We are returning to Saint Martin for the first time in a few years in early April for two weeks. We have been to Saint Martin several times over the years and our first visit was over 25 years ago. The Sunset Beach Bar at the time was a fellow from the US owner operator with no electricity or bathrooms and Bud cans were $2. There was a coke cooler with ice for refrigeration. There was a surfboard stuck in the sand and yes, topless women drank for free. That was a great marketing positioning statement. There were a couple picnic tables and a dozen or so bar stools and I never saw a cash register.
Has anyone stayed at the Secrets at Anse Marcel resort lately? We are booked there but can't remember if we have been to that beach previously. I am sure it will be fine but there have been some mixed reviews prior to the re-opening. Send us a note if you happen to be at Secrets during the first two weeks of April as well.
Kelly--If it were ME, I wouldn't go there, as the reviews the whole time have not been good, even before they closed. I actually didn't know they were reopening as Secrets. If you are comparing it there, versus Secrets in other locations, the one in SXM has not lived up to their usual standards at all. Anse Marcel is a beautiful beach, BUT the area is very isolated from anything else on island. If I could, I would cancel if you can get your money back, and book somewhere else.
Ditto what Carol said. Lots of better options. Anse Marcel is great for a day visit but I wouldn't want to stay in that area and have to drive that road to go to other places.
Thanks to all for the advice. We are non-refundable at this point but are ok with that. We are looking forward to a chill out beach vacation and to avoid the cruise ship crowds. The cost of this holiday was under $5200 US for two weeks for two people including airfare out of Toronto all inclusive. That seemed like really good value. I just checked and see the hotel appears to now be sold out. I also checked and see it is only about 15 minutes to either Grand Case or Orient Beach. That seems doable but I expect it can be a much longer ride when a bunch of ships are in.
We will be sure to post a update once we have checked in.
Neil Rooney was the owner of Sunset Beach Bar when you were there, I do believe. Remember it well. The original octagonal bar is still there, within the current facility.
We were at Anse Marcel beach for the first time, at the end of February this year. I have to say for us, it is one of the top beaches on the island. At the end, where the Secret resort is located, the beach is quieter less busy and very calm. I heard that all renos at Secret will be done by April of this year. Hope it all works out.
I heard that all renos at Secret will be done by April of this year.
I don't think so. The last communication on Secrets was that they would be closing at the end of May again for the next phase of the renovation work, unless something has changed.
KellyO - it's too bad it's non-refundable and you can't cancel, but you'll make the best of it. Make sure to get out and visit other places, including for some dining too. For driving from Anse Marcel to Grand Case or Orient, the cruise crowd should not impact you much. If you were driving to the airport, Maho, Philipsburg, then yes it would affect you.
Pretty tough to give Secrets a bad review noting they are not even open yet post remodel. It is a great beach, and while I am sure the AI food options will not match much of the island it still probably will be decent, and included. You can always go to other places on island as well. It is great that Secrets is now part of Hyatt, my favorite of the hotel points programs. Using Hyatt points at their all inclusive resorts is usually a pretty good deal as well.
I'm not going to get into who to rent a car from. What I will advise you to rent is a powerful 4X4 SUV . That hill up and down, one of those small rentals will not make it!!! Good luck!!! Neil built the original SSBB, and he told the story here on TTOL how the whole topless drink free came about. If I have it right, a crew member from the movie Speed2 was having a few pops when these two gal's would put their tops on to come to the bar for refiles on the drinks. Next day, The crew member comes back with the sign he made at the set shop. That was the beginning of that!!! yes, the surfboard is still there posting arrival times!!
They reopen in April. Not presently open and has not been open for a significant amount of time.
No, Secrets reopened in January 2025 after being closed a number of months for phase one of renovation work. They plan to close again to start phase two at the end of May. Reviews from visitors the past couple months have been mixed.
Can't comment on Secrets, but we stayed there on our first visit to the island, when it was Le Meridien. We had no problem at all driving up and down the hill, and went to Grand Case for dinner every night. Enjoy your vacation!
We spent the day at Anse Marcel on our trip to the island last week. Though we appreciated the amenities of our vacation rental at The Fourteen in the Mullet Bay Beach area, we really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere of the Anse Marcel property. We were previously considering a stay at a privately owned vacation rental at the Domaine de Lonvilliers property next door to the Secrets Resort. After scouting out the area and the Anse Marcel property in particular, we now realize that spending time in that part of the island is something we would enjoy. The beach itself is calm and scenic with a nice restaurant, there is a small shopping complex/marina (Galerie les Acacias) with on-site small convenience grocery store, restaurant, take away, etc. For more varied shopping and grocery options, Cul de Sac is only a 10 minute drive away. The road up and down over the “mountain” is indeed steep though paved. We had a new small Hyundai i20 rental vehicle and the drive was not a problem and I actually enjoyed it. Definitely not like home but experiences such as this are why we travel.
Great image and yes it looked like that but in the early days when we first visited there was no deck or canopy. There were hinged shutters with faded polaroids of topless women having a drink. I just remembered there was the tail of a small plane stuck in the sand and a speaker hooked up to a radio that tuned into air traffic control. I am thinking that was 30+ years ago and well before digital photos. I am getting motivated to pull out an old photo album and have a look. If I find a photo I will scan it and upload.
"What I will advise you to rent is a powerful 4X4 SUV . That hill up and down, one of those small rentals will not make it!!!" I bag to differ. We have driven that road many times in a standard 2 wheel drive sedan with 4 people with no problem.
I agree with Scubaman, we were there in February with our two daughters driving a small i10 and made it no problem. I tried for fun booking at Secrets and it shows booked very day for the next six months.
What I will advise you to rent is a powerful 4X4 SUV . That hill up and down, one of those small rentals will not make it!!!
David - I have to disagree with you. I go to Anse Marcel all the time and have never rented anything other than a small economy. I've always been able to navigate the hills with no problem. Once or twice had to turn off the A/C but generally no issues. And I don't get all the drama about the hills. They are just hills like you would find many other places on the island and are quite navigable.
My only scare was when I was driving up and a huge garbage truck was coming down the hill and gave no extra room for passage. I was actually on the non paved shoulder getting ready to meet my maker as we passed. Driver I suspect saw my rental plate and was getting his kicks. Scary time that was for sure.
I had looked for bookings in March, they do not open up until Monday next week. I had looked for when we were there in Nov/Dec and it was not an option. In all honesty, no clue now when they have or have not been open because I have seen very little availability until April but the times I have researched they were not open or at least did not post room availability. Not normal for sure. I hope they get it together, look forward to spending some points there.
As for the hill, not that tough, have done worse on the island in small cars.
You haven't lived till you drive the road that runs from behind the Dawn Beach project to the top of Naked Boy Hill. A 300 meter change in elevation , 1 1/2 lanes wide with mandatory "no guardrails".
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