Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Adrienne
We spent our recent winter break on the island of St. Martin, which is the only Caribbean island that’s made up of two countries. The island is divided between Dutch St. Maarten and the larger French Saint-Martin. Often jointly known as SXM for its airport code, St. Martin is a bit under the radar because so many people associate it with Philipsburg (the touristy Dutch capital that’s packed with cruise ships) or see it only as a jumping off point to nearby ritzier islands like Anguilla and St. Barth. But St. Martin is an absolute gem in its own right, and is a perfect choice for families – or anyone really – looking for a tropical escape. Part of what made our stay on this island so special was our choice of resort, Grand Case Beach Club.
Read on for my recap of our stay at Grand Case Beach Club with a 5 year old and a detailed review of this beautiful property.
Resort Location and Grounds
Grand Case Beach Club has an amazing location on the quieter French side of the island right outside the village of Grand Case, which has great restaurants as well supermarkets and other conveniences. The resort is built on a peninsula which means it actually has direct access to two beaches – the end of Grand Case Beach to the southwest, and Petite Plage (“little beach”) to the northeast. More information about these beautiful beaches is below.
My favorite feature of the resort property is the large boardwalk that goes around the promontory. The boardwalk has great views of the ocean, the resort and the rest of the island. There are multiple spots with day beds, and if you want to park yourself down with a book and a beautiful view, this is the perfect spot for it. The rocks below the boardwalk are also an awesome place to spot wildlife – we saw both iguanas and large red crabs climbing on these rocks.
Rooms
The rooms at Grand Case Beach Club are apartment-style suites that are great for families, with full kitchens for easy food preparation and storage at home. Many also offer separate living and sleeping areas, and larger families can opt for two bedroom suites.
All rooms are close to the beach and have a balcony, and many have ocean views. We had an ocean view studio loft, and unlike same places where the “ocean view” is just a little sliver of ocean, this was a direct oceanfront room with panoramic views of Grand Case Beach. I could have sat and looked at this view all day.
Beaches and Pool
As mentioned above, a unique feature of Grand Case Beach Club is its location between two pristine beaches, Grand Case Beach and Petite Plage. Both of these beaches are public, as all beaches on St. Martin are, but they were both very peaceful and uncrowded during our visit. Both beaches are well-appointed with beach chairs and umbrellas that staff will happily set up for you. You can also borrow beach toys for kids at no additional charge.
Petite Plage Beach
My family loved swimming at both beaches, but especially enjoyed Petite Plage, which felt like a private hotel beach despite the public access. Apparently it’s popular with locals on weekends, but it’s largely under the radar of tourists. There’s also decent snorkeling near the rocky point on the northwest end of the beach. Grand Case Beach was generally a bit calmer (the end near the hotel is in a very sheltered cove) and has a roped off area for swimming, so this beach is probably best the best if you have toddlers.
Grand Case Beach
With the beaches being as spectacular as they are, the pool may be kind of an afterthought, but Grand Case Beach Club has a large roof deck pool with nice views and a gradual entry that’s good for young kids. The pool was unfortunately quite chilly – although my 5 year old was happy to dive in, my husband and I were pretty uncomfortable. The ocean water was considerably warmer, even in January. But this may be less of an issue if you’re not visiting in the winter.
Dining
Grand Case Beach Club is not all-inclusive, which was a welcome change of pace for us after several trips to the Caribbean where we stayed at all-inclusive resorts. There is a restaurant, Sunset Cafe, located on site, with pretty good food at affordable prices. You can open a tab with the restaurant so you don’t have to pay separately for every meal. We had many breakfasts and a couple dinners at the Sunset Cafe, although for the most part we enjoyed walking into nearby Grand Case, which is home to many great restaurants, for dinner. I do recommend having at least one dinner at Sunset Cafe, for both the molten lava cake and the (as advertised) sunset views.
Amenities
There are lots of nice complimentary touches that make guests of Grand Case Beach Club feel welcome. We had a bottle of wine waiting in our room when we checked in, and they also gave us a bottle of champagne on New Year’s Eve. There’s a weekly guest reception at sunset with light appetizers and beer and wine. During our stay, the resort offered twice-weekly free yoga classes, and I took one and really enjoyed it. It looks like they’ve since added pilates and aqua aerobics as well, although class offerings may vary. There’s a spa area where you can get a massage for an additional fee.
Most non-motorized watersports, including floating mats and stand-up paddleboards, are complimentary to borrow from the beach hut, but there’s a $5 charge for the mouthpiece part of the snorkel, so make sure to bring your own equipment if you plan to snorkel. The Beach Hut also sells guided snorkeling tours to nearby Creole Rock. In addition to the lounge chairs found at the beaches and boardwalk, there are lots of of comfortable spots around the resort to relax, including hammocks, beanbag chairs and hanging egg chairs.
Visiting St. Martin with Young Children
Grand Case Beach Club does not have a kids’ club, which may be a downside for families. But there are plenty of things that make this a great resort for families with young children, including the zero entry pool, two protected beaches, complimentary beach and pool toys, large rooms with full kitchens, and a special children’s menu in the onsite restaurant Sunset Cafe (don’t miss the “Floop,” a French-Caribbean ice cream pop that delighted my 5 year old).
St. Martin/Sint Maarten is a wonderful island for families, with lots to do besides the beach, and since they drive on the right it’s easy for Americans to rent a car and explore all the island has to offer. This delightful place has quickly become one of my favorite beach destinations, and I can’t wait to come back and explore the island in more depth.
Ready to plan a trip to St. Martin? I’m a certified travel advisor who has traveled extensively in the Caribbean and would love to help you plan the perfect beach escape to beautiful St. Martin or another island. I can book hotels, resorts and cruises at no extra charge to you with lots of great perks included at many properties, including room upgrades, early check-in/late check-out, resort credits and complimentary breakfast. Reach out to me today at adrienne.miller@fora.travel for more info or to start planning a trip!
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