Below are some tips and recommendations during your stay at Rainbow Beach Club but this is certainly not an exhaustive list but just some of our own favorites that we can personally recommend. Please email holiday@rainbowbeach.club with anything else you enjoy or want to let us know about for future guests and we will add your suggestions to our list; same goes if something did not live up to our recommendation (as one of our local friends said, a location is only as good - or bad - as it's last 3 weeks' reviews). 

Note that WhatsApp is used EVERYWHERE and it's a great way to book many of the places below rather than having to deal with international calling. If you don't have WhatsApp it's easy to create an account connected to your mobile number and most of the numbers below will also work with WhatsApp or you can make calls with WhatsApp without incurring international charges - you just use data. We suggest you create your WhatsApp account before you arrive, and you may want to create a group chat with those you are travelling with so as to make it easy to stay connected while you are visiting our beautiful island. If you don't have a current connection - WhatsApp will send the message when you do rather than failing to send.  

There are several restaurants and a supermarket and mini market a very short walking distance of Rainbow Beach Club but we do recommend going further afield either by renting a car for a few days or getting a taxi to see all that the beautiful island of Sint Maarten (Dutch)/St Martin (French) has to offer.  

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Getting around Sint Maarten

• Renting a car – there are lots of companies, but we like to recommend: Sax Car Rental - Sint Maarten who collect you from the airport and will take you back there when you return your car.  If you prefer another favorite such as Hertz, Enterprise, Ace, etc - then please contact them for competitive pricing or book online through a service such as Expedia, etc. 

• Taxis - a number of these companies have vans/small buses able to carry up to 15 people and will also take you to a location, such as Orient Beach on the other side of the island and wait for you: 

  • ​Benoit Big Taxi Driver SXM BIG: +1 (721) 523-0992

  • Irving Maduro Taxi 365: +1 (721) 552-9770

  • Taxi Samuel SXM: +1 (721) 523-6071

  • Taxi SXM: +1 (721) 542-1680

  • Mr Ray Janga Taxi Island Tours: +1 (721) 522-5791/+1 (721) 553-1967/raymond_janga@hotmail.com

 

Useful sites

• https://www.visitstmaarten.com/things-to-do – good site with lots of information. 

• Facebook:

  • ​Jeff Berger's Everything St. Maarten / St. Martin / SXM Facebook Group

  • SXM or Bust! 

  • SIMPLY SXM 
     

Supermarkets/Shopping

• ​Carrefour Supermarket. There are 4 locations on Sint Maarten. The smallest is a short walk from Rainbow Beach Club in Jordan Village across the road (about 3-5 mins walk from Rainbow Beach Club). Puerto Cupecoy (about 5 mins down the road when you turn left out of Rainbow Beach Club) has a slightly larger one and then there is Cole Bay and Bush Road which are driving distance or taxi. Bush Road has a larger gluten free selection although there is gluten free at all 4 locations. Note that Carrefour closes at 2pm on Sundays. 

• Super U is a French Supermarket with locations in Marigot and Hope Estate on the North of the Island. If you want to see a true French supermarket, then it's worth a trip plus wine is VERY reasonable as it's considered domestic so great for stocking up for your time in Sint Maarten or taking home if checking in luggage. 

• Mini markets: There are several including one across the road from Rainbow Beach Club open most hours. Items will be considerably more expensive, but you can purchase when other stores are closed. There is also a mini-market in Majo just off the roundabout near the beach. 
   

Good restaurants - there are over 400 on the island!!! 

Open Table is also increasingly available on the island allowing you to book directly online or the individual restaurant site may handle their own reservations. 

• Our personal favorite - L'Astrolabe SXM (near Orient Bay but worth the drive - definitely make a reservation!)​ Price fixed menu on Monday and Friday evenings with live music which includes Lobster as an option. Fantastic evening on all counts - we've been there MANY times :-). WhatsApp: +590 690 56-0205. Mention Rosalyn & Mike recommended.

• Jordan Village (across road from Rainbow Beach Club - approximately 3-5 mins walk; most places don't need a reservation)

  • Jule's Bakery - great morning bakery for pastries and coffee. Cash Only. 

  • Fat Tony's - great for steak, burgers, great pizza (take out or eat there). Tuesday night is steak night with live Caribbean music (lots of other options as well if you don't like steak). Get there early to get a seat. ​

  • In & Out Pizza. GREAT Pizzas

  • Bar Code - delicious and sometimes with live music. 

  • Tao Garden. Thai restaurant. Restaurant at end of main street around corner. 

  • Spaghetti House SXM. Italian

  • Cupecoy Brasserie. New with very good reviews (same owner as Tao Garden). 

• Cole Bay

  • Bamboo House - beautiful restaurant that looks over airport with gorgeous view - especially at sunset. Most recently we have not enjoyed dinner there but great for Happy Hour, cocktails and appetizers (they've removed some of their healthy options such as their Poke Bowl) and there is better sushi in other locations for more reasonable prices. Drive to Cole Bay Carrefour and they have shuttle that takes you up driveway across hill as parking is very limited. Or you can valet if you drive directly there but can get some traffic issues. If taxi just get taxi straight to restaurant. Gatsby Night is every Thursday night - the singer/band are amazing! 

• Mullet Beach

  • Kalatua Beach Restaurant​ - elegant, delicious food. Beach chairs are extra. 

  • Rosie's Snack Beach!!! Delicious local cuisine - ribs, chicken, etc. 

• Maho (you would have driven through Maho on your way from the airport)

  • Driftwood Boat Bar - right next to the beach with the planes, great to hang out for an afternoon with good food and drinks. Great to just hang out and watch the planes coming in right next to you.

  • Roma Italian Restaurant - lovely Italian restaurant. Best grilled octopus as well as many other dishes! Marco, owner/maître d will make you very welcome. 

  • Tortuga (restaurant at La Plage) – great dining - often with live music; service can be a bit slow BUT food is delicious. Get a table by the water and enjoy the sound of the waves through your meal. 

  • Jax Steakhouse - delicious steak and other options. 

  • Moulin Fou – Delicious French (can be pricey)

  • Creperie Cape Café – same side as La Plage, just up street. Delicious crepes including buckwheat for gluten free option. 

  • Alina - Creative sushi/Japanese. 2nd floor at casino across road.

  • 3 amigos - delicious Mexican food.

  • Other side of Sunset beach (the one the planes come over there are a lot more places - Sunset Bar and Grill, Morgan Hotel with Salt Restaurant, Oh Paris! Bakery, etc). 

• Puerto Cupecoy (turn left when pulling out of Rainbow Beach Club - about 5 mins drive, 15 mins walk)

  • Big Cees Waterfront Dining - fantastic seafood and the lobster is amazing. Order a plate of the mixed Patacones to share for an appetizer - you won't regret it!

  • Altro Bistro - Excellent French cuisine including price fixed menu as well as à la carte.

  • Rendezvous Lounge - excellent for all meals including delicious breakfast

  • Le Mediterraneen - delicious Mediterranean food. 

  • Mama Italian Restaurant - lots of delicious options from full meals to pizza.

• Simpson Bay 

  • Vesna Taverna – breakfast, lunch and dinner. Very creative/different menu. Reservations recommended.

  • Sint Maarten Yacht Club Restaurant - wonderful for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Live music on Wednesday nights. Fabulous burgers but everything is great. Apparently the best Bloody Mary on the island. 

  • Little Jerusalem – fantastic shawarma, kebabs, etc. Very casual. 

  • Pizza Italy – Wonderful pizza and salads. 

  • Reveil Sint Maarten - Breakfast/lunch – can be pricey but FANTASTIC food/variety. Largest breakfast/brunch menu anywhere. Cash Only. 

  • Carousel Bar-Toppers Gelato - Delicious gelato, some with Toppers Rhum. Also great for taking gifts back to friends/family. Toppers Restaurant & Bar in the back also has great food (and karoke later in the evening!).

  • Pineapple Pete/Wasabi Charlie - great if you have a group with lots of different tastes "I want Caribbean, well I want sushi and she wants a burger!". We find a little pricey but best way to handle multiple taste preferences and some very creative sushi options.  

  • The Red Piano - Welcoming piano players from all around the world, this amazing venue has live music 7 days a week.

• Grand Case - some of the best restaurants on the island! (reservations recommended)​

  • ​One by K - Cafe & Concept Store. 14/15 Rue Caraibes Gallerie Millenia, Grand Case, SXM​. Worth a special mention - if you are looking for beautiful casual clothing (shirts, pants, t-shirts, jackets, dresses), easy gifts to take home (bags, pillow covers, pictures, wallets and clothing) then visit the One by K Cafe & Concept Store. Their new concept store now has an adjacent cafe from by K's husband offering breakfast and lunch. We personally buy too much here :-)

• • ​L'Auberge Gourmande - fantastic French country food, some of the best anywhere

  • Spiga - wonderful restaurant with very creative cuisine. Under new ownership who seem to be maintiaing what everybody loved about the previous owners. 

  • La Villa Restaurant - French cuisine

  • LoLos - fantastic local cuisine. There are several locations close together - best for lunch during the daytime. Talk of the Town is one of our favorites. 

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Beaches to visit

The island has 37 beaches so there are many to visit. Although some beaches have nude bathing don't feel obliged. You can do whatever you are comfortable with. We particularly like the following:

• Cupecoy Beach - right off Rainbow Beach Club. Just go down the spiral staircase (code sent in emails the week before your trip) and you can sometimes walk the whole length. Clothing optional (nude) section down at far-right end if looking at water although sometimes you need to swim part of the way and you don't have to be nude to go there. 

• Mullet Beach. Mullet Bay, awarded Sint Maarten / Saint Martin’s best beach (visitstmaarten.com). Just 5 mins down the road from Rainbow Beach Club or you can get the shuttle from Mullet at 14 across the road. 

• Orient Beach (nude beach far right quarter when looking at water): Club Orient: The Caribbean's Most Famous Nude Beach (gonomad.com). Place to go if you like windsurfing and better in morning than late afternoon. Like other beaches that are clothing optional - you don't have to be nude to go there. 

• Grand Case - worth going to with a usually very calm beach, picturesque bridge and various great places to eat and drink. If during the day try the "Lolos" (local food) such as Talk of the Town or somewhere more luxurious such as Rainbow Cafe (no connection with Rainbow Beach Club although not sure if they are currenty open). 
   

Some recommended activities: 

• See TripAdvisor summary

• Rhino Safari Tours. An absolute MUST do (although no actual rhinos or safari involved). Incredible fun and well run. Go for 2.5hrs which includes snorkeling. Mention you are staying at Rainbow Beach Club (through Mike & Ros) and you will 20% discount on their regular pricing! Cannot recommend this activity enough! 

• Zip line – Rainforest adventures. Really really fun. There is a traditional small zipline and then a harness zipline which is even fun for the more nervous. Fastest way down a mountain! If you don't think ziplining is your thing you can still get the chairlift up to the top to see the spectacular view and then just get the chairlift back down for a cheaper cost. 

• Celine Charters – fantastic day on luxury catamaran. Captain: Neil Roebert (celinecharterssxm@gmail.com). Light breakfast, delicious full lunch cooked by chef on board and all alcohol plus places you can’t get to except by boat for snorkeling. He also does different things on different days such as Anguilla (adjacent island which is English) on Tuesdays. Neil is also available for private charter for larger groups. Mention Mike & Ros recommended.     

• SXM Flying Dress Photo Shoot: Want your photo taken in a beautiful location in a gorgeous dress floating behind you - then this could be a fun "never thought to do this" holiday activity. See: https://www.facebook.com/flyingdressSXM and #sxmflyingdress. 

• Pinel Island – recommend Yellow Beach to book chairs and eat lunch. You get shuttle boat over to island unless you want to kayak there/back which is from same location. Shuttle is 12 Euro return. Not sure on cost of Kayak. Great island to hike around and then relax on beach. Yellow Beach restaurant at Pinel island is fantastic (WhatsApp: +590 690 33 88 33). We suggest contacting them to reserve chairs and possibly space for lunch before you go to confirm they have availability. Chairs are $25 per pair. 

• Tango Dinner Cruise - wonderful way to spend the late afternoon. 

• Parrotville - Parrot Ville Bird Park in Sint Maarten. Also this link. 

• Loterie Farm: Private nature reserve Saint Marteen Caribbean, jungle pool and more advanced zipline. 

• Phillipsburg Boardwalk. Park at Bobbie’s Marina right past Sol Gas station on your right. Fun shops, bars and restaurants. 

• Dive - Saba Island. The island to the South of Sint Maarten. The famous "King Kong Island" from the original movie. Said to have THE best diving in the region. 

• Anguila by Ferry. Celine Charters above do a day trip to Anguilla but also some other options. 

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Beauty/Spa

• Carita Spa: Carita Spa Sint Maarten direct from Paris. Whatsapp: +1 (721) 527-2969. Great facials, massage, manicure/pedicure and other services. Open Tues-Saturday. Mention Rosalyn recommended. 

• Hairdresser - Miguel's Hair Salon at the Atrium (Simpson Bay): Excellent hairdresser who does all treatments (cut, color, conditioning, etc) and you will be blown away at how affordable if you are used to US prices. Only by Appointment. WhatsApp: +1 (721) 522-8543. Mention Rosalyn recommended. 

• Beisi - massage in your condo. Wonderful massage and Beisi brings everything with her (table, towels, oils, etc). Whatsapp: +58 412-3138797. $90 for 60 minutes or $130 for 90 minutes and she can do several back to back. Mention Rosalyn recommended.