I recently visited La Samanna, a Belmond Hotel, located on Baie Longue (Long Bay) on the Caribbean island of St. Martin. Although most of the resort is on the French side of St. Martin, a very small piece sits on the Dutch side, Sint-Maarten, making it possible to walk from France to Holland, and back again, by taking two steps. Of course, since most of the resort’s guests speak English, everyone working at the resort speaks English as well.

The 5-Star La Samanna is considered one of the most upscale resorts in the Caribbean in all categories — price, location, cuisine and comfort.

© Joanna Tricorache

Until the early 1970s La Samanna did not exist, but a 55-acre plot, sitting above a crescent-shaped beach, was purchased by James Frankel and his wife Nicole, who loved the location and wanted to use it for family vacations. Frankel hired Happy Ward, an architect from a Barbados studio, to design a white, Mediterranean-style house for his family. The private home overlooked Baie Longue, one of the island’s most secluded beaches. Shortly after purchasing the land, Frankel was told his property was also zoned for commercial use, so he asked his architect to switch plans and design a beautiful, relaxing resort where families and couples could enjoy a vacation with a French ambiance.

When the property opened for guests in 1973, Happy Ward had designed several Caribbean-style cottages and decorated the land with lush green gardens, palm trees and colorful flowers that quickly attracted the area’s hummingbirds. The hotel was named La Samanna, using the first names of Frankel’s three daughters, Samantha, Anouk and Nathalie. In time, more guestrooms and large villas were constructed, and dining facilities were added, along with a luxurious spa. And because of Frankel’s love of everything French, he made sure the entire resort radiated joie de vivre. Frankel liked to say La Samanna was “camping for the rich.” In many ways the property is like a resort on the French Riviera, but in the Caribbean.

© Joanna Tricorache

Happy Ward designed many of the 25 guestrooms, 51 suites and eight spacious villas. Over time, the property added two Omni tennis courts (synthetic grass surface) and a hard court, a luxurious spa, and its own boat for guest activities. When strolling along the property’s many flowered paths and gardens that meander throughout the resort, I heard little noise, only the sound of hummingbirds … surprising considering this is not an adult-only resort, and families and children of any age are welcome, as the original owner insisted.

© Joanna Tricorache

All the accommodations are designed in the Mediterranean-style with white stucco walls and terracotta rooftops. Some suites offer outdoor private plunge pools, other pools are placed in areas of the property featuring stunning views of the sea, with cozy cabanas and colorful umbrellas. A buffet breakfast is offered each morning on the terrace at Corail. La Samanna’s dinner restaurant, L’Oursin, serves grilled fish, as well as locally caught lobster. Laplaj offers an Italian-style lunch including chargrilled or baked catch of the day, with lemon and olive oil sauce. There are several other dining and bar venues, from the pool deck to the white sands of Baie Longue, where guests can order drinks and French and Caribbean cuisine.

© Joanna Tricorache

I walked through several of the large, multiroom villas that come equipped with modern kitchens where guests can do their own cooking or request the use of a hotel chef. A private pool is also included with some of the villas. La Cave is the wine cellar where private dining can be arranged, or a tasting menu offered from the resort’s 12,000 bottles.

La Samanna, a Belmond Hotel, is open from mid-November to late July. It is closed during hurricane season, August–mid-November. The hotel became affiliated with Orient Express Hotels in 1996 and then became a Belmond property when OEH was renamed in 2014.

La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel, St. Martin

Baie Longue Terres Basses Saint Martin
97064 St. Martin
tel 590 590 87 64 00