Belmond Beaches: The Ultimate Caribbean Island Escape

With twenty-two scheduled airlines and another dozen charter services, Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is well-served by carriers from the USA, Canada, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean with a total of thirty-four destinations served directly from the airport. You won’t need to present your passport, instead jetting straight to your short transfer for your check-in at La Samanna where you’ll be welcomed to this Caribbean paradise with stunning cliff views, colorful botanicals, and ample privacy. Here, you’re invited to embrace the joie de vivre that flows as easily as the sea breeze.

As you ready yourself for dinner, you can soak up the property’s storied past as you flip through the hotel’s golden book featuring previous guests including Andy Warhol and Scottie Fitzgerald.

Sip on your welcome drink and settle into your accommodations. Perhaps, you want to brush up on the history of this dual nation. If so, we can give you the cliff notes version: after 140 years of battling for its control, the French and Dutch settlers decided to divide the thirty-seven-mile island between them with half of St Martin characterized by the buzzy vibrancy of the Dutch and the other half feeling more laissez-faire French. As you ready yourself for dinner, you can soak up the property’s storied past as you flip through the hotel’s golden book featuring previous guests including Andy Warhol and Scottie Fitzgerald.

This evening, prepare for a beautiful sunset aperitif at Baie Longue Bar perched high above the bay from which it draws its name. We recommend ordering a Belmond 75, Head Bartender Marco Nobile’s twist on the venerated French 75. Just beside the bar sits L’Oursin, your dinner destination. As expected, seafood here shines with signature dishes that promise to transport you from the Caribbean to the sun-soaked terraces of France’s Cote d’Azur and back. Sip on a bottle of Chablis 1er cru for an effervescent ending to your evening beneath the stars.

Wake up ready to flush out any stagnation from your travels with either outdoor yoga or the truly ambitious, sunrise bootcamp training on the beach. No matter which way you begin the day, all roads lead to a delicious breakfast before grabbing your book and getting ready to lounge. Laplaj – the property’s chic, laid-back beach lounge – awaits with its pastel-fringed parasols and loungers. We recommend ordering La Samanna Kiss, a coconut-water-based drink with guavaberry liquor, gold rum, and a splash of passion fruit. Let lunch unfold here with dishes like grilled fish and Creole rice for a true taste of the French West Indies.

After lunch, if you’re up for some artistic ventures, consider a studio tour where you’ll be able to see the “plein air” paintings by St Martin’s own Sir Roland Richardson. La Samanna’s extensive art collection also houses works from local artists like Natalie Lepine, Alain Jouet, and Corinna and Norma Trimborn. The Trimborn sisters actually lead lessons at their own contemporary art gallery, NoCo, located within Terres Basees, the gated community enclave that includes La Samanna.

For dinner this evening, your SmartFlyer travel advisor has arranged for a private dinner in the property’s famed La Cave wine cellar. Whether you’re in the mood for a crisp rosé or a seductive red, it’s all here and poured by the expert in-house sommelier. Cheese pairings will range from your triple crème and Livarots from Normandy to Basque sheep milk from the Pyrenees. As each course unfolds, you’re likely to start questioning whether you are really in the Caribbean or have been whisked away to Europe.

Watersports are a highlight of any trip to St Martin, and it certainly helps that every guest of La Samanna is welcome to complimentary use of single or double kayaks and two Hobie Cats.

On the off chance you didn’t get your French fix last night, standouts at your breakfast at Corail are sure to include freshly squeezed juices, buttery croissants, and freshly baked bread. Savor each bite on the al fresco terrace as you ready yourself for an afternoon filled with adventure at sea. While you’ve surely enjoyed the turquoise blue sea over the last couple of days, this afternoon, you’re free to explore it differently. Watersports are a highlight of any trip to St Martin, and it certainly helps that every guest of La Samanna is welcome to complimentary use of single or double kayaks and two Hobie Cats. Alternatively, try your hand at paddle boarding to really test your balance upon the crystal clear waters.

After all of your saltwater fun, opt to relax on the beach, or unwind at the spa. Treatment rooms open onto lush, tropical gardens to set the scene for relaxation. We love the Lomi Lomi massage which utilizes a traditional Hawaiian method to soothe circulation and melt away any stiffness. Soak up that post-massage glow as you ready yourself for your final dinner at La Sammana. Tonight, you’ll dine at the buzzy La Spiaggia where light Italian fare is served before the glittery moonlit ocean.

Wake up to a brilliant morning in St Martin for your last breakfast before transitioning to the next paradise in neighboring Anguilla. Your SmartFlyer travel advisor has arranged for a private boat to ensure your thirty-minute ride between the two sister properties is a breeze. As soon as you walk into the lobby of Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel, prepare to never want to leave. You’re sure to be greeted with a signature punch before being whisked to your signature suite or villa. You’ll be connected with your butler who will never be more than a WhatsApp away.

Anguilla is the most northern of the Leeward islands and is known for its gentle pace amongst the British West Indies. If any semblance of stress hadn’t faded away in St Martin, it’s sure to be a distant memory once you’re unpacked at Cap Juluca. The obvious first destination here is the beach; walk straight from your accommodation onto the powdery white sand where you have a dedicated set of loungers ready for you (no early morning wakeups to claim your spot here!). Take in the eden that is Maundays Bay where you can splash in the cobalt-blue water or relax beneath your umbrella.

Tonight, be sure to gather with your fellow resort go-ers at Maunday’s Club for the nightly champagne sabering ceremony. This special transition happens before the dynamic sunset and is sure to kick off your night not only with bubbly but the memory of having opened a bottle of the good stuff with a sword! For your first dinner at Cap Juluca, we love giving Uchu a try. With tables nestled around the utterly Instagrammable pool, dig into the Peruvian cushions on offer. We love how the menu here is split into Costa Coast, Selva Jungle, and Sierra Andes with something for everyone.

Wake up blissed out and start the day with a beach walk to breakfast. The spread at Cip’s by Cipriani is epic on its own, but the views overlooking the beach make it truly special. With guests recognizing one another from their previous repeat stays while getting up to fetch their next round at the buffet, it becomes clear that you’re sure to follow in their footsteps – this is simply the first of many stays at Cap Juluca! Be sure you have a hearty breakfast, because you’re headed out to sea before lunch.

…you can spend the entirety of the afternoon here snorkeling, birdwatching, and swimming with turtles.

Your SmartFlyer travel advisor has arranged for you to sail to Prickly Pear Cays today. This chain of uninhabited islands is teeming with rich coral reefs and lush vegetation. Depending on how long you want to stay, you can spend the entirety of the afternoon here snorkeling, birdwatching, and swimming with turtles. Or, for even more active travelers, windsurfing, water skiing, or scuba diving are available.

Once you return to the resort, it’s time to freshen up for dinner at Pimms, one of the most romantic restaurants on the island. Here, you’ll have the chance to enjoy elevated Anguillian cuisine and other Caribbean classics. You’re sure to relish the catch of the day paired with the perfect wine to wash it all down before a nightcap at the bar.

How is it already the final day of your ultimate Caribbean escape? Make the most of it by beginning the morning with an al fresco yoga session. We recommend biking over from your villa to the open-air pavilion where classes are conducted. No matter if you’re at a beginner or expert level, the small group class will be tailored to each guest’s abilities.

For lunch, you can’t miss out on The Cap Shack’s creative rum punches and beach barbeque tapas served from a vintage food truck. We adore how unpretentious it is, but the best part is that you can literally walk over from your lounger to The Cap Shack in your swimsuit! Cherish this perfect view on the platinum sands of Maundays Bay before retiring back to your lounger. Or, if you’re so inclined to pull yourself away from the beach, a spa treatment beckons at the newly renovated facility set to open in early 2024.

For dinner this evening, opt for either private dining under the stars if you’re seeking true intimacy, or, a Venetian-inspired dinner at Cip’s. Named for Belmond’s sister hotel, Cipriani in Venice, this menu will leave you full of fan favorites like the Cipriani carpaccio and delectable pasta. Take your time savoring each bite during this final dinner of the trip.

Depending on the time of your departure flight, consider squeezing in a tennis match with your travel partner. Or, if you’re in the market for lessons, work with your butler to book a session with the resort’s resident tennis pro. After one last breakfast at Cip’s, it’s time to head to the airport. If you’re flying back to Miami, there are direct flights from Anguilla to Florida. Alternatively, a private boat transfer to catch your international flight can be arranged.