TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin SXM in Feb

Hi All!
We are planning a trip in February for 4-5 nights. We own at Dawn Beach Club, but it isn’t ready for us yet, and we are anxious to come visit. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to stay? We love the Dawn Beach area, being close to the French side and also the amenities that were available at the Westin. We have only stayed at Simpson Bay Resort for one night in the past (didn’t love it) and the Princess Heights (likes it before we had our time share) a hand full of times.

I am looking for advice, as we haven’t visited since Irma, and I’m not sure what area would be best for us. We enjoy our drinks, but not crazy party city. We would enjoy a resort with drinks available by the pool/ocean. But we also love good food and want to be close to the French restaurants in Grand Case. We want to be on the beach, or at least a great view of the ocean. I’ve read through numerous posts about what’s going on over there, but still not sure if the French side is ready? We would consider staying on the French side if there is enough open and we can find a nice place to stay. Budget is 300-400 per night. Thanks in advance!

You might rethink Simpson Bay Resort as a place to stay. They have done a lot of remodeling and fixup over the last few years and it is in great shape after what they went through with Irma.

Might suggest you check out Le Petit and L'Esplanade, sister resorts in Grand Case. Beautiful properties, expertly run.

Check out Grand Case Beach Club on the French side as it touches all your bases. Think they will be open as of 11/16. Have stayed there and it is a very nice place and again has what you are looking for. Can also walk to restaurants in Grand Case.

Also would recommend Grand Case Beach Club have stayed there many times and have always enjoyed.

There are many Oyster Bay Resort owners who have weeks available, mostly studio size for sale,, including me. You can check Jeff Berger's Newsletter for some additional rooms around the Island for rent.

Great, thanks everyone for all the suggestions! Gettting very excited to return!

GCBC only has a “room hopper”, which is a discounted rate but you might have to move rooms during the stay (which makes me want to cringe). Anyone ever booked this rate before? I think it’s the only room available.

Never booked that rate, but I personally would HATE it, having the possibility of having to move during my stay. From your original note, you are only wanting 4-5 nights and having to move during that period would be awful, to me. By the way, why such a short stay? It's hardly long enough to de-stress?

I wish we could stay longer, work restraints, kid restraints etc. Next visit (2020) we will stay for a full week when our time share is ready and the kids are off from school. This is just a quick birthday getaway. I agree about having to move, I would hate it too... Will keep looking. Does anyone have any thoughts on Esmeralda?

I don't think that Esmeralda is open yet?? Did you try Le Petit or Esplanade?? Le Petit is on the beach, but doesn't have a pool. Esplanade has a pool, but not on the beach. Both are really quality places.

Emerald has posted recently that they have opened now.

Emerald? Well, anyway, thanks, didn't know they were open now.

Sol e Luna is a beautiful place. A little pricey but luxury. Carol's suggestion of L'Esplanade or La Petit are also the best. They rank In the upper 5 for best hotels in Grand Case.

Do the rooms at Sol e Luna have a view of the water? I ask because I don't know, and the original poster wanted someplace either on the beach or a view of the water.

No view of the water.

Sorry, that should read Esmeralda. Auto correct has a mind of its own! 😆

"Auto correct has a mind of its own! 😆"
Happens to me to. LOL

I started now looking at VRBO, as we may have a few others join us...I found what looks like a beautiful villa with a private pool close to Pinel. I know I’m all over the place. What to you guys think? Is it too risky renting a private villa?

Risky how???

What are the risks your concerned with?

Personally, I recommend using an Agency if you've never rented a villa before, rather than using VRBO or a similar organization.

If you choose to use VRBO then make sure that you follow all of VRBO's recommendations, including means of payment recommendations.

Risky in that the villa may not be what the owner says it is, especially after IRMA. I’m also a little concerned about how secure a villa would be in terms of break-ins etc. Thank you Bahston for the recommendation of using an agency, that’s probably a good idea, any recommendations on one?

Hi, assuming you might be using Jeannie - Shop n Drop - for vIlla food stocking, I would be inclined to email and ask her for any reco's and or agencies she has successfully worked with. Pretty sure Jeannie has stocked a lot of villa;s / apartments on the Fr side

Just a thought
J&B

Regarding the condition of the villa, yes, a villa rental agency is a good idea for that concern. I might recommend St Martin Blue as a great villa rental agent. Any good villa agent should have inspected the villas they rep PERSONALLY, especially since Irma. Regarding security, many or most have a gate, some within a gated community and many or most have metal roll down shutters that you can close at night or when you leave, if you want. Those security questions, again, a good villa rental agent should be able to help you with.

Is your OBBR timeshare for sale or rent? Thanks!

From our experience Grand Case Beach Club meets everything you've mentioned restaurant jutting over water with view of Anguilla, Creole Rock, and two beaches, one at left of restaurant (no shade) and Grand Case Beach to the left which curves through the town.

Drinks on the beach in loungers with very thick comfortable cushions, waterfront units (but cannot walk directly onto sand from units) with more loungers on grass overlooking ocean, stairs and/or ramp onto sand. Garden units (lower rate) water view but walk across cobblestone area about 50 feet aprox.

Gourmet restaurant on property, breakfast included in room rate, lunch & dinner at your cost. Walking distance to other gourmet restaurants, small casual restaurants, outdoor Lolo's for BBQ overlooking water.

Look at GCBC website for photos. Alas rates start at $400 per night with 3 night minimum. And yes, there's a "room hopper rate" for less but personally, I wouldn't want to have to move once settled in. You could luck out and only move once as we did but that was on a one week stay and I wouldn't do it again for a small savings.

RonDon--please re-read their response. The 'room hopper rate' is the ONLY one that is available for when they want to travel and they don't want to do that.

Plus, now they are looking at villas...

I contacted GCBC and they are booked for those dates, with the exception of the hopper room. I asked what kind of possibility exists to move, and she said it’s possible they would request us to move everyday! No way am I doing that, and you’re right, it’s a very small discount. It does sound like a great place, next time. We are going with a villa for this trip. We have friends joining us, so I think it will work great and we can make our own drinks and lounge by our private pool.

Since our TS resort won't be open till 2020 we booked a Villa close by for our stay for last May. We absolutely loved it. Already booked it for next May and might need to the following year to if our resort is still not ready. Having our own carport and fully stocked home was a wonderful experience on the island. You won't regret your decision.

Thank you and yes, I think you’re right that we won’t regret the decision! We are so excited to come back to SXM, our last trip was about a month before Irma. I purposefully was looking to stay in a different area than Dawn Beach, as we will be there again (many times with the timeshare) and wanted to try something new since we have the opportunity to. We have decided on the Orient area and are looking forward to it. Thanks to all for your input!

Have a full and noneventful vacation.