua Spa Cinque Mondes.