**Meta Description:** Stay in a home on Saint Martin’s Island to see its real charm. Our guide has information on the best family-run places to stay, how to book them, how much they cost, and how to see the island like a local.
## **Introduction: Not Just a Room in a Hotel**
People who come to Saint Martin for the day fill the beaches and leave before sunset. But after the last ferry horn fades, the island has a secret rhythm. Only those who stay the night can see this rhythm: fishing boats coming back, families sharing stories over fried fish, and stars that aren’t dimmed by city lights. A homestay is the best way to get in sync with this rhythm. A homestay on Saint Martin’s Island is more than just a place to sleep. It gives you a seat at the family table, insider tips on secret coves, and a real connection to Bangladesh’s only coral island.
## **Why Stay in a Homestay on Saint Martin’s Island?**
Because the island’s ecosystem is fragile and it is hard to get to, where you stay matters.
* **Don’t Be a Tourist, Be a Local:** Your host family, who probably does some fishing or small business, tells you a story that you won’t hear at a resort. Find out about the island’s history, the problems it has with sustainability, and the daily life that goes on even when there aren’t any tourists.
* **Hyper-Local Guidance:** Your host knows when the tide reveals the secret **Chera Dwip** sandbar for the perfect walk. They’ll tell you where to snorkel safely in coral reefs and where to buy the freshest lobster right from the fishermen at dawn.
* Real Culinary Experience: Eat meals that have a story behind them. This could be the day’s catch—grilled pomfret, spicy crab curry—made with family recipes and served with coconut and lime grown in the area. You can taste hospitality that comes from the heart, not from a menu price.
* **Direct Economic Impact:** Your payment goes straight to an island family, which helps them make a living from tourism while keeping their community safe.
* **The Magic of the Island After Dark:** When the day-trippers leave, the island becomes very quiet. You can see bioluminescent plankton in the water, look at the stars from the beach, and wake up to a sunrise over the Bay of Bengal that feels like it’s yours alone.
## **Types of Homestays: Finding Your Island Home**
Saint Martin’s homestays are simple because the island doesn’t have a lot of infrastructure. Set your expectations right: you’re here to connect, not to have fun.
* The Family Home Stay: Simple, clean rooms (often with shared bathrooms) in a family’s concrete or wooden home, usually in the main village near the jetty. Family interaction is the most important part of the experience.
* *The “Bari” or Small Guesthouse:** These are family-run guesthouses with three to five private rooms. They often have names like “Shanti Nibas” or “Sea Pearl” and may have small balconies and bathrooms attached. They find a middle ground between privacy and easy access.
* **The Beachside Hut:** A few families have very basic bamboo or tin huts right on the beach, mostly on the island’s **western side**. For the real adventurer who wants to hear waves as they fall asleep.
## **Best Places to Stay in a Homestay and What to Expect**
* **Near the Jetty (Main Village):** The best place to be. You’re close to the main beach, shops, and tea stalls. Staying here gives you a taste of daily life on the island. There will be more noise and activity in the area.
* North Beach and Uttar Para: This area is quieter because it is a little farther away from the main hub. If you stay in a homestay here, you might feel more relaxed because it’s easier to get to longer, less crowded stretches of sand.
* **Western Coast:** The side that faces the sunset. Stays here are fewer and more rustic, but they offer the best views and peace and quiet. If the host doesn’t provide meals, be ready to walk a longer distance to the main village for them.
The Practical Guide: How to Book, How Much It Costs, and How to Behave
### **Making Your Reservation:** * **Direct Contact is Important:** Most homestays don’t show up on global booking sites. You have to call or text to book. Local tour companies that are based in Cox’s Bazar or Teknaf can often set up and vouch for a homestay. This is the safest way.
* Word of Mouth: Ask other people who are traveling to Cox’s Bazar or on the ferry for recent suggestions. A personal reference you can trust is very important.
* **On-Arrival Booking (Risky):** You can find a room when you get there in the off-season, but everything may be booked up during the peak season (November to February). **Never show up without a confirmed reservation.**
### **Costs & What’s Included:** * **Price Range:** A basic double room will cost you between **BDT 800 and 2,500** per night. The more expensive ones might have a fan and a bathroom attached.
* **Meals:** Many homestays offer full-board options (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) for an extra **BDT 500–800 per person per day**. For the real deal and ease, this is highly recommended.
* **Payment:** Bring enough **cash** (Bangladeshi Taka). You can’t pay with a card, and there aren’t many ATMs on the island or they don’t work.
### **The Homestay Code: Important Rules of Behavior
1. **Save Resources:** The island is in a serious freshwater crisis. Don’t waste water. Electricity comes from generators and is only available for certain hours. Charge devices when the power is on.
2. **Respect the Ecosystem:** Your host will show you how to throw away trash the right way. ** Don’t ever take coral or shells, and if you go snorkeling, use reef-safe sunscreen.
3. **Dress Modestly:** When you’re in the village or near the family home, wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. Only wear beach clothes at the beach.
4. **Be patient and flexible:** Island time is real. Go with the flow of meals, power outages, and changes in the weather.
5. **Bring a Gift:** Small gifts from Dhaka or your home country, like good tea, kitchen tools, or sweets for kids, are very nice ways to say thank you.
## **A Typical Day in a Saint Martin’s Homestay**
* **6:00 AM:** Get up to the sound of the waves and the call to prayer. Take a walk with your host before dawn to the fish market at the jetty.
* 8:00 AM: Breakfast of fresh paratha, local coconut, and sweet tea. * 9:30 AM: Your host’s son takes you to a quiet snorkeling spot away from the busy day-tour boats.
* 1:00 PM: A fancy lunch of rice, dal, and the lobster you bought at the market in the morning, made by the head of the family.
* 3:00 PM: Take a nap or read a book in a hammock.
* At 4:30 PM, your host will take you on a trek to Chera Dwip as the tide goes out.
* 7:00 PM: A simple dinner outside, where we told stories. Your host can tell you about the island’s past.
* 9:00 PM: Take a walk to the bioluminescent western beach before going to bed early.
## **Conclusion: The More Expensive Souvenir**
Choosing a homestay on Saint Martin’s Island is a conscious choice for a more responsible and meaningful way to travel. You give up air conditioning and room service for the sound of kids laughing, the wisdom of older people, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing your visit helps the community directly. Not only will you remember the turquoise water, but also the family that showed you its secrets. Saint Martin’s homestays offer something rare in a world where paradise islands are often turned into businesses: a real sense of place and belonging. Bring your curiosity, respect, and an open heart. Your family on the island is waiting for you.
