Listening to Jeff and Dr Soc on island92 convinced me to look again for flights. I found and booked Delta from Ohare for 10 days March 9. Now where to stay???

check out website monrevesxm.com
He has 8 apts with full kitchen on friars bay road. He is not on the water but that's why he had no damage to his 2 buildings.He has his own rental cars. 1 bedroom unit with full kitchen is $400/week & car rental $200/week U.S.
Owner lives on premise very safe area not far from friar's bay.He has 2 small pools.
We are there 3 weeks in January. He is full January but has availability after that.
He also has taxi to pick u up at airport & return you $30 each way. He is a part time DJ with 101.5 from 11 a.m. to 1:pm most week days. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

el Zafiro has beautiful rooms and is open!!!! On Simpson Bay!

I guess kind of off topic but I have just booked Mary's Boon and they are open now also and the pool and dining room will open by next week. I have been getting updates from them and they not only have redone rooms and just shipped a 40 foot container but also replanted about a dozen huge palm trees on the beach and garden areas. The one wooden building they had that was lost will be rebuilt (in concrete) and will have 5 or 6 more beachfront rooms. I think that would give them about 40 rooms or so. Really looking forward to getting back to SXM and out of the cold!

Hope one of those new rooms at Mary's Boon has a first floor unit with a bedroom and kitchen like the wooden one we have been staying in for many years.
Going back in April.

Since this thread has become about 'where to stay', I made this it's own thread.

Are you sure the El Zafiro hotel itself is open? I saw where they reopened the bar, but my understanding is that the hotel was destroyed. Anyone know for sure?

They are advertising and I saw them on a list of open hotels somewhere

Sometimes keeping us in line is like herding cats! We usually stay in the Orient Village area, so I appreciate all the input on other areas that we are not familiar with.

No problem. Someplace in Orient Village is probably going to be tough to find.

I don't know if they are open or not but they were not destroyed. One picture I saw of one of the units showed about 4' of sand but the structure was still there.

Many places were originally reported as "gone" or "destroyed" and it ended up being untrue.

That's good to hear! Thanks for the update...

Jeepers, how far is this from the Bay? Is it within walking distance? It looks like quite a value. More $$$ to spend on food is always a good thing.

I have no clue if they have availability for when you want, but The Dove's Nest above Petite Plage in Grand Case is supposedly open. It's certainly more expensive, but they have beautiful views out toward the water there!

check out their el Zafiro Facebook pages.After storm pictures, before and now pictures. They are amazing!!! They will have rooms open as of Dec. 1. We know because we are going to be staying there on the 3rd!!!! Can't wait.

Its about 15 minute walk straight down the road to friars bay. Pleasant walk very safe neighbourhood. You will love it there. Pleasant people to deal with. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

He does have availability in march. Its Gus who has driven taxi for plantation, mont vernon & cap caraibes.

You responded to me, I guess by accident, as, as you know, I have no interest in El Zafiro. I think it is way overpriced for what it is. Plus they only had 4 rooms before the storm, as far as I know. Have they finished the rooms upstairs? Beachside Villas will be open as of January 1, with about half their rooms, and the rest shortly thereafter. I suspect, without knowing, that they are totally booked already.

But they do have a restaurant and bar!

Rooms are worth what people are willing to spend, I personally would like to stay at El Zafiro for a few nights, I like what they have done with the place.
Cheers,
Todd

Beachside Villas are/were awesome also. We stayed there last summer. Totally different kind of accommodations. We do not cook so we do not need a kitchen. We LOVE the convenience of the bar and restaurant at el Zafiro. The beaches are pretty similar at both locations. It might be a little more expensive but the old rooms were decorated beautifully. Modern, hip, beachy, upscale. In MY opinion. I am sure other opinions will be different. I'm sure the new rooms will be as exquisitely decorated knowing how Ed and Nicole did the ones that were all destroyed. The 4 upstairs were just beginning to open when the storm hit. They will be getting them open again too, I am SURE.

Mary’s Boon is open and is located right next to Karakter on Simpson Bay

Private villas are starting to open up as well, at great discounts since not all of the normal amenities are available. It is a time for the adventurous and those of us who love the people and want to support them.

Yes, private villas in Orient Bay as well!