Trip Report 12/22/13 - 1/4/14Hi everyone. We just enjoyed another fabulous 2-week vacation in our favorite 2nd home. We have been going to St. Maarten since 1984, with our first stay at Mullet Bay. How the island has changed since then!! We had a lot of rain our first week, but the weather got much better during the second week, with just a few showers. The mosquito scare was not an issue at all. In fact, there were less mosquitos than ever due to all the spraying. The new bridge across Simpson Bay is amazing. It took us 7 minutes to get to Marigot from Maho, instead of the 30 minutes it used to take. Below I will summarize our trip by categories.
FLIGHTSAmerican Airlines direct flight from JFK, New York. Smooth flight going down. Coming back on Saturday, the plane sat on the runway in St. Maarten for 40 mins waiting to take off. But no complaints here, as the previous day’s flights were ALL canceled due to the snowstorm on the east coast. We could have sold our seats for a lot of money—I would have loved to get bumped to Sunday or Monday. But if we did that, there was no guarantee we could get out before Wednesday.
ROYAL ISLANDER LA PLAGE / MAHO areaThe resort was beautiful and well-maintained as always, We had the widest beach we have had in over 10 years, with about 3 rows of chairs and umbrellas. We actually sat on the beach almost every day for 2 weeks, instead of by the pool (the last few years we had no beach). And the ocean was calm enough every day to swim or go on a raft. I was starting to think we’d never see those days again!
Internet access was the same as last year. It worked pretty well in our room, and occasionally by the pool. But I think that still depends on your location within the resort, as other friends were still having issues getting online. They are still charging $50 per week or $60 per month to use their wireless network.
We still have access to the gym on the 3rd floor of the Maho Hotel. However, the gym was in the worst state of disrepair we have ever seen. All 4 treadmills did not work our first 2 days, and other machines are missing pads, have holes in pads, etc.! Eventually, 2 of the treadmills became operable, but the other 2 never worked. If the spa is closed, you can still access the gym by getting the Maho pass from the Royal Islander front desk. (they only have one pass).
Overall, we love our little home away from home, and wouldn’t dream of staying anywhere other than the Royal Islander La Plage. The landscaping is breathtaking, and there are always workers raking, cleaning, pruning, and generally maintaining the property. The location can’t be beat, with the Casino Royale across the street, and many GREAT restaurants, bars, and clubs within walking distance.
RESTAURANTS and BARS <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />
We mostly have breakfast and lunch in our room, but look forward to our dinners out. Here is a recap of all of the restaurants and bars we visited:
La Belle Epoque (Marigot Marina Port La Royale)– went twice for our favorite escargot on the island, and great pizza; Best service we’ve ever had—the waitress was actually running in and out of the restaurant to our outdoor table. Mehmet told us his business was off 40% those weeks since CNN reported on the mosquito scare
Mark’s Place (Cul De Sac) – Great all you can eat ribs for about $19.00
Pizza Pasta (Maho) – Great pizza, pasta bolognese, and veal parm as always; very tiny restaurant,
so need a reservation
Bajatsu (Maho) – steak here is great, but we also love the escargot, grilled shrimp skewer, plantains, and sweet potato fries
Pineapple Pete’s (Simpson Bay) --excellent food, and owner, Pierre, really takes pride in his food and service; very attentive wait staff—the escargot, onion soup, and crab stuffed grouper are awesome!! While there, we were told that Pierre had opened another restaurant called Sushito, for sushi and Hibachi
Sushito (Port De Plaisance) – Went with a group of 11 and had the Hibachi. A fun night with good food. Note that there are 7 chairs around each Hibachi table, so if you have more people, you will be split up; restaurant is just to the left of the Princess casino (I believe there used to be a different sushi restaurant there)
Bamboo (Maho) – went twice for EXCELLENT food and ambience; Technically a “Japanese” Restaurant, but none of us really eat Sushi and we love it here; shared a lot of different appetizers, like
dumplings, spring rolls, etc, and one was better than the next; The duck nacho appetizer is to die for if you like duck! They changed the menu though, and unfortunately no longer have my favorite grilled salmon on the menu. The mahi was delicious, as was the fried rice with pineapple; appetizers come out quickly, but then there is a long wait between the appetizers and entrees.
Le Croissanterie (Marigot) – went for breakfast twice; excellent crepes and the freshest croissants I’ve ever had; friendly efficient service; great location right on the Port Royale Marina
Zee Best (Simpson Bay) – went for breakfast; excellent omelets and crepes; croissants were not as
fresh and flaky as Le Croissanterie
Taloula Mango’s (Phillipsburg on the boardwalk) – lunch on the beach; had an excellent chicken
skewer, but ribs are great as well; if you sit on the beach chairs in front of the restaurant, your
“beach boy” will bring you a menu and deliver your food; NOTE: this is also called The Blue Bitch Bar; there is good wireless service there if you sit in the restaurant or on their decks
Friar’s Beach Café (Friars Bay) –nice restaurant, with good food and a comfortable atmosphere right on the beach; We had a good hamburger which they brought to our chairs. If you eat there while at the beach, the chairs and umbrellas are much less expensive—we paid $9 for 3 chairs and 2 umbrellas.
Three Amigos (Maho) – This spot used to be Paris Bistro. It is now a Mexican restaurant with interesting Mexican décor, and with the bar set into the round area overlooking the street. We had drinks there two nights, and liked that they are utilizing that front space for the bar. However, we went New Years Eve for dinner in a group of 13, and the food was just ok, and the service not too great. Of course I know the service everywhere is tough on New Years, but the waitress just seemed to have an attitude, and didn’t quite represent “The Friendly Island”; Thursday nights, Ronny Santana and his band play there, and we went twice to hear them. That is a nice addition, as we previously had no live bands in Maho, other than the Cheres show, which is fun once or twice, and better for kids.
Buccaneer Beach Bar (Simpson Bay) – excellent hamburger, teriyaki chicken sandwich, and pizza;
fast friendly service; went on a Saturday night when Ronny Santana was playing guitar
Driftwood Bar (Maho Beach)– had pizza here for lunch one day; this bar/restaurant is right next to our timeshare , but we had never eaten there; the pizza was pretty good
Red Piano (Simpson Bay) -- Went twice to see Ronny Santanas band—he plays there every Monday night—good crowd both nights we were there
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />
BEACHESOrient Beach – Bikini Beach – had lunch at our chairs; daughter did new flyboard activity—pricey but very cool if you are adventurous;
Great Bay Beach (Phillipsburg)-- Those who want to shop, shop, and the rest of us hang out on beach chairs in front of Taloula Mangos. We order lunch and beers from there and spend a very relaxing day on the beach. Beware of the dropoff when walking into the water here.
Friar’s Bay -- Extremely calm water; beautiful cove; no problem parking; great lunch at the Friar’s Beach Café; snorkeled with daughter near rocks on right side of cove—lots of interesting fish, sea urchins, etc. here; there is no great snorkeling anywhere on the island, but I think this is one of the best places for that; enjoyed our day immensely
Karakter (Simpson Bay by Mary’s Boon) -- great friendly place; the chairs and umbrella are free if you buy a drink or eat here; lunch was fantastic—I had the grilled shrimp skewer, hubby had the chicken skewer in a peanut sauce--he said he’d come back just for lunch!
Maho Beach – this is our home beach; widest beach we have had in front of our resort in at least 10 years; sea not as rough as it usually is here during both of our weeks; was able to swim or take out raft every day; the entire Maho Beach was the most crowded we’ve ever seen, due to cruise ship excursions I guess; the crowds used to be just down by Sunset Bar, but now there are more chair concessions the length of the beach; didn’t affect us down at the Royal Islander though.
FUN AND ADVENTUREDive Safari (Simpson Bay)– our daughter scuba dives with them every year; we highly recommend the staff and diving here
FlyBoard (Orient Beach) – Very cool watersport – feet attached to a board, like a wakeboard—board is attached to a hose which is attached to a wave runner; hydrolics power the board and send the user up into the air; would post a picture if I knew how—so cool!; daughter did this and actually got up a couple feet in the air! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Banana.gif" alt="" />
Loterie Farm Fly Zone (Pic Paradise) – always a great thrill for the adventure seekers; this is not your average zipline. There are a series of 15 or 18 sections up in the tree tops. Only about 5 or 6 are actual ziplines. The rest are more like an obstacle course in the sky, with tightropes and moving step platforms, etc. Having been on ziplines in Costa Rica, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, etc, I feel that this is the best one! However, you have to be somewhat athletic and in good health to attempt this. My husband has a bad back, and would never be able to contort himself to go under some of the cables as required. I have done this with my daughter several times, and we both love it. Be aware that there is not a lot of guidance once you are up in the trees. If the leader sees that you are pretty agile, they basically leave you alone up there to fend for yourself; there is a new kiddie zipline now though which has an employee stay with the little kids; Note that the day prior (Weds) we got there at 10:15 just behind a bus from a cruise; wait would have been horrendous! Went back next day at 8:30 am-- they open at 9 and got right out; When we were leaving at 10:15, bus was pulling in again; don't go at that hour!
Carousel (Simpson Bay) –this is an actual carousel ride which was built over the water on Simpson Bay. In the front is another round building which sells many flavors of gelato—you can taste all you like; there is also a small store that sells carousel themed items; great gelato ice cream
NEW YEARS EVEDinner at 3 Amigos in Maho with group of 13; then watched fireworks from neighbors’ penthouse balcony at the Royal Islander—nice display!
Overall, we had another fantastic trip. The beauty of a timeshare is that you are hanging with the same people that week year after year. It’s like a camp reunion every year. People at home say to us, “you like going to the same place every year?” We wouldn’t dream of spending New Years anywhere else! That’s about all I can remember. Post any questions here, or feel free to e-mail me privately. Already counting down to next year!!!!
