Hi, I am in the planning stages of planning our winter getway for next February. A little back ground: We are a group of 6, 2 adult couples each with one child. We have travelled together on several trips including the USVI/BVI's, Mexico and Jamaica. Myself, I have been to St Martin twice only to head the marina in Anse Marcel to board a bareboat charter to sail around the french side of St Matrin, St. Barts and Saba. We are lookiing for a reasonably priced ($2000 per week or less) 3 bedroom condo with kitchen. We would like to be on a beach and close to shopping and activities. I would think this would put us on the Dutch side but open to all ideas. I would perfer not to rent a car since of the size of our group and would rather opt to cab it or possibly make a deal with a good driver to get us to and from beaches and shopping. I have been looking through VRBO and found a few places but I trust the opinions on this fourm and would apperciate any input and insight.

Personally, I think your budget is a little low for 3 bedrooms on the beach in February. If you could somehow make do with 2 bedrooms and a couple of rollaways or something, there would be a lot more options. One suggestion that I might have is that there are a very small number (maybe 3 or 4) three bedroom units at Royal Palm. You would probably need to check redweek or whatever for rentals. I don't know for sure how much they would go for in February because I've only seen prices for around Regatta, which do range around $2000 to $2500 per week. Royal Palm to me is the BEST place to be without a car, as you can walk to many places to eat. However, while it is on the beach, the beach there isn't the greatest. If two bedrooms and a pullout couch would work, the regular two bedroom units at Royal Palm should be available through Redweek or whatever without any problem for $2000 per week.

Beachside Villas has 1, 2,3 bedroom units on a beach and their contact is :

Yolanda 313 884 7706 at 40 Webber Place Grosse Point Shores, Michigan

There's a website: beachsidevillas.com for more info about amenities and floor plans.

The location is a nice long beach but near the airport runway. The positive is you could enjoy watching huge planes land or watch huge yachts leave the lagoon.

I don't think you could walk to any nightlife but it's nearby. Walking the beach infront of the villas you have Karakter's a beach bar serving food, Mary's Boone with a dining room.

Don't know much about Mary's Boone accommodations you might try their website.

But bottom line is I doubt you can find much for $2000. more like minimum 350 + per night.

Thanks Carol. We are flexible on rooms and can stretch the budget a bit. I will check out the Royal Palm.

There are some three bedroom villas in the Pelican Key area in your price range. Many of us here rent through VRBO with no problems, so I suggest you give them a try.

Thanks RonDon. I will look into Beach Side Villas too.

Thanks Islandgem. I will look into Pelican Key too. I knew I count count on the good folks here on SXM fourm <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

I love Beachside Villas, but for February, a 3 bedroom is $565 per night. From April to December, it's only $275 a night.

Elizabeth--3 bedrooms in February for $2000 a week in Pelican Key?? That seems somewhat surprising to me.

Carol, I know of a large villa in Pelican Key that rents for 1750 a week in February and there are more. Don't be surprised as there are several properties that don't change their rental prices throughout the year.

OK, surprised at that. Sounds like you should let dave know about the specific villas you would recommend?

This villa you mention. is it on a beach?

UPDATE: Our group grew from 6 to 8 so the condo thing never panned out for us but our budget grew with the extra people. We just booked Jade Pearl villa (VRBO # 384956)in the Pelican Key area. Though it is not on the beach it supposed to be a 5 minute walk and shopping and casino's very close by so I am told. We are also considering renting a van for at least part of our stay. Still looking for tips and insight especially in the Pelican Key area if anyone would like to chime in. I would like to thank everyone who responded with condo help too...Thanks!

dave,

I can't comment about a rental unit or Pelican Key area but I would offer the following suggesting regarding a van rental for a portion of your stay - they are often harder to park and generally considerably more expensive than renting standard Corolla type vehicles and many have found, in the long run it's easier to rent two smaller cars as opposed to one van.

The convenience factor is you don't ALWAYS have to be together and it gives you a little more freedom to go your separate ways on occasion if you're of a mind to.

On the evenings you want to travel together, a taxi or a private driver like Mr. Wilfred Brooks, could put you all in one vehicle and remove the designated driver issue. He also does island tours and might be doable for your group.

We've done both the van rental for a group and the two car rental but at this point, even when we travel with just another couple, we find it easier in the long run that each couple has their own car. Just a thought......

Pat--that would be my suggestion also--rent two rice burner cars, cheaper and more convenient than a van.

With regard to that location, I'm not sure where it is exactly, but in Pelican Key, I actually don't know where you would go that would be a public beach, per se, in walking distance. The 'beach' in front of LaVista is very rocky. Otherwise, I THINK the only real beach would be in front of Pelican (whoops, sorry, SBR!!) and Flamingo. I'm not exactly sure if you can use that beach if you're not staying there. There is also Kim Sha, but regardless I think any of them would be a hike back up the hill, from the pictures.

Dave,

We have done a Pelican Villa with 8 people before, and did 3 cars. Some people are early risers, others not so much. It seemed every time a group left, they would bring back goodies, whether that was an hour later or six hours later. Usually would catch up by phone at some point to decide if we wanted to meet up as a group. We have walkers in the group that would walk to a few places, others that would not walk at all with the hills. We have people that eat out breakfast every morning, others that just want coffee and maybe a piece of toast. I would suggest having Jeannie deliver groceries for a group like that so you have some provisions there as your group arrives. So nice to come back from a beach late afternoon and enjoy some group cocktails as you talk about your day and then plan your night. I am sure you will all have a grand time.

Thanks for all the tips...keep them coming if you can. Phillygirl7 how would one get in touch with Jeannie for provisions?

Jeanne is a sponsor, Shop N Drop Grocery, and is mentioned a lot on this website. You can pre-order groceries and she will get them delivered to your villa. Click on sponsors above and search for Shop N Drop Grocery under SXM Sponsors.

Not Phillygirl, but Jeannie is a sponsor here - go to the sponsors list at the top of the TTOL home page - under SXM sponsors - Shop and Drop Grocery service is listed there. (As is Mr. Brooks if he's of any interest to you...)

Jeannie provides a great service and is totally reliable and responsible, besides being a nice person to work with. Remember that island groceries are more expensive than at home and that said, it's all spelled out for you.

We've used her service twice a year every year since she started doing it and she's yet to get an order wrong. It really is nice to check into your island home and know the fridge is well stocked for at least the first 24 to 48 hours and the cold drinks are already on tap! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

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

Great! I will check her out.

Thank you guys... Dave here is my website address... www.shopndropgrocerysxm.com

Thanks Jeannie!