TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Esmeralda or La Plantation

We are planning a last minute trip and thinking of a Presidential Suite at Esmeralda or La Plantation. We have stayed at La Plantation, but would like to be a little closer to the beach. Would anyone be able to provide some insight? Are all of the presidential suites located near the beach? Do they have views of the water? We don't want to rent a car this time, and plan to just dine in the village each night. Is it safe to walk from Esmeralda to the village? Where are the beach chairs located for each hotel? It's been a few years since we were at La Plantation, but I think they used to be at Waikiki.

Esmeralda is a long walk from the Village. If you REALLY don't want to rent a car, suggest you rent further down the beach.

Carol, My daughter will be staying at La Plantation in February. IS that walkable to the village? This is her first time on the island. Any information I can pass on to her would be great.

One person's "long walk" is another person's 10-minute stroll. If your daughter doesn't mind 10-minute walks, she'll be fine. it can be kind of nice to be staying a few blocks up from the village, as it is quieter, IMHO. We stay above Plantation (6 visits now) and walk down for breakfast croissants, and evening dinners, no problem. In our experience, it is totally safe to walk from either Plantation or Esmerelda to the village in the evening.

As joyfully said, it depends on your definition of 'walkable', but I wouldn't want to walk it after dark, but I am perhaps too sensitive...

Both hotels have beach chair arrangements with Coco Beach Bar

Bernd

Stayed at the ES 5 times in the last 8 years
10 minute walk well light, never have had any problems

As noted, one persons long walk is another's short stroll. So to give you something measurable, gmaps-pedometer puts it at a half-mile walk along the well lit street (most with sidewalk), or, for the adventurous, 0.38 miles along the beach.

I think the presidential suites are closest to the beach but I believe some on are on the back side of the building and there are trees between the beach and suites. We haven't stayed in them but walked past them many times. Enjoy wherever you go.

In general, many or most of the units at Esmeralda have no view of the beach..

We have made Esmeralda our home on the island for our last fourteen trips and frequently walk to the village for our evening meal. It is an easy walk for us (despite some hips and knees no longer in their natural state!) The Presidential Suites are in Villas # 46 and #47; Villa #46 does offer a somewhat ocean view if you look to the left toward Ile Pinel.

As a previous poster noted, Coco Beach provides beach chairs and charging privileges to Esmeralda guests. The walk to the beach from the two mentioned villas is about two minutes.

We will be loafing at Esmeralda from December 13 to December 20; maybe we will enjoy the ambiance together.