TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Les Balcons?

Has anyone stayed at Les Balcons in Oyster Pond lately? Want feedback.

We have stayed there probably a dozen times. We'll be there again Oct thru Nov. PM me for more questions.
Rick

Have not stayed there for several years, but have heard positive things about it every year since. Visited friends there last February.

We stayed there in May and will be back in October. We have stayed there 10-12 times and keep returning.

Hi Jaybird and bslk--WHY do you keep returning?? More detail would probably be more helpful to the poster.

We like the units (comparable to the Club O chalets we have stayed in), the price (+/-$100US per night in low season), the location (Oyster Pond is 10-15 minutes to Orient, 20-25 to Grand Case, 15 to Phillipsburg. There are a lot eating choices either in walking distance or a short drive away. It has become our "go to" place.

Thanks.

There are 19 units at Les Balcons each owned by an individual owner, so each unit is a little different from the others. The units are on three different levels and all overlook Oyster Pond.

We first stayed there in 2005 for the same reasons as Jaybird mentioned above. We liked it so much, that we bought one of the units.

How has the crime been?Heard there has been several breakins in the past, nice location and nice units stayed there for 3 weeks several years ago had a great time.

I do not know for sure but I have not heard of any recent break ins. They have added alarms to all the units. You can also arm the alarm while you are in the room.

Thanks for the feedback. Several years ago we saw the inside of one unit and it was great, but, for us, we'd prefer something on the water. But my niece will be going and doesn't care how close to water and I remembered Les Balcons and wondered if it was still as nice.

Now that Carol (previously of L'Estimener) has a store nearby basics can be gotten as well as a roti chicken.

Thanks again.

Crime has been virtually non-existent since alarms were installed in each unit about 3 years ago.

We have stayed in several of the studios. Their bookings run fairly high so it speaks to the number of returning vacationers. The one(s) at the far end, top level, and #5 close to the pool were among our favorites. The top and pool levels are mostly studios with fairly large decks although the top level had one 1 BR and one 2 BR. Not sure on the lower level units, some may have an extra loft sleeping area. The pool is nice but enclosed by buildings on 3 sides so limited breeze.
There is a walkway down to the marina level and then a path towards Cptn Olivers so it is easy to navigate to the various local restaurants/bars close by without driving. Try the Dinghy Pour-Your-Own happy hour (must be sitting up at the bar). The Iguana bar off the far corner of the Cptn Olivers pier is great for catching the evening cooling breeze. Seveeral very nice restaurants and close to other great restaurants on the Dutch side just down from the resorts on that side. In between is Mama Pizza for italian. There are several small grocers in the immediate area for essentials, the largest being in the NE corner of the immediate residential area. One of the better things is the relative ease of getting around by car on the east side, not the traffic issues like Simpson Bay and Marigot have. The coastal road from there to Orleans is quite scenic. Daytime is fine but I would not drive this route after dark, prefer sticking to the main road.
The covered decks are a nice feature but if you plan to spend time on the deck use mosquito repellent, area bug spray, and lite up a few mosquito coil sections to keep the critters away.
They do have automated gated parking tho the parking lot is snug. If we hadn't found a nice 2 BR 2 BA place in the same area this is where we would stay again. The managers, Corinne and David are great. Includes a several-a-week cleaning service. There is also a laundry service in the same parking lot as the grocer I mentioned.
Hope this helps