TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Grand case or Oyster Pond

We have some time (a couple of hours) between our flight arrival and our ferry departure to St. Bart's which leaves from Oyster Pond. I am deciding if we should go to Grand Case and have lunch and let the kids take a dip in the water and then head over to the marina or should we just go straight to the marina, have lunch and wait there. Are there any kind of shops to browse or places for the kids to wander? I am very familiar with GC but not at all with Oyster Pond marina so any thoughts are appreciated.

Children might enjoy Grand Case more than Oyster Pond as there is not a lot to do for children in OP. Another suggestion is Le Galion for lunch and a great swim area for children.
Bob

Regardless of amenities, with only two hours, I think you would be pushing it to try to eat in GC and then get to OP, all within a two-hour period. Lunch itself can take 2 hours!

Give Mr. Busby's on Dawn Beach a try for lunch and you have the beach right in front of you and you're only a 5 minute ride to the ferry at Captain Olivers. Dawn Beach is generally very nice, seaweed has been an on and off problem this year, and it keeps you close to your destination. Otherwise you have a couple of choices at Captain Olivers but it does get really warm at lunch in the dock area.

We hopefully will have more like 3.5 hours depending on what time we get out of the airport, so we are playing it by ear. Dawn Beach is a great suggestion. I haven't been there in years. Thanks

One more question... is there any place in walking distance to Mr. Busby's to pick up wine, water, rum before we board the ferry? I know there is something near the marina but is there a place near Mr. Busby's too? I don't need the best place or the cheapest place, just the most convenient place since we have limited time. Thanks again

There is a small store close to Busby's with water and wine, and probably rum.

But you should understand, that the ferry stop is on the other side of the pond from where Busby's and Dawn Beach are. The ferry stop is in the Captain Oliver's marina.

Thanks. Yes, I know the ferry is on the other side, We will take a taxi over there

I agree with Mr. Busby's the staff is also very friendly.

There is a store by the Dinghy Dock resto [at the ferry dock] that sells rum wine etc. Failing that ask your cab driver to stop at Simply of a Grand Marche while you run in and shop.
J&B

You can also have a nice lunch at Quai Ouest if you don't want to worry about crossing Oyster Pond and getting back over.

If they go to Mr. Busby's first then they only have to take a taxi over to Captain Olivers, one way. I suggested Mr. Busby's because they have children and they expressed an interest in taking a dip, you can't get much closer to the beach than Mr. Busby's...Once you get to the marina there is no place other than the pool at Captain Oivers to swim and I doubt that is open to the public.

I would definitly do Busby for lunch, have a dip and relax a bit, specialy with children, and then go to Captain Oliver's Marina to take the ferry...
Just accross from Busby their is a small Mom & Pop store that sells alcohol, wine, food, snacks etc... Now, not sure about the prices (certainly very high regarding the touristy area it is in..) Otherwise you have another liquor store at Captain Oliver's Marina, just next to the Voyager ferry Office. Or third option, you have 3 superettes in Oyster pond, the closest from the Marina would be "Le Pain d'Epice" where you could buy liquor and wine.

Pier Grocer across from Mr. Busby's is somewhat pricey. Since you're going to Captain Oliver's anyway, you may as well pick up what you need on that side. This thread discusses the options some more:

http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/s...part=1&vc=1

Hi All, I just want to say thanks for the Mr. Busby's suggestion, it was perfect! We left the airport and had about 3 hours to spare before the ferry, so off we went to Mr. Busby's. We enjoyed a nice lunch while the kids went in the water. It was exactly what we needed. We did go to Grand Case on the way home. That ferry brought us into Marigot, so we had several hours before our flight and we headed over to Captain Frenchy, where we had been on our last trip to St. Martin and loved it.

Anyway, I will say that after a wonderful weekend on St. Bart's, it was still nice to spend some time (even if just a few hours)at the beginning and end of our trip our trip in St. Martin

Glad to hear everything worked out nicely for you.