TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Need a Hotel / Resort Recommendation

We're looking for a hotel on any beach that will deliver a unique sweet spot - please tell me where you stayed and why you're recommending it. THX

My favorite place in the world is Beachside Villas, on Simpson Bay. BSV consists of 14 or so individual condo units, all directly on beautiful Simpson Bay Beach. Each unit features your own large living room, dining room, kitchen, bathrooms and bedroom, with sliders from the living room and master bedroom to the deck. The kitchen has just about anything you need in order to make your own meals onsite and you have your own gas grill. The interior is fully air conditioned, with a separate unit for the living room and the bedrooms.

I go to SXM for the ocean, and you have a beautiful unobstructed view of almost a private beach, all for the complex. There is a lovely pool which is usually uncrowded also. I personally have no need for a front desk or activities or a bar or restaurant onsite, as I prefer to just hang out and veg, looking at the ocean. BSV is NOT the sterile, all white, glass and marble style which is all the rage these days. I loathe that style. It is Caribbean comfortable, with blue being the most predominant color inside, with a fantastic view of the lovely ocean. There are no stainless appliances, no dishwasher (about the only thing I really miss there!!) and no washer and dryer. However, you can give clothes to the maid and they will send them out to be laundered for you.

BSV has everything I want. I wish I was there right now!!

THX Carol for this great endorsement. It sounds deliciously laid back and right smack on the beach. I appreciate your post - thx!

Suzie--Here is a report that I did last year, talking about why I love BSV so much, with pictures!

Link

We've stayed on our last several trips to SXM at el Zafiro. It's located on the top end of Simpson Bay Beach, right next to Carol's Beach Side Villas. They have a bar/restaurant and a wonderful beach and view. There are only 7 or 8 units in the main building. They have added or are adding a few more rooms in an adjacent building. So nice to walk out of your room and onto the beach(assuming your room is on the first floor). Will be back again the end of January.

Great place!

Like Beachside Villas, The Horny Toad Guesthouse is another unique place on the same beach. Much smaller, no pool but a great place with great hosts and pretty much new since Irma as they did a total rebuild. We have stayed there many times and it has never disappointed.

HORNY TOAD GUESTHOUSE

Ditto what Carol said. Beachside Villa's is an oasis for us. On the beach, beautiful villa, great staff - lovely grounds.

JD--Horny Toad has a similar feel to BSV, but the biggest problem I have with it is no TV. I have become exceedingly boring these days, that I am concerned about having a TV in SXM!!

I know at least one of the units did have TV last Nov. but not in all the units. Not a deal breaker for me.

Yes, I know you barely watch TV at home. I forgot that you told me that some of them had a TV now.

Boy I almost hate these hotel recommendation questions. We much prefer Simpson Bay and over the past 20 years we stayed at most of the hotels on that beach. Most don’t really have many or any real amenities or feel a little too much like grandmas house. We love Mary’s Boon which is a small 40 room Caribbean style beach hotel. About half of the rooms are beachfront the others are literally no more than 20 steps or so away to the beach. We’d love it because it literally has about everything we want. A small pool. Great food and service in their Restaurant and bar, They have their own USA satellite TV system, good Internet which was even being upgraded when we were there in August. Generator which is good in SXM when the power goes off which it does often. Daily housekeeping and laundry service if you need it. Most of the rooms are very nice size A little eclectic decorating of Indonesian and Bali style furniture. Kind of Ernest Hemingway feel walking around with a few dogs and cats running around the property and the little planes flying overhead. Really cool place. Huge fairy private beach. The staff is incredible and we have meet so many wonderful friends there over the years. It’s really a friendly family feeling hotel. If you’re going during high season book early even this year...as they fill up fast with a very loyal repeat clientele. Rooms for about every budget. Most people rave about it, You rarely see a bad review on Mary’s Boon. If you don’t stay there at least go by and see what you missed. Enjoy.

forever--Just curious, why do you hate this type of question?

“Almost hate”. Don’t know really, probably like my opinion I already know most of the other peoples opinions or likes and you see the question fairly often. But still interesting and beneficial for others to read. 😊 👍

Carol,

I kinda sorta get what ‘forever’ is saying, I think.........

I can’t tell you how many times over the years I’ve recommended a restaurant or a hotel or even a car rental agency that I’ve been pleased with and had people comment as to how wrong I was and then go into their reasons for their own personal dissatisfactions with the same companies.

Vanilla? Chocolate? Thing is, we all have different expectations and we don’t always agree or disagree. Doesn’t make me or them either right or wrong but it does make me hesitate on occasion when asked for a recommendation. I guess I’m thin skinned for starters and once I even had someone launch a personal attack at me suggesting I was shilling for the restaurant in question, which is laughable and sad. If I don’t really feel good about a place I would absolutely NEVER sing it’s praises.

That all said, I love BSV and have since the first time we stayed there but we also enjoyed Mary’s Boon and we found the staff at El Zafiro to be wonderful so we’d stay there, too, if we couldn’t get into BSV, but BSV would definitely be our first choice these days.

If you are going to eat in, then Beachside is very well outfitted. If you will spend a lot of time on the beach and would want to eat or have a few drinks in the resort's restaurant or bar, then I recommend Mary's Boon. Beachside has no restaurant or bar. It has a beach, but you will find Mary's Boon much better.

RI Bob--yes, if you want a restaurant or bar onsite, Mary's Boon is better for that for sure But if you're saying that the BEACH is better at Mary's Boon than at Beachside, I would disagree with that, as I much prefer a very uncrowded beach, which Beachside has, versus MB.. Different strokes!!

How is your trip going Bob? Or are you back home already??

Depends on what you're looking for. I'm a twenty year owner at Royal Islander. It's on a beach with a great pool and every unit has a balcony overlooking the beach and pool. It's in Maho village with restaurants/bars/shopping/casino right there for you. There's a well stocked market and all the units have a full kitchen. There's a homeowners web page where members rent their units if they are not going to use them. I suspect you could score some good deals this year.

Beachside Villas for a lovely atmosphere, great villas, with a lot of privacy, a friendly helpful staff,
and a beautiful beach.

It has been our place of choice for many years!

I am surprised that there are no French side recommendations ,,,,I stay at Simpson Bay resort and love it but that doesn't fit the "unique sweet spot"..I will defer to BSV...nice place...great location

boucharda--If I were going to pick a spot on the French side, it would probably be a private villa..

Good point....

Crowded beaches are a factor of parking. Neither MB or BSV can park enough to get crowded, but MB provides a lot more beach furniture (umbrella, chaise lounge). MB can get crowded at one end on weekends because the bar presents music and serves food and liquor on the beach, but one can just stay on the other end.

I've been home for a while, I only stayed 2 weeks, I would rather be there with all the quarantine rules here in RI.

Bob...you lucked out with your tests...the Convention center sent ours to the wrong lab and we got my wife's back 4+ days after testing ..and spending two days trying to find where they went....an hour before I was going to just cancel the whole trip (to St. Thomas)...Waaaaay to close for me to rely on them.

Doing my STT/SXM comparisons now and so far SXM is significantly in the lead

edit: I should add that there are very strict rules here in STT regarding distancing and masks and it has resulted in zero cases for the last three days that we have been here

Bob--If you feel like it, would be interested to hear your impressions of your trip.

boucharda--would be interested to hear your impressions.

They are evolving and I will do a quick sum up comparison in a couple of days....the weather has been fantastic...sun is VERY strong and hot though...sometimes too much

My trip was done under some circumstances that would not be the same if I were to go again.

The Covid test had to be done in 72 hours, now it's 120.
It was in the 90's every day. I wouldn't go knowing that.
My favorite haunt is Topper's. It will move to the Carousel pretty soon. Not the same experience.
Travel to the French side opened up after my first week.
There were very few or no people wherever I went. That included places like Avantika, The Greenhouse, and Fat Tony's. Hopefully that is changing for the better.

Part of my reason for going when I did was to help grow out of personal issues. It helped to be with friendly people at Mary's Boon and Topper's who knew my wife.

I do think I will go again.

Bob--I understand. Best wishes.

Hi Fans of Simpson Bay Beach - it sounds like this is the beach to be on and there's a plethora of choices. We're beach snobs so the quality of the sand and able to do long walks and access a bar or restaurant along the way are at the top of our list - and your suggestions fit this requirement.
We'll get going on our research. Thanks everyone. Stay healthy! Suzie

You paint a unique picture of an oasis away from home. Sounds amazing. Thx for sharing. S

Hi Boucharda - I'd love to hear why you love staying at Simpson Bay Resort. S

Bob, just last night we were sent a picture of us at Caravanserai that also had John and Pat in it along with Dot. It was a great memory, Dot was a fantastic person and I feel lucky to have been able to spend a bit of time with her. Keep going Bob, Dot would approve!
Todd

Check out LaVista Beach Resort as opposed to just LaVista Beach. Same owner but the One with Resort in the name is on the beach. Actually the only thing between the unit and the beach is the pool. Here's a copy and paste from TripAdvisor.
Note that it's rated #1


La Vista Resort
256 reviews
#1 of 15 Specialty Lodging in Simpson Bay

Billy Folly Road 53 Pelican Key, Simpson Bay St Martin / St Maarten

SXMSuzie ...PM sent

Hi Weeks5051

I appreciate the recommendation - looks amazing and again on Simpson Bay! Cool
THX Suzie

Thank you Todd, kind words and good memories keep helping me cope.

When we've stayed on French side our choice has been Grand Case Beach Club. Great photos on their website. We usually choose oceanfront studio which has full kitchen. Friends tried the garden side and it was lovely, secluded. Looked at the one and two bedrooms and they are beautiful apartments--considering for future.

Place is gated. everything you need inside. watersports included with rooms. Small on-site restaurant for breakfast and lunch, takeout or room service. And place is within walking distance to fine restaurants, and LOLOs small locally owned restaurants waterside, clothing , jewelry, perfumery where you can take a class, make your own , or just tour and buy off shelf. Small grocery store nearby.

Just received email about a sale through December 2020 offering 20% off rates.

Dear RonDon
THX for a very positive report on Grand Case Beach Resort - it sounds like it has everything - great photos on their website - and I understand that they are very liberal re their registration deposit policy. Cheers, Suzie

Le Petit Hotel if you want to be on a French side beach. Hotel Lesplenade if you want an easy walk to Grand Case restaurants. Prefer a villa overlooking Friars/Happy bay if you’re traveling as more than a couple....