TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Indigo iBay, Pelican key, Beacon Hill or Red Pond

We had a place reserved in Beacon hill that fell through. Looking for pluses and minuses of the locations above.

Beacon is the most expensive for what you get

Pelican is nice but traffic around Billy Foyle Road

Indigo Bay traffic to and from Simpson bay? Remote?

Red Pond...kind of remote?

We are traveling the end of May...

thanks

Mbrott

Simpson Bay all the way!

As to traffic, we’ve been here two weeks an Simpson Bay hasn’t been trouble to drive through. What has become a problem is going over causeway, turning right into Cole. Bay. Backed up to the round about. We chose this route to Phillips rug thinking we’d avoid Simpson traffic and bridge openings. I think now everyone is taking this way

Could not get to Simpson Bay from Maho area several times last week. It's a recurring thing here, week after week after week. Just watch the web cam that looks down on airport road and causeway roundabout.

Traffic in Simpson Bay can be hit or miss. Over the 12 days I was there it took 1 hour from Mullet Bay to Atrium one afternoon. Another afternoon it took 1 HOUR from Royal Palm to Atrium, which is a 5 minute walk. This particular day the traffic did not clear until early evening and was also backed up Billy Folly Rd to well beyond Simpson Bay Resort and probably La Vista. Another day I made a later afternoon trip from Atrium to the Carrefour/Mark's Place area and back in just over 30 minutes.

Simpson Bay area.

From a personal standpoint I would be inclined to stay almost anywhere BUT the Simpson Bay area and I know that’s not a popular opinion but it’s just way too busy for my personal taste. It seems the traffic is always heavy and the parking situation can also be problematic. There have been too many times where we’ve set out to go to town and had to turn around and change plans because of the traffic from the airport to the Cole Bay Area. That’s the last thing I want to deal with on vacation, but I wouldn’t want to be in a totally remote area either. The positive for us is there are so many reasonsably enjoyable eateries in that area so it’s really a very tough call.

As with Pat, I'd keep trying to get something in Beacon Hill area. You then have food choices nearby and great beaches! It is also quieter. But that's me. I don't enjoy hustle and bustle and traffic and lots of people...lol

Totally agree with you!

I have often stayed in Beacon Hill and find going places from there can take time too especially if you are trying to meet friends for dinner in Simpson Bay. If I am staying in Simpson Bay, the traffic is usually cleared before dinner time so it is easier to get to different places. Also if you are going from Billy Foley Road, turn right and you are clear of the traffic for the most part. Traffic on the Dutch side of the island is often bad regardless where you are staying and it seems nothing is really being done about it. With all the rental cars, local cars, buses etc... there is just not enough road options. As the island has grown, the traffic has grown too. If the locals were limited to one car, fewer rental cars and an efficient bus system, a lot of the traffic conjestion would be solved. In Bermuda for instance. they have an amazing bus system and no rental cars allowed and no traffic problems!