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Tortuga restaurant Maho TOWZERONE 13 minutes ago thoughts on this place ?
Heard mixed reviews
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Moving Day fabila 3 hours ago Moving day went smoothly. The trip to Beacon Hill was quick and easy, and we made a stop at Carrefour in Cole Bay to pick up a few essentials before settling in.

The beach was nearly clear of sargassum, with none in the water. After seeing the heavy buildup over at Orient, where the water had turned green, it was nice to find Simpson Bay Beach a clear blue, with some rolling waves. Another sunny day, with no rain until the evening. Not a heavy rain but enough where I was glad I had my umbrella.

In the evening, we made the short trip with friends for dinner at Roma . We attempted to valet park at the casino, as we’ve done many times before, but the attendant told us valet was only available if we were going directly to the casino. Even after explaining that we planned to go there after dinner, he declined to park the car, so we ended up using the paid parking lot instead. Roma and Mr. Chow were bustling, so we were glad we’d made reservations earlier with Marco and requested a table outside in the garden. David and I shared a Caesar salad to start. He ordered the risotto, topped with a lobster tail, and was thoroughly pleased. I had the pumpkin agnolotti with a sage butter sauce as topped with Parmesan shavings—similar to ravioli—and it was absolutely delicious. Everyone enjoyed their meals.

After dinner, some of us tried our luck at the casino next door—one walked away a winner.

No photos this time; we chose to stay present and simply enjoy the evening together.
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Last day on French side fabila Yesterday at 11:32 AM Another gorgeous, sun-soaked day at the beach! 🌊☀️ There was definitely more sargassum in the water than the past couple of days, but honestly, it didn’t slow us down one bit. We just found the clear patches and dove right in.

Lunch was the real highlight though—back to one of our absolute favorites, Chez Leandra! Because of the holiday, their days off, and a huge private event earlier in the week, we only managed to make it there once this trip… but wow, was it worth the wait. I told Rochelle I’d been dreaming about this meal for an entire year, and it did not disappoint!

We went all out: a whole red snapper, perfectly grilled with Jamaican spices, peppers, and onions. It came with rice and peas, fresh salad, and coleslaw, all just as delicious as we remembered. And as if that wasn’t enough, we also shared a half lobster, grilled to with the same sides. Both dishes were available fried or grilled, but we chose grilled.

And here’s a great tip: if you want to check whether they’re open or find out the specials for the day, reach out to them on WhatsApp at 721-522-4615—just be mindful of the time and avoid messaging too early in the morning or late at night.

For dinner, we decided on something casual, so we stopped by 119 Palm St. in Orient Bay, located next to Le Petit Casino. It’s a small, casual crêperie-style spot with about ten covered outdoor tables, perfect for a quick sit-down or take-away. They serve both sweet and savory crêpes, along with milkshakes, ice cream, and bubble tea.

As it was dinner time, we opted for a savory crêpe. They had a good amount of options for Galettes made with buckwheat flour.

David chose one of the specials, featuring andouille sausage, Camembert, and caramelized onions. A generous dollop of French Dijon mustard added a sharp, flavorful kick that complimented the nutty buckwheat base.

I went with an off-menu option called the “St. Martin,” filled with jerk chicken, mozzarella, Emmental, sweet plantains, and topped with a scoop of coleslaw. It was finished with a light Creole sauce. The jerk chicken had a subtle Jamaican flavor—mild but still enjoyable.

My crêpe was €14.
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Orient Beach Trip Report Lucky13 04/09/2026 05:57 PM Been here since Friday. Weather is perfect. The beach is perfect. BBCs at the Perch are great, and still calorie-free.

Nothing else to report 😎
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Kalos Greek Restaurant. 2Travelers 04/09/2026 04:55 PM Has anyone Eaten at Kalos Greek restaurant in the Nettle Bay area? The owners have also purchased Fat Tony's in Jordan Village. Hope they don't change much there.
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any recommendations for decent music TOWZERONE 04/09/2026 04:40 PM 4 of us , all in our 50s coming in May for 10 days
We have been there 8x but mainly have stayed in the Marigot/Baie Nettle area where we will be staying again
I understand there is not a lot of live music clubs /restaurants in Marigot so would be looking at Phillipsburg area/Cupecoy

Thanks
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Drug bust leads to arrests SXMScubaman 04/09/2026 03:12 PM "Cross-Border Drug Probe Leads to Multiple Arrests in Sint Maarten
KPSM Crackdown: Arrests Made as Drug Investigations Expand Across Sint Maarten
PHILIPSBURG Law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking in Sint Maarten are intensifying, as the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) confirms multiple arrests tied to ongoing investigations into the import and export of illegal narcotics.
Detectives from several specialized units have been actively pursuing cases linked to both local distribution and cross-border drug networks. These coordinated operations have recently resulted in the apprehension of two suspects in separate but significant investigations.
On April 7, 2026, authorities executed an arrest warrant for a 36-year-old suspect, identified by initials R.J.L., in connection with the importation of soft drugs into Sint Maarten. Following the arrest, the suspect was taken into custody and remains detained as the investigation continues. This case is currently being handled by KPSM’s Alpha Team, a unit focused on targeted criminal investigations.
In a separate operation on April 8, 2026, a second suspect, Q.C.A., aged 22, was arrested under warrant for alleged involvement in the export of hard drugs. As part of this investigation, law enforcement officers carried out a house search in the Middle Region, gathering additional evidence related to the case. The suspect has since been questioned and remains in custody pending further inquiries.
This second investigation is being led by the Pelican Team, a specialized unit known for handling cross-border crimes involving drugs and firearms, highlighting the regional scope of the case.
Authorities emphasize that drug trafficking remains a persistent and serious threat, not only to Sint Maarten but across the wider Caribbean and international communities. The illegal drug trade continues to fuel a range of criminal activities, including violent offenses, firearm-related crimes, and money laundering, while also strengthening organized criminal networks.
These developments place increasing pressure on law enforcement and judicial systems, both locally and abroad. Officials warn that the broader impact of drug trafficking extends beyond crime, posing risks to economic stability, public safety, and international cooperation efforts.
KPSM continues to work closely with regional and international partners in an effort to disrupt these networks. Authorities stress that a coordinated, sustained approach remains critical to effectively combat drug trafficking and protect the safety and stability of the island.
#sxm #sxmnews #lawfornonlawyers #stmaarten #stmaartennews #sintmaarten #sintmaartennews #stmartin #stmartinnews #Saintmartin #saintmartinnews— at St Maarten Board Walk."
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Kalos Greek Restaurant. 2Travelers 04/09/2026 12:50 PM Has anyone eaten a Kalos Greek restaurant in Nettle Bay? They just opened in March of 2026. The owners have also bought Fat Tony's in Jordan Village and I hope they don't change things there.
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Trip Report Part 1 - March 27-April 6, 2026 lhbsurf 04/09/2026 12:34 PM We arrived from visiting family on Statia on 3-27. Unfortunately, our flight was a couple of hours delayed and it put us in with the big planes. The kiosks were chaos, mostly with those who hadn’t filled out their forms and didn’t know what to do. Instead of groups going to the same one, they would spread out before the next in line could get there taking up multiple terminals for excessively long times. However, for the first time ever, it actually scanned our new passports, but it truly wasn’t much faster than seeing the agents as we have had to do previously, they are very fast.

We met Lesley to get the car and he advised there was a wreck toward the causeway and advised us to go through Sandy Ground, which we did. It was about 2.5 hours from arrival at SXM to the Villa near Grand Case.

We had friends meeting us to celebrate our birthdays. The breezed through everything on Saturday – they were lucky and we were thankful! They made it in a little over an hour from touch-down to the villa.

We took them to many of our favorite places (Pinel – barely made it before ferry shut down; Friar’s Bay Beach Club, Cupecoy, Happy Bay). We didn’t go to Orient because of the sargassum. For dinners, we mostly stayed in Grand Case (Lolos, La Villa, Le Auberge Gourmande, Bistrot Caraibes, Le Pressoir), but went to JAX one evening because the guys love steak.

The weather has been lovely – just a few very brief showers here and there.

Because of where we stay and the times we dine (late), traffic typically does not affect us much – this has been the case this trip so far as well.

Oh, and they had the SXM Music Festival right below the Villa on Happy Bay. We were warned and thought the “noise” as it was described would be ok for 2 nights. I looked it up online and the hours were 8pm – 4am…. And they didn’t stop a minute early lol! They were taking down (very slowly) the festival area while we were there. Two fences blocked the beach on Happy Bay, but they had been removed a few days later.

After our friends left, we moved to a smaller villa in Les Terres Basses and are here now. Will update in a part 2.
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Ti Palm fabila 04/09/2026 11:41 AM What a wonderful dinner we had last evening at Ti Palm located at the Palm Court in Orient bay.

As you arrive, you’re welcomed by beautiful palm trees and lush greenery, with soft lighting throughout the entrance that creates a warm, tropical, and inviting atmosphere. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the service was excellent.

When we were seated in the dining room, many of the tables overlooked the pool. I had requested a table for two by the pool when making the reservation the night before, and the hostess brought us right to it—perfect.

We started with a glass of wine, along with a selection of complimentary delicious, salty olives and fresh bread. The bread paired beautifully with our starter—clams in a rich broth of garlic, butter, and parsley. We couldn’t resist dipping the bread into the sauce, and it was absolutely incredible. Honestly, we may have filled up just on that!

For my entrée, I had a creamy risotto topped with half a roasted lobster, prepared with butter, thyme, and lemon, and served alongside roasted asparagus. Everything was cooked perfectly—the risotto was rich and smooth, and the lobster and asparagus were beautifully roasted. David ordered the spaghetti with clams, which came in a generous portion—so large he couldn’t finish it.

Complimentary shots of infused rum, passion fruit and strawberry were offered then left on the table for us too enjoy.

By the end, we were both too full for dessert. With two glasses of wine, the total came to about $110 USD.

We stayed at Palm Court many years ago, back when they only offered a simple continental breakfast for guests. The transformation since then is truly outstanding—it’s now a beautiful place to dine. I only wish we had come earlier in our trip, because it is absolutely worth a repeat visit.
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