Gay Friendly Hotels St Maarten

Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels in St Maarten (2024 Updated)

The Sint Maarten Islands are considered a safe destination for LGBT tourists. LGBT people tend to face no discrimination issues in resorts and very touristic areas. Most Sint Maartens inhabitants are quite tolerant of same-sex relationships and in the islands we can find some gay friendly hotels St Maarten.

Sint Maarten is noted as an LGBT-friendly travel destination, with various venues, hotels, beaches, bars and restaurants catering to LGBT clientele or otherwise advertising as welcoming. Numerous gay cruises visit the island every year.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Sint Maarten may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal in Sint Maarten, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but same-sex marriage is not legal. Same-sex couples with Dutch nationality must travel to the Netherlands to get married and legal protection of marriage is not unconditional.

Sint Maarten, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is a country on the southern part of a Caribbean island shared with Saint Martin, a French overseas collectivity. Its natural features span lagoons, beaches and salt pans. The capital, Philipsburg, has cobblestone streets and colorful, colonial-style buildings lining its Front Street shopping area. The port is a popular cruise-ship stop.

 

 Top attractions to visit in St Martin / St Maarten

 

Best Day Trips in St Maarten

See all Day Trips in St Maarten on GetYourGuide.

 

1. Sonesta Ocean Point Resort Adults Only 5* – Gay Friendly Hotels St Maarten

Sonesta Ocean Point Resort
Sonesta Ocean Point Resort

The Sonesta Resorts are two of only three properties registered on St. Maarten, totaling 49 hotels and resorts included in the IGLTA listing throughout the entire Caribbean. “St. Maarten has long been a LGBT-friendly destination and we are proud to be included as a resource for the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association and welcome members to enjoy a safe, fun and relaxing vacation at our beautiful hotels.

Offering an outdoor swimming pool and a restaurant, Sonesta Ocean Point Resort-All Inclusive is located in Maho Reef, 200 m from the sea. Free WiFi access is available in this resort.

The suites will provide you with a satellite TV, iPod dock and air conditioning. Featuring a bath or shower, private bathrooms also come with a hairdryer. You can enjoy sea view and pool view from the room. The resort offers 3 outdoor swimming pools and 8 restaurants as well.

At Sonesta Ocean Point Resort-All Inclusive you will find a fitness centre. Other facilities offered at the property include entertainment staff, a ticket service and a tour desk. Guests will also have full all-inclusive access to Sonesta Maho Beach Resort.

Sonesta Ocean Point Resort embraces a contemporary Caribbean style, offering an adults-only, limitless all-inclusive vacation experience, while bringing style, luxury and outstanding service to Sint Maarten. Set in the most spectacular location with breathtaking views over Maho Bay, adjacent to Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa, the 130 all-suite ultra-luxurious yet sustainable “resort within a resort” sits on the westernmost point of the island and features exclusively three pools including the Edge pool with a zero entry cliff side beach, four bars and two restaurants including the signature Azul restaurant and other resort amenities such as 24-hour room service, state-of-the-art fitness center, an open-air wellness area and private cabanas.

Amenities are complemented by exemplary service from personalized concierges and Butler service in the top 25 suite categories for extra comfort and next level

The PEOPLE hired at Sonesta Ocean Point honestly make the 5th star happen. The location, amenities, hotel, restaurants, etc are absolutely wonderful, but the people on staff are what make it truly special. They deserve ALL of the credit for my amazing stay!

Located just 5 minutes away from the airport, Sonesta Ocean Point is BY FAR the nicest all-inclusive resort we’ve stayed at. In fact, its one of the best resorts we’ve ever stayed at, PERIOD.

September is usually quiet season on the island, and that was even more so the case with COVID. Sonesta Ocean point is a large resort, and we essentially had it all to ourselves- which was incredible. Maho beach, a popular tourist attraction where planes fly in directly overhead, is adjacent to the resort. I’m told the beach is typically packed; yet we were literally the only people on it during our stay- awesome!

We booked a butler suite and the room was sanitized & extremely clean upon our arrival. Housekeeping left us a personalized note congratulating us on our nuptials- a thoughtful touch! COVID understandably has people on edge- but there are sanitizing stations everywhere on the premises & we never once felt that the resort cut corners when it comes to cleanliness & safety. All of the facilities including the gym were spotless.

The butlers assigned to us- Sandrine, Thime, Yannick, etc- were accessible by mobile phone & happy to help at a moment’s notice. Whether it was to place a food order, book a tour, break change for tips, etc, they were all fabulous and made our stay that much more enjoyable.

The food- easily the best we’ve had as far as all-inclusives go. Restaurant food is made to order (not buffet style) and the room service menu is solid. Lunch & dinner restaurant options change daily & are well-portioned. The hosts & servers here were attentive & checked in frequently: Sharon, Tiffany, Anthony, Angel, etc- thank you!

The spa has options for both indoor and outdoor massages. We booked a couples massage on the point- a scenic gazebo on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Room service is fast and again the food is very good. You are provided with an espresso machine in the room but no coffee and tea maker. Not everyone enjoys espresso but whenever I called for a pot of tea it was provided with no issues. We used room service for breakfast most days. All servers were pleasant and made you feel like they were glad to be there.Not so much for some of that staff who take the orders over the phone.

We used both the bar at the Azul and one near our room at the pool. Bar service was good and they even came over a few times to see if we needed anything. My only comment here is that after New Years Eve they we poorly stocked for days, No Corona beer, no mix for a Bloody Mary, no Champagne etc. I understand running short for a day but not 3 or 4 days.

Entertainment is scarce unless you join what is put on for the Maho Resort which is not adults only an appears to have a total different clientele.

To my surprise Sonesta Ocean Point Adult Only was up to my expectations!! I selected the roof top bedroom with butler services and …wow.. it was splendid!!

The room was far bigger than expected and came with a kitchen area included nespresso coffee machine fridge and cooler with ice.

Butler’ services included amongst others, a personal GSM to call one’s butler upon request and a selection of alcoholic beverage bottles, complimentary water bottles, juices etc.

Fitness room is excellent: water, fruits, towels, sanitary wipes are provided for free. Machines are in number so no queue.

Bars and Restaurants: according to your likes, one of them should satisfy you. Closed by restaurants outside the resorts are also available within walking distance.
Each of them carry a special atmosphere with live band music at night.

Spa: nice and clean and treatments are a must!

Beaches and swimming pool: choices are yours from the included one if you booked rooms on the lower floor to the more private ones… all is there.. and kabanas beds are there to relax!

Wifi: no experience of bad connection but depending of the weather : bearing in mind that we are on an island.

Gay Friendly Hotels Sint Maarten
Gay Friendly Hotels Sint Maarten

How much does a room costs at Sonesta Ocean Point Resort ?

Prices start 521 $/night for Junior Suite King with Ocean View. The Sunset Butler Suite
is 725$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples. double room features air conditioning.

This suite features a seating area, satellite TV and tile/marble floor. Butler service will be provided.

Where to book onlineSonesta Ocean Point Resort- All Inclusive – Adults Only – Gay Friendly Hotels Sint Maarten – you can find the best hotels deals in Sint Maarten during SXM Festival which  is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Sint Maarten on  Booking.com or Expedia.com  and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

2. Villa Rainbow 3* – LGBT Friendly Hotels St Maarten

Villa Rainbow
Villa Rainbow

Villa Rainbow is the small luxury exclusively-gay guesthouse of St Martin, located on top of the island with breathtaking views on the Caribbean sea. Still it is only a few minutes from the various beaches.The stone villa has the old house charm with full modern amenities including air conditioning, free wifi, individual fridges and safe, etc. Spacious and elegant independant rooms are in the middle of a lush tropical garden with hundreds of orchids. A large mosaic pool and sun deck, huge breakfast terrace, and other areas welcome guests from all over the world.

The only gay resort (B&B) of the Caribbean. An amazing experience, even in low season. The room is clean and comfortable with a spacious bathroom and shower area. Direct access to the pool. Jean-Louis and Chris did an amazing job in providing a nice variety of breakfast every morning even when we had to leave early for a diving trip.The view is amazing, this place is a little paradise. It is a place we would choose to come back to

The house, the gardens, the view are all spectacular. Mostly though I think we loved the host and his partner for their warm and friendly hospitality. There was a casual ease to the place that created the perfect environment for relaxing. It was easy to make friends with others staying at the hotel – most people seem to return every year. Whether you’re looking for a carefree hideaway or a central location for exploring different beaches every day, I couldn’t recommend Villa Rainbow more highly.

The VILLA RAINBOW is a wonderful stone house very close to the highest point on the island and a truly gay friendly hotels St Maarten. The room we stayed in was part of the main house on the lower level with a beautiful pool and hot tub right outside our door! Our quarters were spacious and the shower area a former wine cellar. The refrigerator in the room was stocked with cold water and other provisions. We are late risers and had breakfast to ourselves. The morning meal was a lovely spread of pastries, cheese, bread and jam, juice and coffee— all really delicious. Once you make it down the steep mountain from the villa, there are several beaches and restaurants just 15 minutes away.

Paradise is difficult to describe in words but you will experience it when you arrive at the Villa Rainbow. This gay B & B is perched high in the mountains overlooking the town and harbor of Marigot, St. Martin. The villa is the charming home of hosts Christopher and Jean-Louis. The house is surrounded by luscious greenery and flowers of rich vibrant colors. The clothing-optional pool deck was the site of relaxing, drinking cocktails and engaging conversation with other guests.

Each of the villa’s guest rooms are elegantly decorated in island style. Our breakfasts were unique and delicious French breakfasts. The wine and cocktails were welcome, host provided treat, after a busy day of sightseeing. Fortunately Villa Rainbow it didn’t sustain the devastation from Hurricane Irma that other popular tourist sites like Orient Bay and Grand Case suffered. Everywhere on the island reconstruction is proceeding. If you decide to go know Villa Rainbow know it is a challenge to find but once you are there you will not want to leave.

The Villa itself is absolutely incredible. Chris and Jean-Louis, as hosts, go out of their way to help you settle in and make your most of the time on the island with fantastic maps and tips on the best beaches and places to eat. The terrace at the back of the Villa is above the pool and spa and is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens with views out toward Marigot, Cupecoy and the ocean. We loved having breakfast and “wine time” with other guests each day up there. Our room was directly underneath the terrace facing out to the pool.

The room was generously sized with a king bed, ample storage space, a separate double sink, toilet and huge shower room. Chris also stocks the room with a few extra goodies for your arrival! The pool is filled with fresh rainwater and while a little cool, is perfect for refreshing first thing in the morning or in the evening. Each afternoon when we returned from a day of beaching or exploring Chris would also start up the spa. The pool and spa area are also clothing optional. There is free wi-fi throughout and tea/coffee facilities available 24/7.

As big beach folks we spent quite a bit of time at a few of St Martin’s finest. Chris even provided us with a cooler bag so we could take our own drinks and food for some of the more remote locations. Our favourites were Cupecoy (hire some chairs, an umbrella and order a few buckets of beers for a fantastic day), Happy Bay, Baie Rouge and Pinel Island (stunning).

Other things we did while on the island when we weren’t at a beach that were a lot of fun, included exploring Marigot, Fort Louis and the Saturday markets, watching the planes arrive and depart at Maho Beach, Duty Free Shopping in Phillipsburg (pick a day when there are few or no ships in port) and a day trip to Tintamarre. We had ambitious plans to visit some of the other islands close to St Martin but our beach days were just too good to give up so we saved those as something for our next visit.

Evening meals were a particular highlight and I have to say there we didn’t have one bad meal the whole time we were in St Martin. Grand Case was hard to pass up with such a great atmosphere and options to choose from and we spent at least 4 evenings here trying different places. Our recommendations in Grand Case – La Villa and Calmos Cafe were delicious and of the two Lolos we preferred Sky’s the Limit. One evening we drove down to Loterie Farm for a fantastic meal and cocktails and another, over to Orient Bay Village to La Voile Blanche (delicious).

St Martin really did have everything we were looking for and Villa Rainbow was a perfect home for us! The real highlight of our time there though were the other guests and enjoying their company. We spent days at the beach and evening meals with a couple of others who are now good friends that we keep in contact with. I couldn’t recommend Villa Rainbow enough and it’s certainly a place we hope to return to when we are back in the Caribbean.

Gay Friendly Hotels St Maarten
Gay Friendly Hotels St Maarten

How much does a room costs at Villa Rainbow ?

Prices start 85 $/night for Double Room.

Where to book onlineSonesta Ocean Point Resort- All Inclusive – Adults Only – Gay Friendly Hotels St Maarten – you can find the best hotels deals in Sint Maarten during SXM Festival which  is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Sint Maarten on  Booking.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

3. Belmond La Samanna 5* – Gay Friendly Hotels St Maarten

Belmond La Samanna
Belmond La Samanna

Belmond La Samanna is a 5-star beachfront resort on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. Overlooking Baie Longue, it features luxury spa facilities and offers sailing trips to neighbouring islands.

All rooms at Belmond La Samanna have private balconies and satellite TV. Wi-Fi is free in all rooms, and the bathrooms have oversized cotton towels.

Gourmet dishes are served in the elegant L’Oursin, and Baie Longue Bar offers pool-side dining and views of Baie Long Beach. Dine on your private terrace or balcony and later enjoy a drink from the wine cellar.

Belmond La Samanna’s spa offers relaxing massage treatments and yoga and pilates classes. The hotel has an outdoor pool with a sun terrace, and watersports including diving and water skiing are available on the beach.Experience the ultimate St. Martin luxury resort. It’s a place where dazzling white buildings pop against an azure sky, and a platinum stretch of private beach is dotted with cabanas. Constantly ranked among the region’s top ten hotels, Belmond La Samanna is a garden paradise in which to enjoy an alfresco massage, or lie in a hammock, lulled by the waves. Take a day cruise around the island or head into town to enjoy the vibrant scene. There’s always a touch of romance in the air.

The many photographs of the La Samanna and it’s beach do it justice – vacationing here was just as we’d have imagined from the pictures and description: luxurious, tranquil, well run. The property is spread out enough for privacy without being too large to walk.

The beach is of a perfect size, and the water activities are well run and easy to arrange. Food and drink are everywhere available, top quality, and priced high. The staff is professional and experienced and courteous without overdoing the warmth – this is a well-run resort business, and the emphasis is on competence and efficiency. I think that’s fine and in keeping with the luxurious character of the resort.

The clientele is monied, relatively dressy in the evenings, and groups kept to themselves. Just as you’d expect at a luxury spot.

The common areas and some rooms are renovated and chic – these you can see on La Samanna’s website – they’re strikingly beautiful. Unrenovated rooms have a distinct mid-90s vibe and show some wear. We were upgraded from a basic room to a beachfront suite with kitchen that was not renovated – room K10. We loved the suite – the ability to cook for ourselves sometimes (there are good grocery stores a 10 minute drive away) – the relaxing patio, sprawling out in the living room. I can imagine that if we’d actually paid for the suite, we’d have been disappointed in its somewhat dated appearance. But as a substantial upgrade – super.

During our stay, we appeared to be the only gay couple, and one of the youngest couples, too. But we felt entirely comfortable both in relation to the staff and with respect to the other guests

Our second day at La Samanna, there was an absolutely fabulous gay wedding. The hotel set up an incredible sunset wedding for two lucky men, and I saw the festivities from afar. I cannot tell you how lovely the staff were and how special this event was – I wish I had been invited. One never knows how accepting other cultures might be of gay couples, but at La Semanna, the resort staff makes sure that everyone has an experience that exceeds expectations. As it should be.

Be sure to rent a car for your entire stay. It’s only 10 minutes to the airport but La Samanna is pretty isolated. Stock up on your supplies at the closest supermarket (Marigot or Maho) liquor, food, etc. We had croissants and sandwiches from Sarafina’s Bakery about a 15 min drive away. Ate and drank all day on the beach, then splurged on a dinner in the eve.Guests include honeymoon couples, retirees, wall street types, straight/gay, and models.

Although we saw a few families w/children, we wouldn’t recommend you bring the kiddies along unless you are ok with them hanging poolside or beach side with topless, thong wearing cougars and cigar smoking moguls. Americans often get culture shocked here. Please remember European rules apply, nudity and smoking are tolerated and sometimes encouraged. Leave the kids at Grandma’s and enjoy the Monaco type Atmosphere. You deserve it!

The facilities were gorgeous and very clean. The bed was very comfortable. The food was very good. The staff was extremely helpful, thoughtful, and pleasant at all times. This resort is very laid back, so if peace and tranquility is your thing, you will definitely find it here. They do have a couple of nice pools and a water sports activity hut right on the beach with some great offerings (diving, jet ski’s, paddle boards, etc). It’s also a very quick taxi ride to more upbeat offerings if that’s your thing.

Overall, La Samanna is a beautiful, well maintained resort with very friendly staff. The views from everywhere was incredible and the suites were very nice and comfortably decorated with fantastic ocean views. The resort is located is a very private section of the island but only 10-15 minutes from many restaurants and activities.

My main reason for rating a 4 vs. a 5 was that the beach was extremely rocky which made it difficult to enter and swim in. While this is not the resorts fault, the pictures on the website do not show the rocks on the beach which is very misleading given that many people, including myself choose a resort for it’s beach. The other minor issue we had was with the buffet breakfast. While it was generally very good, it you just wanted a light breakfast,you had to pay $35 per person for the buffet or drive off property.

Gay Friendly Hotels St Maarten
Gay Friendly Hotels St Maarten

How much does a room costs at Belmond La Samanna ?

Prices start 1126 $/night for Deluxe Ocean View Room. The One-Bedroom Suite with Plunge Pool is 1926$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples. double room features air conditioning.

This suite features a private plunge pool, a covered gazebo and luxurious lounge furniture on the personal rooftop solarium.

Where to book onlineBelmond La Samanna – Gay Friendly Hotels St Maarten – you can find the best hotels deals in Sint Maarten during SXM Festival which  is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Sint Maarten on  Booking.com or Expedia.com  and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

 

by Sorin

Sorin is a freelance travel writer. He is an experienced travel writer and traveller. Since 2012 he explored more than 60 countries on 4 continents: Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Currently is based in Romania after spending the last 7 years in Myanmar.