TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Where to stay

Hello. everyone. We did not go to SXM last year as we did a staycation and had lots of events and weekend trips with the grandchildren. Did a lot more fishing as well.

Then along came Irma and we thought 2018 was a wash as well. Reading all of the positive reports from you folks has us thinking differently now. However, where does one stay now? We prefer the Dutch side, preferably in on near Simpson Bay. I turn to the experts for your advice.

Thank you, Mike.

Atrium is up and running for one option. La Vista Beach has units available from what I understand.

Try Beachside Villas. Don't know if they are filled yet. We had to extend another day because of change in flights and were able to do that

Yes, another good option that slipped my mind.

Mary's Boon is another option.

Depends on when you are visiting as more places start to open up. Simpson bay Resort could be added to the list starting in May

LaVista Beach does have rentals available.

Have been staying at Baker's Suites in Pelican for the past six weeks (our condo is damaged here) and we highly recommend it. Reasonably-priced, decent room, and excellent location.

Thanks for all of the ideas and I did not realize there were this many. Atrium is interesting as we have always driven by it but never considered it. What should we look for as far as room location? We are looking at the last week of April extending into May, maybe ten days. Baker's Suites is another one. We have stayed at La Vista but I was thinking their folks would flock there after repairs. Been to Beachside as well and enjoyed it.

We're owners at La Vista Beach, and when we asked about staying there in early May (5-12) they said they could put us on a waiting list. Because we had already deposited our weeks with RCI, we went ahead and booked with Atrium, using an exchange. Since then, friends have gotten a cottage at La Vista for that same week (by being on that waiting list). So it's possible you could get something there. I'm not familiar with Atrium, so can't help you with room location. My understanding is that all of their rooms have either an ocean or lagoon view.

The Atrium two bed lockouts that I have seen are nice. The smaller lockout side is quite small with a microwave and small office type refrigerator.

Actually, not, with regard to Atrium, unless you count leaning out from the side of your balcony and looking down Billy Folly Road toward the ocean, as being 'ocean view'. The rooms on the ocean side have nice views. The rooms on the other side have a view and the SOUND of the huge a/c units on the top of Market Garden. The noise is so loud, it makes it somewhat difficult to be on your balcony from some rooms. My room that I had at Atrium that I described above, was a nice room despite no view, but I only stayed there one night. If you're staying there for a week or so, do try your best to get an ocean view room. I moved to another, much better room after that. I would stay at Atrium again without any issue, if I had an ocean view room.

I personally would do Beachside first, or Mary's Boon, as the beach is better. Right now, I do wonder whether Kim Sha is just way too busy for me, personally, with the cruise ship people coming there.

"I do wonder whether Kim Sha is just way too busy for me, personally, with the cruise ship people coming there."
That is my concern also. Might not be to bad during low season with not as many cruise ships in port but high season, with sometimes as many as 5-6 ships in, it could be a big mess. Once Orients big 5 gets going it will hopefully take the pressure off of Kim Sha. Time will tell.

Redweek.com has rooms at the Villas on Simpson Bay starting 4/14 to 12/31 for $259.00 per night. Very nice hotel. Stayed there many times.

I sent you a private message(I think)

I checked Mary's Boone a week ago and all they had was one studio for 250. BSV said all they had was first week March so I took it. BSV has only 4 units up & running.

El Zafiro had plenty of vacancies. It's next door to BSV and twice as expensive for 1/2 the room. Fine if you can't find anything else. But same beach.

I tested a direct booking with the Villas at SB for a Sat-Sat week end of May and it was under $200/night taxes included AND free bkfst (one BR suite... NOT a junior studio which was under $150/night all inc.) Same in June/July..

BSV has finished two or three more rooms in the past week, so they are up to 6 or 7 at least by now. El Zafiro has always been overpriced for what it is.

Boucharda, That's a great price for their 1 bdrm. suite! We paid much more when we were there. (and no breakfast included). It is a really nice place, we love it there.

Carol,

I actually just asked that they other day. Not sure if it was Drew or Tracy replying but they said, "Villas 4-14 are done except for villa 11 of course"

I'll be staying there from June 9-19th this year.

Hi Paul. I am sending you a PM.

I completely agree Carol. And BSV has a little pool. I suppose El Zafiro thinks their restaurant is the trade-off for that, but I like it quieter at BSV.

I don't need a restaurant onsite. I need my own grill and my own full kitchen, which is what BSV has. And I don't use the pool a lot, but I do use it, and I sure enjoy sitting out there underneath the gazebo, one of my absolute favorite places on earth! And personally, I don't like the modern look that El Zafiro has. I much prefer the Caribbean feel of Beachside. To each their own.

We haven't been there yet, but we did make reservations for a week at Bleu Emeraude in Grand Case for late May. I realize it's not in your preferred area, but for us it is ideally situated since Club O isn't operational. It has good reviews and the owners were very responsive to our questions and quick to book us.

I did not get it.

We booked an apartment through VRBO.com. Found a nice apartment 60 feet from Orient Beach.
carib cheers,
doctorj

Bluesfan--sorry, the PM was to paul21093.