TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Countdown is on

Counting down the days to my wedding here in Tennessee, but also to the honeymoon - our first time in SXM! This forum has been priceless in helping me research and daydream about our trip! We're staying in Grand Case and I feel like I know so much from reading here. I'm even name-dropping "Lesley" and "Jeannie" to my fiance who has no idea what I'm talking about.
I'd love to hear from you regulars - what is the very first thing you can't wait to do when you arrive? What experience is quintessential to your vacation each year? I love hearing all of your stories and thanks for existing, forum!

First thing is to get a cell phone from the "Queen of SXM", then go to Buccaneer beach bar for a Heine and a 5 cheese pizza......

Much happiness to you and your soon to be spouse and congratulations on having chosen this, of all possible destinations, for your honeymoon.

My best suggestion ( as a real long time visitor ) is relax and enjoy yourself and don't try to cram all there is to do into your first visit. Let the beautiful beaches and the incredible dining work their magic on you and the chances are very good, you will return down the road. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

Congrats on the upcoming nuptials and for having chosen a wonderful place for your honeymoon!!

The FIRST things that we do on island is to get all the STUFF out of the way, so we can sit and enjoy ourselves, with our FIRST DRINK, on our porch at Beachside Villas, looking at this view!



For a thread with some other people's first drinks, take a look at this thread

Enjoy!

Congratulations!

Whether or not we stay in Grand Case each visit we go immediately to GC. When we were younger and not worried about what we ate it was to Le Taste Vin to each have an order of escargot share a bottle of Sancerre Wine and French Bread. Now we go to Sunset Cafe at Grand Case Beach Club for Lunch before checking in to where will be staying.

We leave the airport, drive thru Terre Base, Nettle Bay Marigot Grand Case. After lunch we cover the rest of the island, Anse Marcel, Orient, Oyster Pond, Guana Bay, Phillipsburg. Satisfied all is as we remembered it we check-in and make plans for the time we stay.

Congrats!
What we use to do when we were young, like you, is to check in unpack and run to our favorite beach, Mullet, for lunch and swimming.
Then to La Petite Alberge in Marigot for a great dinner and visit with the previous owners. Now we are way too tired for that!

Now being at BSV, we basicly unpack and enjoy our day there on the beach. We relax and get ready for our first dinner, which is usually at The Greenhouse on Simpson Bay and an early night. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

One year we had friends meet us at our villa with lunch for us. We all went swimming there and out to dinner. That was a great start!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

We always hit the grocery store first and get the fridge stocked then I have to jump in the ocean.

Well, seems obvious to me

Since you are dropping Jeannie's name, guessing your fridge will be well stocked with fav beverages.

I would put down the suitcases, open what's waiting in the fridge and get the honeymonn started!!

Oh to be young again

Congratualtions
J&B

Enjoy your time on the Island enjoy the many beaches and restaurants ,just a note don't leave anything in your car or in the trunk when not in it , also if on a beach that has brush at the edge of the beach leave some distance between you and the brush . Enjoy the time we have been going to SXM since 1985 2 weeks each time and some times twice a year and I can't wait for our trip this year . Grande Case is a wonderfull place many restaurants love that place .

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.
Two years ago we met a newly married couple on their first day in SXM and took them the next day on a full island. I told them it should take about 2-3 hours. After stopping at all the popular beaches and plenty of drinks at beach bars,
we got back after a 7 hour tour. They were surprised we knew so many people on the island. We latter enjoyed a dinner with them latter on in the week, and today remain friends. That was our way of showing the friendly island.
We will be on island from 8.20 through 9.3
If you're there, we offer the same complimentary tour or maybe some other travel talk member would offer to take you around when you are on honeymoon. Too many visitors don't do their island homework and never get to know the island.
Best Wishes

Congrats on your upcoming wedding. We just returned last week and had an awesome time. Pat is correct dont plan to much just relax and enjoy the beaches and time together esp since its your honeymoon. We had a huge list of things to do on our first stay on the Island but we mostly relaxed, ate and drank and it was the best vacation! Im not one to sit still but sand gravity got me. As soon as we got there we got some groceries then went to grand case and ate at lolo "Talk of the town" which was a great strarter meal to get you in the island mood. Good luck with wedding and your travel planes

Dear taraavo, You're off to the best start possible by choosing this website for your advice. We too did the same thing 15 years ago and never regret any of the nights reading about our now favorite island. We always arrive at our rental and hop in the pool. We have been lucky enough to have rented places with a pool over the years. Then travel to our favorite restaurant for our evening meal before heading home for the evening. You are lucky in that you too will have a pool to relax at with a drink and then head into the wonderful town of Grand Case for a great 1st night meal ... or just stay at the beach club and eat at their fabulous restaurant. You have chosen a wonderful place and location for your honeymoon. Enjoy and best of luck on your upcoming wedding. Wish I was that young once again, but you know you never get all you wish for.

Congratulations on your upcoming TN wedding! Most important thing is relax and enjoy the island, especially after the stress of preparing for and then completing the festivities of your wedding day. As others have mentioned don't try to do too much on your first trip to SXM - believe me you will return. In your travels around the island, you should buy some special item, be it jewelry, artwork, or even a simple souvenir to remind you of your honeymoon on the "Friendly Island" while you continue your lives together.

Also should have mentioned - Don't forget to use sunscreen! A sunburn is not fun during a honeymoon.

Congrats. We from other side of TN. And Grand Case is our place. We be back in November for 10 nights. The first thing u do- guessing your flight gets in around 2 or 3. Is just try to get across the island. Marigot can cause a little delay. We have always stopped for some groceries. But mainly just trying to get to our condo on the beach and get the party started. Will mix some strong ones. Then hit a bar or two for more.

We decided our only plan is to see a lot of beaches!! Very excited to have that first Cuba libre on our patio on the beach. I've heard Grand Case has magical sunsets with a pretty sweet view of Anguilla's lights to follow. We will definitely do a trip report upon return, and would be happy to meet anyone on island.

Looking forward to that trip report! Enjoy!

You definitely have the right idea! Enjoy!!

Best wishes for a magical wedding; I know your honeymoon will be grand as you've picked the right location. One activity I never miss is a sail on the Passaat. They have half-day, sunset, and dinner sails. All are wonderful. It's a lovely sailing experience with no music; just the sounds of the sails flapping in the wind and the roll of the seas. The number of passengers is limited. On almost all of the sails I've been on, there have been honeymoon couples. Highly recommended.

As far as beaches go, Anse Marcel is a must in my book.

If you are a Cuba Libre fan, then you can have the original in SXM using Havana Club

If you are rum drinkers, then I suggest you look into rhums on tthe island - made in the French Islands from cane juice vs molasses. Bacchus has a good selection - take the airport road out of GC, when you come to the main road, go across to the strip mall - Simply the grocery store used to be out front, not sure if the signage yet says Super U or not, behind you will find Bacchus, lovely edibles, excellent wine and liguor assortment, several excellent rhums as well as oddly a nice resto

Enjoy
J&B

PS, for beaches I would add Baie Rouge to your list

you're speaking our language re: rum!! my fiance and I are extreme Tiki enthusiasts who order rums available in other states in the mail. We are anxiously awaiting the return of Lemonhart to the US!! a friend in SXM brought us a few bottles of Havanna last year and boy was it precious. There's nothing like an ice-cold REAL daiquiri - rum, lime, sugar....a thing of beauty! we want to check out the "rum lady" who feeds the stray cats? is that near Orient?

Oh, also, thanks for the plug on Baie Rouge. I really want to check it out. a day at Anse Marcel, a day at Orient, and plenty of leisurely cruising about the island and sipping are keeping me motivated during this final stretch of wedding plans!

Y'all have to be aware that there is a major difference between the rum that most of us are used to (molasses based) and French Rhum Agricole (cane syrup based). There's a totally different flavor profile, and often a higher alcohol content, 100-proof.)

One rum aficionado friend of mine describes it as "rum moonshine".

The local island drink of the French Caribbean is a 'Ti Punch, vernacular for a Petite Punch, which is pretty much a Rhum Agricole Shooter. A 'Ti Punch consists of Rhum Agricole, cane syrup (think simple syrup) and a small wedge of lime. It can be sipped, or it can be shot, but you're basicle knocking back 1.5-2 ounces of 100 proof rum. If you prefer, you can ask for a 'Ti Punch Vieux, which is made with a smoother, aged (3 years I think), amber Rhum Agricole.

CharlieH, did I miss any fine points on the 'Ti Punch?

Nice description on the Ti! good to know. I let my better half keep track of the rum notes, but we have quite a collection including some Rhum agricole...I myself am a fan of Martinique rums but, then again, I've been told I <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />drink like an "old man" - I like a rich, aromatic drink I can sip as opposed to a fruity cocktail or lighter spirit. cheers & thank you.

This is quite a view....stunning!

Bernadine is the lady who cares for the cats. Her booth is at Paradise View, which at the top of the hill above Orient. Coming from Grand Case, it's after the entrance to Orient. There's a nice creperie there which is a great spot for breakfast or lunch. They may be open for dinner as well, but the view is best in daylight.

We are married 46 years August 8th. First thing on a honeymoon would be to ditch the cell phone for the trip,go to Orient Beach,eat at bikini beach, orange fever,sand,sand. Always make a trip to marina royale to la croissanterie & a dinner at Tropicana. I didn't mean eat sand just get your feet in it lol. Enjoy "the friendly island" it truly is!! Congratulations!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

We always take the ferry to Anguilla for an afternoon. Get a taxi from Blowing Point to Shoal Bay. We like to walk to Gwen's around the bend. It's a very beautiful experience! Going to SXM next Monday! Yipee!

Gwen's has moved, no longer around the bend
If you are dropped off at Shoal Bay and walk to the beach, Madeariman is probably on your left - it's our favourite, but if you keep going left on the beach you will come to the 'new" Gwens" Still has music on Sunday's till about 3 ish?

If you go to Anguilla, you need passports and cash - I'd budget $200 to $250 for the day.

J&B

Are you saying that the beaches on Anguilla don't take credit cards?

Hi, the Marigot ferry is cash and some bars have only taken cash, Madeariman takes cc - we've only ever used cash for taxi's. When I said take cash I meant don't rely only on cc

J&B

Thanks. We're going for a couple of days our next trip, and just wanted to be prepared. We use our credit card for everything that we can, but always have cash as a backup.

You might want to try Baie Longue either on way to Baie Rouge (coming from Maho, Cupecoy) or on the road back. It;s wide white sand and as the name say---long! In that area is LaSamana, a very upscale resort. We've seen very few people on that beach when we've gone. Once we saw actress Helen Miran there.

Are you responding to me, as your post indicates? If so, I don't understand the response, as my comment was about Anguilla.

Congratulations! We are also in East Tennessee, Johnson City actually. We love SXM and know you will too! First thing the past few trips, as we have been staying at the Atrium, is to hop next door to the Greenhouse and enjoy the 2-for-1 drinks, specifically the Caipirinha. Two each of course

The two experiences we look forward to the most are nude sunbathing on Cupecoy and enjoying Dany's ribs and rum punch, and our visits with Bernadine, the lady you mentioned who runs the rum stand and takes care of stray animals. She is a very dear friend to us.

Can't wait to visit again this November! I hope you have a fabulous time!

Dustin

Dustin-We also love Cupecoy and Danny's cooking at Happy Bay! We will try Bernadine's rum this visit. Which ones are your favorites? We have only tried Ma Dou Dou's.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

Congratulations on your wedding and your first trip to SXM! It will be magical! I recommend the ferry to Pinel, then hike to the beach on the other side! This was a wonderful day for us!
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

Well an update - we're married as of yesterday , we've weathered a few rains both in Tennessee and... In Grand Case. Got here today with an excellent welcome from Lesley Bruce. Beautifully appointed apartment with Jolie beach residence, stocked via Jeannie with my much-coveted cube libre accoutrements as well as a splendid ocean side patio. We have done a lot in 6 hours. See you on the other side of the trip when Iboost a full report !

Have fun, congratulations! Best rainy day plans are sparkling, rose, Calamos, Purfume factory, honeymooning(duh), and just going with it.

Congrats on the wedding and good luck......with the marriage that is, ha! The honeymoon and subsequent trips to St Martin will be the easiest and most fun part of the marriage, at least they are with us! Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy!!! Peace Matt