TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Mont Vernon - Orient

Hello -
It has been several years since we've been to SXM. We had previously stayed at Mont Vernon on Orient Beach. Can anyone please tell me how the work is progressing there? Has work on the pool been started? I know quite a few units have been restored and are renting out. I emailed the owner of the unit we last rented and did not get a response.

Thank you in advance.

My wife and I stayed at Mont Vernon last February. We had a unit overlooking the ocean with an amazing view and nice balcony. For us, that's all that mattered. It was nice.

As of last February, the pool was in shambles and the complex was in much need of repair. The on-site pizza place was up and running and we enjoyed it there. I think if the unit your renting is in good shape, and you have an open mind, it's a pretty good value and decent place to be. We can see how others would not like it, but we would return.

Thank you, for your response. We had stayed there several times - our units were always nice - parking lot and grounds could have used some attention - but it never bothered us. The pool we did use though - and hope to return once it's back up and running.

I read somewhere that they have started restorations and are tackling one building at a time. In April the pool was totally untouched and looked to be pretty much a total loss. The report had a pool rebuild/opening date in the near future, which seemed to me to be unrealistic, but who knows?

Thank you for your response!

It would be nice to hear a recent summer/fall report of progress.

The buildings do come first but at some point the pool either needs fixed or ripped out. We never spent much time in it and would have spent more time at it if there were working bathrooms. Climbing the mountain to the condo to take a pee is non habit forming

They would be wise to take the money and make a smaller pool with working rest rooms.

I agree!

Yes, an update would be nice, and a bathroom would be a nice addition i would imagine, as i have never stayed there. All i can give is an April update, which is a long winter wait!

Does anyone know, when Mt Vernon was a hotel, surely there was a working bathroom by the pool?

Yes when it was a hotel they had working bathrooms and shower by the pool

Not only were there bathrooms and showers, there also was a boutique that sold a variety of products, including tanning lotions and the like, plus a full-service restaurant. An array of water sports activities also was available on-site. We stayed there for a number of years and watched it go downhill year after year. It was still pretty spiffy in 1997 and 1998 with live entertainment every night, but really dropped off after that.

Yep, back then it was a 4 star resort, with a restaurant next to the pool, and very nice bathrooms next to the pool, etc. They also offered an All Inclusive package for those who like that sort of arrangement.

Yep, back then it was a 4 star resort, with a restaurant next to the pool, and very nice bathrooms next to the pool, etc. They also offered an All Inclusive package for those who like that sort of arrangement. They really need to FIX the pool, ASAP!!!!

What happened to the restaurant and bathrooms? Did a hurricane get them?

OK, thanks. I figured as much. As someone else said, since it's such a hike to the rooms, it would be nice to have bathrooms there again, although I'm sure the expense to get the pool operational again, even without bathrooms, will be huge.

The restaurant had already shut down even before the hotel closed, serving drinks and snacks only. That was around 2002 or 2003. Lack of maintenance doomed the rest of the poolside facilities in the following years after it reverted to multi-family residential. Hurricanes finished the job. Why did the hotel close? Well, that's a very long story that is uniquely French. Suffice it to say that Mont Vernon had such a bad reputation in the hospitality industry that no chain or professional management company wanted anything to do with it. At the end they tried to run it with local talent and they lacked the experience and resources, especially, to succeed.

Im sure with a valet to golf cart you and bags around, it was and could be something.

All we know is once we are in the unit we are quite comfortable and the balcony and view are awesome.

Add Mt Vernon Pizza which is a lot more than Pizza and it is a very economical place with character to stay as long as you are physically fit

So how is Mt. Vernon.

Our unit that we have stayed in 3 times now is the same once you are inside it. Nice bed, nice view, kitchen, washer, cable, wifi, beach towels, beach chairs, unbrella, patio table chairs, laundry drying rack, room safe.

The patio railing itself it strong. It has some missing rungs so a toddler could fall off.

We’ve had some rain and that is where the missing roof become more than a cosmetic thing with no overhang or gutters the water just comes down the building walls.

CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY.

The tennis courts are a staging area for roof trusses and lumber. One building has its roof completed and they are now blue vice pale green. Another has the trusses in place and the roofing started. Many more buildingsto go.

The top building was heavily damaged and is being worked on fixing concrete. The insides are gutted.

A lower building looks totally unoccupied and is surrounded by serious scaffolding.

But a small percentage we can see walking by are at pre storm niceness like ours.

The pool is a mess and does not look like priority 1.

The lower parking lot is a crater zone full of lakes and with the rain those craters are full of water/mud. Not inviting to have to park there. Never was a joy, now it really sucks.

Many of the normal french vacationers here trying to make the best of their place. The pizza shop was packed today and laundry up and running.

Security is on premises and tonight it was good to see him on a small motorcycle to get up/down the ramps and pathways quickly if need be. But ut has all been good with the frequent “Bonsoir from the locals”.

The place needs alot of work to the exterior paint railings, etc. again many units were gutted by the storm.

It will be a year minimum I suspect to get to “Prestorm Mt Vernon”.

I would only suggest The place to true veterans who know their unit/mgmt.

It is barely acceptable for us veterans and next trip we’ll probably head somewhere else in same price range until it is “normal” again.

Thanks for the update, we'll be arriving Feb. 23, the unit we stay in has been refurbished and near the beach.

Wow, roofers covered a massive amount of space already today. Maybe wont be a year.

Thanks for the great update. We may return to Mont Vernon some day hopefully.

Thanks for the update. Not great news, but facts are facts.

We stayed at Mont Vernon last year as well. Really enjoyed the pizza restaurant as someone else commented. Rumor had it the insurance money had not arrived when we left at the end of February 2019. The unit we rented Ocean Pearl was awesome with a lagoon facing and a superb young French lady serving as our manager. We are going back this February for a few weeks. The pool area and the Tennis courts were hit pretty hard by the hurricane and no repairs were started before we left. On the downside, electric lights were not working in one building with the lights not working while attempting to traverse down the stairs at night to the mud hole parking lot. Walking down the stairs at night was hazardous even with a LED Tactical flashlight. The road up to Mont Vernon from the area near the supermarket had two or three areas in dire need of repair. Before departure, one of the road sections was getting a fresh concrete area. There is a owners group who prioritize the importance of what to repair and when to start repairs. My humble opinion was they should have had the health department shut down the complex until it was safe to visit. Needless to say, others visiting thought the owners needed the revenue to stay financially liquid. Bob

Thank you to everyone!! Hoping things move along at Mont Vernon.

The main road past Sol e Luna up to Mt Vernon is “fixed”. That road has always been a concrete crater field to dodge and zig zag. No more, you can buzz right along without much bump. Big fix.

That's great news that the main road has been fixed!!!