Celebrating My 30th Birthday With A Island Getaway To St. Maarten

I turned the big 3-0 this year, and what better way to celebrate than with an island getaway? After a little searching on Expedia, we booked a five-day escape that felt just right for the occasion. We flew out of the Philadelphia airport with a quick layover in Puerto Rico before hopping on a short 45-minute flight to our final destination. The travel was surprisingly smooth—Aubrey snoozed peacefully between Charles and me for most of the trip, which made the journey even easier.

Family-Friendly St. Maarten Stay at Sonesta Resort Near The Airport

We arrived at the resort just minutes after landing—literally a three-minute drive from the airport. From the beach, you could actually watch planes taking off and landing. They flew so close overhead it felt like you could almost reach up and touch the belly of the plane.

We stayed at the Sonesta Resort, where we quickly settled into our room and unpacked. One of our travel traditions is to walk the entire resort and explore any nearby towns, and St. Maarten made that easy. The island is so small that everything feels close by.

The resort itself had plenty to offer, especially for families. Aubrey loved the Kids Zone, which provided free childcare and fun activities throughout the day—movie nights, scavenger hunts, games, and more. It gave her the chance to play and make herself at home while also giving Charles and me a little adult time.

That first night, we kept things simple and sweet, ending the day with dinner together at the resort café.

Delicious Breakfast at St. Maarten’s Sonesta Resort: Buffet Favorites For The Family

Every morning of the trip started with a buffet-style breakfast that did not disappoint. Between the made-to-order omelets, savory sausages, and fluffy waffles, we easily went back for seconds (and sometimes thirds). It quickly became one of our favorite parts of the day—fueling up before heading out to explore or relax by the beach.

Beachfront Bliss And Stunning Sunsets at Our St. Maarten Resort

Our resort was set right on the beach, so most of our days were spent soaking up the sun with our toes in the sand and the sound of the waves in the background. Each evening, we wrapped up the day by watching the sky transform with the most beautiful sunsets— the perfect ending to island days.

Family Fun On St. Maarten Beaches: Waves, Swimming, And Beachside Dining

On our first beach day, Aubrey was taken by surprise by the six-foot waves. She wasn’t used to water that powerful, but Charles stepped in and showed her the right way to go over them. Since she’s such a water lover, she caught on quickly and by the end of the day she was mastering every single wave.

That afternoon turned into one of the best days we’ve ever had. Aubrey and I spent hours swimming together, riding wave after wave with endless laughter in between. When we finally broke for lunch at our beach cabana, everyone ordered their favorites— I went for a fresh salad, Aubrey chose mozzarella sticks, and Charles couldn’t resist a burger. The food and drinks were just as good as the view, making the whole experience even more perfect.

Aubrey made so many friends at the resort. Every day they would meet at the pool to play on the water slides, then head down to the beach to build sandcastles and boogie board in the waves. She was in her element.

She also made my birthday trip extra special. Normally, adults weren’t allowed on the water slides, but Aubrey marched up to the top with the lifeguard and asked if I could join her since it was my birthday. To my surprise, they said yes! We laughed our way down the slides together, and by the time we got to lunch later that day, people were stopping us saying, “You were the ones on the slides—it looked like so much fun!” For the rest of the week, we noticed other parents joining their kids on the slides too.

The surprises didn’t stop there. Each afternoon, a DJ played by the pool, and without telling me, Aubrey went up and asked them to sing “Happy Birthday.” But the moment that really stole my heart came during one of our beachside dinners. A saxophone player was performing nearby, filling the night with the most beautiful music. Out of nowhere, Aubrey began twirling and dancing by his side. Soon, she led him right over to our table. She climbed into my lap, looked at me with her big smile, and said, “Happy birthday, Mommy.” The saxophonist serenaded us for the next ten minutes. I was so overwhelmed with joy I could barely hold back tears—it was the most beautiful night with my sweetest little girl.

Overall the trip was one for the books and we planned to visit St. Maarten again, hopefully in the near future.