TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin My Top Three Beach Bars With Free Chairs/Umbrella.

Here they are:[Hate to pay for chairs and umbrella.]
Rainbow on Grand Case
Karacter,s on Simpson Bay
Mary Boon's on Simpson Bay
Where are your favorites? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />

Captain Frenchy, Grand Case
KARAKTER,Simpson Bay
El Zafiro,Simpson Bay

Dreams, Nettle Bay BEST food, and not necessarily for swimming
Rainbow, Grand Case
Layla's, Nettle Bay for the food and ambiance rather than the swimming

Assuming you mean Mary's Boon and Karakter. I really do think it's important to spell things correctly, although I know that many don't agree.

We love Karakter, but since they've crowded so many chairs in such a small space, we like El Zafiro better on Simpson Bay Beach. Our favorite is Dreams on Nettle Bay. Captain Frenchy is great on Grand Case Beach, although the chairs aren't the most comfortable.

What is the beach's name where Greenhouse and Buccaneers are?

Kim Sha Beach.

My absolute favorite beach bar/restaurant for years has been the Friars Bay Beach Cafe but if I read correctly, they are now charging for chairs.

My second choice today is probably El Zafiro since it's not a busy beach in that area and the owners have created a pleasant environment with beach fare that I enjoy coupled with the fact it's convenient to where we stay.

And my third would probably be Dreams for the quality of beach furnishings and food but it would be tied with Mary's Boon, not for the chairs or the food, but for the fact I find the beach to be nicer than that of Dreams.

And if I'm paying for chairs and umbrellas, my personal favorite is Mullet with lunch of ribs and fries at Rosie's - it doesn't take much to make us happy at lunchtime - but I think the Restaurant at Anse Marcel is the best of the best for all of the above - setting, furnishings, food and beach accessibility, even if it is a little pricey and for sure, out of the way for those of us in the quiet little corner we call home. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Where is El Zafiro and directions to get there please.

If you're familiar with Sunset Bar and Grill, at the entrance gates to Alegria turn hard left and follow the road all the way, hugging the airport runway on your left until you get to the gate at the end of the road for Beachside Villas and E Z Beach is right there on your right.

El Zafiro
El Zafiro
Kali's but we have not been there for a while

Depends which day. Personally I love Karakter in Simpson Bay, however, Sundays the place is really packed. The food is excellent there. Again, my opinion!

Wow.... And Palm Beach isn't mentioned anywhere in these posts? (Unless I missed it) On Orient, excellent drink and wine selection and food on par with Grand Case restaurants!!! Better yet, forget I mentioned it and it won't get crazy crowded!

Oh good greef charlie brown.

I see El Zafiro mentioned several times; Pat identifies its nice atmosphere and convenience - is the beach itself nice in this area? Nice water, good for swimming? Also I've deduced their menu offerings have built gradually. Would love to see a more recent menu but no such luck, thus far.

It is Simpson Bay Beach closer to the Sunset Beach Bar area than the Simpson Bay area. Right next to Beachside Villas. The beach is beautiful. The water clear and blue. The view is nice. It's not rough nor is it like swimming in a pool. We kinda fell in love with it.

I love Friar's, too, but a few weeks ago (it may have been my post you read) I was there and they charged $10/person for umbrella, chair and cushion. I said it had always been free if eating and/or drinking there - and $3 if you want a cushion.
I was told that it's now $20, discounted to $10 if you eat/drink there. Still worth it, but I guess it no longer belongs in this thread <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Just to clarify, you were charged $10 per person, so $20 for two of you, AND you were eating there? Most places charge $20 for two chairs and an umbrella, even if you're not eating there.

We viewed the rooms at El Zafiro and while small they are lovely. In March they were finishing the 2nd floor which will have larger units.

The time we were there we had the toughest pancakes but now I understand it wasn't the regular cook so we'll try it again next visit since reports here have been good. The beach was empty when we were there in March. It was beautiful. But the noise of the planes broke the serenity.

Where do you park to use Simpson Bay Beach?

Along the airport fence......Take right after Bada Bing go towards Karackters... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Yes, we paid $30 for the 3 of us.

That's a bit of a hiccup. I'm drawing a blank but thinking they DON'T accept credit cards......has that changed? Sounds like we may end up spending more days at Anse Marcel Beach given the new charge for chairs at FBBC.

I'm pretty sure they still don't accept CCs. I just automatically use cash there, so if a change has occurred, I'm unaware of it.

I believe our chair fee was added to our meal bill at Anse Marcel and we paid with credit card.

Each time we've gone to Anse Marcel, the beach attendant has greeted us at the edge of the sand and escorted us to our chairs and asked if we already had a lunch reservation and at that point, he told us the fees for the chair set-ups and put them on our tab for the day. Depending on the EU rate for the day, the option is always yours to pay cash or by cc and to choose $ or Eu at your discretion.

There's something almost decadent about sitting on that beach and enjoying a nicely chilled flute of champagne or proseco, all the while enjoying the beautiful view spread out around you. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Where do you park to use this end of the beach near BSV? It's a long walk from Karacters.

If you're actually using the beach at El Zafiro, meaning using their chairs and purchasing at least drinks from their bar, then they have a parking lot. If you plan on bringing your own chairs and setting up somewhere else, I'm not sure of the answer. There's not much space along the road there.