TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin ? about groceries in Simpson bay

We will be back on sxm in about a month and a half. We always stay at either royal palm or flamingo. This year it is royal palm. We have always for convenience sake shopped at market garden and think their prices are a bit high because of the location. Is there another store you would suggest we stock up on for basic provisions for the week that might be a little more reasonable? We will have a car so driving isn't an issue. thanks

Le Grand Marche up over the hill and down the other side at the roundabout heading into town. Philipsberg,that is. We often stop there at Marks for lunch and then pick up the few things we forgot to order through Shopndrop. You could also head towards Marigot at that first roundabout as you leave Simpson/Cole Bay locale and shop at the large grocery there on the left near the big hardware store. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if it's still a LeGrandMarche or another name these days but whatever it is, they have a great deli and bakery, too. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I have never been a fan of Market Garden. The best prices on island now I think are at Super U, which is in Marigot, where Match used to be, if you know where that was. Not sure what they are doing on an exchange rate now, as they are no longer doing 1 to 1 for the Euro, but overall, still the best prices on the island. However, if you need American products, they really don't have many of those. Otherwise, on the Dutch side, our favorites are Grand Marche by Mark's at the roundabout or the Carrefour in Cole Bay. The latter used to be a Grand Marche. It's just before the Ace Hardware. From Simpson Bay, pretty easy across the causeway and turn right, very close. The Grand Marche by Mark's is further but I like the store better. Unfortunately the Gourmet Grand Marche in Simpson Bay closed down, as I liked that store a lot. You have the Maho Market also, but the prices there are no better than Market Garden, and the selection there is often sparse. Parking is also usually a problem.

Carrefour in Cole Bay is your best bet. It was formally known as Le Grande Marche.

The Carrefour market in Cole Bay has lots of yummy things I couldn't live without. It's just over the Causeway and to the right into ColeBay, it's very near the causeway. Close to Royal Palm.

I do remember seeing that Carrefour last trip. We will try that this time. thanks for the help

Think you mean close to Port de Plaisance, not Royal Palm.

It is close to PDP, yes, but the Carrefour is really not far from Royal Palm, over the Causeway. We could get to the Carrefour from Beachside Villas in about 10 minutes. I personally still prefer the Grand Marche by Mark's, even though it is further.

Super U current exchange is 1 euro = $1.04 cash only. Excellent prices and a different shopping experience. Bring your own carrier bags.

They also sell a really good carry bag, think it was either .50 or 1 euro. Used it several times. They mark the bottom, so if you carry it back in the store they know you have already paid for it.

We have been staying at Flamingo resort the past several years and always have shopped at Market Garden, mainly due to convenience. I see that Carrefour is only a short drive away. From what I am hearing I should consider as we are staying for 2 weeks with a good sized group. Make sense ?

Regardless of whether it is Carrefour or one of the other stores mentioned here, yes, for that length of time, you should try other grocery stores, other than Market Garden.

Do you know if Carrefour is open on Sunday and how late they might stay open?

Hi, 8 to 8 six days a wk, Sunday is 9 to 2

Interesting the Carrefour facebook page directs you to a Grand Marche website!

J&B

Carrefour in SXM is technically owned by Grand Marche, I guess. The Carrefour runs many of the same specials that GM does and their advertising is joint.