Koho SXM - ex Hevea Hotel

Koho SXM is a resort-style base in Grand Case for divers who want the sea close, a proper bed at night and enough nearby life to avoid eating in the same room every evening. The setting is straightforward: a garden, a bar, an on-site restaurant and direct access to a white-sand beach. There is no need to turn the return from the water into a logistical exercise.

English and French are spoken by the hotel team, with French also used by the management. That matters when you are arranging a late arrival, asking about a boat excursion or simply trying to explain that the minibar is not going to refill itself. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and the property combines a relaxed holiday layout with practical services such as concierge assistance, luggage storage and daily housekeeping.

The hotel welcomes families as well as couples. Babysitting and a children's menu are available, while the room selection includes larger suites for family stays. For a two-person diving break, the appeal is simpler: beach access, air conditioning, a cocktail bar and restaurants close enough to reach without negotiating a taxi after dinner.

You are in Grand Case, Saint Martin, on the coast and directly beside Grand Case Beach. The beach is 20 metres from the hotel, with white sand, sun loungers and parasols. That is the useful kind of beachfront: a short walk from your room to the water, with no road crossing or shuttle timetable to remember.

Grand Case also puts restaurants within roughly 100 metres of the property. Piazza Pascal, Rainbow Cafe and L'Auberge Gourmande are all close by, while Bon is around 50 metres away and Havana Club and Zen'it Beach are about 400 metres away. The local map therefore works well for a diver who wants choice in the evening without turning a meal into an expedition.

For a change of beach, Anse Marcel is about 3.9 miles away by road and Orient Bay about 2.6 miles. Saint Maarten Museum is around a 20-minute drive, and Casino Royale is 10 miles away. Grand Case-Espérance Airport is about 0.7 miles from the hotel; Princess Juliana International Airport is roughly 5 miles away, around a 15-minute drive.

The room range runs from compact doubles for a couple travelling light to larger suites when you want more breathing space. The smallest categories are better suited to a straightforward base for sleeping, showering and heading out again. If you prefer room to spread out after a day beside the sea, the Amandier One-Bedroom King Suite with Sofa Bed gives you a more generous layout, while the Hibiscus Two-Bedroom King Suite is the practical family choice.

Several categories use a large king-size bed, and the property has been recognised for comfortable beds. Air conditioning is useful here, particularly when you return warm, salty and ready to stop functioning for a while. Rooms also include a minibar, refrigerator, kettle and tea or coffee-making facilities, so cold water and a first drink are close at hand rather than hidden somewhere downstairs.

A private shower room is part of the room set-up described for the hotel, with towels and toiletries included. Outdoor space is part of the accommodation arrangement through a common terrace, while the wider property adds terraces, outdoor furniture, a sun terrace and a garden. Non-smoking rooms are available, and family rooms give you more flexibility when children are joining the trip.

The Restaurant handles the main meals, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in an air-conditioned indoor setting with a casual dress code. Its cooking is international and built around fresh produce, which keeps the offer familiar when you have spent the day underwater and want food rather than a culinary lecture. Breakfast is a buffet and is included in the stay, running from 07:00 to 10:00.

There is one bar, The Bar, positioned as a comfortable lobby stop with cocktails. It is the place for the first drink before dinner or the slower one afterwards, while the on-site coffee house covers the less ambitious moments. Wine and champagne are available, and rooms have their own minibar for those who prefer not to leave the air conditioning.

Room service is available on request. For more choice, Grand Case's restaurants begin within about 100 metres of the hotel, so you can alternate between the on-site international menu and local venues without planning your evening around transport. That is especially handy when the appetite arrives before the enthusiasm for getting dressed properly.

The main pool is outdoors and comes with sun loungers. It gives you a second place to cool down when the beach is not the plan, although it is not heated. Direct access to the white-sand beach adds the more obvious alternative: stretch out under a parasol, take a swim or simply let the afternoon disappear at a sensible pace.

The water-based options go beyond swimming. You can arrange snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, boat excursions and equipment hire, giving a non-diving partner plenty to do while you are out on the water. Excursions also include island visits, so a day away from the hotel does not have to mean another organised sport.

For the recovery-minded, the spa offers massages and facials, and there is a fitness room for anyone who still has energy to spend. Couples can divide the afternoon between the beach, a treatment and the pool without needing to leave the property. Families have access to babysitting and a children's menu, making a meal or treatment easier to organise.

Free private parking is available on site, but the hotel has only three parking spaces, so arrival by car needs a little forethought. Car hire is available through the property, and concierge assistance can help with arrangements. An airport transfer service is available for an additional charge, either privately or as a shared shuttle, and should be arranged with the hotel.

The front desk closes at 19:00, so tell the hotel your expected arrival time if you will reach Grand Case later. The hotel's policy gives check-in from 15:00 and check-out by 12:00, while the booking conditions give 16:00 for arrival and 11:00 for departure; confirm the applicable times for your reservation before travelling. Private and express check-in and check-out are available.

Children of any age are welcome. Cots can be requested for children aged up to two, and extra beds can be requested for older children, subject to the room category and availability. Children aged six and over are charged as adults at the property. Laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services are available, as are a reception safe, luggage storage and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Cash, Visa and Mastercard are accepted, and pets are not allowed.