Young Travelers and Students Discover St. Maarten
Gen Z Does Its Own Thing
With nightlife, beaches and thrillseeking activities galore, no surprise St. Maarten / St. Martin receives its share of youngsters next to families and tranquillity seekers. For students and young travelers, St. Maarten offers a unique mix of energy, flexibility, and local culture.
But set itineraries are not for “Gen Z”. Plans are adaptive, different per visitor and decided on on the day itself. Floor Bos, a student, focuses on balancing activity and relaxation. “Though many beaches come with amenities and liveliness, which is great for some days and nights out, I prefer to go with my own crowd on others and have a more quiet beach like Little Bay or Baie Rouge,” she says. For excursions, she advises, “When you take the Soualiga Sky Explorer up, make sure to take some time to roam around all decks of the platform on top of the mountain before you take the zipline ride down. Every side has a different view.” Floor emphasizes that experiences extend beyond the main activity: “It is not just the activity itself, but also everything around it.”
Jeroen Simons, a repeat visitor, emphasizes the island’s friendliness. “A core quality of St. Maarten for me is its nickname the Friendly Island. In my opinion it really lives up to that name,” he says. He adds, “The people are very nice and open, and they also love to share their culture with foreigners which I find very appealing.”
New Friends on the Friendly Island
As nightlife concentrates mainly around the Pelican, Simpson Bay and Maho areas, youngsters make friends easily. Jeroen highlights the speed with which connections are made: “In my first week, I have met so many people whom I still consider to be live long friends,” and observes that “you get in touch with people very easily here.” Reflecting on first-time visits, he explains, “That feeling of discovering the great things this special island offers, and experiencing it for the first time is something I would give up a lot for to experience again.”
Nighttime offers a different perspective: “You might not have the sun on your face at night, but the moon and stars lighting up the water instead. A whole different experience to explore.” says Floor. She also notes practical precautions: “Go with a group when you go swimming at night or in less crowded areas.”
Lieve van ‘t Hullenaer, who traveled from St. Maarten to Aruba, notes that smaller details, like local markets and off the beaten track beaches, add to the richness of the trip.
Celebrations on the island often combine personal milestones with fun experiences. Floor remembers a graduation party: “A better way of celebrating compared to Europe, I find. You worked hard, you are happy you passed, so why not celebrate it to the fullest?”
Valerie (29) describes a more reflective approach, focusing on relaxation: “Spending time on the island gave me a chance to explore the calm of St. Maarten.”
Evenings tend to remain social but flexible. Jeroen notes, “The large number of bars and restaurants always make sure I am able to have a good time,” adding that “you never really have to end the night early if you don’t want to.”
Group Travel vs Solo Travel
St. Maarten has also gained recognition as a destination for bachelorette groups. One source explains, the island “offers beaches, nightlife and activities that can easily be combined,” making it appealing for friends traveling together. From beach days to casual bars and watersports, the island accommodates group interests across the day and evening.
Safety is an important consideration for younger visitors, particularly solo travelers. Good news for the three ladies when planning a return visit: St. Maarten is listed among “the safest Caribbean islands for solo female travelers”, supported by busy tourism areas and established infrastructure. As everywhere, visitors are however advised to take basic precautions, such as traveling in groups, using licensed taxis, and being mindful when swimming after dark.
Across these experiences, younger travelers describe a sense of freedom and adaptability on the dual nation island. Jeroen, Floor, Lieve, and Valerie illustrate that the island offers “great things,” “different views,” and “a whole different experience to explore,” often all within a single day.
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