TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Day 4 report

Another pretty day some puffy clouds a nice breeze. Went to ZeeBest for breakfast. Good as always very consistent over the years. Gone is the community croissants in basket - a nod to Covid restrictions. I myself liked the basket but I know others were a bit germaphobic about it. It was the usual size crowd.
Royal Palm is about 30% full as are most of the Simpson Bay resorts. Still traffic jams around quitting time for those people who work.
Stayed by pool and relaxed. G&T on deck. Went to Toppers for some sandwiches. About 8 people there 6 at bar. I had a brisket sandwich and a presidente and my wife had a steak grinder and a presidente. Both were good. Old Topper is letting the cottage go to pot since he maybe leaving for his newer place at the old carousel.


I hope my telegraphic reports aren’t too annoying!

"Gone is the community croissants in basket " Great news. Should had happened long ago.

Correct. More danger there than what are some of the major concerns today.

Thanks for the report. Other than the a/c problem when you arrived, what's the condition of Royal Palm in general? Is it all repaired? Not sure why the a/c should have needed repair, since they just reopened.. From my understanding, Topper is moving the whole place across the street, yes.

I think the ac was leaking -loose joint. Royal is very nice; good landscaping all finished. Still working on the stores not opening now too few customers. Pool bar is open. The restaurant is not. Not worth the effort too few customers. Only serving fried chicken and fries. Order at bar. The exterior I think is very pretty. The rooms are nice. Nice cabinetry, good beds, granite counter tops throughout. Nice deck furniture high Quality.Living furniture a bit on cheap side. Stools and dining tables are nice. Drapery very high quality. All in all a good job.

Thanks for the report. Literally ONLY fried chicken and fries? I wonder if they finally were able to get rid of that family that was running the restaurant? They were TERRIBLE. Is the bar by the drawbridge open??

Thanks for the update, from a former RP owner......How is the noise, day or night, from the Roxxy Beach, Kimsha beach and ‘parking lot’ areas? We stayed at Simpson Bay Resorts Villas in November and it was awful. Daytime was annoying but night time was torture! We are considering Royal Palm for May but are concerned that it may not have changed much.

Supposed to be some noise control by St Maarten Government coming. At least that is what an article in the Herald stated some days ago.

Yes, I read that, too. We can always hope!

Yep, just chicken and fries. It is the same family and same name. In 2019, attended a HOA board of directors meeting on the island for an update on construction. Diamond took us to dinner at Emilo’s and the guy who owned the deli and bar/restaurant was at the dinner. That’s how I know. I was assure it will be different time will tell. There is no bar over the entrance. It going to be used as a sales office. Of course all of this could change when Hilton merges with Diamond or visa versa.

Our room is on the 5th floor near canal to drawbridge. We have not heard anything at night except Saturday and Sunday from the Roxxy. When you close the sliding doors and drapes I heard nothing in the room by the porch or anywhere in the suite. It maybe different in the wing close to the Roxxy.

Wow, that is SOO disappointing, on both grounds. Those people running that restaurant have sucked for years, and that is a total waste, to use that space as a sales office.

Dealing with a local with connections, some things are not going to change. I see little hope for the restaurant if they are still involved. The Upper View did a decent business WHEN open, even with the inept manner in which they ran it.

JD--the Upper View sure was a fun place to be at Regatta!! Guess it will just be a memory. Can't imagine that most Royal Palm timeshare owners are that happy to have it taken away.

And the same ineptly managed bar and restaurant along with the little store. I would be livid.