Happy Bay Villas, St Martin

Happy Bay is one of the island's great hidden beaches, a fine white-sand cove reachable only on foot or by boat, with villas on the green hills above the Friar's Bay area near Grand Case.

Happy Bay (Baie Heureuse) is a small, undeveloped beach on the north-west coast of the French side, hidden just around the headland from Friar's Bay. There is no road to it: you reach the fine white sand and clear, calm water either by a short walk over the point from Friar's Bay or by boat, which keeps it quiet even in high season, with views out to Anguilla and some of the best sunsets on the island.

Villas in the Happy Bay area sit on the green hillsides above Friar's Bay and the surrounding coast, with sea views and an easy run into Grand Case, the island's gourmet village, with its restaurant row and lolos, roughly 5 to 10 minutes away. Marigot and its market are about 10 minutes, Orient Bay around 15 to 20 minutes, and Princess Juliana International Airport roughly 25 minutes south. Friar's Bay itself has a couple of relaxed beach bars; for everything else, Grand Case and Marigot are minutes away.

Happy Bay suits travelers who want a barefoot, secluded beach as their default, a villa with a sea view and good sunsets, and the reassurance of Grand Case's restaurants just down the hill. Browse the Happy Bay villas in the Coral Villas portfolio below.