My wife and I always stay near Orient Beach, but will be visiting in about 6 months with friends who don't care to worry about the money conversion rate on the French side. I tried to explain that it's no big deal, but they insist on staying on the Dutch side. They also want to be able to see the planes land from their room or balcony. I can't remember the names of all the places close to the airport where I could rent a room for 4 of us that they can eatch the planes land. Any thoughts?

Royal Islander is probably closest...

While the view of the planes from the ROOMS isn't that great, Beachside Villas has a wonderful view of the airport. You can either sit at the pool and watch the planes or there is a stand by the fence where you have a totally unfettered view of the planes. 2 bedroom units there are great, with 2 full bathrooms, full living room, your own gas grill, kitchen, porch in the shade, and right ON one of the best beaches on the island!

Sunsets over Beachside Villas are nice too. Karakter just a short walk down the beach, that's where I would be!!

As well as Royal Islander La Plage, which is a full timeshare resort and an awesome place for plane watching, you can also try her younger sister, Royal Islander La Terrasse, also a timeshare or the Sonesta Royal Islander hotel but only 'some' of the hotel rooms are along the glide path for landing at the airport. The wrong locations in either of my two latter suggestions will give you virtually no view of the airport landings. RILP really is the best of the best for actual viewing from your accommodations.

Beerman--thanks for the picture! But, as your picture shows, from BSV, there isn't a direct view of the sunset, if that is a consideration. BUT!!, as I said in my original post, if one were to compare the BEACH at BSV, versus the beach at Royal Islander, no contest, BSV knocks it out of the park!

oops don't want to mislead....Biglar said They want to watch planes from their room/balcony! I have no idea of BSV's views from their rooms/balcony, I only know the views of BSV from Karakter, which is where you would find me every night if I stayed at BSV <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Actually, I was saying you can't see the SUNSET from BSV <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> but as I said in the original post, you can't see planes from the ROOMS at BSV either. You have to go to the stand or go out by the pool. The view by the pool is pretty neat though!

The RI La Plage has two wings (no pun intended). Room numbers are 4 digits; the first being the floor number, the second digit being the wing and the final number representing the specific unit on that hallway. The better choice for watching planes on final approach would be rooms on floors 3-5 and in the wing with "1" in the second digit. My unit is in the other wing and I can watch planes on final approach, but usually only the last mile or so. RI-LP owners hold a specific week in one designated unit. If your friends rent directly from an owner, they should be able to shop for the unit that best suits their desire to watch planes on final approach. Hope this helps.

Grand Case, just lie or act confused about the airport.

LaTerrasse is great for watching planes, but you can't stay in the hotel rooms or down on the first floor. I'm sure if you told them you wanted to watch the planes you would probably be given an appropriate unit.