TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Grande Marche

We want to go to the Grande Marche that is on the way to Orient Bay and don't know where it is on the map. I was told that there are three of them. Could anyone pinpoint the locations. Any help would be nice. Also where is the new causeway located? I have a nice map of the island, but it was purchased at Rimas before the causeway was put in and I would like to put it on my map. Thanks

The causeway is at the end of the Airport Runway
Go over the causeway stay to your right and the Grande Marche is just past the Casino .
When you are done make a left and you are on your way to Orient.

Le Grande Marche Locations

Paste the addresses in Google Earth and you're there.
On the way to Orient we like to stop at the Le Grande Marche at the Bush Rd. / AJC Brouwer Rd /LB Scott Rd rotary.

By the way Google Earth's Pro version is now a free program from Google.
Get it here: Google Earth Pro

Once installed... you'll get a registration screen...

If you do not have a key, use your email address and the key GEPFREE to sign in.

Existing license keys have already been extended, so if you already have a license then you can keep using Earth Pro without ever needing to renew again.

WOW - that's sooooo cool. I downloaded and it already has all of my saved locations from regular Google Earth. I use this program all the time - many thanks for the tip.

Modi, we've been to the Cole Bay Grand Marche on Union Rd and were wondering if the Bush Rd Grand Marche is more convenient to Orient Beach?

I guess it could be six of one and half dozen of the other as far as distance goes, but I think traffic on any given day might be the larger factor... We've been in the Union Rd. Cole Bay store only once, and didn't like it as much as the Bush Rd. store. Others in this thread Le Grande Marche felt the same way.

Anyway it may all be moot soon if you are a diehard Le Grande Marche fan... on May 7th the Le Grande Marche Facebook Page posted this:
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Le Grand Marché Group is opening the first Carrefour Market in St. Maarten soon !!! Carrefour Group is the leading retailer in Europe and has 10,100 stores in 34 countries.
Le Grand Marché store in Cole Bay will become a Carrefour Market with 30,000 SQ Ft and 50,000 products references adapting to the multicultural richness of both Dutch and French sides.
Le Grand Marché group always strives to bring THE BEST OF EVERYTHING TO ST. MAARTEN.
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A little discussion of whether this is a good thing or not started here: Carrefour coming!

And charlieh the Google Earth Pro has apparently been FREE since 1/20/2015... I just heard about it yesterday on a Computer oriented Radio Talk Show. It maybe wasn't publicized too well.

Also in regard to the OP's question about the new Simpson Bay Causeway location.
Here's a link to a picture clipped from Google Earth: Simpson Bay Causeway Location


There is even a Simpson Bay Causeway Facebook Page

Any idea when the change from Grand Marche to Carrefore is scheduled to take place?

Thanks to everyone. We haven't rented a car for a for a while and it is a little different riding with someone who knows where things are and driving. The picture Modi gave a link to helps me pencil in the causeway on my map!

If anyone knows, it would probably be Jeannie from ShopandDrop.

Both the Bush Road and Cole Bay Grand Marche's are starting to carry Carrefour products. Find the prices of these products very reasonable.

Here is an interactive map that you can click on and it will show you the location of the Grand Marche:
http://www.mapsxm.com/

Thanks! Now I know were Grande Marche is in Cole Bay. Now since we are contemplating renting a car from Unity - where is that in relation to GM?

Sorry, can't help you as we have never used Unity so I am not sure of their location. We pretty much stick with Thrifty which is located just down below the airport.

Unity is located roughly behind the Pizza Hut in Simpson Bay.

When you leave Unity, just head back towards the airport until you get to the causeway. Cross it and go right at the roundabout.

yes indeed there is a change the carrefour product are already showing up on the shelves there...

It will still carry all american products and as far as what I have been told they are anticipating the full change over to be Ocotber 2015. It will still operate under the grand marche umbrella and you will still see the full set of Grand Marche staff... Think of this as more of a partnership than a full take over.

It is a win/win situation... for those who have been to France you are probably already aware that the courrefour stores carry a full rnge of wonderful products so it is a pleasent change now that both the Americian and French prodcuts will be carried at the same supermarket...

All this is what I have heard so far...

Thanks
Jeannie

Jeannie--just to be clear, are all the Grand Marches going to be re-named as Carrefour? I thought it was just the one store? I understand them carrying the name brand without the store name changing. Just wanted to understand that part of it.

Hope the prices get better.

No Carol as far as I know it i only the cole bay store all others remain as is today

I rent from Unity and they will pick you up at the airport and take u to finish the paperwork, which doesn't take long

OK, thanks. That's what I thought. Although not sure it makes a lot of difference, other than we tourists will get confused as to the names of things! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />