Dear All:<br><br>When I was planning my trip to SXM, I relied on all the information I gathered from Travel Talk Online and am happy to return the favour.<br><br>1. Loved Sint Maarten and the shopping.<br>Front Street was incredible - a shopper's paradise. Spent too much, but it was still worth the purchase after converting to Canadian Dollars. The quality is incredible. We stuck to things were knew about: Gold and Diamonds. Ballerina (balerina@sintmaarten.net), Joe's Jewellry and Shivas/Trident (http://www.shivas-trident.com/) were all very helpful/reputable vendors. <br><br>2. The french side was very nice and we spent some time at Orient Beach and in the French Quarter. We found Marigot nice, but the vendors in the market would not budge. They gave you the feeling they knew you were tourists, and I almost felt as though I was being taken advantage of. Grand Case was nice too, but everytime we seemed to pass through, everything was closed - just bad timing.<br><br>3. Car Rental - I would highly recommend either Alain Arnell of Triple A Car Rental (triplea@outremer.com) or Marius of St. Louis Car Sales (stlcr@powerantilles.com). We ended up renting with Alain only because I spoke with him first. I also spoke with Marius and would not hesitate to rent from him either. We rented a Suzuki Sidekick/Toyota RAV 4 (we changed for the A/C) from Alain for 160 USD for the week. As for what I think about CDW and Liability insurance - the CDW was covered on our Gold Card (check before leaving) and the liability was only good for 50,000 anyways, so we didn't bother with either, but it is personal choice. One last tip: Never leave anything in the car (we always took everything in a small carry on for cameras, towels, coupons, etc.) and never lock your car - it just attracts thieves.<br><br>4. Check the weather on a regular basis at http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/TNCM.html (Juliana Airport) and http://stormcarib.com/index.htm#reports for Hurricane Reports/Updates. By the time I left, I knew the percentage of a hurricane occuring during my vacation time period graphed over a 100 year historical period! <br>[Linked Image]<br><br>5. For information of where to stay with reviews on all Caribbean destinations, check out http://www.wheretostay.com. Every hotel and resort, including timeshare properties, are discussed and reviewed for both Sint Maarten and St. Marten accomodations/properties.<br><br>6. We visited the Sunset Beach Bar http://www.sunsetbeachbar.com and I would suggest you do too - just make sure that you ask a local when the most planes are coming in - I think alot come in on Wednesday and Thursday (don't quote me on that) and make it a real experience. We went at night, saw one plane and had a lizzard shooter.<br><br>7. Check out the casinos, but be careful. To enjoy the atmosphere and gambling addiction to its full potential, my boyfriend and I would get $20.00 each in quarters/nickels and take turns playing together at the same machine(s). Slots are fun!, but you can lose a lot, too. [Linked Image]<br><br>8. The Great Bay Beach Hotel http://www.greatbayhotel.com 3 1/2 Stars?<br>Personally, the service and food did not equal 3 1/2 stars, maybe 2 Stars - 2 1/2 Stars! The staff expected a tip prior to serving, there were four known incidents of theft during our week stay, the entertainment was substandard and demeaning (one of the performers made fun of gays - there were at least 4 gay couples present).<br><br>The Front Desk/Kitchen/Cleaning Staff and Manager had apparent communication problems (we requested that our air conditioning be repaired on the second day and the Manager offered us another room on our second last day)? I do not have high expectations - we have stayed at everything from a 1 1/2 Star to 5 Star and feel that if the Great Bay wants our business again they will definitely have to work on their service standards and taking responsibility/accountability for what happens at the hotel. <br><br>Tony and Kim (Activities Staff) were fun and helpful. Alicia (Tour Desk Staff) was very helpful too. As for a waiter/waitress, I would request Frank or Charlene.<br><br>Breakfast was always cold and including the following: three fresh fruits, cereal, oatmeal, scrambled eggs (runny), potatoes, bacon (dead), sausage (wrinkly), french toast and pancakes. You could, however, add to the excitement by requesting a custom omelette. <br><br>Lunches usually were salads, bread, soup (Scallop Soup was very good, according to boyfriend) and some pretty good entrees - I sometimes wondered whether they should have expanded on the lunches to dinner ideas to create some variety. At lunch, you could also choose from the menu for sandwich/burger combos (although when I ordered a burger, it was undercooked and I had to send it back - the replacement was cooked). <br><br>Dinners were always fish (Red Snapper, Shrimp, Oysters - never any lobster or crab, to my disappointment), Pasta (not very appealing) and Chicken. I have never seen chicken prepared so many different ways. They did have three a la carte nights in which you had a choice of beef or fish/chicken (see the pattern forming here?) <br><br>During the afternoon, prior to dinner at 7:00/9:00 seatings, there was a barbeque with chicken and ribs, with salad, fries, etc. <br><br>The room was nice and clean (303) (although we were always nervous/suspicious of the cleaning staff as a result of all the thefts). The day before we left the maid placed our carry on containing our passports under the tv stand and placed the bedspread folded in front of it. We were frantic and wasted half a day searching for a bag we knew we did not forget anywhere. We did not place it there (under the tv) and wondered if she had "stashed" it there for reviewing/thieving later. The room was close to all amenities, but it could get loud due to its proximity to the Main Pool/Activity Centre. If I had a choice of rooms, I would have chosen a 250 range - it is located in the Mirimar section of the hotel and faces/walks out to the second pool/whirlpool combination. The 350 range would be fine too - they overlook the second pool with an extended sun deck off your patio. Although be advised there is a bit of a walk to these rooms. I would advise contacting greatbayhotel@sintmaarten.net and attentioning Alejandra Harrigan (I believe she was the Executive Secretary) - she was the most helpful staff person prior and during my vacation planning at Great Bay Beach Hotel.<br><br>I spoke with the Manager (Robert Dubourcq) on numerous occasions, but although he was always helpful, he just didn't seem to acknowledge mine or my fellow vacationers' complaints with visible action. One of our friends (who was thieved of $240 USD while staying at the hotel) had to waste a day in tears and at the police station, before the Manager finally reimbursed her for $120 USD (after many discussions/pleas from me). <br><br>One last tip: Do not make any phone calls at the hotel. You will pay for it in the end. Many locals carry cell phones (the numbers are prefixed with a 7) - and you are charged $1.00/minute even though it may be a local call. You pay for the cell call, not the subscriber - a strange concept for us to understand in Canada, from a country where the cell phone owner purchases plans/minutes, not the caller! Making collect calls internationally are fine, though. I complained to the Manager about this and he agreed that the local calls that I made to Alain were deducted from my final bill. I hope they add this information to the Telephone Information Sheet which is in the room. I had no idea when I called Alain that I was calling a cell phone, just that I was making a local call.<br><br>9. Go see Prickly Pear (for the Snorkeller At Heart) and Cupecoy Beach - unfortunately, due to time constraints, and too much shopping, we did not have time, but I would recommend both. Visiting Pic Paridis and the Butterfly Farm would be enjoyable too. Colombier is definitely on the list of to-gos as well.<br><br>10. If you need more information or links, just email me. And we would go to St. Maarten again, just not Great Bay, unless they get their act together. The people we met (we always reserved as a party of ten) were great and we will probably vacation together again.<br><br>Bonnie and Marcel<br>Kitchener, Ontario<br>Canada<br><br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Administrator on 10/29/01 02:11 PM.</EM></FONT></P>