Pros

  • Great location on Simpson Bay, near shops and restaurants
  • Good value considering the stylish rooms and range of features
  • Large, scenic beach
  • Modern rooms, all with full kitchens; most have Murphy beds
  • Four on-site restaurants
  • Six pools, some with a pool bar
  • Convenience store, casino, water sports provider, and spa
  • Two tennis courts
  • Free Wi-Fi
See More Pros

Cons

  • Lengthy check-in time
  • View of from the room and noise level varies by building
  • Fee for fitness center
See More Cons

Bottom Line

Simpson Bay Resort & Marina was impacted by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. The hotel is currently closed for repairs and hopes to reopen in Spring 2018. We will update our review as soon as we have more information. This upper-middle-range resort in popular and beautiful Simpson Bay on the Dutch side is one of the best values on the island. It's enormous, especially for St. Maarten, with 342 rooms, six pools, four restaurants, and a long beach. The rooms are stylish and modern and have full kitchens, king beds, flat-screen TVs, and memory foam mattresses. Although the resort is huge, it doesn’t have a big-box, cheesy feel. There are a few small annoyances, including a fee to use the fitness center, a long check-in time, and lukewarm showers at certain times of the day. Those willing to trade in-room kitchens for the option of an all-inclusive package should consider the Divi Little Bay Beach Resort.

See More Bottom Line

Amenities

  • Casino
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Pool
  • Spa

Oyster Hotel Review

Simpson Bay Resort & Marina

Scene

Huge, sprawling resort that is both laid-back and lively, with self-catering accommodations

Guests are provided with a map when checking in at the resort and they need it. The property encompasses eight buildings (not counting the villas by the beach), six pools, and four restaurants, and the sprawling, fairly hilly property requires a lot of walking. There is plenty of parking around the resort and you will most likely get a spot right next to your room, but driving the narrow roads around the property can be tricky. There is a security booth when entering the buildings with guest rooms and guests are provided with a parking pass at check-in. All of the amenities are shared between the Simpson Bay Resort and The Villas section. 

The lobby is large and cavernous with reception on one side, a large activities desk on the other, a car rental desk, and a lobby bar in the back. There are two large seating areas with couches as well as bar seating along windows that overlook the ocean. Some guests complain about a lengthy check-in process, and indeed, the velvet ropes in front of the reception desk are not a promising sign.

The numerous pools are spread throughout the resort so your room is never far from water. The hotel has an attractive waterfront area that has two restaurants and Aqua Mania, the on-site water sports provider. There is a building in the center of the resort that houses the casino, the Italian restaurant, and the deli-convenience store. Simpson Bay Resort is a time-share property and although there are some posters around the lobby and other public areas, this aspect is not pushed. However, this may mean that some of the better units get rented out first to owners.

Guests are a mix of families, couples, young groups of friends, and retired folks. The pool bars and the beach are lively and fun during the day, while the smaller pools and other areas of the property are quiet and relaxing. Although the hotel is large, it doesn’t have a cheesy resort feel that define many properties of this size.

The rooms at the resort are a great value given their level of style and the property features. Other resorts of this size with similar amenities, including Oyster Bay Beach Resort and Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, are more expensive (Divi also doesn’t have full kitchens). The Westin and Sonesta Maho Beach Resort have similar amenities at a higher price, although they are more upscale.

See More Scene

Location

On the beach in convenient and popular Simpson Bay

Simpson Bay Resort is located in trendy and popular Simpson Bay, just over the bridge from the airport in the Pelican Key area. The hotel has its own drive (follow signs to reception). The area is lined with resorts and restaurants. There is some plane traffic noise from the airport nearby but it is not overwhelming. The popular strip with lots of shops, restaurants, and bars is a 10-minute walk. The area is safe and well-populated.

  • Five- to 10-minute walk to Simpson Bay restaurants
  • Six-minute drive to Princess Juliana International Airport
  • 12-minute drive to Marigot
  • 12-minute drive to Fort Louis
  • 16-minute drive to Philipsburg    
  • 17-minute drive to Grand Case with restaurants and shops
  • 17-minute drive to Baie Rouge for excellent snorkeling
  • 17-minute drive to Loterie Farm, a nature retreat with tours and zip lining
  • 23-minute drive to Orient Bay
  • 24-minute drive to the Butterfly Farm
See More Location

Rooms

All rooms have full kitchens; most have stylish, modern decor and ocean views

Simpson Bay Resort offers studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units spread across eight buildings. Most rooms have some kind of view of the ocean but the views vary by building. Guests have complained that rooms close to the road result in some traffic noise.

The updated rooms have a bold color scheme of blue and bright pink (blue accent walls, pink bed runners, blue couches and armchairs), clean beige tile floors, and bright paintings on the walls. Modern lighting and quirky accent mirrors complete the look. All of the mattresses are memory foam, and they are quite comfortable. The bathrooms are a bit on the small side, especially in the studios, but are nicely updated with dark wood and red-brown accent tile. However, there is a noisy cruise-ship style toilet and some guests report a lack of hot water in the shower. While the units are modern and clean, they do look chain-like.

All units come with full kitchens. They are large, even in the studios, with ample cabinetry, full-size refrigerators, and stoves. All of kitchens have plates, glasses, utensils, cookware, toasters, blenders, microwaves, and coffeemakers. Every room also has a semi-private, furnished terrace that faces the ocean or garden.

The one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites have spacious living rooms with dining tables for four or six, larger kitchens, and an open-concept layout. The suites as well as the Studio Plus rooms have Murphy beds that can sleep two additional people.

See More Rooms

Features

A great fitness center (for a fee), a water sports provider, and a casino open late

The resort’s fitness center is essentially a full-size, state-of-the-art gym. It has numerous cardio machines (treadmills, ellipticals, bikes), strength machines, free weights, and balance balls. The room has a full wall of windows that overlooks the villa pool and the ocean. Unfortunately, there is a charge to use it. The two well-maintained tennis courts, one with a basketball hoop at the end, are free to use. 

Aqua Marina, the resort’s on-site water sports provider, is located by the water on the resort’s lowest level and has a large storefront. It is the largest water sports center and dive shop on the island, and offers tons of excursions, including to evening dinner sails, shopping trips, and day trips to Saba and St. Barts. Also on offer are island tours, dive packages, and snorkel excursions. Equipment rentals are available, including wave runners, stand up paddleboards, catamarans, and kayaks.

The resort has a casino that’s located in the central building. Casino Hollywood features Texas Hold'em, black jack, roulette, craps, and slot machines. It’s open from early afternoon until the wee hours of the morning.

There is a large convenience store on-site that sells beer and liquor, ice cream, groceries, some fresh produce, and fresh baguettes, among other items. Prices are a little higher than grocery stores outside of the resort, but you are paying for the convenience. A children’s playground is located near the security booth and has a swing, a slide, a play house, and a climb-through in the shape of a ship, as well as a small pool. 

See More Features

All-Inclusive / Food

Four restaurants, from a casual beachfront eatery to a romantic French brasserie

Simpson Bay has numerous bars, including three pool bars and a lobby bar. The resort has four restaurants on-site.

  • Alexander’s Kitchen is a waterside eatery that is open for breakfast, lunch, and some nights for theme dinners. The casual spot has outdoor plastic tables and chairs, and serves American cuisine and seafood.
  • The Stone is also located waterside and is more upscale. Open for dinner only, The Stone has an extensive wine list and serves elegant meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes. The space is small, dark, and intimate with red booths and chairs. There’s also an outdoor patio facing the water.
  • Bon Appetit is the resort’s French brasserie and bakery. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Bon Appetit serves a variety of good food at reasonable prices. It has an attractive outdoor patio that’s romantic when lit up at night.
  • Roma is an Italian restaurant located in the middle of the resort by the casino that serves basic pastas, meat, and seafood dishes. It is housed in an open-air space that’s lit up with blue lights and accents at night. 
See More All-Inclusive / Food

Spa

The spa is located by the beach and offers a full range of treatments.

L'Aqualigne Spa, located by the beach and marina pool, offers massages, facials, body wraps, and other beauty treatments.

See More Spa

Beach

A long, white-sand beach with lots of lounge chairs -- though they do fill up

The resort is located directly on the beach, which can be accessed by walking through the Marina Pool. The beach is long and picturesque, with white sand and turquoise water. There are tons of lounge chairs and straw umbrella huts dotting the beach, but with a resort of this size, all those chairs are needed. The beach doesn’t feel particularly crowded or congested, however. There is a beach bar at one end along with some picnic tables.

See More Beach

Pool

Six pools varying in size, popularity, and ambience

The Marina Pool is the most popular at the resort. Located closest to the beach and containing a swim-up pool bar, the area is lively and fun. Lounge chairs surround the pool but it may be hard to get a chair in the afternoon. There is plenty of seating around the pool bar (both in the water and out) and there is a shallow section off to one side of it.

The Villa Pool is the most scenic of the bunch. Set right on the ocean (there’s a small entry leading out of the pool that goes directly into the water), the pool is long, curving, and attractive with both narrow and wide areas. There is a pool bar here as well. While popular, the Villa Pool tends to be more subdued during the day than the Marina Pool.

The B Pool, located in the middle of the resort, is huge and square-shaped, with a bridge going over the middle and a lane for doing laps. A pool bar on one end plays fun music. The area is in full sun, and with the exception of a few umbrellas and palm trees, there isn’t a lot of landscaping; the perimeter of the pool is mostly surrounded by concrete. This pool does not get crowded.

The D Pool and the Allamanda Pool, both located on the interior of the property, are significantly smaller than the other pools. They don’t have a pool bar or music and they are never rowdy or crowded. They both have attractive design and a few lounge chairs and umbrellas around the perimeter.

The Croton Pool, set on the top of the property, has great views of the area, particularly from the sun terrace up the stairs from the pool. This pool is rectangular and not particularly large. Lounge chairs are lined up at one end.

See More Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Simpson Bay Resort & Marina

Scene

Huge, sprawling resort that is both laid-back and lively, with self-catering accommodations

Guests are provided with a map when checking in at the resort and they need it. The property encompasses eight buildings (not counting the villas by the beach), six pools, and four restaurants, and the sprawling, fairly hilly property requires a lot of walking. There is plenty of parking around the resort and you will most likely get a spot right next to your room, but driving the narrow roads around the property can be tricky. There is a security booth when entering the buildings with guest rooms and guests are provided with a parking pass at check-in. All of the amenities are shared between the Simpson Bay Resort and The Villas section. 

The lobby is large and cavernous with reception on one side, a large activities desk on the other, a car rental desk, and a lobby bar in the back. There are two large seating areas with couches as well as bar seating along windows that overlook the ocean. Some guests complain about a lengthy check-in process, and indeed, the velvet ropes in front of the reception desk are not a promising sign.

The numerous pools are spread throughout the resort so your room is never far from water. The hotel has an attractive waterfront area that has two restaurants and Aqua Mania, the on-site water sports provider. There is a building in the center of the resort that houses the casino, the Italian restaurant, and the deli-convenience store. Simpson Bay Resort is a time-share property and although there are some posters around the lobby and other public areas, this aspect is not pushed. However, this may mean that some of the better units get rented out first to owners.

Guests are a mix of families, couples, young groups of friends, and retired folks. The pool bars and the beach are lively and fun during the day, while the smaller pools and other areas of the property are quiet and relaxing. Although the hotel is large, it doesn’t have a cheesy resort feel that define many properties of this size.

The rooms at the resort are a great value given their level of style and the property features. Other resorts of this size with similar amenities, including Oyster Bay Beach Resort and Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, are more expensive (Divi also doesn’t have full kitchens). The Westin and Sonesta Maho Beach Resort have similar amenities at a higher price, although they are more upscale.

See More Scene

Location

On the beach in convenient and popular Simpson Bay

Simpson Bay Resort is located in trendy and popular Simpson Bay, just over the bridge from the airport in the Pelican Key area. The hotel has its own drive (follow signs to reception). The area is lined with resorts and restaurants. There is some plane traffic noise from the airport nearby but it is not overwhelming. The popular strip with lots of shops, restaurants, and bars is a 10-minute walk. The area is safe and well-populated.

  • Five- to 10-minute walk to Simpson Bay restaurants
  • Six-minute drive to Princess Juliana International Airport
  • 12-minute drive to Marigot
  • 12-minute drive to Fort Louis
  • 16-minute drive to Philipsburg    
  • 17-minute drive to Grand Case with restaurants and shops
  • 17-minute drive to Baie Rouge for excellent snorkeling
  • 17-minute drive to Loterie Farm, a nature retreat with tours and zip lining
  • 23-minute drive to Orient Bay
  • 24-minute drive to the Butterfly Farm
See More Location

Rooms

All rooms have full kitchens; most have stylish, modern decor and ocean views

Simpson Bay Resort offers studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units spread across eight buildings. Most rooms have some kind of view of the ocean but the views vary by building. Guests have complained that rooms close to the road result in some traffic noise.

The updated rooms have a bold color scheme of blue and bright pink (blue accent walls, pink bed runners, blue couches and armchairs), clean beige tile floors, and bright paintings on the walls. Modern lighting and quirky accent mirrors complete the look. All of the mattresses are memory foam, and they are quite comfortable. The bathrooms are a bit on the small side, especially in the studios, but are nicely updated with dark wood and red-brown accent tile. However, there is a noisy cruise-ship style toilet and some guests report a lack of hot water in the shower. While the units are modern and clean, they do look chain-like.

All units come with full kitchens. They are large, even in the studios, with ample cabinetry, full-size refrigerators, and stoves. All of kitchens have plates, glasses, utensils, cookware, toasters, blenders, microwaves, and coffeemakers. Every room also has a semi-private, furnished terrace that faces the ocean or garden.

The one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites have spacious living rooms with dining tables for four or six, larger kitchens, and an open-concept layout. The suites as well as the Studio Plus rooms have Murphy beds that can sleep two additional people.

See More Rooms

Features

A great fitness center (for a fee), a water sports provider, and a casino open late

The resort’s fitness center is essentially a full-size, state-of-the-art gym. It has numerous cardio machines (treadmills, ellipticals, bikes), strength machines, free weights, and balance balls. The room has a full wall of windows that overlooks the villa pool and the ocean. Unfortunately, there is a charge to use it. The two well-maintained tennis courts, one with a basketball hoop at the end, are free to use. 

Aqua Marina, the resort’s on-site water sports provider, is located by the water on the resort’s lowest level and has a large storefront. It is the largest water sports center and dive shop on the island, and offers tons of excursions, including to evening dinner sails, shopping trips, and day trips to Saba and St. Barts. Also on offer are island tours, dive packages, and snorkel excursions. Equipment rentals are available, including wave runners, stand up paddleboards, catamarans, and kayaks.

The resort has a casino that’s located in the central building. Casino Hollywood features Texas Hold'em, black jack, roulette, craps, and slot machines. It’s open from early afternoon until the wee hours of the morning.

There is a large convenience store on-site that sells beer and liquor, ice cream, groceries, some fresh produce, and fresh baguettes, among other items. Prices are a little higher than grocery stores outside of the resort, but you are paying for the convenience. A children’s playground is located near the security booth and has a swing, a slide, a play house, and a climb-through in the shape of a ship, as well as a small pool. 

See More Features

All-Inclusive / Food

Four restaurants, from a casual beachfront eatery to a romantic French brasserie

Simpson Bay has numerous bars, including three pool bars and a lobby bar. The resort has four restaurants on-site.

  • Alexander’s Kitchen is a waterside eatery that is open for breakfast, lunch, and some nights for theme dinners. The casual spot has outdoor plastic tables and chairs, and serves American cuisine and seafood.
  • The Stone is also located waterside and is more upscale. Open for dinner only, The Stone has an extensive wine list and serves elegant meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes. The space is small, dark, and intimate with red booths and chairs. There’s also an outdoor patio facing the water.
  • Bon Appetit is the resort’s French brasserie and bakery. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Bon Appetit serves a variety of good food at reasonable prices. It has an attractive outdoor patio that’s romantic when lit up at night.
  • Roma is an Italian restaurant located in the middle of the resort by the casino that serves basic pastas, meat, and seafood dishes. It is housed in an open-air space that’s lit up with blue lights and accents at night. 
See More All-Inclusive / Food

Spa

The spa is located by the beach and offers a full range of treatments.

L'Aqualigne Spa, located by the beach and marina pool, offers massages, facials, body wraps, and other beauty treatments.

See More Spa

Beach

A long, white-sand beach with lots of lounge chairs -- though they do fill up

The resort is located directly on the beach, which can be accessed by walking through the Marina Pool. The beach is long and picturesque, with white sand and turquoise water. There are tons of lounge chairs and straw umbrella huts dotting the beach, but with a resort of this size, all those chairs are needed. The beach doesn’t feel particularly crowded or congested, however. There is a beach bar at one end along with some picnic tables.

See More Beach

Pool

Six pools varying in size, popularity, and ambience

The Marina Pool is the most popular at the resort. Located closest to the beach and containing a swim-up pool bar, the area is lively and fun. Lounge chairs surround the pool but it may be hard to get a chair in the afternoon. There is plenty of seating around the pool bar (both in the water and out) and there is a shallow section off to one side of it.

The Villa Pool is the most scenic of the bunch. Set right on the ocean (there’s a small entry leading out of the pool that goes directly into the water), the pool is long, curving, and attractive with both narrow and wide areas. There is a pool bar here as well. While popular, the Villa Pool tends to be more subdued during the day than the Marina Pool.

The B Pool, located in the middle of the resort, is huge and square-shaped, with a bridge going over the middle and a lane for doing laps. A pool bar on one end plays fun music. The area is in full sun, and with the exception of a few umbrellas and palm trees, there isn’t a lot of landscaping; the perimeter of the pool is mostly surrounded by concrete. This pool does not get crowded.

The D Pool and the Allamanda Pool, both located on the interior of the property, are significantly smaller than the other pools. They don’t have a pool bar or music and they are never rowdy or crowded. They both have attractive design and a few lounge chairs and umbrellas around the perimeter.

The Croton Pool, set on the top of the property, has great views of the area, particularly from the sun terrace up the stairs from the pool. This pool is rectangular and not particularly large. Lounge chairs are lined up at one end.

See More Pool

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Beach

  • Cable

  • Casino

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Fitness Center

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.