TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Royal Palm Beach Resort Questions

On our last few visits to SXM, we have split our time staying on both the French and Dutch sides. We've tried various places on both sides and found things we like at all of them, but we are still experimenting with new places to stay on the Dutch side. We're considering trying Royal Palms Beach Resort for our October trip and have a few of quick questions that we'd appreciate input from those who have stayed there:

1. Should we ask for a ground floor unit or an upper floor?
2. I see the rock jetties in the photos. Is there any decent snorkling there?
3. We are considering this location due it's close proximity to restaurants, etc. Are there other considerations regarding this property or others?

Thanks,
Ed

My opinion....decent resort. Recently renovated totally

Definitely within walking distance of many places to eat.

Beach leaves a tad to be desired with history of contamination from the boats moored there. Not sure what the situation is presently

All rooms have a great Simpson Bay view. I would go for an upper level room to enhance that view.

No clue about snorkeling but the potential is there..usually calm water

The rock jetties are man-made and to protect the man-made beach. No idea on snorkeling but I would not spend a lot of time in the water there, due to what was stated above.

Great location. I have stayed there many times over many years.

I would personally go for a higher floor as you will have less chance of insects/mosquitoes as there will not be foliage outside your door if on the ground floor.

Another constant downside has been the restaurant, bars and pool bar. All the same owner. The restaurant is usually dead and last I heard, they were not up and fully running yet. This is a major weak spot of the resort. Service can be hit or miss at the pool bar.

Will be hopefully there first two weeks in May on Interval exchange.....just received welcome email....they will be charging $25 per day “activity fee” for all non owners.....seems excessive

Wow! I didn't know that...almost went with an exchange there but decided to wait. What freaking "activities" do they have worth 25 bucks? WIFI?

Edit:

Well better than booking direct with the resort...one week in May

Resort Fees: $174.65

Eliminates THAT one from my possibilities

In STT there was (is) a tax of $25/day but that is for any resort....and also for owners

Owners pay an island timeshare use fee of 50.00 per week. No tax or Resort Fees. Renters or II/RCI trades pay a daily room tax and resort fees but no 50.00 island timeshare use fee. Same at Flamingo.

Interesting.....I just did a fake exchange with SBR through II and, as I remembered, exchanges, like the owners (me) only pay the TS tax of $50/week



So Flamingo and Royal Palm add a resort fee to exchanges where SBR does not

The resort has a great location with regard to being able to walk to many places to eat. ALL units have full ocean view and balconies. Ground level units have more issues with mosquitoes, because of vegetation, which also blocks the view partially from the ground level. To me, the better views are on the 4th and 5th floors. The 6th floor is basically the penthouses, which are the best units in the building. Not sure what they look like now, after the renovation. The beach is large, and allows you to spread out, but due to all the sailboats who overnight in the bay there, I personally don't go in the water there, and most who stay there don't either. The onsite restaurant and bar are a definite weak point, but there are MANY great places you can walk to from there.

Thanks to everyone for your responses! Per your recommendations, we will try for an upper floor and we appreciate your heads up on the water there.
Can't wait to get back to SXM!

Enjoy your stay!

Enjoy....I am looking at an II exchange for a cancelled covid STT week and RP is available....might go for it if I can deal with the testing issues again....needs more thought

Keep in mind that Flamingo is their sister resort and Royal Palm guests have free access to Pool and all Flamingo amenities. Great swim beach there.

Thanks that is great info!
We were considering Flamingo (still are) and we will definately go there and check it out if we don't actually end up staying there.
We are leaning towards Royal Palm because it looks closer to everything, but Flamingo looks nice.
Have you stayed at both? If so, can you share pros and cons?

Thanks...

Compskier--Scubaman is a t/s owner at Flamingo, so he will always point you toward Flamingo!! I don't know whether he's stayed at RP or not, but I have stayed at both. For walkability to many places, Royal Palm is probably about the best place on the entire island. The beach at RP is bad, but all rooms have full ocean view, as compared to Flamingo, where roughly half are not. Both places were just recently gutted and renovated, so both should be clean and new.

Excellent point....Beach is small but really decent at the Flamingo...and the pool is top notch

I have stayed at both and I regard them as equally good. Beach and pool are better at Flamingo. Used to be RP had the Gym that both would share. Now Flamingo has it's own Gym along with covered outside BBQ areas with washing sink and tables. Also an outside gas fire pit with seating in park like setting. All new amenity. Flamingo also put in two new hot tub/spas with corner umbrellas by infinity pool.

I have stayed at Royal Palm many times and while many say how bad the water is I snorkel there. I find the fish there easier to find along the rocks and will go around almost to the bridge. You are not supposed to snorkel in the channel and if the coast guard sees you they will get you to leave. Depending on the tide it can be somewhat churned up. I have seen most fish there i.e. Queen,French and grey Angels, school of blue tang, squid, butterfly fish, lobster,lion fish, octapus,Sgt.majors,and damsel fish to name most. If you do snorkel stay close to the rocks especially in the channel.
I also stay at Simpson Bay Villas and snorkel there and see the same fish but moe spread out. I have also seen eagle rays, nurse sharks, turtles and queen triggerfish but not as often as the others.
I have snorkeled along the rocks at Flamingo but a lot less to see so I don't spent much time there.
I hope this helps.

Flamingo Beach shares pretty much the same Beach as SSBR. Just snorkel across to the breakwater rocks. Lots to see.

I have snorkeled over to Flamingo around the boulders. My polnt was that the rocks around SBR and beyond offers singnifantly more to see. I spend approx 2 hours a day snorkeling that area during our 2 week stay and will then go to Royal Palm for 1/2 hour of snorkeling.

No one has mentioned the incredibly loud music that comes from the Roxy Bar/Restaurant right next to Royal Palm. I am an owner at Simpson Bay Resort & the music is maddening especially at night. Having said that, due to pandemic we have not been there since the pandemic started. Perhaps the situation has been remedied. If not, I would suggest bringing ear plugs.

A recent review here stated it wasn't that bad. I remember staying there where music from Lee's was an issue. Once doors where closed wasn't bad.

Was at Royal Palm in late March. Music from Roxxy was not a problem for us. We were in the wing near bridge channel. No music during the week some on Saturday and Sunday but not late in night. Never hear it after 10:00pm