At least 2016 ended well!

When my friend, also named Jennifer, asked if I’d be interested in returning to beautiful St Martin, I practically shouted “YES!”

Four of us vacationed there in July and it was wonderful. SXM is a beautiful island that is easy to get to from NYC.

After everything, it felt like a good time to treat myself.

I was thrilled to spend the last days of 2016 in paradise – and the first days of 2017 too.

For this trip, I went for seven decadent nights and it made such a difference. I felt the most relaxed that I have in months. And when I came back to NYC, I honestly felt more or less normal, something that I didn’t always feel after the surgery.

A few of you asked for tips on travel to St. Martin so here they are!

The first decision you’ll likely face is where to stay. Before you decide Dutch side versus French, think hotel versus house or apartment. The island is small enough that you’ll almost certainly spend time experiencing both Dutch Sint Maarten and French St. Martin.

Where To Stay

For both SXM vacations, my friends and I stayed in apartments in Orient Bay (Baie Orientale). For the New Year’s trip, we rented a two-bedroom duplex from Sprimbarth, a real estate agency we found on TripAdvisor and had a great experience. 

Apartments have been a great choice for us: more space, the ability to cook a bit (if desired) and better economics. 

If hotels are more your speed, there are many options. The Westin Dawn Beach has gorgeous grounds and, I assume, rooms. Incidentally, the property also has apartments for rent, however because they only allow Saturday-Saturday stays (no exceptions!) we looked elsewhere. While I haven’t visited this luxe hotel, I have heard great things.