TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Thirteen glorious nights!!

Our trip began on Saturday, June 20 with a mid-morning flight. ORD-MIA-SXM on American. No hitches or glitches as both legs left and arrived on time.

Lesley Bruce of Kenny Car Rental was there to meet us in the arrivals hall and after a few minutes we were off to our 2 bedroom unit at Belair Beach Hotel. Lesley had also picked up our phone from Sharon at the Queen of SXM phone rentals. This was our first time at Belair and (depending on availability) won’t be our last. The layout of the unit worked well and it was immaculately clean. Check in was quick and painless. We paid $35 additional for Wi-Fi for the week and that was the only extra charge. Unit 301 is located on the 3rd floor and is at the Divi end of the building.

Thanks to Jeannie of Shop N Drop, we had cold drinks available as soon as we walked into the room. A welcome experience after 12 hours of traveling from the Midwest. We will use her service again. Accurate & thoughtful are the two words that I would use to describe her service.

The view from our balcony that evening and for the rest of our stay was marvelous. That panorama is what really sells the resort and their service really matched the view. The beach was clean and chairs were assigned to each room for the length of your stay. I really liked that policy and hope they continue it. I also liked that they provided bug candles for the balcony. Nice touch and very thoughtful.

We had a couple of meals at the Gingerbread Café on site and they were very acceptable. Most of our breakfasts and lunches were in on our room’s balcony. We did venture out on the rainy Monday and visited Mr. Busby’s for lunch on Dawn Beach. We also had a great lunch at Mark’s Place during the week. We experienced good service and meals at both of them. Dinners were at: Delight (Starz Casino), Pineapple Pete’s, Topper’s, and Bavaria. Portions at Topper’s and Pete’s were so big that we even had leftovers on two evenings for dinner.

Only one beach day this week at Le Galion. Chairs and umbrella for two was $15 USD. We brought a small cooler w/beer and soda but also had a few drinks at Tropical Wave. It was exceptionally windy that day and even this beach had a few small waves. The rest of our days were spent right on the beach at Belair. Smooth entry and no drop off.

Saturday was moving day. We packed up and schlepped our stuff over to La Plage and stored our luggage in the holding room and cold foods in the convenient refrigerator in the same room. While waiting for our room we went to Tortuga for lunch. Service there is always a bit slow, but the food seldom disappoints.

Our room was ready at 1:30 p.m. Sure beats a 4 p.m. check in!! 2nd floor on the hotel side. A great view of the pool, beach, and the airport approaches. Many have complained about the airplane noise and smell at this location but I like watching the planes land more than I dislike the noise and smell.

As in the previous week, most lunches and breakfasts were on our balcony. We did venture out to Zee Best for breakfast and had our last breakfast of the trip at Tortuga.

Dinners were at a variety of places. Rancho Steakhouse in Simpson Bay, Moomba (good enough we went twice) & Bajatsu in Maho Village. The only disappointing meal of the trip was at 3 Amigos. My wife’s meal was good but mine was just not. I complained to our waiter and they took 20% off. That was professional enough that we’ll try it again.

The best experience of the week was a windy day at Nettle Bay. Free chairs and umbrella at Dreams if you stay for lunch. If I could afford it, I’d go to this place every day. Excellent service and food.

We had opted early on in our planning to leave a day early from our week at La Plage. The flights were cheaper and we were able to be home for the July 4th holiday festivities. Off to the airport at 11:30 a.m. to check in and have some lunch before going through security. It sounds a bit stupid but I always look forward to a Burger King meal before we leave the island. We got checked in and had just been seated when the alarms began. All passengers and employees were evacuated from the building. After about 30 minutes, a security person with a bullhorn gave an update. There had been a threat of a bomb on a KLM plane. They were in the process of getting the bomb squad there to sweep the plane and the rest of the airport. He gave us a timeline and they pretty well stuck to it. We spent about 2.5 hours outside waiting and then the fun began as people were allowed back in. A mad dash for security and upstairs to the departure lounge as our 2:50 p.m. flight was boarding & leaving ASAP!! No lunch!! I had just enough time to grab a cold sandwich and get on the plane for Miami.

Miami was, well, Miami. Poor staffing at C & I. It took nearly 90 minutes to get thru and as our arrival was late, a rush to our departure gate for Chicago. We tried to get some dinner but the choices near our gate were just not what we wanted. I had the most disappointing slice of pizza ever from Villa Pizza and tried to get a sandwich from Wendy’s. What a joke that was!! After a 15 minute wait for someone to take my order, (they were too busy talking w/friends) I asked for a cheeseburger, they had no cheese. I asked for mustard on my sandwich, no mustard either. Seriously?? A fast food burger joint in a major airport w/no cheese or mustard?? The plane was delayed a bit so we at least got a chance to have a couple of the $4 sodas sold in the departure shops.

After an uneventful flight, we arrived in Chicago. Upon retrieving our luggage and picking up the car from Avistar, we finally arrived home just after 2 a.m.

I do have to take the time to compliment the SXM Airport security folks. They handled a serious situation with courtesy and professionalism that was admirable. Water and juice were provided to all that wanted them and a bus was called in to provide a cool place for the elderly and those with very small children.

Thanks for the report. Sounds like a relaxing time except for the end! Glad you seemed to take the airport snafu in stride. I wondered whether there was anyplace for people to hang out in the shade there, as I would think that would have been very hot and tiring.

Nice report ! Thanks for sharing.Good to hear that the airport security was kind to all those waiting for clearance.

You said the only extra charge you paid was $35 for WIFI. Was there not the usual energy surcharge? Or was it included in hotel charge ? I'm wondering if they finally stopped that charge. Planning my budget for next trip.

Belair never has had an energy surcharge.

Very, very nice. Thank you for sharing your trip. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Good to know. I remember going to the island before time share and everyone at checkout was complaining about the energy surcharge. First time I thought it was just where were stayed Great Bay Hotel but then next visit at Paasagrahan same charge. The only place I didn't see it was Grand Case Beach Club. I had assumed they incorporated it into the room rate but later someone here told me it was a different power company on the French side.

To the best of my recollection, the only timeshares that don't have a surcharge are The Towers, The Royal Islander la Plage, The Royal Palm, Simpson Bay Resort, The Flamingo, La Vista, and Belair.

Fees upon check out for Belair were the $7 donation to local schools (optional) the $35 wifi fee, and the $50 timeshare tax. At LaPlage it was $6 for schools (optional), $25 for 6 nights parking in the Maho Garage, and $50 timeshare tax. No fees for energy/water at either place.

Thanks for the report-too bad about the trip home but you made it safely so that's what matters.