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Three Days in Grand Case #160403
05/07/2018 06:11 PM
05/07/2018 06:11 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 155
Central Connecticut
4
4Driver4 Offline OP
Traveler
4Driver4  Offline OP
Traveler
4
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 155
Central Connecticut
Wife and I had the opportunity to spend a few days on island, most of it in Grand Case, but we also toured most of the resorts. Some thoughts:

I had seen plenty of pictures prior to traveling, but I was still surprised by how widespread the damage is. You really can't wrap your mind around it until you see it.
My perspective was shock at the damage, while most locals were proud of the progress they have made on clean up and excited for renewal and improvement. It took me a while to come around, but I eventually joined that viewpoint.
Most of the major hotels on the french side are in very bad shape, but there seems to be enough going on over on the dutch side to entice the airlines to slowly ramp up service. Getting hotel rooms open on island will be critical to increasing air traffic.
Grand Case Blvd is a mess...for now. The debris is gone, but they are seizing the opportunity to bury the overhead wires, so there are trenches everywhere. Should be a huge improvement when done.Still very walkable but a bit dusty.
Few restaurants are open in Grand Case, but the ones that are seem to be doing a decent business for May. Almost everything on the Ocean side sits idle waiting for money or decisions.
Petite Hotel and Esplande are in good shape with no apparent major damage. They should be up and running quickly.
GCBC has announced an October 1 opening, and they are on plan to do it, but they have their work cut out for them. They are using this as an opportunity for a major upgrade the Sunset Cafe and much of the grounds. Lots and lots of work going on there.
Actually, lots of hammering and power tools running everywhere, six days a week.
The airport (SXM) is compact, but quite efficient. I'm sure the low volume helps, but for a temporary situation, this seems well thought out.

Overall, a sobering, emotional, but encouraging visit. We will be back in October (when the GCBC is open) and are eager to see the progress.

Last edited by 4Driver4; 05/07/2018 06:12 PM.
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Re: Three Days in Grand Case [Re: 4Driver4] #160410
05/07/2018 07:20 PM
05/07/2018 07:20 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,481
Central Florida!
Thanks so much for the report.


Carol Hill
Re: Three Days in Grand Case [Re: 4Driver4] #160530
05/09/2018 02:20 PM
05/09/2018 02:20 PM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 579
Michigan
DDnBob Offline
Traveler
DDnBob  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 579
Michigan
I believe that Petite Hotel will open June 2018 and L'Esplanade will open November 1, 2018. At least that is what we learned when we were in Grand Case this past March. Both are beautiful hotels.


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Re: Three Days in Grand Case [Re: 4Driver4] #160771
05/14/2018 11:53 AM
05/14/2018 11:53 AM
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 18
Canada
MissSunfish Offline
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MissSunfish  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 18
Canada
I'm looking forward to your October report. Im headed to SBR at Christmas and am thinkimg of booking a few days in GC

Re: Three Days in Grand Case [Re: MissSunfish] #160799
05/14/2018 06:18 PM
05/14/2018 06:18 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 155
Central Connecticut
4
4Driver4 Offline OP
Traveler
4Driver4  Offline OP
Traveler
4
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 155
Central Connecticut
Originally Posted by MissSunfish
I'm looking forward to your October report. Im headed to SBR at Christmas and am thinkimg of booking a few days in GC


I'm pretty excited to be going back then. We had not planned to, but had already looked at flights before we left the island. There is so much going on that we really want to go back and see it. I'm hoping to have plenty of progress to report on.

If you plan to stay at GCBC, I recommend you reserve as soon as possible. They will only have three of five buildings operational when the open, so I suspect December will still be running at less than full steam.


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