TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Suggestions needed, budget trip with toddler!

We are finally headed back to our favorite place in the sun. This will be a very different trip from all the others my husband and I have taken, we are bringing our 3 year old souvenir from our last trip with us for his first SXM trip.

Normally we bask in the sun like lizards, doing very little and eating long multi course dinners most nights.

As the little guy does not have the attention span for that, we are looking for some very casual recommendations for dinner spots. We are familiar with the lolos, but I have a feeling there are many new places since our last trip 4 years ago.

As usual, we will be staying in Grand Case. Only 11 nights this time.

Also if anyone has used any on island nannies or babysitting services, your input would also be appreciated.

We will be headed down May 8th-19th. Any insight to travelling with a little one will be much appreciated.

Thanks! Liz

St. Maarten is great with kids. We have been taking our son every year since he was 1. I highly recommend Galion beach. No waves water is very shallow, lots of other kids. Trust me will be one of your most relaxing times on island, you will actually get to sit for more than 15 minutes. The restaurants on Simpson bay are great for kids, a lot on water with docks so the kid can be entertained by fish an boats during dinner. We have always taken our son with us to nicer restaurants but he was always good in restaurants. The other thing is he usually would fall asleep on the way there after a long day so we would drape him over two chairs and he would sleep while we ate. We usually skip orient, water can be too rough for a 3year old and I don't want to stress that the goofball is going near the water. Not a relaxing day for mr personally. That's why love Galion, he can wander and I can chill. Plus you pass the butterfly farm on the way in.

Not new but casual, good food and lovely owner I would recommend Enold's Caribbean Creole on the waterside in Grand Case.

Have been to Rainbow (which has its own parking lot) next door to Enold's. Would like to try Enold's, but was wondering where it is the best to park. Thanks.

As to nanny/babysitter. We use a friend of ours worker from one of his stores. Added plus, she has a kid who should be about 1.5 now so they can play. I will get you her name and number if you want

Thanks Fabila and Dansc! My son is good in restaurants, but he can't do the 3 hour dinners that my husband and I used to do in SXM.

I would love the info for your friend, please pm me. Thank you!

I have heard good things about Enolds, we will definitely check it out.

Keep the suggestions coming!

Thanks, Liz

It turns out it was in my old phone which got destroyed when it tried to take on a car. We are down April 10 to 24 and will get it and send it to you. Please remind me though!

The last time we went to St. Maarten we had a 18 month old and a 3 year old. I couldn't agree more with the Galion beach suggestion. It was a hit with the 3 year old. It was nice to feel more comfortable with our kids around the waters edge.

We also hit the butterfly farm as well. This was a good 'get out of the sun' stop for us.

As for food places, we went to Pineapple Pete's and it was perfect for having two young kids.

We are returning to the Island in less than month and this time we are bringing another member of the family. Our kids are now 2,5,6.

Check out Buccaneer Beach Bar...every Friday night is kids night...they set up a movie screen on the beach and have a fireball. Parents can hang out on the deck and keep an eye on their children!!

Calmos Cafe in Grand Case is a great spot with little ones.

agree with Calmos. As long as the water is not too rough we go there at least a few times every year.