I went with my wife, her parents, and our ten year old twins. Typical weather was highs in the mid eighties and lows in the mid to upper seventies. Beautiful weather!
Our favorite activities were:
Horseback riding at Lucky Stables. The trail ride zigzagged through the mountains and ended on the beach and into the water.
Orient Bay. This is a beautiful beach with lots of activities and beach restaurants / bars. I didn’t mind the topless women, but with my children there, I didn’t like the nudists that ventured off of the nude beach. Other than that, it was a great day when we went there. My son and I enjoyed the parasailing.
Shopping at Philipsburg. We found that the best deals where on jewelry and liquor. I bought a Swiss watch for $300 that goes for $500 in the States. Premium liquors were about half of the US prices. We bought a liter of Grand Marnier for $17.
Grand Case. The restaurants there are awesome and they’re all together in a “restaurant row” arrangement. We were there for Harmony Nights, which is every Tuesday in the winter. The highlight was a steel band called the Gunslingers. They were incredible.
Sunset Bar. A very cool beach bar next to the airport. Watching the planes land is a great activity there. They also have lots of great music, mostly island music.
The Resort
Pros
Our room: We had a seventh floor room with a pool / ocean view. Lots of time was spent just sitting on our balcony looking at the beautiful scenery. Thanks to Sandy Molloy, of Molloy Travel, we were able to get this room. Sandy got us a two-category upgrade. For the price of a room that either overlooks the sewage plant or the entertainment district, we got the ocean view room. It meant a huge difference. Don’t go here unless you get this type of room. I spoke to others who had the lower priced room and they were not happy.
The all-inclusive package: I wouldn’t recommend camping out at the resort and eating all meals there, but I thought the package was worth it just for breakfast, lunch, a few dinners, and unlimited drinks. If you’re a big drinker, this is a must. The breakfast and lunch at the Palms Grill were great. Much better than the buffet. Dinners were OK. I would definitely recommend eating out of the resort several times for dinner. The Point was very nice and you’re allowed to eat for free at one of the restaurants in the Maho area for one night. Some items such as lobster and “surf & turf” had extra charges, but Sandy worked it out with the manager so theses charges were waved. Premium drinks such as Johnny Black and Grand Marnier also had a $2 premium, but these were also waved. Our bill when we left was $0. They even covered the parking. Thanks, Sandy.
The Grounds: The resort kept the grounds immaculate. Lots of palms and tropical greenery. The pool was huge. Lots of people complain about the lack of a beach. But there was a sandy area with lounge chairs. The only difference is that you can’t walk out into the water. It was still like sitting on the beach though. Also, the beach next to the resort along the airport was a short walk in case you needed to hit the waves.
The planes: Very cool. It was a bonus, especially for our kids.
The location (see also cons): Walking distance to shopping, restaurants, bars, and the casino. If you like a “happening” place, this area is for you.
Cons
Service: Not a big complaint here. I know how the Caribbean can be. Just don’t go here expecting the service that you get in the States. It takes a while to get a drink because the bartenders are over-worked. Just be patient and they’ll get to you in a few minutes. Demanding service does not work. If you do this, you’ll probably wait longer. The worst service was at the buffet for breakfast. The ladies that served drinks were also over-worked, but also very rude. I like the idea of a “serve yourself” drink area at the buffet. I don’t like getting my coffee after I’ve finished my breakfast.
The location: If you want peace and quiet, this resort is not for you. With the airport and the entertainment district across the street, there’s lots of noise.
The Island
Pros
The topography: Mountains in the center sloping down to the beaches. Awesome.
The two sides: It was like going to two different islands. The Dutch side is very bustling with lots of entertainment. The French side is more chic and more relaxed.
The restaurants: Our two favorites were Le California (French) at Grand Case and Rancho (Argentinean) at Simpson Bay. Excellent food.
Beaches / Water: Beautiful. Enough said.
Cons
Traffic: Especially bad around Simpson Bay and Philipsburg. The locals are also very rude drivers. If you need to make a turn, forget somebody letting you through. Just poke your nose through with the mentality of “They’ll stop.”
The French: Absolutely, the rudest people that I’ve ever been around. At St. Martin, they definitely adhere to their image. At restaurants, the wait staff acts like they’re giving you the “privilege” of eating at their restaurant. That’s why I gave them the privilege of getting a small tip. Hey Frenchies! Get the corn cob out of your tush, smile a little bit, and try to be pleasant. Life will be much more enjoyable that way.
Even after putting up with the traffic and the French, we had a very enjoyable time at St. Maarten. I’d highly recommend it.
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