TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Simpson Bay

For those of you looking for a less windy beach today (Saturday) Simpson Bay is nice today.

Waves are high however.

I see them washing all the way up the beach on occasion at the northeastern end. And I see some old (and presumably) decaying Sargassum. But it stills beats shoveling snow!

We just got in from Mary's Boon. Lots of wind but you could get in and out of the water without too much problem. Lots of beach erosion along Simpson Bay.

JD, how were the food and service at the Boon?

Simpson Bay BEACH was gorgeous today. No sea weed, some erosion but still plenty of sand and beach. Always enjoy or time and food at The Boon. The tuna, tartare, and Thai curry chicken are amazing.

I did not eat as I was getting a very nice massage. The others said it was ok for 2 of them and the one that got the burger said it may have been the best he has ever had on the island. Beach service was mediocre at best. The consensus was, it was better than Karakter and they had a lot more beach lounges.

BTW, I saw Todd and MJ in town yesterday and had a brief chat with them.

All the times we stayed at the Boone and ate there the food was always really good, but my God! the service was always so slow. But hey, that's island time, not NYC time!! Enjoy and have a great time!

I can deal with slow service, but the surly attitude and terrible food we got there on our last visit were unacceptable. I really wish there was a nice restaurant on that beach.

Glad you saw Todd and MJ.

Totally agree. Mary's Boon beach was pretty full. I walked by Karakter and thought they had way less lounges out than in prior visits.

The service at Mark's Place was a little off the night we were there but they had a group of about 20 and that hindered the operation. Astra was not the best service but everywhere else was decent. Like at home, finding good help is a challenge.

We went to Karakter once this trip, the service on the beach was good but the service up top was slow and the food was average at best. Had a much better experience there in December. Still having issues of thinking of going back to Marys Boon after our last experience there but may have to try again when we come back.

It was great to get a chance to chat with both Motown Tim and Ruralcarrier (JD) this trip, along with a few others that we have met from TTOL this trip.

TB

Todd, great to talk to you and MJ again. Been a while.

At Karaktor again this AM. Very windy today with largish waves. Probably won’t stay too long.

Well, you know where we are! Lal's tonight and you are welcome to join us. Guessing 7ish

GaKaye. Seems you always have something negative about The Boon but yet I read many good things about the boon and their food, etc. It's mostly very busy for a good reason. We have been to mosts of them but I am Wondering if there is anyplace on island that you DO like that we can try?

No need to call out someone as being always "negative" when they are giving their personal experience.

You weren't there, I was. Brought new people to the island and picked the place. It was embarrassingly bad, service and food, so her comments are warranted. We had enjoyed previous good experiences there but what we endured makes it tough to imagine going back.

I hear they have improved, so I also seek confirmation of this and one day MJ and I might be back and as they say anybody can have a bad day but our last trip was just not a bad day.
T

To no one in particular: I was there in November for lunch. I don't recall anything negative about the service, but the food was, at best, mediocre.

forever--you are often very negative about many things about the island. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Carol. Absolutely agree as many other opinions people have negative comments about sxm for good reasons. We have been coming to sxm for 36 years and love most things about the island as I do my home city. Fortunately those that really know sxm understand people’s opinions and frustrations. Like the politics, airport , roads etc. Some opinions are just wrong and obviously self serving hits and needs to be called out as such. Otherwise you will a lot of bad misinformation. Again , yes IMO

"Some opinions are just wrong and obviously self serving hits and needs to be called out as such."
Giving an honest review of ones negative experience is not a "self serving hit" but what actually happened to them. It's good to hear the good and the bad about a place and let the reader decide to go there or not.

Well, let's see. I think your opinion is wrong. Is that fair? Nope. Opinions are just that, opinions, and they can't be wrong or right. I have stated my experience at Mary's Boon, and as others who were with me on that day (and on another day prior to that) have stated, it was terrible. That's why I asked JD what his experience was, because I truly want to find a place on Simpson Bay Beach that we would enjoy. Nothing at all self-serving about my stating my experience, unless wanting to find a great spot on that beach is self-serving.

As to other places, all you have to do is look at my posts, and you will find that I actually have very little negative to say about most everywhere on the island, and a lot of positive reviews. No, I haven't been coming for 36 years like you have, but for close to twenty, so I do know the island well. I understand that any place can have a bad day, and I do always give them more than one chance to change my mind.

Thanks and well said .
That's the reason why I will only comment on something that we have been through .
Been living on St.Maarten for over 40 years , was born on Curacao and our parents are from Guyana .
And we have travelled lots of States in U.S in the past but not anymore now because our two Children lives in Toronto.

Well said GaKaye. 👏👏👏👏

Im just saying I’ve read that same opinion for from the poster for the last year it seems. Saying terrible service over and over for something happened maybe on an off day or that was long ago and then becomes like a hit / or self serving and not relevant. yes certainly just their opinion too. People know the places that over the years have good reputation and nothing wrong with questioning it if someone has a different experience. I read a bad review not long ago about Vesna Tavern that I know is not typical because they normally get great reviews and yes we love that place . So is it a bad review or fair. Business don’t always have perfect days everyday. Sure probably legit but It’s odd when typically good places get bad reviews when 90% are good then I wonder if it’s political. My husband and have been to about everyplace on island over the years. Definitely service now about everywhere is not what it was. As long the food is good I can wait a bit longer. IMO!

Hi There. I looked online for the menu for Mary Boon. All I saw was a beach menu. My question is,,,can a person get a burger at dinner evening meal, or will it be a seperate dinner menu....have never eaten at Mary Boons but thinking of it our first night and possibly next morning, as we are staying at Azure on our arrival night, until our condo becomes avail the next afternoon for the week.

don't quote me but I think you can get a burger in the evening at Marys Boon if served in only the bar. The dining room does have a pretty good evening menu. We tend to like the Mushroom chicken and all of the fish items are really good and very fairly priced. My husband loves the Lemon Butter salmon. Marys Boon is only about a 5 min walk down the beach from Azure guesthouse and a safe walk down.