TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Couple of last planning questions

We arrive on island next week and I'm trying to tie up a few loose ends. Any input is much appreciated.
1) Florist - can anyone recommend a florist who would deliver a nice bouquet to our hotel on the French side?
2)We want to try a beach or two that we missed last time. I can't get a good read on Friar's Bay. I know everyone's tastes are different, but is there any rhyme or reason to whether or not it smells bad there? Are there two or three restaurant options, and what's the favorite for food & service?
3) Are certain days better than others to go to the Marigot market? Wasn't sure if participation is in anyway dictated by number of cruisers on a given day, but maybe it's not that big of a draw for cruisers. Also what's the recommendation on parking in Marigot if visiting the market? We didn't spend much time in that area on our first trip and I remember finding it confusing.
4) If you've done a class at Tijon, do you recommend the full 2 hour class? I think it's something I want to do but not sure which option to choose.
THANK YOU!

Only imput I can give would be in regards to the smell at Friers. Every time we have been there we have had that bad smell wiff acrose. Really has to do with the wind direction but it's always been there for us. I know the farthest beach restaurant doesn't take credit cards and their exchange rate pretty much is in their favor.

Strange...we walk through Friar's on our way to Happy Bay MANY times over our two weeks and never noticed any smell.....

Friars is one of our favorite beaches and we’ve spent a lot of island days there. In all our many days I only once smelled anything out of the ordinary and that was a brief thing. As we walked through the restaurant they had what I think was incense burning. We always eat at FBBC and rent their chairs. Should you decide to go there remember they are on the pricier side for FB and they don’t do credit cards. From what I understand there are now three restaurants on FB. We use the old rutted road to FBBC and park right there behind their restaurant and closest to the Happy Bay side of the beach as oppose3 to the road that goes by Gutside Restaurant.

With reference to the Marigot Market, park wherever you can find a legal parking space. The market is open daily but I think the prime days are Saturdays and Wednesdays unless that has recently changed.

Marigot Market
Our experience is if no cruise ships in port, no vendors
Parking we parking facing the harbou just south of the market roughly where the fish vendors set up
For Wilfred Brooks fans - his wife as a resto just south of the market called Katoo Too Korner. The Fr government created a resto area immediately south of he market using shipping containers for the kitchens and the vendors built decks roof setc. About 10 or so resto;s there - think Lolo's without the charcoal grills. We had a great luch at Katoo's.

J&B

I have used Lydia’s Florist in the past. Small shop but beautiful work. Not sure if she will deliver to French side but worth a call.
Lydiasflowershop@icloud.com. 721-543-1344. She is also on FB.

We've also never experienced the smell at Friars. Friars Bay Beach Club is an exceptional restaurant. As Pat stated, it's pricey and they don't accept credit cards.

We've never been to the newest restaurant there, 978. We were not impressed with Kali's.

Can't help with your other questions.

Thank you for the recommendation. I will reach out.