Hotel L’Esplanade Review: A Perfect Boutique Hotel in Grand Case
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Sprinkle gourmet restaurants serving fois gras, frog’s legs and a delectable choice of sommelier-recommended Grand Cru bordeaux.
Toss in a one-mile stretch of golden sand beach embracing a Caribbean bay.
Mix with Hotel L’Esplanade, an impeccably-run, Provencal-style boutique hotel – and one of the best hotels on St. Martin/St. Maarten island.
And you have the recipe for a très élégant beach holiday in the gourmet town of Grand Case!
We’ve now stayed at L’Esplanade twice – and it’s a pleasure to write and update our review of Hotel L’Esplanade.
Hotel L’Esplanade: Quick look
Here are five reasons we love Hotel L’Esplanade – and think you will too:
- Poolside bliss – It has a lovely hillside pool, complete with a friendly bartender serving up cool drinks.
- Close to the beach – It’s just a 5- to 7-minute walk to Grand Case Beach (where you can rent loungers and umbrellas). Or stroll farther to its sister Le Petit Hotel for complimentary beachfront facilities.
- Foodie heaven – It’s within easy walking distance of Grand Case’s famed French restaurants (some of the Caribbean’s finest dining!).
- Relax and rejuvenate – The intimate guest-only Ti Spa is the perfect place to indulge in a little pampering.
- Romantic vibe – With its adults-oriented atmosphere, it’s ideal for couples looking for a peaceful sophisticated escape.💕
About French St. Martin and Hotel L’Esplanade
St. Martin is the Caribbean island with dual personalities:
- The Dutch side is known as Sint Maarten or St. Maarten.
- The French side is St. Martin or Saint Martin.
It’s borderless though. You can freely go from one side to the other without stopping (and there are lots of fun things to do in both Saint Martin and St. Maarten).
On the western side of St. Martin, Grand Case is a tiny seaside village renowned for its French restaurants. It’s one of the best areas to stay in French St. Martin.
Hotel L’Esplanade is built on a hillside overlooking Grand Case and the Caribbean sea beyond.
Owned and operated by the Petrelluzzi family since it was built in 1992, Hotel L’Esplanade is a small resort-style hotel. But think “resort” on a small scale – this Grand Case boutique hotel only has 24 suites.
Guests return year after year, booking ages in advance.
We first stayed at L’Esplanade for a couple of nights before a Star Clippers Caribbean cruise.
Back then, if it hadn’t been for Hurricane Irma which had previously devastated the island in 2017 and closed the hotel for more than a year, we probably wouldn’t have been able to get in!
L’Esplanade is now completely renovated and welcoming the lucky visitors who are able to snag a reservation.
In fact, we loved our first stay there so much that we had to return to L’Esplanade and St. Martin for a longer visit.
We were just as enchanted by L’Esplanade the second time as we were the first.
Need more proof of L’Esplanade’s appeal?
It was named one of the Caribbean’s best luxury boutique hotels by the Caribbean Journal. It’s also won TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Awards as one of the 25 best hotels in the Caribbean and several World Travel Awards for “St. Martin’s leading hotel.”
Ready for the full scoop? Here’s our in-depth look at Hotel L’Esplanade.
Hotel L’Esplanade rooms
All rooms are actually suites with Bali-style furniture and fully-stocked kitchens, complete with a full-size fridge with wine rack inside.
You can choose from the following room types:
- Deluxe studio
- Loft
- Oversize loft
- One-bedroom suite
We stayed in a one-bedroom suite the first time. Featuring a private bedroom separated from the kitchen and living space, it was 1,025 sq. ft. in size.
Modern in style, the one-bedroom suites have grey slate tile floors and white-washed walls.
The oversize bathroom has double sinks, a pebble-walled shower made for two and a selection of organic Damana toiletries.
In the kitchen, a welcome basket of goodies sat on the kitchen counter.
Coffee? Good. Macarons? Not so good for the figure. Fresh baguette and jam? Great!
We especially loved the huge stone terrace with a double hammock and a dining table and chairs for four.
Overlooking the hotel’s gardens, it offered views of the sea with sailboats bobbing in Grand Case Bay.
Before going out for dinner, we’d light candles (supplied) and have a glass of wine on the terrace, enjoying the breeze and listening to frogs and cicadas.
The only small niggle was that we couldn’t get the TV channels to work. (Mind you, we could have asked for help.)
Our second stay, we had a 560 sq. ft. studio.
With tile floors, a super comfy king-size bed, small kitchen area, dining table and four chairs, bathroom with a bathtub/shower combo and a covered porch inlaid with decorative blue tiles in the stone floor, it was quite comfortable.
Next time, we’d probably choose a 780 sq. ft. loft (or 980 sq. ft. oversize loft), where a mahogany staircase leads from the living space to the upstairs bedroom.
Pretty well every comfort has been thought of at L’Esplanade.
You’ll find a citronella candle and lighter for mood lighting when sitting outside at night (and to ward off the occasional mozzie), an oil lamp for romantic dining inside, dressing gowns (but no slippers) – even a laundry basket in the cupboard for dirty clothes. (The one thing we didn’t find was a make-up mirror.)
Breakfast is included
A daily continental breakfast is included in the rates.
Simply head to the front desk area and pick up your pre-ordered basket of fresh pastries (croissant, almond croissant, etc.), a pot of coffee and a tray of fruits, yogurt, juice, baguettes, jam and cereals – to enjoy on your own terrace.
The hotel doesn’t have its own restaurant for other meals.
There’s no need for one though. You’re just a short walk away from some excellent French restaurants in Grand Case (and you have your own kitchen.)
Pool at L’Esplanade
In the garden below the hotel, there’s a pretty tiled swimming pool with cushioned loungers scattered on the grass under the shade of palm trees and blue umbrellas.
The swim-up bar is staffed by a couple of bartenders who whip up some mean cocktails and prepare snacks and light lunches like grilled shrimp on the barbecue.
Access to the beach
While Hotel L’Esplanade isn’t on the beach, it’s close to it.
A 7-minute walk through the hotel’s property and down the hill takes you to Petit Plage (Little Beach), beside the Grand Case Beach Hotel. There, you can rent beach chairs and an umbrella from the Grand Case Beach Club.
Guests of L’Esplanade may also use the lounge chairs and umbrellas at its sister beachfront hotel, Le Petit Hotel, free of charge.
Le Petit Hotel is located at the far end of Grand Case Beach, about a 20-minute walk away.
If you don’t feel like walking, hop in the hotel’s shuttle van for a free lift to Le Petit Hotel at 10:30 am (the return shuttle is at about 4:30 pm). If you’ve rented a car, you can drive and park there.
Once at Le Petit Hotel, you can walk on the beach to popular Grand Case beach clubs like Rainbow Café and Captain Frenchy for drinks or lunch.
Spa and yoga
The hotel’s Ti Spa offers a full range of massage treatments. And the large open-air Ti Temple offers complimentary daily yoga classes for guests, including morning and evening sessions.
Shuttle to Grand Case restaurants
L’Esplanade offers a free on-demand shuttle service in the evening to and from the restaurants in Grand Case.
Just let reception know in advance what time you want to be picked up. When you’re finished dinner, you ask the restaurant to call the shuttle driver to take you back to your hotel.
Bottom line?
If you’re wondering where to stay in Grand Case, do yourself a favor and book L’Esplanade.
It’s one of the best Grand Case hotels – and one of the top places to stay on the island.
The full kitchens are an added bonus and make L’Esplanade very comfortable, especially if you stay for more than a few days. (If you have a rental car, the well-stocked U grocery store is just a short drive away.)
More reviews and booking info
For more insights, read other L’Esplanade hotel reviews on TripAdvisor.
To book, see the hotel’s website. And check rates on Expedia – you may get a better price than booking directly through the hotel.
More St. Martin/St. Maarten travel guides
- The 17 Finest Hotels in St. Martin and St. Maarten
- Favorite Areas and Hotels in French St. Martin
- 7 Reasons to Love the Grand Case Beach Club
- Grand Case’s Dreamiest Little Beach Hotel
- 7 Reasons to Love Esmeralda Resort in Orient Bay
- 10 Top Restaurants in Grand Case for Food Lovers
- St. Maarten Cruise Stop? Must-Do Activities
- 25 Unbeatable Things to Do on St. Martin/St. Maarten
- Plan a Fabulous Trip to St. Martin/St. Maarten!
- 7 Super Fun Boat Tours From Dutch St. Maarten
- Which is Better: St. Martin or St. Martin?
Our top travel tips and resources
→ General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, with loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.
→ Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. (We especially like Booking.com’s flexible cancellation policy!) You can also find excellent discounted rates on Expedia, especially for hotels in the U.S. and Mexico.
→ Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
→ Flights: For the best flights, we search on Google Flights first. Expedia and Kayak are then perfect for snagging the cheapest tickets. (They’re often non-refundable, though, so for more flexibility, we book directly with the airline, even if it costs more.)
→ Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
→ Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
→ Car rental: Renting a car can be a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies for the lowest rates.
→ Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
→ Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
→ Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find cool hotels and other useful trip planning info.
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Photo credits: 4, 6 to 8, 10 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | Remaining images Hotel L’Esplanade
About the authors
I stayed at Grand Case Beach Club after a Windjammer cruise way back in 2002…and loved it! I see the resort is still undergoing renovation from Hurricane Irma. (Can you believe it? I still wear a long-sleeved t-shirt I bought there that says “Chill” on the front and “Stress Blows” with a puffer fish on the back, along with Grand Case Beach Club, St. Martin underneath.) I recall walking into town for several wonderful meals. It would be fun to return after nearly two decades to experience the French side of St. Martin again.
Oh what fun!
Sounds like it’s time for you to do a trip down memory lane and return to Grand Case in future ?.