Low Season and Closings

Considering a late summer/early fall trip to St. Martin. I understand there is usually a period where some businesses close due to it being a slower time. When is that and generally what is still open/what typically closes?

If you mean late summer as August, then basically nothing is close. Most closing are Mid September thru October. But you will never go hungry or have a lack of restaurants to choose from. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

June and even late May, some places are open, but with a limited menu and reduced operation. Without mentioning a place by name, we went to dinner to find--the online menu, mentioning music, specific menu items, and specials--not correct at all--NO Music, the menu item we wanted--not available. Lesson learned--if you really want to be sure, call and ask the important questions. No apologies, just a shrug of shoulders. No attempt to update the website. Bad business in our opinion. This was last June.

wetone,

With all due respect, your complaint re the restaurant websites doesn't surprise me at all and I don't think it's so much a seasonal issue but more of a Caribbean attitude. "What? No problem, Mon". They often seem to take everything in stride and do things as the spirit moves them.

With regard to the website, you are absolutely correct. A quick phone call to confirm is called for rather than depending on their websites, but that's often the case here at home, too.

People throughout the Caribbean seem to take things more for granted than we do and don't stress about them. Not sure that's a bad thing, but I get your frustration! We've had similar situations all times of the year so we just learned to go with whatever, and if we're really disappointed, we move on down the road. We never go hungry on SXM! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Pat--Agreed, websites in the Caribbean are often not updated. As far as openings and closings in JUNE in particular, we have been coming to SXM in June for umpteumph years, because it's our anniversary. As far as flat out closings in June, there are very few. Closed one or two nights a week, maybe, not altogether closed for any restaurant, except occasionally. Mario's used to close in June. I guess Temptation is closed this year in June. But in general, everyone is open.

I will refine the question. The first of day of fall is 9/22 so I guess the question would be for say Aug. 15 - Oct. 15. Eric's answer is helpful. Some of our favorites are Pinel Island, LaPiment, Good Morning, Yellow Sub, Kakao, Calmos Café, Toppers, Pineapple Pete's. We wouldn't want to be there when Pinel is closed so maybe I should just start with that and curious if general knowledge on the rest. Do any excursions or Loterie Farm shut down?

I have a question that maybe someone can answer. I'll be in SXM Sept 9 thru 16 with my better half for an anniversary, 39th to be exact. We'll be staying in a VRBO condo in Pelican Key and I was wondering what the traffic on the island is like during that time and what tourist trips would be closed. We definitely want to go to Orient Beach for a walk in the morning and I was wondering how long it will take to drive there. We also want to do some snorkeling etc. Any insight would be extremely helpful.

Curious too if Pinel, Le Pressoir, Le Cottage, Auberge Calmos will be open when we will be in SXM 9/16-9/23

It looks like Club Orient hotel and Papagayo will be closed from Aug 15 to Oct 1 but the Perch stays open during that period (except closed on Mondays). I believe that beach chair service and some level of security is available everyday all year.

all of those places were open when I was there last September. Specifically - what I remember being closed was the following 1) Piazza Pascal 2)Whatever the pizza place is with the big fire oven outdoors at the split in the road in Grand Case 3)La Cave de Charly 4)Spiga 5) Anse Marcel beach club / restaurant. For the places I really cared about, I began emailing or FaceBook messaging prior to our trip to see if they were open.

We are going 9/15 thru 9/22. I've reached out to some and found the following:

Bistrot Caribes - Closed Saturdays
Spiga - Closed September
Piazza Pascal - Closed September
LaVilla - Closed Wednesdays

One reason many restaurants may close or have reduced hours in September and early October may be because that is the heart of the tropical depression/storm/hurricane season for the eastern Caribbean. That makes it the time when many owners and their staffs take their own vacations because it is a "slow" time with fewer customers than the rest of the year...

Agreed, but a lot of resturants and other businesses give there help vacation at this time of year due to a slow business. that does include casinos as well I do not think there is a set time, but know that this is they seek the time off. After coming to the Island since the mid 80s. we have seen this happen when we would travel in the summer and fall. We have not done this of late, as we only travel in winter, but do not believe there is a real time table, but could be wrong....

Why does Club Orient and Papagayo close Aug 15 to Oct 1- and where can I confirm that? Is it on their website?

They have closed for several years at that time of year. As to why? Vacation for staff, closing the resort for required renovation, closing during hurricane season, etc.

But the chair rentals at Club O are still open correct?

yes