Why We Recommend It:
St. Martin’s & Sint Maarten Island’s largest resort is the Sonesta Maho Beach, a solidly good value choice located conveniently beside the airport on the Dutch side.
So close to the airport in fact that, quite famously, the planes landing at Princess Juliana Airport overfly Maho Beach seemingly just meters above tourists’ heads. A classic photo opportunity for most visitors to Sint Maarten.
Sonesta Maho Beach is an energetic all-inclusive resort with a clientele that includes a lot of families but with also lots to keep adults entertained.
Among the many things at guests’ disposal are that famous stretch of beach, a large pool section, fitness center, spa, theater, golf course, and casino.
The resort houses a great number of shops, restaurants, and lively bars and clubs, and is right beside Maho Promenade which has even more of the same.
Rooms & Suites:
There are a total of 420 rooms and suites at the resort, the largest of which can host up to four adults and three children.
They come in various price categories mainly related to their size and capacity of course but also to which view they offer, with the sea views, as expected, needing an extra premium.
All rooms have furnished balconies and all are comfortable and particularly spacious, even the standard room choices. The suites are a step ahead though of course and come with a separate, spacious, living area.
Furniture and fittings are that of a standard upper mid-range city hotel – you’ll have a large TV, a work desk, a dining table, coffee makers, daily refilled minibars, and sofa beds in some.
All in all, they are far more functional than fancy – some might find them a little soulless but will have to admit they provide good value.
Take a look at your room options now at Expedia here or at Booking.com here.
Food, Facilities & Things to Do:
Where to begin? Sonesta Maho Beach is, as mentioned previously, the island’s largest resort and is something of a destination within a destination.
That it can easily attract both families and childless couples alike is a testament to the size of the resort and the broad range of diversions it offers.
That being said if you’re looking for a peaceful romantic break, you won’t find it at Sonesta Maho Beach.
The resort contains five restaurants, bars, and one of the island’s most famous nightclubs, Tantra, as well as its hugely popular Kid’s Club.
Alongside Tantra Club, there is the Casino Royale with 21 gaming tables and hundreds of slot machines.
The food at the resort can be hit and miss but is generally decent, though again there’s nothing too daring or fancy on offer.
The main restaurant is the large Ocean Terrace Restaurant which serves international standards and shares its terrace with the Pizzeria, Pizzeria Napoli next door.
Also serving Italian food a la carte, but not just pizzas, is The Point. It has some lovely sea views and an open-air section.
Guests have Maho Beach, a giant pool (plus children’s section) with a swim-up bar, spa facilities, a shopping mall, and a casino at their disposal, as well as a whole host of organized daily activities, tours, excursions etc.
The resort’s main pub is the Ascot Pub & Sports Bar located by the casino in close proximity to the aforementioned Tantra Nightclub.
Serenity Spa has a full range of health and beauty treatments and the resort’s gym, though relatively small has cardio equipment including ellipticals, weight machines, and free weights.
Location:
Just minutes from the arrivals lounge of Princess Juliana International Airport, Sint Maarten, which has direct flights from many cities in the USA including New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, and more. And from Europe – both Amsterdam and Paris.
The area surrounding the resort and the airport, Maho Village, is Sint Maarten’s busiest tourist area, with the Maho Promenade strip being wall-to-wall duty-free shops, restaurants, and bars.
Maho Beach too is also busy and gets even momentarily busier every time a plane comes into land. If you’d like a bit more peace and quiet you could head for Mullet Bay Beach around fifteen minutes walk away.
Some Guest Reviews:
“Faculty is great. Everyone is very nice, the hotel is very clean, food is delicious, drinks are delicious, and they make you feel very comfortable. The rooms look very nice and well maintained, and the resort pretty much provides you with everything you need. I would definitely stay again….”
“Liked the large pool and kiddie pool. Very nice room – highly recommend the suite. Decent options for food, many bars around the resort. Beach along the property is nice, but a little less calm than other beaches on the island. Great place to watch the planes come in. Friendly staff overall….”