Anse Marcel Beach

We spent a beautiful day yesterday on Anse Marcel Beach.

We will get there one day...:)

Our favorite

For the record we are not complete fans of Anse Marcel
However - the latest trip reports from several have pics included, clearly I have to up our game this winter!
Lovely pics even if not our 1st choice for a beach

Not to hijack the thread ... but ... I have a gift card at a small specialty grocery store with a deli counter, I go once a wk for a take out cup of coffee for a short work break [work at home] when the card runs out, it's our time to go!
A little weekly reminder / count down for me of what is coming
J&B

I will send you a PM to make arrangements.

Hey, no fair! No pictures of the food!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

Sorry, I forgot to take pictures of the food yesterday. It was all gone before I thought about it. Too hungry, I guess.

OK, guess we'll have to forgive you this time!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> I'm just still salivating from Beachkitten's pictures of the food!!

Enjoy the rest of your trip!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Carol, we really don't come here for the food. We come for the beaches and to enjoy the company of good friends. There is so much more to enjoy on this island besides food, but we all have to eat somewhere. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

OK, everyone vacations differently. We definitely go to SXM at least PARTIALLY for the food, but whatever makes you happy, it's all good!

Homesick . . . .

almost 25 years of going to sxm, have never been to anse marcel beach. not even sure of where it is??? after seeing the pictures, and all the talk lately, it will have to be on our list this coming march.

we really must try to crack our ''creatures of habit'' mode. We have our favorites...but sure have to expand our pallet next trip.

Ed,

It's a bit if a trek from our quiet little corner but so very worth the effort and the scenery along the way is interesting, to say the very least.

The beach service is top shelf, the food is very good and it's a peaceful place to spend a lazy day but don't forget, it's just as long driving back as it was getting there in the first place. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

We discovered Anse Marcel last trip and it became our new favorite place to spend the day. It is a bit more expensive than some other places but the beautiful and peaceful setting combined with great food, calm waters and comfortable lounge chairs make it all worth while for us.

Take the road you would take to get to the Pinel ferry. Before the end of the road, however, take a left turn up the hill. There will be signs to the Riu, and I think there's a school on one of the left corners.

Take the windy ride up, and down, the hill. You will go through a gate (not staffed) that takes your picture. At the bottom of the hill, go toward the staffed guard shack. Just before the shack, take a left into the parking lot. Go through the parking lot to a street that parallels the parking lot. Take a right and follow the signs to Anse Marcel Beach Café/Restaurant. You will not be sorry you made the effort!

Jazzgirl,

You can drive down to the beach? That would be good news as we always walk and that is a hike. Thanks for heads-up and any more details you can provide. We like Anse Marcel except for the walk, Mike.

Not Jazzgirl, but yes, you can drive all the way in right up to the doorstep of the restaurant.

When we were there in April we didn't realize this and parked where the signs indicated and then we carried all our beach things - towels, beach bags, cameras etc., in. You don't want to know what I was thinking when we found we could have driven......but in the end, it was such a nice day that the walk in fades in memory by comparison. Almost..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Driving right to the door there now is such a big improvement. They are getting much more business now at the restaurant because of the good parking. Last night when we left, they were setting up for a special function.

Elizabeth, are there signs directing you to the restaurant parking? I haven't been in that area since the hotel was Le Meridien, lol!

Yes, there are signs right near the guard shack with arrows pointing the way. I really think you will like it there.

It is our favorite. Last February spent 12 days there out of 16.

I think I will too. It sounds like my kind of place. Thank you for your help, and we'll see you soon!!

Mine too. Love, love, love it.

And then there are continued signs after you turn out of the parking lot by the shack. There are two or three turns, but all of them are very well marked. You just can't miss it!

Is the water as crystal clear as mullet?

Absolutely and no shelf in the water or cliff down to the water. Also, no big waves or surf to knock you over, or at least, that's been our experience each time we've been there....

Sounds beautiful. We will definitely have to visit this beach on our next trip.

I was thinking the same thing - we stayed at Le Méridien years ago as an add-on, and then visited a couple of more times over the years. The roads leading there never thrilled me, though - but maybe I'll have to add it back on to my must do's this year.

The road up over the hills to Anse Marcel have never changed over the years. Still twisted and curved and very slippery when wet. It can be adventurous for sure especially at night in the darkness. It is never too much of a challenge during daylight hours and a nice reward when you get to the end! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Have not been in this area for many years but the last time we went it felt like an armed camp with fences, fences everywhere...

I never saw any fences there and we have been going for several years. Not sure if you are talking about the same place.

What is the grade of the hill like that goes down in to Anse Marcel? Is it as steep as the the grade up from Cul De Sac or is it less steep?

I have only been to the top of the hill from the Cul De Sac side. It was a great view.

Up and down, very similar.

Thanks... I was hoping the way down into Anse Marcel was a more leisurely grade <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

The Anse Marcel Beach Club is wonderful, highly recommended.. stay at that end of the beach. The other end where the Riu is located is very noisy, crowded, and I feel it ruins the beautiful peacefulness of this beach. Not sure why the music has to be up so loud you can hear it all over the entire beach. And sorry to say I am not a big line dancer and doing it on a beach is just wrong.
The AMB club is the perfect beach club that all beach restaurants should be like.. but these are just my opinions..;)

Agree! Agree! Agree!

Going back to this place a lot the next trip (Wednesday).

Agree By far the best and as said our favorite.

Pat,

Thanks for the reply. I guess I am still confused as what establishment is being discussed as I read further in the thread. Any help would be appreciated, Mike.

SXM Mike,

The RIU resort is the main resort in this area and is at the bottom of the hill at waterside. Driving in and down to RIU, you will come to a guardhouse which is actually for RIU.

At that point, If you wish to have a lovely day at the Restaurant at Anse Marcel (this is the only name I know it by and it could have a formal name I'm unaware of.....) turn left just before the guardhouse entry to RIU and from that point keep driving until you can drive no further, disregarding all the signs that say 'park here' or 'private' and ultimately the road becomes a dead end in a cobble stone like parking area. Walk through the restaurant at this point and someone will most likely meet you and show you through to the beach, allowing you to select a lunch time and table on the way, and giving you the prices for the chairs and umbrellas. Note they are NOT free and the pricing is in EUs, or was when we were there.

The beach service was very good and the furnishings very comfortable. We plan on heading out that way at some point while we're here but it is a bit of a drive from the Towers and we haven't gotten that far yet.

If you are looking for a rough beach with waves and surf, this is generally not the case here, and the chair set-ups are widely spaced so you're really not part of your neighbors conversation as is the case in so many beach locations.

Hope this helps just a little bit to clarify and like so many, we've come to love the place but it is NOT an everyday beach unless you really want to spend a fortune. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Glad to read of the parking here. The former Privilage Hotel was our very first stay on SXM - long gone. I remember the Hotel Keep - Bernard was a wonderful man. We stopped making the trek over the hill when the hotel closed and there has been lots of turn over at the other resorts there...seems like almost annually one turns over. We will make an effort to visit the beach and restaurant in Feb when we visit.

Thank you, Pat. Your directions are great and I will use them in tandem with Google Earth to commit the route to memory. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you, Mike. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

We have a friend in the hotel business and he said there are several places where "turnover" is constant and Ansel Marcel is one of them because on SXM most don't want to be that isolated or to go AI. I believe the Meridian closed after that fiasco with the road that went un repaired for ages leaving the hotel with no guests for quite awhile. Raddison didn't make a profit either so in came RIU. Time will tell if another comes along.

This beach and restaurant has eluded us. It sounds wonderful.

I googled it and can't seem to find a website with their menu and wine list.

Anyone had any lucK with this?

It appears they choose to not put the menu on their website. While I am not a fan of that the reviews are so outstanding we are going even if we have to take out a second on our house!

Seriously, as long as the value is there, we are good. We only get 8 days each trip so every moment must be used to the maximum. The trip lengths are going to get extended when the tuitions stop in two years.

This is their website, but it doesn't appear to have a menu yet.

The good thing about this place - or one of the many good things - is you can go and spend a lovely and comfortable day on the beach and throw in a lovely meal with or without wines, etc., without having to deal with night driving and all the other stuff. And it can be a full day or merely a lunch stop but personally speaking, I'd do the former. And if it does turn into what you might consider an expensive day, eat in that night or just have a pizza or something very light if you're so inclined.

My one warning, though, is if you're looking for rough waters and waves to play in, you probably won't enjoy this beach all that much. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I'm a little confused with the Radison and RUI labels. One of the newspaper articles about the terrorist attack in Mali said the hotel was a Radison Blue but the picture with the article had a Radison RUI sign on it. Are they connected in some way?

I'm confused
The thread started about the beach bar, but Jazzgirl's link is to Anse Marcel Beach Resort
I think this was - in 2014 - La Domaine? - Air Transat was selling packages in 2014 from Canada.
We visited the beach bar in 2014, it was very new, not quite finished and our visit was not the best experience. Also looked at the hotel for a Quebec friend and it wasn't looking so good at that time.
So has the beach bar now somehow connected with a re opening of the hotel?
That might also explain how and why you can drive to the beach bar?
J&B

John and Bev,

To clarify - maybe.

Once upon a time, in the land of Oz.....sorry, wrong story.

Once upon a time the main resort out there was La (Le?) Meridian. LaDomaine and L'Habitation were also there but possibly at the top of the hill and Meridian was at sea level. It had an incredible check-in area and was quite lovely but very remote at the time, there being almost nothing else up that hill and in that area.

A few years ago L' Meridian became the Radisson Bleu or perhaps, just the Radisson to most Americans, and again, this was the beach level property.

Just a couple of years later it became the RIU AI resort. It is at their gatehouse where you need to hang a left and head on to the Restaurant at Anse Marcel, for want of a better name to call it.

It's a very pleasant place to spend a day and to the best of my information, it is a totally independent property with no connection to RIU. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I hate to comment on Pat's comment, I'm a raw rookie by comparison!! I am not suggesting the beach bar is part of the RUI.
Two beachfront hotels at Anse Marcel, the Rui / Radisson / ? to the east and to the west what in 2014 was I think called Le Domaine [de Lonvilliers?].
The beach resto being discussed was in front of Le Domaine and was not completely finished when we visited late Jan? 2014. At that time the beach resto had nothing to do with Le Domaine. I walked around Le Domaine as a french speaking friend had asked me to check it out for a possible vacation - it was tired at the time.
My comment was in reference to the web link which refered to the Anse Marcel Beach Resort and the resto appears part of the resort? so wondering if it is the hotel resto or maybe just an association that works for both of them

J&B

I was told or heard that what was de Lonvilliers was divided up. Some units are now owned, some are rented, and some can be reserved through the Beach Restaurant. If I remember correctly, there's a separate door on the non-beach side of the restaurant for check-in to the rooms.

I have not seen the rooms that can be rented through the Beach Restaurant so can't comment on them. But since the check-in for the rooms is on the back side of the restaurant, it does appear there is some association.

Restaurant is definitely completely finished now and is wonderful.

The Lonvilliers are timeshares (at least some are), and belong to the Armed Forces Vacation Club. There is one for rent at $365 for a week in November on the club site right now.

Just returned from two weeks in SXM. We decided to explore "new places", not just our old favorites. After 10 trips over last 18 years, we finally made it to Anse Marcel at the Ansel Marcel Beach Resort. The beach bar and dinning is very nice, we will return one our next trip for sure. To call this a beach bar is really misleading as it is so nice. Two notes: 1)they do not do 1-1 eruo to usd, their exchange rate is 1.15 - 1, so use a credit card to avoid the high exchange rate. 2) the beach and the resort dining is very French and highly visited by the local French reside residents, if you go on the weekend I suggest you make reservations for lunch and beach chairs.