TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Final thoughts

We have had a very nice vacation and I got some much-needed relaxation and down time even though I did get 2 work calls the 1st week.
Splitting up the stay was a pleasant experience felt like 2 different vacations.
Going the boutique hotel route was also a nice change from staying in a Condo. This was our first time staying on the French side and I noticed a few differences. Less traffic was the major thing perhaps a tad quieter at least the places we stayed at Cul de Sac and edge of Grand Case. As always had some excellent food not the *BEST* but pretty darn good. My wife got a very nice tan and I avoided getting burnt to a crisp. A few of the places we ate at had new owners but I didn't notice any drop off in service or quality in the food. I am not a foodie but I did try some stuff that is not my normal go to food and I did not have any complaints everything was good.
So originally we were to fly home today but for some reason a few months back AA from CLT decided not to have direct flight Xmas eve and day.
So Kelly at Bleu Emeraude was able to let me add a night but in the 1 bedroom next to us on 3rd floor so we can check it out.
I will try to get some pictures of that room also. Both hotels were awesome but different Bleu was more high tech each room has its own wifi with a large selection of TV channels you also have beach wifi. We had 3 ac units that could make it snow at night we just used the main room AC. There is also an elevator and an underground parking lot. Anyway if anyone has any questions about either hotel message me.
Karibuni was definitely the most quieter of the 2 and you felt like you had the entire place to yourself and their breakfast was a real surprise for how much you got. In closing I will show last night's dinner.
Merry Christmas 🎅

Thank you for all your reports and pictures. You put a smile on my face more than once. Well done.

Have enjoyed all of your reports and appreciate your effort. We also ate at Spiga and L’Auberge Gourmande,two newly sold restaurants. Your meal photos from yesterday show the same meals that my wife and I had last month…Delicious!
Safe travels and Happy Holidays.

Thanks for all the reports. Interesting that Bleu Emeraude has an elevator. I remember someone here was looking for that in GC, but can't remember who.

That plate at Auberge looks to be exactly the same as the one I have on my shelf here at home. YEARS ago, I talked them out of one of their plates that had a chip in it. Good memories!

Thank you for the reports and great pictures!

I especially appreciated your lodging comparisons. Both sound like lovely experiences.