A Drive for Curiosity Leads to the Caribbean — An Interview with Larissa Rolley
Expert Explorations
St. Maarten / St. Martin is not only an inviting destination for resort, villa, yacht, and cruise visitors. Business travelers, digital nomads, and — last but not least — those who seek to understand and help these sectors by designing journeys and writing about them, also pass through the island.
Larissa Rolley is one of those. She is a travel designer based in Chicago and the U.S. correspondent for Revista Traveling. Larissa explored St. Maarten / St. Martin with her family this summer. She designs travel experiences throughout the United States as well as in destinations particularly close to her heart, including Tahiti and Senegal.
“What drives me is curiosity — discovering places, meeting people, and finding experiences and stories that I can share through my articles, with friends and, of course, with my clients. Discovering new places, but also introducing people to places I already know and love. When I’m designing a trip, I’m thinking about the people who are traveling — their personalities, their interests, what might surprise them, and what might make the destination memorable for them. In the process, I get to see places I may know extremely well through their eyes.”
Her love for travel does not only find its way into the written word, but also into visual media. “I’m a photographer and an FAA-certified drone pilot. I love traveling with my drone because it gives me a completely different way of seeing a destination. I’m also on the board of Amelia Dronehart, an organization supporting women in the drone industry.”
Travel, for her, is not only a profession and a passion, but also a habit that shapes her personality. “My mother was important to me and has certainly shaped parts of who I am, but I think we build ourselves from pieces of many people we encounter throughout our lives. Travel has given me the chance to meet people I never otherwise would have met and to see completely different ways of thinking and living. Some of those people have become part of who I am, too.”
Exploring the Meaning of St. Maarten / St. Martin
So how does a travel expert value the dual-nation island? She laughs: “I enjoy going back through the trip and thinking about the island again! What stuck with me most is the island’s diversity. It’s remarkable how many cultures, languages, and backgrounds come together on such a small island. And then you have two countries, two governments, and two different personalities sharing the same island, while people move back and forth across a border you barely notice.”
Rolley, from her expert perspective, does not look at the surface of a tourism destination alone. Looking through her photographs published in magazines around the world, one finds an appreciation for images that do not simply highlight traditional tourism attractions. “Of course, you should enjoy the beaches and the water, but I loved actually doing something for the island and contributing, even in a small way, to sustaining its coastal ecosystem. I learned something too — I hadn’t realized there were several different types of mangroves.”
Amuseum Naturalis proved to be a valuable guide to understanding the island’s essential natural and cultural context.“There are so few old houses remaining on the island, which already makes the property worth seeing. The museum has been developed outdoors, around the historic house and throughout the property, with information about the natural life of the island — plants, animals, insects, and so much more. I wasn’t expecting to find anything quite like it.”
This experience helped her develop a particular fondness for the Atlantic side of the island, especially the area around Oyster Pond and the Réserve Naturelle nature reserve on the eastern side. “I went out very early one morning, when everything was still quiet and the surface of the water was completely calm. That’s one of my favorite times to explore a place anyway, before the day really starts. I loved the water, the hills, and the more natural landscape on that side of the island.”
You will also find her most appreciated island beach in this area. “I certainly didn’t make it to all 37, but of the beaches I experienced, I loved Orient Bay. It’s a beautiful, expansive beach with a view toward Tintamarre, and I liked that it could be whatever you wanted it to be — somewhere to relax, have a drink, swim, or be more active on the water.”
Living Like a Visitor
Still, Rolley’s work is about advising travelers. Beyond understanding the deeper layers of an island, its destination appeal, and its landscape, she also needs to explore the experiences that may become favorites for clients and readers.
One activity helped her make the transition from observation to participation: the Cultural Roots experience.“We traveled around the island, and it was a wonderful mix of nature, culture, history, traditions, and everyday island life. We heard stories along the way, learned to make johnny cakes, and, of course, ate them freshly made. It gave me a chance to experience the island from several different perspectives all in one day.”
When it came to restaurants, she enjoyed SkipJack’s. “If you like deep-sea fishing, it’s fantastic to have somewhere you can bring your catch and have them prepare it for you. We brought in our fish, and they gave us several different options for how we wanted it prepared. Of course, we added appetizers and dessert – we didn’t catch those!”
She also made discoveries when it came to drinks. “I actually made two discoveries! Guavaberry liqueur, because it’s so associated with the island, and Ting, a sparkling grapefruit soda that I discovered while I was there. For a place to have a drink, I’d head to one of the bars along Maho Beach. It’s touristy, but it’s also great fun to sit there and watch the planes come in.”
Authentic souvenirs can be found at Art by ESPA in Marigot. “When I travel, I like finding something made by someone who actually lives there rather than buying a generic souvenir. ESPA’s shop has T-shirts, postcards, posters, and other pieces featuring his work, and you’ll also see his murals around the island.”
Advice to Visitors, Clients, and Readers
Larissa is writing articles about the island, but we ask her for a sneak preview: What are the key takeaways for those who use her expertise to create an unforgettable St. Maarten / St. Martin trip?
“Don’t experience it only as a beach destination. Explore both sides of the island, get away from the main tourist areas, go into a local shop or supermarket, talk to people, and see a little of everyday life. The French and Dutch sides have different personalities, and there’s an enormous amount packed into a very small island.”
Another exploration tip: don’t stay on land only. “I loved being able to experience the island from the shore, from a boat, and from underneath the water while diving. You see something completely different each time.”
Thankfully, water was everywhere on her St. Maarten / St. Martin trip – including by her villa, making it a perfect place for relaxation. “The villa sat above the cliffs, and one of my favorite things was simply lying outside, listening to the waves crashing against the rocks below.”
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