Discover Belmond luxury hotels in Asia, the US, the UK and Mexico in St Martin, St Martin

Escape the throngs who arrive on colossal cruise ships, and Saint Martin is a surprisingly serene oasis of sandy beaches fringed by wild jungles and dotted by the occasional thatch-roofed bar. The Dutch side is more populous and action-packed; the main city of Philipsburg dazzles with casinos, duty-free shops and nightclubs. Over on the French side, Marigot is a Caribbean counterpart to St Tropez, with upscale boutiques, fine dining and perfectly tanned, kaftan-clad jetsetters. Whichever side you prefer, both have laid-back rum bars, superlative views and reefs filled with a Caribbean kaleidoscope of sealife.