SXM Part 4-2 (February 21-28m 2015)

I think we finished exploring every square inch of Marigot at this point, who am I kidding, there's always special hidden spots to discover, we even found the PRESIDENTE and Vice PRESIDENTE'S parking spaces! It was just after noon on this warm sunny day so we quickly motored out of town and back to the villa to grab our beach stuff. NBBC was a great location for this trip, so convenient to just swing in and grab what we needed.










We soon proceeded on towards Simpson Bay. Once again we had no real plan, we were really winging it this week! We drove past the airport and turned into what we think are the neighborhoods of Simpson Bay? We drove all over looking at villas and stopped at a few scenic spots along the way and actually got turned around a bit in those neighborhood streets, fun time really.




As we often do....we drove around until something catches our eyes..... "those who wander are no lost". Small signs lead us through tight streets to Simpson Beach where we saw another sign for Karakter, OK let's stop and see what we can see! OUTSTANDING! Our kinda of place kinda? There was a nice reassuring security guard at the parking lot paved with sand and shaded by palm trees. When we saw the funky old bus converted into a bar/kitchen we knew this would be a great place. We walked onto the beach and a young man asked if we wanted chairs and we replied not just yet thanks.







We normally check out our surroundings, so we kicked off the flip flops and walked the water's edge. There are a lot of nice looking places to stay along this wide soft sand beach here. We walked almost to the far end and realized that Karakter would be the place for us and turned around. Perhaps a regular can tell us where other bar options are along this beach because we didn't see any? Carol had recommended Beachside Villas to us and I wanted to check them out, no luck on that initial walk. We were however lucky to enjoy several island dogs playfully running circles around us.







The young man at Karakter approached us again and asked if we enjoyed our walk, with a smile we said yes we did! I asked how much were his loungers today and he said they're free and asked if we wanted a drink, without hesitation we replied certainly! He was very attentive all afternoon, great service here! Karakter was fairly busy this day, but the waiters and waitresses were outstanding. We reclined in our beachfront chaise lounges watching the activity around us, people have a good time here! Some were recording themselves dancing on the beach, young kids and some adult kids were enjoying the feisty surf, many would turn to watch for departing flights and others like us were content with chillax'in in the sun watching the yachts anchor off shore in the deep blue waters of Simpson Bay.






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The sun was starting to settle in for the night and we decided to watch the entire colorful show from our comfortable 1st class seating on the beach. We decided to eat light tonight, so we ordered a variety of tapas hors d'oeurvres that were very tasty and sophisticated, at least they made us feel sophisticated being catered to right on the beach! We never drink wine and eat like this on the beaches we frequent, this was a treat! I can't say enough good things about the service we received at Karakter!

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After I changed to a zoom lens I noticed a long villa complex at the other end of the beach, were these the allusive Beachside Villa's? My wife actually jogged to them and said she didn't see a sign? After speaking with Carol these were indeed her secret hideout, nice! Carol these sunset shots are for you!

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Fantastic Day!

To be continued.....<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Once again, absolutely fantastic!!!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Thanks! I tried to make a quick edit but the system doesn't like me tonight! The saying that I truly love and is on one of my favorite t-shirts is "those who wander are NOT lost" <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

THANK YOU!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

We love Beachside Villas too and those sunsets are amazing! I never tire of Sxm sunsets and am forever chasing them on our island visits.

Another great read with pictures!

Glad you found Karakters. We have always had great food, drinks and service there. The manager/owner has always been a great conversationalist about business matters on the island.

Another great report! In answer to your question, the only other option on Simpson Bay Beach is Mary's Boon, which is actually a hotel, but non-guests can also enjoy their beach and become "Boonies for a Day". There was once a bar/restaurant on the other side of Beachside Villas, but that closed last year. I had read that something new was opening there, but haven't heard more recently, so I'm not sure if that ever happened.

I hope you tried some of Karakter's delicious tapas while you were there.

Yes, indeed, Beerman, those are MY Beachside Villas. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" /> Those sunset shots surely bring a lump to my throat! Sorry you didn't get to explore BSV in detail, but Karakter is certainly a lovely place to eat and drink and sun, for sure! As someone else said, the only other bar option on that section of Simpson Bay Beach is Mary's Boon, right next door, and they don't have a beach bar.

Thanks again for a great report and pics. Love your wandering adventures.

Beachside Villas are fantastic. We love staying there. As far as bars along that beach front aside from Karakter you only have Mary's Boon. MB is a resort with onsite restaurant/bar. They may or may not have beach service now but the six times we stayed there they did not.

There has been two establishments in the last couple of years - bar/restaurant open up next to BSV but they weren't open for long.

I'm so happy to hear this about Karakters, we will be spending the day there during our trip, starting with breakfast, while we wait for our friends to arrive on a noon flight! they will be checking in a Villa close by! Love Love Love your trip reports and pics!

It's actually Karakter, singular. Although I'm not sure that they serve breakfast? They didn't use to. Great place to hang for the day, but they USED to open at 10..

I think they now serve breakfast although I have not had breakfast there yet.It is a beautiful setting to enjoy the first meal of the day.

Ha...I cut and pasted the name off here so i'd get the spelling right<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />...oh well! They have breakfast on their menu! http://www.karakterstmaarten.com/breakfast

The "s" in that link is the first letter of St. Maarten.

I don't think that reply was directed at me. I think you meant to reply to another poster. In any case enjoy Karakter as it truly is a nice place to spend the day!

Either way you spell it...it's a great place! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Huh, OK, they open at 9 now. Learn something every day!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

We spent several wonderful days at Mary's Boon last month when Mullet was too wild. Chairs and umbrellas were free if you ate or drank there and they absolutely provided service at the beach. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

I didn't realize Karachter was serving breakfast either. Good to know for future reference.

This has been our experience, too, regarding Marys Boon and beach service, though truthfully, we prefer going into the dining room to enjoy lunch out of the sun and off the sand. Good food and good service. Then it's back to the beach.....with drinks on the beach - no problem, Mon. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

My Karakter breakfast a couple of years ago.

Must add breakfast at Karakter to the list for next year's visit.

Too many posts to correct my spelling and my accidental click on wrong person! SORRY regulars!!! Yes I'm a newbie and have a lot to learn! and just for the record the S in KaracterS came from Bobben above! So there! i'm done!

No problem, not a big deal, it's just that is a very common mistake here. Hope you enjoy your trip.

Elisabethnj, Do not feel bad about the spelling of anything in SXM. I cannot tell you how many posts posters have criticized the spelling of KARACTER when one makes a spelling error. Good grief folks, lighten up. Who the he!! cares, we all know what one is referring to. By the way, Pat, misspelled Karacter up a few posts now why did no one correct her?????????????? I don't even know if I am spelling it right. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Argue.gif" alt="" />

That breakfast looks delish!

Is it as yummy as the yacht clubs drunken pancakes with coconut and the rum syrup?

Terrific photos! Can't wait to get there again!

Don't know because I have never had the drunken pancakes at SMYC. Guess I should put them on my list.

Beerman,
Thnks for the reports, they are fantastic! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> Glad you enjoyed Karakter. It is one of our favorite beech bars on SXM! We go at least once sometimes twice during our stay. Friendly staff and can't say enough about their food. Love the Tapas! Can't wait to get back this summer. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

BEERMAN,

Shhhhhh - Karakter's is terrible!!! Each day I go there on our vacations, which is almost daily, the drink of the day is terrible, well by the third one they are great. The food is terrible, especially the Tapas, which we've tried each one several times. The dates wrapped in bacon is horrible, at least the 20 times we've had it.
OK, it is a wonderful place and we stay in a VRBO condo a couple of hundred yards down the beach. In fact we absolutely love Simpson Beach as it is sooooo quiet and uncrowded. Glad you got a chance to get to that end of the island.
Thank you so much for posting you wonderful pictures and dialog - they make me "second" home sick!!!! 82 more days and I'll be having a horrible time in Karakters for 2 weeks:)
Joe & Lori

YOu guys sound like us... Bob refuses to have more than a general plan for the day... instead we roam the island... he does have a particular beach in mind for each day but we get there when we get there. IF we get there.. if something better comes upon us as he meanders and explores then that's where we are...

And that is why we love SXM so much

No matter where you go, there you are! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Karakter has been serving breakfast for over a year - we've had many fine breakfasts there in November 2013 and November 2014. They're definitely on island time - if you show up at 9am, they'll still be setting things up but Mary will happily bring you a drink. My favorite is the melon colada. I always get the same breakfast there - two eggs, fruit, cheese and bread and it's only $7-$8.