TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Grand Case update

Did the main street ever get repaved? How is the parking - did the private pay lot get reopened? If no private lot where to park since free lot is always full?

Yes. No - chained off. First come, first served. Parking is a PITA in Grand Case. Go early.

Agreed, parking is a big problem in Grand Case right now. We just returned from a lovely meal at Cote Plage in Orient Village, where the parking is much better. Right now, for ME, Orient Village is a whole lot better option. Grand Case is depressing to me right now. Orient Village is vibrant, fun, good parking, and wonderful food.

I agree Carol, when we were there in Feb/March we enjoyed Orient Village, great restaurants, and no problem parking.

It's pretty funny....Thirty years of going to SXM....Thirty years of going to Orient Beach. Not one dinner ever at any of the restaurants in the Village. Not sure why....we just never think of going back to Orient for dinner....but many places there for lunch. Next March, we will have to change our absence there.

Since we changed to staying on the Dutch side all the time, we haven't come to the French side at night very often at all. But if so, we would go to Grand Case. Right now, Orient Village is much more attractive, to me.

Same here after 20 years.

I always split my stays between the Dutch and French sides. After all we have two cultures here on one great island! It is interesting the differences between the two sides. The Dutch side always reminds me of places like Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, while the French side reminds me of Europe and the Cote d'Azur. What other Caribbean island can do that!

We also split our April trip between the two sides for the first time, and it felt like two different vacations. There was nothing wrong with the Dutch part of the trip, but we have already signed up for a total French stay next year, like we always have done before.

We just returned from GCBC almost 4 weeks ago....ugh...now that is depressing....wish we were back.. We have always stayed our 8 times coming to the island at GCBC and enjoying our nights in Grand Case and never ventured out past Grand Case at night....yes, we are one of those couples that just repeats what we love!! This time, we did have a few meals in Grand Case and we also did venture out to Orient Village a few nights..we definitely missed out in all those previous years...we had great meals at Le Pimente, and Bikini Beach! I love Grand Case....yes, it is not quite the same these days with alot of restaurants closed and not much for shops either. We never had to worry about parking as we always walked. But on the nights we ate at Pisza Pasqal (sp?) and Spiga we enjoyed our dinners tremendously and we were glad to give them our business.....It is sad when you go there to see what is left but not depressing.....I look forward to the day soon when the streets are more alive, there are more restaurants on the water and to enjoy all the amazing food!!! It's not depressing....

Right now, Orient Village is comparable if not ahead of Grand Case for evening meals. Never thought we would say that is the case, but currently that is our opinion hands down.

Combination of multiple things -- they include, parking, security, sense of safety, meaning extremely well lit...… Many multiple restaurants right next to each other to choose from .. level of food prep on par with grand case and maybe trying harder at the moment. Yes there is no ocean view, but that is the same with Grand Case for the most part right now, yes a couple of restaurants -- but walking the 6-10 different places in the village is like to old days of Grand Case -- choose your menu and enjoy. Friday night entertainment -- like the Tuesdays in Grand Case....

Couple of years ago maybe even less.... would say that it would be impossible for Grand Case not to be a highlight …. not right now … six months or a year who knows if Orient Village is better .. but presently I would rate Orient Village options far and away better than Grand Case ………….. ducking my head from lightening strikes!!

Yes, GC can be extremely difficult now for some. However, two restaurants that I visited, they immediately came out and parked the car for us. Being a foodie, I would love to sample more restaurants in Orient Village but just find it too far to travel from Terres Basses particularly at night and when the clocks change it gets dark much earlier in the winter months. Safe journey back home for you both. Hope your last meal is a memorable one. Please don't post pics of the food if it is, I start dribbling.

Clocks don't change on the Island

Yes you are right, changes in US but it does get darker later in the year...........................................need a drink!

Bran....TAXI!

Bran--Our last meal is here at the villa, steak and baked potato. Not GC quality, but no worries about driving after!

WHO COOKED FOR YOU?!!!?!?!??!?!??!

Did the main street get repaved? No, but it is patched and every bit as good and bumpy as it's ever been in the 12 years we've been coming here. Normally we walk to dinner, but I think I've gotten sciatica, and we've had minimal issues parking in the free lot or by the church, although you must be Catholic to park there or be damned to perdition,

Ah, Eric cooked..

We are going in a week. Staying right behind GCBC.

Do you still feel safe walking to restaurants?

Thanks, in advance, from St Loius. Home of the Stanley Cup Champion Blues

Personally, I would NOT walk from GCBC to restaurant row. Too many DARK patches. If the guy with the golf cart is around, I would do that. The only time this trip that I personally felt uncomfortable was leaving after dinner around 10 PM one night in Grand Case, walking down the street. I heard a scooter coming up the street behind us. I heard the scooter and said "Oh H*ll no!" We stepped between two parked cars and faced the street, with Eric between me and the street. I was NOT carrying a purse, by the way, just a small bag with my camera in it. I personally never carry a purse on SXM unless I am by myself. They went past without any incident.

When we were there 4 weeks ago and we stayed at GCBC, we had no issues of walking to the restaurants at night...we did it 2 nights....GCBC has there security guards on the road walking up until the corner where SPIGA is....If you ask them they will walk with you. Yes, when you are on the main street you do have to watch for the traffic and the scooters but there always seems to be enough people around...just be watchful....the guy with tieh golf cart is not around.....enjoy!!!!

Everyone's comfort level is different. After I heard that scooter coming, I didn't feel very secure, right there on the main drag in GC.. I felt much better in Orient Village, and the parking is SO much better there.

From Orient Village, how long approximately to say Maho by car with the usual traffic?

It really depends on which way you go AND whether there is any road construction or not. On this trip, at times we felt like "you can't get there from here!!" There is road construction on the main road in Marigot, and apparently will be, until August. There is also other road work within Marigot, which makes navigating through Marigot itself very challenging. The best way to get from Orient Village right now, I guess would be to go through Grand Case, go through Marigot down by the waterfront at Galis Bay (which you have no choice, going that direction) and stay straight and go through Sandy Ground. I would guess that at about 30 minutes. Not a great route after night though. Going through Orleans, we came upon two DIFFERENT road construction sites last week, one JUST as you are leaving Orient, headed toward Orleans, and a different one pretty soon after you enter the French side, coming from that roundabout where the McDonald's is. The one closest to Orient MAY be completed by now, as we went through there once and had to go on a detour, and then the next trip, there was no detour. We did not feel comfortable doing either one of those detours after night, as one was just around a corner, but the other one was a pretty lengthy one, all through a very residential neighborhood where tourists shouldn't necessarily be after night. So I guess I don't have a good answer for you.

thx Carol...about what I thought. Sandy Ground at night is not the best area but apart from lunatic bikers never so far had a problem.....once through there its a fast run. You already getting the SXM blues, albeit just back and probably have lots to do?I have only just recovered, been back now 10 days, but first few days were...can we go again next week sort of thing!!!!

Yes, very much the SXM blues!! We had problems at the office while we were gone, several minor disasters here at home. Calgon, take me away!!!!

know the feeling. Had the driveway paved, first time we not there to oversee it. They covered the sprinkler heads in concrete and then had 3 days of solid downpour which washed away much of the sand used to harden the pavers, oh and now the air doesn't work as probably all the dust, sand and grit and stuff blocked the outside drain line which I have just unclogged and grit and bits did indeed come out but I am no handyman. Take me back to sxm where all I have to worry about is my next meal!!!

Yup, been there. Am there!

Hubby finds it more dangerous driving from BSV to Orient Village than the walk from GCBC to restaurants. And do so love the places in the Village.

Well, I think that's a kind of 'apples and oranges' comparison.