Experience the best of Grand Case

Grand Case lies on the north-west coast of Saint Martin, the Caribbean island shared between France and the Netherlands, on the French side. A long, gently curving bay of pale sand fronts the village, with a main street of small Creole houses, galleries and restaurants running along the waterfront. The airstrip at the edge of town handles small planes to nearby islands.

Creole Rock, a small outcrop just offshore, is a snorkelling spot in a marine reserve, and Anguilla lies a short sail to the north. Pic Paradis, the island's highest hill, rises inland, and the long beach at Orient Bay and the lagoon at Simpson Bay are reached by road. Marigot, the French capital, and Philipsburg on the Dutch side are both a short drive away.

The village is the island's food street, with French-Caribbean restaurants and open-air barbecue shacks called lolos serving ribs, grilled lobster and fish, johnnycakes and salt-cod fritters. Rum punch and guavaberry liqueur are local drinks. The dry season, from the turn of the year to spring, is the sunny stretch, while the hurricane season runs through late summer and autumn.