TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin First time with teen children

We are long time SXMers but never with kids. My friend has never been to SXM and wants to take two tweens at March break.
I have no idea what to tell her because we stay at Club O and she doesn't want to stay there.
She definitely wants the French side. At the moment I have her checking into VRBO for a small villa (?) Any ideas would be appreciated.
Carol

You might have her check TTOL sponsor Villa Margot . It's just up the hill from Orient, owned by Bruno, who does a great job there. They could also check the 2 bedroom units at O Paradise, but that might not be enough space for them? Are you going to stay at Club O still?

Are they boys or girls? I took my niece several times from the time she was 15 until she was 21 and she was happy to lie on the beach most of the time. We did the butterfly farm, lots of shopping, explored different beaches, did some kayaking and snorkeling. Took a couple excursions - to Anguilla, catamaran rides and she was a foodie; so lots of good dining experiences. We stayed at GCBC one year and she loved it - there were lots of water sports to do and we enjoyed walking into town for dinner. That was a very rainy trip however, so we didn't get out much that particular visit.

thanks Carol,
We're not going with them. We go in April.

We have been taking our teens every year..I would recommend staying on the Dutch side, better TV and Internet service. Kids want to use it on vacation. Bring Xbox if they have one. Keeps them busy at night. Make sure the place has a pool, more fun for kids at a larger pool where their might be other kids. Westin on Dawn beach has the best pool for kids and meeting other kids. Things to do..lotterie farm, Butterfly farm, jet skiing with parent on Orient, trampolines in water at Orient, shopping in Marigot at outdoor flee market, volleyball on Mullet, Gran Case lolos (get the food quick), kayaking to Pinel Island.

Funny, you say that they should stay on the Dutch side, but basically almost everything you talked about them doing is on the French side. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" /> The OP did say that the family wanted to stay on the French side though.

Carol,

I agree that's what the OP said they wanted, but I'm inclined to agree with Computerwise and I would at the very least, suggest the possibility of a Dutch side stay for accommodations when traveling with teens.

There are all the French side options Cwise has given for daytime activities when it's no big deal to navigate the island, but I can't think of anything worse than potentially listening to bored kids telling you how there's nothing to do at night, and I don't think there's nearly as many Frenchside options for them in the evenings, but who knows - I may be dead wrong on that.

The Dutch side supposedly has better tv and internet options which they will probably want, and also the movie theater, the Carousel and many other things they might enjoy in the evening without having to do a great deal of traveling for, depending on the 'where' part of the Dutch side.

It's just a suggestion and another way of looking at things that the parents may not know, never having been there themselves. Our kids and grandkids always enjoyed walking around Maho at night - icecreams, shops, Cheris, the dancers from CR if they still do that, etc. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

The Dutch side is easier to go out at night with the kids (McDonalds, Cheri's, Maho shopping, Sunset Beach Bar (planes and beach), movie theatres and having the better internet and TV is the key. The activities on the French side require a car anyway and the island is not that big. If you want the vacation to go smoothly...I would at least think about some of the recommendations..

I agree with the Dutch side for teens. Took several of them in March and just more action on the Dutch side compared to the French side. With the new causeway French side attractions are so close now. Either way I'm sure they will love it.

It depends on where you stay on the french side, but many places on the french side now have full satellite TV and good internet. Villa Margot, which I recommended, does have both of those. I do agree though there is more for them to do at night on the Dutch side.

We rent a villa from gobeach.com it is steps from the Orient Beach activities, bars and restaurants. We have had a two bedroom (king size beds in each) with our own pool and patio. Kitchen, laundry and two tv areas.

Of course there is always Beachside Villas,,,50 feet from the sand and you can walk to Maho. We also walk the other way to the bakeries in the morning for coffee.