Oceanfront Resort Situated on Nature Reserve

At the National Nature Reserve in the northeast corner of St. Martin, you'll find flora and fauna you won't see in most parts of the Caribbean. Created in 1998, the reserve protects a diverse ecosystem encompassing mangrove trees, coral reefs, and a herbarium of seed-bearing marine plants. On land, many species of iguana and mongoose roam freely along the rocky coastlines, and at sea it's not uncommon to spot tortoises and humpback whales. Facing a secluded cove in a tucked-away section of the reserve, Radisson Blu Resort, St. Martin has its own stretch of white-sand beach and a backdrop of volcanic hills on three sides.

The resort spreads across 18 acres and is like a town unto itself. It has a 150-slip marina, a shopping boutique, a market bistro, and a full-service spa. Lush tropical gardens fill the spaces between buildings, all of which have recently undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation. Newly updated superior rooms now feature marble bathrooms, streamlined furnishings, and bold Caribbean colors.

Dining options include the open-air C Le Restaurant, which serves French-Caribbean fusion cuisine along the beach or in private poolside cabanas. Each morning, Le Marché hosts a complimentary breakfast buffet including fresh fruit, omelets, and homemade pastries. The lobby bar is the spot to grab a cocktail made with some of the region's rums, and you can also find a selection of snacks and tapas here.

Head to the onsite watersports center for complimentary snorkeling gear or to arrange a diving or water-skiing trip. The resort also schedules onsite activities ranging from lectures on St. Martin's history to mixology courses that'll teach you how to prepare Caribbean cocktails. Click here to view a sample calendar of activities.

St. Martin: French and Dutch Cultures on Perfect Beaches

The 37-square-mile Caribbean island of St. Martin is peaceably divided between its northern French half (called Saint-Martin) and southern Dutch half, Sint Maarten. The entire island is a beach-goer's paradise, boasting picture-perfect white sands, translucent blue water, and extremely lenient sandcastle zoning codes. Some of the best snorkeling and diving can be found on the Dutch side, where shipwrecks and craggy underwater labyrinths are home to abundant marine life. Some dive charters even let you watch professional feeders give food to the reef's sharks.

On the northern end, don’t miss Pic du Paradis (“Paradise Peak”), the island’s highest point at 1,492 feet. From the observation areas, you can see all of the island and spot nearby Anguilla, Saba, and St. Eustatius as well. The French side is also home to the Butterfly Farm, whose hundreds of colorful residents range from South America’s blue morpho to Southeast Asia’s tree nymph.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.