Shop Till You Drop In St. Maarten

By: Ella Patreece Lybarger

The theme of our second week on the island quickly became “shop till you drop.” It began Tuesday with a trip to Marigot, the French capital, where we browsed boutiques and sampled chocolate beignets—my personal favorite. For anyone hunting for a chic island wardrobe, the French side delivered with luxury swimsuits, linen sets and accessories designed to stay stylish in the Caribbean heat.

We continued to the West Indies Mall, home to toile‑print everything and a L’Occitane store. The French have shaped modern esthetics since the 17th century, something my esthetician mother reminded me of when I told her where we were shopping. L’Occitane, founded in 1976, is behind viral products like its shea hand cream and amande body mist, both popular on TikTok and Instagram. Experiences like this highlight the French side’s niche luxuries, an important insight for understanding how souvenirs and specialty retail shape the island’s tourism economy.

Our next stop was Philipsburg, the Dutch capital and a major cruise port known for jewelry and duty‑free shopping. To get the full experience, it helps to check the cruise schedule. The town’s energy shifts dramatically depending on how many ships are docked.

We started at Ballerina Jewelers, where we explored the Pandora collection. With help from the staff, I built a bracelet featuring charms that reflected my love of Disney, the evil eye and of course, St. Maarten.

From there we visited Le Dutch, a store dedicated to Dutch heritage and the island’s exclusive retailer of Royal Delft. The company, founded in 1653 and granted its royal title in 1919, is known for its hand‑painted Delft blue ceramics. Because Royal Delft is available only in the Netherlands and at this single shop on the island, the store offers a rare, culturally rich shopping experience. This is exactly the kind of exclusivity that appeals to travelers seeking something they can’t buy at home.

We ended the day with photos and cold Coca-Colas at the Holland House beach club before giving our bank cards a well‑earned rest.

On Thursday, while our wallets recovered, we spent the day interviewing locals and tourists about their experiences on the island. Each group was assigned a different location and asked about everything from beaches to dining. The responses revealed a clear pattern: locals prefer quieter spots like Happy Bay, while tourists flock to high‑energy areas such as Maho Beach. After hours of interviews, we grabbed lunch at the Burger Bar in Maho, where mini cheeseburgers, vanilla milkshakes and an old Pac‑Man arcade machine gave us a nostalgic taste of the States. The perspectives we gathered will be valuable when designing a campaign that appeals to both residents and visitors.

By Friday, our bank cards were rested and ready for action again. We caught an early ferry from Marigot to St. Barths, where we started the day with pastries from a French bakery before heading straight for the shops. Our first stop was Kalinas & Tainos, a custom pearl boutique specializing in leather‑and‑pearl jewelry. Most of us opted for gold or silver settings instead, and began to pick pearls based on size, color and price point. The store offers both ocean and freshwater pearls, including rare conch pearls with a natural pink hue. They also allow customers to design pieces online. This is useful for anyone who falls in love with their jewelry after leaving the island.

After creating earrings and necklaces, we explored the island’s luxury stores, including Hermès, Valentino, Longchamp and Chrome Hearts. The experience underscored how affordable St. Maarten is by comparison. The St. Maarten Dutch and French sides offer high‑quality shopping without the inflated prices found in St. Barths. We then made sure to leave the island with everything from “I Love St. Barths” hats to designer bags, finishing the day with French ice cream before catching the ferry back. 

The week’s shopping adventures revealed more than just good finds. Each stop highlighted the island’s unique blend of cultures, its range of price points and the importance of tailoring tourism messaging to different audiences. Showing that the island has a vacation experience for everyone.