Esmeralda Resort

Frommer's Review

Originally conceived as a site for a single private villa, and then for a semiprivate club, this hillside housing development gives the appearance of a well-maintained compound of Creole-inspired villas on sloping terrain that's interspersed with lush gardens. It lies within a 25-minute taxi ride northeast of Queen Juliana Airport. Opening onto Orient Beach, the Esmeralda blossomed into a full-scale resort in the early 1990s, offering views over Orient Bay and a decidedly French focus. Each of the 18 Spanish mission-style, tile-roofed villas can be configured into four separate units by locking or unlocking the doors between rooms. Each individual unit contains a king-size or two double beds, a kitchenette, a shower or tub bathroom, a terrace, and a private entrance. Each villa has a communal pool, which creates the feeling of a private club.

L'Astrolabe serves French food at breakfast and dinner daily. At lunch, the hotel issues an ID card that can be used for discounts at any of a half-dozen restaurants along the nearby beach.

Facilities:
2 restaurants; bar; 18 outdoor pools; 2 tennis courts; parasailing; scuba diving; snorkeling; water-skiing; horseback riding (nearby); car rental; limited room service; massage; babysitting; laundry service

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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