Tropical Beachfront Resort with All-Inclusive Dining and Casino Thrills

In the 17th century, the French, Dutch, and British all vied for control of tiny St. Maarten in hopes of getting their hands on the island's lucrative salt mines. Nowadays, the island's most popular asset is not the Great Salt Pond, but the ocean shore across from it. Between the two bodies of water, The Sonesta Great Bay Beach & Casino straddles a land bridge, which links the resort to both St. Maarten's storied past and the beachfront pleasures that characterize the island today.

Overlooking the sugar-sand shoreline, the resort's main pool area features a deck dotted with ultramarine lounge chairs. An infinity pool seems to meld with the Caribbean ocean stretching to the horizon, and a swim-up bar allows you to sip chilled cocktails without ever getting out of the water. Dining options range from the casual, open-air Bay View Restaurant to the formal, ocean-view Molasses Restaurant, where chefs craft authentic Caribbean fare. At the onsite Golden Casino, 84 slot machines jingle amid blackjack, roulette, and poker tables.

When the evening winds down, retreat to ocean-view guest rooms whose modern teak furnishings and bright, turquoise accents create a cheerful, tropical ambiance. Drawing back a pair of coral-hued curtains reveals a private, glass-walled balcony overlooking the pools and seashore below.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten: Duty-Free Shopping and Relaxed Island Living

Although St. Maarten is divided between Dutch and French halves, relations between the two sides relaxed long ago, meaning you can wander across the small island without hindrance. The climate is pleasant and warm, with year-round temperatures in the 70s and 80s.

A short distance from the resort lies Front Street, Philipsburg's main thoroughfare, where shops housed in West Indian and colonial structures sell duty-free wine and fine jewelry. Here you’ll also find the St. Maarten Museum, which chronicles the island's colonial past, including the harsh legacy of the slave trade.

Simpson Bay, situated a 10-minute drive west, serves as a launch pad for sailing, fishing, and kraken-hunting tours. Close by in the Maho Beach area, nightclubs host steel-drum bands and oceanfront bonfire parties late into the night.

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