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Options to stay #250338
03/17/2021 07:58 PM
03/17/2021 07:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline OP
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sail2wind  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
Hi Carol, long time off the board, we sold our boat. Opinion please , Oyster Bay, Royal Palm, or Royal Islander, we have only stayed on our boat or Simpson Bay, which is an option, but like to try something different

Last edited by Carol_Hill; 03/18/2021 09:06 AM.
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Re: Options to stay [Re: sail2wind] #250378
03/18/2021 09:22 AM
03/18/2021 09:22 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Hi. I made this it's own post, as it had nothing to do with the original topic.

When you say "Oyster Bay", I assume you mean Oyster Bay Beach Resort? The resort itself is very nice and it is on Dawn Beach, which is a nice beach, UNLESS there is sargassum. Oyster Bay seems to consistently have a problem with sargassum. Someone posted here the other day that perhaps they have finally gotten a machine to clean the seaweed, but I will believe that when I see it. Unless you plan to spend all your time at the resort, that would be my third choice, as Oyster Pond is kind of far from most things, and there are not a lot of restaurants open there, since Irma and Covid. UNLESS there is sargassum, which you kind of don't know ahead of time, Dawn Beach is by far the nicest beach of the three. Most people who go to SXM travel to different beaches throughout the island though.

Personally, I don't care for Royal Islander that much because it seems more like San Juan than St. Maarten, but that's just me. The pool area is really beautiful and the rooms on the ocean side have a lovely view. You don't have to rent a car there if you don't want to and can find a lot to walk to. If you do rent a car, you have to pay for parking in the garage. If you like planes, you have a wonderful view of the airport. The beach there very much comes and goes, could be here today and gone tomorrow. I understand there is a huge amount of beach there right now, but that is somewhat unusual.

Royal Palm would be my first choice because it in the heart of Simpson Bay, which is where I personally would prefer to be, versus the others. You wouldn't need to rent a car there either, as you can walk to a bunch of places from there. The beach is not particularly good, as it is a manmade beach. And there are often many sailboats anchored in that bay, so you, as a former sailboat owner would understand why I say that if I stay there, I NEVER go in the water. All the rooms were recently refurbished from top to bottom there, so everything is clean and new.

Last edited by Carol_Hill; 03/18/2021 11:14 AM.

Carol Hill
Re: Options to stay [Re: sail2wind] #250391
03/18/2021 10:46 AM
03/18/2021 10:46 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,253
Boynton Beach, FL
EdB Offline
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EdB  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,253
Boynton Beach, FL
Carol....you surely can rent a Hertz car at Royal Islander, or Sonesta Maho. They have cars for rent right in the garage at LaTerrace.

Re: Options to stay [Re: EdB] #250395
03/18/2021 11:01 AM
03/18/2021 11:01 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Ed--I said it badly. I meant that if a person didn't WANT to rent at all, they could get by without a car.


Carol Hill
Re: Options to stay [Re: sail2wind] #250396
03/18/2021 11:20 AM
03/18/2021 11:20 AM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
Carol has given you some great information but as is so often the case we can all look at the same things snd see them so differently.

Caveat - of the three places you’ve mentioned I have NOT stayed at Oyster Bay but only because it is so remote from the things we most enjoy, and I have also NOT stayed at Royal Palm - for my personal taste the general area outside the resort is too commercial and congested, but I’m pretty sure, once inside the resort itself it’s a lot different and you wouldn’t notice the traffic outside. Plus I want a beach that’s usable and I would never go in the water there and in fact, we were told thirty years ago not to swim in that general area.

My main issue in any place I stay is having my own beach with services where I can actually go in the water if I choose to, so that said, a couple of years ago we stayed at the Royal Islander Club Le Plage for two full weeks in a high two bedroom unit with incredible views. The unit was very nice and the balcony views were awesome. The pool is gorgeous and right off the beach so you have the best of both worlds, as long as Maho Beach is there - I’m sure you know it comes and goes. But the good news is Mullet Bay Beach is right around the corner if Maho is rocky and it’s about the best of the best IMHO. The restaurant at RICLP was good for breakfast and lite lunches or snacks and there are activities periodically that you can participate in. Or NOT! We usually chose not and they were fine with that, unlike some social directors at resorts and on cruise ships we’ve witnessed. Lots of excellent restaurants within very easy walking distance and I’m not much of a walker so you know they were close.

IMO the traffic outside the resort is a non-issue and once inside the resort you don’t even know it’s there. It’s blissfully enjoyable and you can be as involved or uninvolved as you choose. No pressure there.

To me, the only disadvantage to RICLP is the parking situation which you do have to pay for but it’s not all that bad. Even with all the things within easy walking distance - casinos, bars, restaurants, groceries, general shopping etc. - many of them just across the street - we will always rent a car and want that freedom even if we don’t use it much. I think the parking was like $30.00 a week or there about.

The best feature, according to my DH, was the easy viewing of the planes coming and going. From the balcony you have incredible views of them landing and from the outdoor hall way you have awesome views of the runways for takeoffs. The noise of the planes was an absolute non-issue to us and we would stay there again in a heartbeat if we couldn’t get reservations at BSV.

And in the event you’re wondering, my positive reaction to RICLP refers to LePlage only and not to La Terrasse, and no, I don’t own timeshare at either one. We rented through a private owner on their website rental pages.

Wherever you stay, enjoy yourselves. I’m sure this trip will be totally different from staying on your boat.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Options to stay [Re: pat] #250435
03/18/2021 04:10 PM
03/18/2021 04:10 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 236
M
MrWhiskerssammy Offline
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MrWhiskerssammy  Offline
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M
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 236
I second the Royal Islander Club Le Plage. I agree with everything Pat said about it. We had friends who used to stay at La Terrace and that is nice, but across the street from the beach. The property is really well kept. In fact, if I were going to purchase a timeshare anywhere on the island it would probably be there. Thankfully, that is not an issue for us.

I would never go to the island and not have a rental car even if not used every day, I want one to be able to go where I want to when I want to.

Re: Options to stay [Re: MrWhiskerssammy] #250438
03/18/2021 04:28 PM
03/18/2021 04:28 PM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 419
Beverly MA (Boston's North Sho...
timnboston Offline
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timnboston  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 419
Beverly MA (Boston's North Sho...
As a twenty year owner at RI I'd like to add that the staff is incredible

Re: Options to stay [Re: sail2wind] #250441
03/18/2021 04:53 PM
03/18/2021 04:53 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,295
Vancouver, WA
Todd Offline
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Todd  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,295
Vancouver, WA
All three are good choices and nice properties, but it is a bit like I need to buy a car what should I buy. Unless we know what you are looking for the ability to direct in the best way possible is impossible. Stayed at all three, liked all three for different reasons and would not hesitate to stay at any of the three other than OBBR as we prefer the Simpson Bay / Maho areas and probably the biggest item for us is that it is closer to where the people we tend to hang out with live closer to.
Cheers,
T


I prefer the Isle seat

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