How to choose a place to stay on Saint Martin's Island: which end of the island suits you, which kind of room you need, and five questions to ask before you pay anyone.
Saint Martin's is small, but where you sleep still shapes the whole trip. The two big choices are which end of the island you stay at, and what kind of room you need. We run El Marena Eco Resort near Chera Dip, so we're biased about the south, but the questions below work wherever you book.
Overnight stays depend on the season's rules. Last season (2025–26) they were allowed in December and January but not in November. The 2026–27 rules weren't out when we wrote this (October 2026).
The jetty side or the south?
The ships dock at the jetty at the north end, the busiest part of the island. Staying there keeps you close to the jetty, and to the crowds.
The south around Chera Dip is quieter, with rocky shores, fewer people and dark, starry skies at night. From the south you can walk to Chera Dip at low tide early in the morning, before the day-trippers arrive. It's a short ride from the jetty by local van, rickshaw or bike.
Cottage or tent?
Think about your group, your budget and how much comfort you want. At El Marena the choice looks like this:
- Duplex cottage (up to 4, ৳4,000–৳6,000): a two-storey wooden cottage on stilts with a double bed, a sleeping loft, an attached bathroom, a balcony, a personal hammock and a lookout tower. Complimentary breakfast included.
- Single cottage (up to 2, ৳2,000–৳3,000): a simple room with a double bed, a wardrobe and a fan, and a common bathroom. Our budget cottage.
- Tent (for 2, ৳1,000–৳1,500): close to the beach, with a common bathroom. A night under the stars on a small budget.
All prices are for the whole cottage or tent, not per person, and depend on the day of the week. Our article on what a Saint Martin trip costs breaks the numbers down.
Which stay suits whom
- Families: a duplex sleeps four, and children can use the playground and the football ground. The loft is up a ladder, so keep an eye on little ones.
- Couples: a single cottage on the quiet south side, or a duplex if you want your own bathroom, a balcony and a hammock. Ask about a candlelight dinner on the beach (paid extra).
- Friends on a budget: share a duplex four ways, or take tents.
- Early risers and photographers: the south, for sunrise, the sunset over the rocks and Chera Dip at low tide.
Five questions to ask before you book anywhere
- Is the price for the whole room or per person?
- Is the bathroom attached or shared?
- Where exactly is it, and how do I get there from the jetty?
- What time are check-in and check-out, and do they fit the ship times?
- What's included (breakfast, water), and what costs extra?
Our answers: prices are for the whole cottage or tent; duplex cottages have an attached bathroom, while single cottages and tents share a common one; we're near Chera Dip, a short van, rickshaw or bike ride south of the jetty; check-in is from 1:00 pm and check-out by 12:00 pm (noon); and what's free and what's extra is listed on each stay page, like the duplex cottage.
How to book
We take bookings on WhatsApp or by phone. Send us your dates and group size, and we'll confirm availability and the total and explain the payment and cancellation terms in the chat. We can book your ship seats in the same chat. More about us is on our about page.
