Princess Heights, nothing else comes close - liveforT. Date of travel: Aug 2009
We really enjoyed our stay in the new building at Princess Heights. Our unit (#806) was gorgeous and spotlessly clean. Service was friendly and helpful. We have always been a little skeptical when places are billed as "luxury" accommodations, but this is the real deal: marble floors, granite counter tops, flat screen TVs, fully equipped kitchen with full size appliances, jacuzzi bathtubs, really, really comfortable beds and a large balcony with table for six. Every room, and, of course, the balcony, offers incredible views of the ocean, the beach and St. Barts. The surrounding area is peaceful, uncrowded and scenic, with a number of restaurants in all price ranges, a marina, and a Westin hotel all nearby. Most of the area consists of expensive hillside villas. Also nearby are nature reserves with hiking, unspoiled beaches, horseback riding even a butterfly farm (a must see). There is very little traffic on this part of the island and we really appreciated not having to deal with traffic jams, crowds, and bridge closing times as we did when we previously stayed in the Simpson Bay and Maho/Cupecoy areas. The French side is easily accessible and Orient Beach is a short drive away. Of course, Dawn Beach is just a short walk from Princess Heights. Philipsburg is a 10 minute drive away and much easier to get to from this part of the Dutch side. All in all I would highly recommend Princess Heights. We have not found anything comparable in our 10+ years of visiting the island and the rate was surprisingly low, amazing really given the quality of the property. I would recommend requesting the new building because it has an elevator and would also request a unit at the end of the new building closest to the ocean because of the added privacy and better views. Note that the ground floor units have patios adjacent to each other instead of private balconies and so have less privacy.

Mel and Dee Thomas. Date of travel: Jul 2005
My husband and I searched long and hard for a honeymoon spot that would be in a place that offered seclusion and romance but still was close enough to the nightlife and activities if we wanted those as well. Well, we found the best of all possible choices in Princess Heights. The suites are immaculate and large and we felt as if we were in our own personal honeymoon villa. Because there are only 15 suites, Princess Heights offers a sense of seclusion that just cannot be found in a larger resort. You don’t have to bother with requesting an ocean view suite because all of the suites have large balconies that face a spectacular view of the ocean. The fresh water swimming pool on site is large and inviting and again because of the intimate size of the hotel is very private. The staff in the hotel, from the concierge to the housekeeping staff were warm and courteous and much more personal than you would ordinarily find in a large resort. We had the feeling that everyone knew us by name. Right down the hill is beautiful Dawn Beach which, after touring both sides of the island, we found to be on of the finest beaches on the entire island. You will definitely get the most out of your stay by renting a car to get around. The hotel is just a short drive to downtown Phillipsburg where you can find all the duty free shopping as well as some casinos. Princess Heights is also located right at the border of French St. Martin so you can easily explore all that the French side has to offer. (We highly recommend a day trip to Pinel Island). Although there is no restaurant on site, there are several good restaurants within walking distance right down on Dawn Beach. If you have a car, you will be amazed at the number of restaurants that you will find on this island. We would recommend Princess Heights to anyone who wants a first class facility and a wonderful vacation. We will definitely be back.