Casa de la Playa

Casa de la Playa makes its first impression the proper Caribbean way: open the front door and the eye runs straight past the pool to the blue water beyond. Set on the beachfront in Les Terres Basses, this five-bedroom St Martin villa is built for days that drift between the terrace, the sand, the infinity pool, and long meals that somehow begin with coffee and end near the pizza oven.

The layout is generous and refreshingly sensible. The Great Room opens to the view, with a large fully equipped kitchen attached for easy entertaining. Guests may enjoy the villa with chef service or keep things more casual, depending on the mood of the trip. When arranged, the in-house chef prepares breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with food and beverages charged separately.

All five bedrooms have king beds and en-suite bathrooms, so nobody gets the polite-but-slightly-sad room. The primary suite sits apart from the Great Room and includes a soaking tub and spacious rain shower. The other four bedrooms are arranged in two pairs on either side of the Great Room, each with private access beneath the covered terrace, beach views, and garden-facing bathrooms. It is an unusually easy setup for families or friends traveling together, with privacy built in rather than negotiated over the first round of espresso.

Days here can be as idle or active as you like. There are stand-up paddle boards for the beach, a private swimming pool and spa, a yoga area, a pool table, piano, sound system, Smart TV, and plenty of deck loungers and beach chairs. Restaurants, groceries, and shopping are close by, and the surrounding area lends itself to swimming, snorkeling, sailing, scuba diving, fishing, hiking, golf, bird watching, beachcombing, and reef exploring.

Notable amenities and services include:

• 5 king bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom
• Beachfront setting in Les Terres Basses, St Martin
• Infinity pool, private pool, spa, terrace, garden, and yoga area
• Fully equipped kitchen with oven, stove, refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, microwave, blender, toaster, coffee maker, espresso machine, ice maker, breakfast bar, barbecue, and pizza oven
• Smart TV, Wi-Fi, sound system, pool table, piano, home office, safe, air conditioning, and mosquito system
• Stand-up paddle boards, beach chairs, beach towels, deck loungers, linens, bath towels, washer and dryer, iron and ironing board
• Included housekeeping, gardener, and pool maintenance
• Chef service available, with meals prepared at the villa and food and beverage costs additional
• Backup generator for extra peace of mind

Casa de la Playa suits up to 10 guests who want the beach close enough to feel like part of the house, with the comforts of a staffed private villa and enough room for everyone to disappear for a nap after lunch. Which, frankly, may be the most luxurious amenity of all.