Hotel Recommendation NOT necessarily Philipsburg

I am looking for a hotel recommendation for a one night only Saturday stay in May prior to a flight out on Sunday. We would like to be near restaurants and shopping. Beach location is not necessary as we will have spent a week on a boat prior. A hotel allowing early check in will be nice.

OK, why do you want P'burg in particular?? How familiar are you with SXM? P'burg is not a very good place to be at night, in most cases. As far as early check-in, that would have to be something that you would have to see about directly with the hotel. That would be the WORST day of the week to expect an early check in, unless you pay for the night before.
The only hotel in P'burg I could recommend would be Holland House. They do have a restaurant there, a pretty decent one, so you wouldn't have to leave there at night. It is walking distance to shopping, yes. Not sure what type of shopping you are interested in? What type of amenities are you looking for at the hotel, or just a place to lay your head?

Just did a real quick check on prices for Holland House. To me, it's way too expensive, versus other places on the island. Again, why P'burg?

Never been to St. Matin and just randomly picked Philipsburg. Any other place is okay.

OK, that opens up a lot of possibilities. How important is the shopping, and what TYPE of shopping are you interested in? And as far as the hotel, do you want a 'resort' type atmosphere or a small boutique place? Or do you want an older Carribean feel? Do you want a pool? How many people?

Hi. I changed the title of the post to indicate it doesn't have to be P'burg. I'm sure some people will make other recommendations, once we have a better idea of what it is that you are looking for. Tons of places available, that time of year.

We are just looking for a nice hotel not necessarily a resort type since we are leaving the next day. When I said shopping, I was referring to the typical vacation souvenirs. We just want something nice with a restaurant or near restaurants- no rental car.

Hi. As far as a rental car, they actually are pretty cheap in SXM, and would allow you to tool around on your own and explore. They do have a couple of souvenir shops at the airport, if you're not real picky about what you want.

I think your biggest issue is going to be wanting to get an early check in at any of these hotels on a Saturday. Many of the hotels on SXM are also timeshare resorts, which mostly have a Saturday turnaround day, so checking in early on a Saturday is probably going to be very difficult. A suggestion for that would be to book the Friday night also. Or take a cab to the hotel OR rent a car and go drop off your luggage at the hotel and have them hold it for you at the front desk until you can actually check in, and go somewhere else for the day. IF YOU DECIDE TO RENT A CAR, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EVER LEAVE YOUR LUGGAGE IN THE CAR WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN THE CAR. ANYWHERE, AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME. If you have a car, you can go anywhere you want for the day, until your room is ready. Or, Karakter is a restaurant and bar on Simpson Bay beach (right next to Mary's Boon, listed below). Karakter is an excellent restaurant and they have a service where you can have them hold your luggage for you, and they do have showers there.

I would suggest you check out the following hotels-

Mary's Boon--old style smaller Caribbean hotel, on a fabulous beach, has a pool and a restaurant onsite, as well as Karakter right next door. They do have some 'budget' rooms there, that you could probably book two nights for the price of one night at another hotel around the area. Or, if they are not busy, you could possibly work out a deal to check in early. If you decide on Mary's Boon, you could go for the day to Karakter next door, which is an excellent restaurant. Not much in the way of souvenirs you can walk to from there.

Royal Islander La Plage--this is a timeshare, so early check in would be a total no-go. Location is walking distance to a ton of different restaurants and a fair amount of shopping. This is a resort, with a lot of rooms, nice pool area, beach that comes and goes.

Atrium--again a timeshare. In the heart of Simpson Bay, walking distance to probably the most restaurants of almost any hotel on the island. Some souvenir shopping available.

La Vista Beach--smaller timeshare, family owned, not really a 'beach' there, but kind of a coral, rocky shore, but right on the ocean. There are two pools for the resort. Restaurant at the resort, along with several others within short walking distance. Shopping for souvenirs is a bit further walk, but doable.

I figure others will chip in with their recommendations.

Basic but clean hotel in Simpson Bay would be The Travel Inn. Restaurants and basic shopping within walking distance. Have stayed there when we needed an extra night or two.

mort--I would go a few dollars more for someplace that doesn't look out at a road. I'm surprised you didn't second my recommendation of the Atrium!

Both the Azure Art Hotel and Horny Toad Guest House are a few blocks' walk to the main road that goes through Simpson Bay, where there are a plethora of restaurants to choose from. Both are RIGHT on the water and are smaller properties. I stay at Horny Toad a lot and they often have early check-in available. I'm sure souvenirs are available in Simpson Bay although I can't think of a place off the top of my head.

LINK to Azure

LINK to Horny Toad

Atrium is $350 a night. If only staying a night or 2 have found Travel Inn to be fine. Check is 1pm at Travel Inn.

$350 a night for Atrium?? I just did a search for a random Saturday night in May and got $179.

Linda--I don't know--do either of those properties take one or two night reservations?

I was looking at March prices.

Horny Toad definitely does. I don't see anything on Azure's web site about minimum stays.

If you can get a reservation Mary’s Boon Beach Hotel would be perfect. Small Caribbean style hotel, Nice restaurant and beach bar. Staff his great. But they stay very full especially this time of year.
If you don’t book there at least go by and see what you missed for the next time.

Linda--OK, I didn't think they used to take one night reservations, but things have probably changed. The original poster did not want to rent a car and I'm not sure if I personally would want to walk somewhere for dinner from there, unless it was before dark.

mort--you have March on your mind!

Not sure of the current name or ownership but does what used to be Sonesta Maho still exist for rentals? If yes, that sounds as though it could be perfect - no car needed and everything else asked for right there. And as big as it is, they’d almost certainly have at least a baseline room available.

I would 2nd the Azure Hotel. Nothing fancy but affordable and right on the waters of Simpson Bay Beach. Not sure if you can get just 1 night or not. I would think it would be possible if there are any openings.

pat--I thought the Sonesta was all inclusive only? Don't know.

It might very well be and honestly, I don’t even know if they rent individual rooms anymore. It’s been years since we stayed there and many changes since then, one of which possibly includes the purchase by a Canadian airline charter company. And that, too, may have changed…..or perhaps referred to the now defunct Sonesta Great Bay only.

And re the AI thing - I’ve rented AI properties for location and the breakfast buffets and drinks yet dined elsewhere by choice for the sake of experiencing other options.

But IF they do rent individual rooms and have availability it answers all the needs of the OP - no car needed, easy access to food and drink, convenient shopping for almost anything including the typical souvenirs many often want to purchase. And both beach and evening entertainment right there.

And after all that, it’s probably not available.🙂🙂