Villa Fleurs de Lys – Luxury Villa in Orient Bay, Sint Maarten

Orient Bay is Saint Martin's liveliest stretch of coast, with the restaurants, the beach clubs, and the scene all along the sand. Villa Fleurs de Lys sits on Hope Hill above it, a four-bedroom house that earns its name through genuinely French-influenced design: marble floors polished to a mirror finish, crystal chandeliers in every room including the bedrooms, and impressionist-style oil paintings on the walls that would not look out of place in a Parisian apartment. It suits a family or a group of eight who want character rather than the usual island minimalism.

The open-plan living and dining area sits under high coffered ceilings with exposed white beams. The kitchen alongside is thoroughly modern: a full marble waterfall island with a wine cooler, professional appliances, and a desk that doubles as a breakfast bar, a space that works for a quiet morning coffee or an unhurried dinner alike.

Each of the four bedrooms at Fleurs de Lys has its own vaulted beam ceiling, chandelier, and walnut-paneled headboard, with colorful tropical bedding warming the white walls. The master faces the ocean directly, its sliding glass doors opening onto a private terrace with sea views, and the other rooms have their own terraces or garden access, all en-suite.

The beach at Orient Bay is five minutes on foot, with its run of beach clubs and water sports, and Grand Case, the gourmet capital of the island, is twenty minutes north. For a meal on the sand, La Voile Blanche at Orient Bay serves all day a few minutes down the hill, and our concierge can book the table, arrange a car, and stock the kitchen before you arrive.

Low-season weeks start at $8,050 for the four bedrooms. Evenings tend to end on the master terrace, a glass of something cold in hand, the lights of the bay coming on below and the chandeliers glowing behind the glass.