Despite its small size, St. Maarten/St. Martin offers a surprising range of accommodations: large high-rise all-inclusive resorts, medium-size chain hotels catering to tour groups, small "bourgeois" hotels, locally owned guesthouses ranging from boutique-y to budget, not to mention villas, apartments, and, of course, timeshare complexes. As you leave the airport, it seems you can't go more than a few feet without someone hawking a new or expanded development. Remember, a government tax of between 5% and 8%, plus a service charge of 10% to 15% will be added to your hotel bill. Ask whether it's included in the original rates you're quoted.
Renting a Villa -- An increasingly popular lodging option on St. Maarten/St. Martin is villa rentals. Expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $68,000 per week in high season -- but you can save big if you're flexible enough to travel in the low or even shoulder season. Villas can be a great money-saver for large groups or families and are a smart option for travelers looking for a more private vacation experience. Wimco (tel. 800/932-3222 or 800/449-1553; www.wimco.com) is the acknowledged king of Caribbean villa living and represents dozens of properties from one- to nine-bedrooms. For high-end properties, look no further than Pierres Caraïbes, affiliated with Christie's Great Estates (on the French side: rue Kennedy, Marigot, tel. 590/29-21-46; on the Dutch side: Plaza del Lago, Simpson Bay Yacht Club, tel. 599/544-2622; www.pierres-caraibes.com). Jennifer's Vacation Villas (Plaza del Lago, Simpson Bay Yacht Club; tel. 599/544-3107; www.jennifersvacationvillas.com) arguably boasts the largest selection, with both villas and condos for rent, and caters to all budgets. All three companies will source drivers, chefs, even personal trainers.
Villas are particularly popular on St. Barts and, to a lesser degree, Anguilla and St. Maarten/St. Martin. Wimco (tel. 800/932-3222; www.wimco.com) is a reputable company handling properties on all three islands. For villas in St. Barts, St. Barth Properties (tel. 800-421-3396; www.stbarth.com) is affiliated with Sotheby's. St. Maarten is (in)famous for its timeshare/condo complexes. Members of RCI (tel. 317/805-9000; www.rci.com) or Interval International (tel. 888/784-3447; www.intervalworld.com) can look into the feasibility of exchanges.
Dutch St. Maarten -- Remember, a government tax of between 5% and 8%, plus a service charge of 10% to 15% will be added to your hotel bill. Ask whether it's included in the original rates you're quoted to save yourself a shock when you check out.
French St. Martin -- Hotels on French St. Martin add a 10% service charge and a taxe de séjour. This visitors' tax on rooms differs from hotel to hotel, depending on its classification, but is often $4 a day. Expect higher rates during Christmas week. Rates are quoted in either euros or dollars depending upon how establishments quoted them at the time of publication.
