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Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car #275473
02/14/2022 07:18 PM
02/14/2022 07:18 PM
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 59
Kissimmee,Fl
L
Liliana Offline OP
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Liliana  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 59
Kissimmee,Fl
Hello,
We are booked for an anniversary trip to St Martin in May and staying at Grand Case Beach Club. Any reviews of this place. We can still cancel before end of February.

We don't currently have a car will be be able to do anything without one.

We have only been to St Martin on a cruise years ago that had an excuraion that took us to Shopping market Beach, nude French Beach and airplane Beach.

Thanks.

Liliana

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Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: Liliana] #275475
02/14/2022 08:02 PM
02/14/2022 08:02 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,225
Middle Tennessee
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TravelHat Offline
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TravelHat  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,225
Middle Tennessee
You will need to cab from the airport, no big deal. Getting a cab to go around the island is best set up ahead of time. We tried to stay in GC with no car 5 years ago and got stranded at Orient one day. We were able to rent a car on the French side and it was a good experience. They dropped off a car and took us to the airport after drop off. We have also rented in Orient and rented a car for a day or two to explore. If you have no ambition to explore the island I can see a stay at the GCBC with days by the pool and beach and dinners in GC. Check to see if they still do the catamaran trip out of the resort, fun.

Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: Liliana] #275476
02/14/2022 08:07 PM
02/14/2022 08:07 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Liliana--Cars are CHEAP in SXM and you drive on the US side of the road. Rent a car.

As far as GCBC, it's really a lovely place to stay, close to the heart of Grand Case, with a great restaurant on site. But if you want to be able to truly experience the whole island, rent a car..


Carol Hill
Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: Liliana] #275482
02/14/2022 09:00 PM
02/14/2022 09:00 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
As Carol_Hill said rent a car. Easy to drive on island and hard to get lost.

Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: SXMScubaman] #275498
02/15/2022 12:21 AM
02/15/2022 12:21 AM
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 59
Kissimmee,Fl
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Liliana Offline OP
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Liliana  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 59
Kissimmee,Fl
Thanks, any recommendations on car companies. Do we need an international drivers license? Are taxis expensive? Do they have Uber?

Liliana

Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: Liliana] #275504
02/15/2022 08:21 AM
02/15/2022 08:21 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,082
Massachusetts
boucharda Online content
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boucharda  Online Content
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,082
Massachusetts
Rent a car......everyone has a few of their favorite rental agencies and there are some on the sponsor page here....or do a search on this forum for car rentals. No special license needed. No clue about taxi costs or Uber 'cuz we always have a car

Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: boucharda] #275507
02/15/2022 09:18 AM
02/15/2022 09:18 AM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 219
Virginia Beach, VA USA
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barryvabeach Offline
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Posts: 219
Virginia Beach, VA USA
Liliana, we have used Kenny's which is a sponsor, and would recommend him. You may have to check with a few companies though, as in the US , there is a shortage of cars on the island.

Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: Liliana] #275511
02/15/2022 09:54 AM
02/15/2022 09:54 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
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GaKaye  Offline
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Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
As has been said, everyone has their favorite car rental company; look at the sponsors here, and send an email asking about rates, as their posted rates aren't always accurate. There are taxis, but no Uber. From GCBC, which I highly recommend, you can walk to any of the restaurants in Grand Case for dinner, and there are several nice beach restaurants further down the boulevard, which is walkable if you're so inclined, although a little farther. I recommend Le Temps de Cerices, and Captain Frenchy. The beach at GCBC is also lovely, as is the restaurant there. Hotel guests get priority on beach chairs, and there are also chairs on the grassy areas in front of the hotel rooms.

Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: Liliana] #275517
02/15/2022 10:09 AM
02/15/2022 10:09 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
No international driver's license required. Taxis are expensive, compared to renting a car. No uber on island. Everyone has their favorite with regard to car rental companies. Just be aware that different companies include different things in their pricing. Don't get caught up with a company that says the price is "X" per week, and then they add this for taxes, insurance, other charges, etc. Ask for a quote, all in, with taxes and insurance, everything, and then compare those prices.


Carol Hill
Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: Liliana] #275530
02/15/2022 11:47 AM
02/15/2022 11:47 AM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
Liliana,

You will love your stay at GCBC, or at least, we did. We had been on island for two weeks when we moved to GCBC to conclude our island stay for that trip. We had our rental car for the entire trip but by the time we got to Grand Case we had pretty much been everywhere and done everything we wanted to do on the island for this trip and basically, all we wanted to do was ‘chill’ before we headed back home to the chill of CT in early December. Basically, we used our car as a taxi to the resort and then to the airport on our day of departure.

Whether or not you will want or need a rental car depends on the kind of trip you are taking and the type of island visitors you are. We checked out of our original accommodations and into the GCBC where we parked our car where it remained until we left days later to head home. If this is your first visit, and I’m guessing it may be, you are probably better off renting the car for your stay as opposed to taxiing everywhere.

We probably should have turned the car in at the point we went to GC but I was too hooked on the idea we might ‘need’ it. We really didn’t. Once parked upon arrival we didn’t go near it again until we were ready to head home. But……. This wasn’t a first trip and we had experienced the highlights of the island many times over in previous trips.

The property is, IMO, about as close as you can get to being a really nice all inclusive without actually being AI. Their rooms are very comfortable and the beach there is equally nice - calm waters as a rule and plenty of lounge chairs plus the added pleasure of beach service for drinks, etc. The staff members are helpful and the resort amenities, including the activities booth are very good. The pool is enjoyable and the restaurant, under new hands since we were last there, is supposed to be excellent as well.

This is truly a place where you can easily take advantage of Grand Case and it’s high lights or be perfectly content to just chill on site without feeling the need or desire to go anywhere.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: Liliana] #275539
02/15/2022 12:04 PM
02/15/2022 12:04 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
I have been using Hertz SXM for over 20 years and have never had a problem. They include the Liability insurance in their quote which most others add on after the quote is given on pick up. As others have stated, people have their go to rental companies and this is mine. Look at the total price including all taxes and fees to make your decision. Be sure and check to see if your credit car will cover collision as most have dropped that coverage.

Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: Liliana] #275580
02/16/2022 05:15 AM
02/16/2022 05:15 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,498
Grenada
Zanshin Online content
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Zanshin  Online Content
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Posts: 2,498
Grenada
You don't need an international drivers license and I usually rent from Econocars in Grand Case. It is a longer walk than to the Grans Case airport from the GCBC, where there are several car rental booths.


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Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: SXMScubaman] #275589
02/16/2022 09:02 AM
02/16/2022 09:02 AM
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 59
Kissimmee,Fl
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Liliana Offline OP
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Liliana  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 59
Kissimmee,Fl
Thank you. Just booked a car through Hertz as I didnt recognize any of the other "off brands" so to speak.

Will our phones navigation and Waze apps get us where we want to go on the island?

Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: Liliana] #275597
02/16/2022 10:00 AM
02/16/2022 10:00 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
I think that was a wise decision, to rent a car. As far as nav aps, I have no idea. laugh We started going to SXM before there ever was such a thing. But you can pick up a small book in the airport arrivals area (for free) that has a small paper map in it. Or you can probably get one from Hertz.


Carol Hill
Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: Liliana] #275613
02/16/2022 12:11 PM
02/16/2022 12:11 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
Hertz will provide you with a GPS free. Just ask for it at pick up.

Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: SXMScubaman] #275621
02/16/2022 01:16 PM
02/16/2022 01:16 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
OK, there you go!


Carol Hill
Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: Liliana] #275684
02/17/2022 10:23 AM
02/17/2022 10:23 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
RonDon Offline
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RonDon  Offline
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Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
I'll bet once you arrive and see GCBC and use their FREE water sports you only find time to walk the Blvd and eat in a fine restaurant. Last time there our rental car never moved out of the parking space.

Ditto to everything in Pat's posting above.

There used to be a car rental through the main office. Not sure if it's still there. If you want a day or two to explore rent for a couple of days.

Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: SXMScubaman] #275763
02/17/2022 11:41 PM
02/17/2022 11:41 PM
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 59
Kissimmee,Fl
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Liliana Offline OP
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Liliana  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 59
Kissimmee,Fl
Thanks
Liliana

Re: Grand Case Beach Club -Things to do without a car [Re: Liliana] #275830
02/18/2022 03:28 PM
02/18/2022 03:28 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,297
CT
pony600 Offline
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pony600  Offline
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CT
I just read some very bad reports here regarding Hertz. You may want to check into it.


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