TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Groceries

We are staying in Pelican Key. Best place to get groceries. We are staying 10 days and know about the market by Burger King. Where else should we go.

24 Hours!!!

Carefour at the circle on Bush Rd towards Phillipsburg. Best prices and selection. We shop them both. Marker garden by BK for convenience.

and Market Garden opens at 6 for us early birds

Not sure if it still applies but they used to offer a 5% (I believe) discount if checking out prior to 8:00am.

Wife and I were told carefour has most American brands and pricing cheaper. We went to the one in Jordan Village as well as the one going towards Philipsburg.

There is no question these places have the most American brands, but I disagree with the pricing being cheaper. We found Market Garden by BK to be cheaper in price and they seemed to have most of what we were looking for - including liquor : )

I have almost always found liquor and beer prices cheaper in the smaller grocery stores and liquor for sure cheaper in the jewelry stores in town if one is in town and knows their prices.
I like the layout of Carrefour better but if one is in the Simpson Bay area, Market Garden is a good option.

I agree with cheaper prices in smaller grocery stores. Not too sure about jewelry - went to several places in Philipsburg and they were extremely pushy.

I like the layout of Carefour better as well - everything is tidy and neat. However, I am the type that refuses to pay $1 or $2 more for something if I can get it cheaper - it's just the principle... It drives my wife and kids CRAZY!!! LOL

In April, I purchased a pack of 3 "Desperados" at Market Garden by BK for $6.50. I found later that they were only $4.00 at the liquor store next door!!!
George

One can negotiate on liquor just like on jewelry. I bought a bottle of Disaranno in town for almost $10 less for the exact same size bottle that Market Garden had.

We didn't purchase a lot from market garden, but water and a couple other small items and i thought it seemed more expensive. I know the water did. Paying for the convenience i guess, which was fine, as it beats driving to Carrefour for a few items!

Market Garden is WAY more expensive that Carrefour for most items. $10 for a pound of bacon??????? And the store smells.

I couldn't agree with you more, Elaine, on both counts!!

We just went into Market Garden for a couple things. Didn't notice a smell but we were there briefly. Also went to the little market in Maho. We mostly use Jeannie to deliver to us. Easier even if more $$. We are on vacation and don't want to be driving around to stores. I imagine it is much different if you live on island and have time to shop. Our trip was short!! Nice seeing you and Bill!

Nice seeing you also! The smell hits me as soon as the doors open.

I do shop there. Their fresh chicken legs are almost free and they are the only place I can get the milk I use.

Absolute vodka was 14.99 at Garden Market and 8.99 at carefore and Friendly Duty Free for a Liter in Phillipsburg where I buy all my liquor.

I buy very little at Market Garden, as I find their prices very high for most things, including snacks and wine. Their meats do not look good to me at all. We spend a lot of money on groceries, and usually shop at Carrefour by Mark's and Super U. If you want just a few things, Market Garden is convenient. But I personally don't buy much there. The other option is the Maho Market, which is close to Beachside Villas, so we often buy an item or two there. Prices there are high also and the parking is hit and miss, but it's convenient for us if we're just making a real quick run. I hate that they closed the Gourmet Grand Marche in Simpson Bay, as that was our go-to place for a quick grocery run. We haven't been to the Jordan Village Carrefour, but will maybe check that out next time, as people here say it is very well stocked.

Not a fan of Garden Market for all the reasons listed above. Carrefour and Super U are our go stores. Peli Deli when we need something quick.

Can I ask who Jeannie is? Does she have a grocery delivery service? We are visiting the end of June for 5 days and would love our groceries delivered.
Thanks.

We’ve used her several times, as well as attended her wine tastings.

https://www.shopndropgrocerysxm.com/

Does anyone know if there is a minimum amount you have to order with Jeannie? We would just like a few things for when we arrive before we go to to the grocery store. I messaged her this question on her web site and have never received an answer. TY

Yes, she used to have a minimum one time when we checked on it, and as I recall, it was pretty high, like $100 or so.

Doesn't it state on her web site?

$150 is the minimum. It is on the website - https://www.shopndropgrocerysxm.com/Delivery-Info_ep_43.html

It's definitely a luxury service. Prices are marked up, as should be expected, and there is a 15% delivery charge. We used them last year and it really was worth it for us, especially since we arrived after 11PM with one small kid and one baby. It was great to have the essentials ready for us (like a case of beer) after 18 hours of travel.

Thank you. I must have missed that on her web site.

Huh. I just tried going on the site and received a "403 access forbidden" message. However, my recollection from previous times is that there is a $100 minimum.

Hi, Linda,

Hope your trip is going well. In a conversation I had with Jeannie a while back she did mention the likelihood of increasing her minimum order and I think it was $150.00 per order. Not too difficult to reach if you're staying any length of time and really hate shopping, given island pricing.

It has been $150 minimum now for at least a year. It is not difficult to reach the minimum as many grocery items are expensive on the island.

We buy the basics--milk, bread, butter, coffee, eggs etc......so Market Garden is close and
convenient the first night. I never noticed the smell, but bring a sweater. It is so cold, so we
are in and out quickly.

We do stop in Jordan Village and the Cupecoy market along with the tiny markets on Airport Rd.
for water, bread and whatever we run out of. We are usually near one of them.

Before leaving, we try to find a market that carries good chocolate bars to take home.
I found some in a clean little market attached to the Gas Station in Nettle Bay. I didn't look around , but it seemed very nice.

Hopefully you received an answer by now. She is pretty good about getting back to people. Her service is great and she is a sweet person!

Renee,

That is so very unlike Jeannie. Did you check your spam folder? I’ve never noticed others having it happen but people have mentioned here occasionally that Island messages were delivered as spam.

Do try Jeannie one more time. I’ve used her a couple of times a year since she opened her business and she has always responded promptly. Good luck. It’s a great service, particularly if you hate to shop the way I do......

Pat, I think Jeannie may be off island now. Someone was looking after things for her so it is strange there was no reply.

Thanks for the replies. I did not hear from Jeannie, but no biggie. It was a simple questions and others on here answered my question plus I eventually saw it on her site under FAQ. So thanks to all as always!