"Beachfront" can mean on the sand, behind a row of bushes or five minutes down a lane. Here's how to find out which, and what staying right by the water is really like.
On Saint Martin's Island, "beachfront" gets used for a lot of places. Some are on the sand, some are behind a strip of trees and bushes, and some are a short walk down a lane. Saint Martin's is narrow, so most places are close to some beach anyway. The useful questions are which beach, how close, and what that beach is like. Here's how to check, from the team at El Marena Eco Resort near Chera Dip.
We don't call ourselves beachfront: our tents are close to the beach near Chera Dip, and our cottages are among the trees nearby. The island opens only in the season the government sets. Last season (2025–26) it was open from 1 November to 31 January, with day trips only in November; the 2026–27 rules weren't out when we wrote this (October 2026).
What "beachfront" can mean
- On the sand: step out and you're on the beach.
- Behind the bushes: a strip of trees or keya bushes between you and the sand, a minute or two on foot.
- Across a lane: a path or a small road to cross first.
- "Near the beach": a few minutes' walk, with no view of the water.
By the water on each side of the island
- North, by the jetty: the busiest beach. The ships dock around midday and leave at about 3 to 3:30 pm, so it's lively and crowded in between.
- West: the sunset side, looking over the open Bay of Bengal, with fishing boats pulled up on the sand.
- East: the sunrise side, facing the mainland coast across the water.
- South, near Chera Dip: rocky, quiet and very dark at night. At low tide you can walk across to Chera Dip.
Our article on the island's beaches goes through each side in more detail.
What listings don't tell you
- The crowds: right by the north beach, the day-trippers are in front of you every afternoon.
- The tide: at high tide the sea comes much further up the beach, and around Chera Dip it covers the walk across.
- The shore: some stretches are soft sand, others are sharp coral rock. Rocky shores need sandals or water shoes.
- The nights: last season (2025–26), lights, loud music and barbecue parties weren't allowed on the beach at night. Being by the beach means waves and stars, not a beach party.
- Children: close to the water is lovely in daylight, but small children need an adult within arm's reach, and the rocks are no place to be after dark.
How to check a "beachfront" listing
- How many minutes' walk to the water, and is there a lane or a road in between?
- Which side of the island, and which beach?
- Sandy or rocky in front?
- A phone photo taken from the door towards the sea, today, not an edited listing photo.
- The map pin, and the price and dates in writing before you pay an advance.
Looking for a list of beachfront hotels?
Lists of Saint Martin's "beachfront hotels" go out of date fast and are often copied from one site to the next. We only write about what we know first-hand, so we don't keep a list of other hotels. Use the checks above on any list you find, and our hotels in Saint Martin guide has more on choosing between a hotel, resort, cottage or tent.
Where El Marena is
We're near Chera Dip beach at the quiet southern end of the island, away from the busy jetty side. Our tents are the closest to the beach: you fall asleep to the sound of the waves. The duplex cottages and single cottages are among the trees nearby, and from the lookout on top of each duplex you can watch the sunrise and sunset. For a special evening, ask us about a candlelight dinner on the beach (paid extra).
From the jetty it's about 25 minutes by local van, rickshaw or bike. Send us your dates on WhatsApp and we'll tell you what's free, and send a photo of the stay if you'd like one. Our sea view resort article has more on checking a view.
