La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel, St Martin

Situated on perhaps the prettiest beach on St. Maarten. Great beach service and complementary water sports. Great snorkeling right off the beach (against the cliff to your left as you face the sea). The only downside of the beach is that independent boats come close to shore for snorkeling as well as dropping anchor for late afternoon parties on certain days which can take away from the chill vibe. There are two pools. The smaller of which is beautifully situated and overlooks the sea. This was our second visit and on both occasions we had big, beautiful junior suites with tremendous views. There are two restaurants. Fine dining in the main building and a more casual restaurant down below which still needs to find its footing. The island has some wonderful restaurant options and the hotel will arrange taxis for you. Typically the same driver will offer to pick you up on the return. Since our last visit, Belmont invested in a larger and more well equipped gym. Has everything you need. Lovely and well maintained property. All the hype is true.

This is our second year in a row staying at La Samanna and it did not disappoint. My wife and I usually try to go on new adventures but hard not returning to this resort! The staff is very accommodating and you really never need to leave the resort for anything better. True relaxation!! We will be returning!!

My stay at the Belmond in St. Maarten was very disappointing. This hotel is old and not well maintained. The gardens are messy, with patches of missing grass, making it look neglected. The architecture feels more like a hostel than a luxury hotel. The beach is not flat, making it hard to reach the water unless you’re quite fit. Plus, there are construction sites around, which ruin the atmosphere. Service was terrible. On the beach, we waited 45 minutes just to get drinks and towels. At the spa, my massage was so repetitive that I asked to stop 10 minutes early—the therapist seemed tired and uninterested. The food was not bad. Breakfast was good, and the Italian restaurant on the beach was decent ( not amazing ) We booked a suite for $4,000 per night, expecting luxury, but it was a waste of money. The décor looked cheap, and a noisy fridge in the living room kept us up at night. I’ve stayed in the best hotels—Aman, Four Seasons, One&Only, Les Airelles, Cheval Blanc—and this was by far the worst. If you’re visiting the Caribbean, go to Anguilla or St. Barth instead. Avoid this hotel!