We are spending 2 nights pre cruise first time on Sxm , Jan 17. Both places have pretty good rates, so we have to decide Love (right on beach and close to great restaurants, but I'm not sure about the loungers situation), and Mercure which has more modern looking rooms with balconies, and more amenities such as pool, and would be closer to our embarkation on Windsurf.
Do you have any opinions on either one. I have to say I am leaning toward Love, but I would like to make sure I have a longer to hang out on the beach. I am not understanding why trip advisor states that they no longer have them?
Help for some newbies, please <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Are you SURE the cruise leaves from Marigot?? I think the ship leaves from P'burg. Which means that neither of your choices is particularly "close" to where the ship leaves from--if that makes a difference.

I agree, pretty sure your boat leaves from P'burg
However Nettle Bay to Grand Case - I would take Love Hotel and Grand Case. The 17th is a Tues, not sure if Harmony night will going by then, if so, it will be busy and maybe noisy - you may or may not like that
However for 2 days, I could stay at Grand Case and not leave, food, beach - it's all there.
Mercure, it wouldn't be my idea of a 2 day stay, I'd rather pick the Sonesta Great Bay over Mercure, to squeeze all the hours before a cruise

However I'd take Love / Grand Case over Mercure. If you'll look at Grand Case, I would also look at any of the Orient Beach hotels for 2 days also.


J&B

I think Windsurf tenders in from the French side in Marigot. At least that was the case previously.

We stayed at the Mercure, when our flight was cancelled, a couple of years ago. It was a horrible experience, I slept in a chair because the room was so filthy. They may have renovated it since that time. I would choose Grand Case any day over Nettle Bay area.

Definitely would stay at Love Hotel for their cool funky vibe. Loungers are free at Captain Frenchy's, very close by.

While we have never stayed at Love Hotel - we go there on every trip to the island at least once. We were there two weeks ago and got chairs on the beach (free). We purchased drinks, but ate at the Lolos so didn't buy food. I will tell you it was a very slow week. I would imagine January is very different so don't know if loungers are free with food/beverage purchase then. We enjoy the kind of "cool" vibe of the place, have always gotten good service, and they have decent restrooms. We are fans.

Thank you, all, Just what I was hoping o hear. Love hotel it will be.

I did receive a reply from them to an email asking about the chair situation. They said the gov has ben trying to ban the rented chairs, but for now things are good. Will just have to hope nothing changes by Jan.
J&B- we are there on the Jan 12 2017. So no worries about the noise. You confirmed my thoughts that we could be quite content for a couple of days on Grand Case,

Deb

There is a cruise ship dock just after the parking lot in Marigot, down a narrow rode. We drove friends there one year to leave on a cruise---large ship but can't remember the name.

The Windstar website says Pburg to Pburg, so I assume, without knowing, it is correct.

I can't speak about the Love Hotel but we had to check in at the Mercure for the Nettle Bay Beach Club. The problem we had was that not one person behind the counter could speak English and we spoke limited French. It was the worst experience we ever had. It might have changed now but it was a problem then.

Just checked the cruise dock schedule for Marigot and the SEA DREAM fits date Debra mentioned of Jan 14.

Jan 25 the Star Legend (Windstar Lines) leaves Port of Marigot.

Sorry I got the thread off topic, but the original poster stated they were going on WINDSURF, which is a Windstar ship..

Yes, Carol! It looks like you are right about Windsurf leaving from Pburg.I just assumed it would be from a smaller location as that was the case in Venice last Sept. When we cruised with her.
Thanks for pointing it out to me, though we certainly would have confirmed closer to the time. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />
This is a great site, with lots of helpful answers, which is good as I should have lots of questions.

According to passengers that have sailed on Windsurf, they boarded in Marigot and not Philipsburg. CRUISE Critic says Windsurf tenders off of Marigot on the French side.In fact we have often seen the smaller ships anchored off of Marigot on many of our visits.

OK, I don't know for sure, other than what is on their website. I don't know why the website would say P'burg if they sail from Marigot. I have also seen smaller ships in Marigot, but I would think that having an embarkation point, it would be a big deal to have to tender, versus dock. I suggest the original poster check with Windstar or their travel agent to confirm.

Thanks, will do. On the port site it has CPN-SE next to Windsurf, which is abbreviation for docking area in Pburg. But I will check!