We were in SXM in the first part of November, stayed at Esmeralda on Orient Beach. I would not change to the Dutch side. We encountered problems with traffic getting to the French side from the airport but other than that there were no issues. We love the restaurants and the vibe of the area and find no reason to go to the Dutch side once we arrive (other than for jewelry shopping). We went to Grand Case 3 times for dinner and the rest of the evenings we went to Astrolabe at Esmeralda (wonderful!) or to restaurants in the Village. If you love the French side, stay there! You might encounter some traffic getting to and from the airport, but why change?
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