TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Mary’s Boon - Chairs/Umbrellas

How do chairs/umbrellas work for hotel guests?
Assigned?
Do you have to wake up at crack of dawn to reserve or can you sleep in and always get a set as hotel guests?
Do they fill the front row first or put people closer to the water last?
Do they have bar/food service at your chair?
Can we charge everything to our room?
Are they cushioned?
Can you bring your own cooler with water and beer (if we run out of money?)?

Thanks

If you eat there or stay there chairs and umbrellas are yours to enjoy.

You have a pick of chairs. Hotel guests have first preference. Bar and food service on the beach. Yes, you can charge to your room. Pre Irma they did have cushions for hotel guests. Not sure just now. Yes, you can bring a cooler.

Thank you very much.

PelicanPirate, We needed to know these things also, beat us to the punch, thanks!!

Trying to get all the scoop on the Boon I can and no better place than TTOL. Next best thing to being there.

We are booked for January, will be our first time staying there.

I don't really remember cushions when we stayed there in 2017. I do know that some people would "reserve" chairs then go to Karakter for most of the day. There should be a table with chairs in front of your unit which would be just for you. We enjoyed our stay there, unfortunately the unit is no longer there. Not sure if they plan to rebuild or not.

We just got back from 5 wonderful days at Mary's Boon. Beach chairs are not a problem and you will find that Mary's Boon has a lot of sandy beach front, more than even some of the bigger hotels and really never crowded. The Bar and Restaurant side has lots and lots of new chairs and umbrellas and the hotel side for hotel guests was getting more new ones as we were leaving on Friday. They were in the process of putting some new palapa type of sun shades and they have a great staff that will help you with anything you need. No problem bringing a cooler to the beach. The Boon Beach Bar and Restaurant has really great food and service and a bit cheaper and better than Kaarater beach bar next door. The building that was lost after the hurricane is waiting for permits and will ready by early to mid next year. From what I hear it will be 4 one bedroom units of solid concrete. Until then its another big sandy area where you can lay in the sun and relax.

Good to hear. Do the loungers have cushions too?

Forever,

I wish our experience echoed yours. I typically don’t express complaints but ............

We have long loved Mary’s Boon - both the Hotel, the beach there and the restaurant. This trip we were so very disappointed in our one and only dinner there. We’ve stayed there in the past and we generally do several beach days with lunches and at least one or two dinners there every trip because we’ve always enjoyed the spot in every way.

Our waiter was very pleasant (and cute, too.....) and he started off being very attentive but things went down hill in a hurry. We inquired as to how they made their onion soup and were assured it was gratinee with melted cheese and bread on top. When it was served there was almost no cheese and definitely not baked when it was served and it wasn’t as hot as it should have been either, but that was only where the problems began.

It seems they must host a poker night which, had we been made aware of, we would have chosen another night for our dinner. Almost immediately after our soup was served, two gentlemen came in and commandeered the tables immediately across from us and started counting out stacks of poker chips and before we knew it, and before our entrees were served, there were 8 to 10 card players enjoying their game. They were boisterously enjoying their evening, but us? Not so much. It became a bit loud and definitely not the setting we were hoping for.

Our entrees were finally served and DHs steak (ordered med. well....) was served medium raw and my fish was killed. Had the waiter returned in a timely manner to ask how everything was we would have shown him but by the time we were able to get his attention and he finally returned to our table we were done nibbling around the edges of our meal and just wanted to leave.

I know this was certainly never the norm in the past, either as the restaurant directly associated with the Boon or when it was called the Tides, and I hope we just hit one very bad night but I can’t tell you how disappointed we were. Because it has always been so pleasant in our previous trips and because so many have commented about their positive recent experiences, we will probably give it another try next trip but we were terribly disappointed with this dinner. The good news was it was the only negative meal or drinks experience of our entire two week stay.

Hope you didn't tip extra and deducted the SC if any from the bill.

If the sc was included we paid it, but for sure, we did not leave anything additional. He wasn't that cute a waiter and we chose not to be there any longer than we had to that night........

While we did not have dinner at Mary’s Boon, we did thoroughly enjoy our last lunch there while we waited to check-in at the airport.

Conch fritters



Snapper sandwich



Cheeseburger (in paradise) perfectly cooked rare.






My one complaint was cigar smoke coming from the bar area. Why do these men who aren’t allowed by their wives to smoke them at home think it’s wonderful to come to SXM and buy them and smoke them around others who are eating (or breathing!) ??

Pat, it really sounds as if you hit on the wrong night and things were just “off”. I’m sorry you had that experience. I must say though, that you have the patience of a saint….I certainly would not have waited for the waiter….I would be heading towards the kitchen or wait stand to hunt him down! lol

Ooh, that looks good! Similar to what we had in June for lunch. Personally, I wouldn't head to MB for dinner, but the lunch was enjoyable. I would have walked out in Pat's situation though..

I would not go into the kitchen area to complain. No telling what kind of contamination would be on the replacement dinner. Best to just get up, take bill to cashier, explain your situation and tell them your not paying and walk out.

Your "one complaint" about the cigar smoke had merit until you went overboard as so many do when they are offended by an action that doesn't measure up to your personal likes and dislikes.
First, believe it or not some wives are not offended by cigars and actually enjoy smoking them along with their significant others. So, they DO allow it at home.
Second, some bars and restaurants permit smoking for sound profit reasons and therefor they, not the cigar smokers should be your target for a complaint.
Third, when a cigar smoker is on vacation in SXM, that sells Cuban cigars that have been legally unattainable to them for 60+ years in the US, I think he (or she) should be able to enjoy their cigar where and when they like as long as they do not offend others, which means they ask permission by those in the vicinity before lighting up.
Yes, I know we are in that horrible minority but I think it is like any unpopular legal action that brings pleasure to a few people. Cultural changes occur over time. Have patience, you may one day have an unpopular pleasure that needs understanding or tolerance from those that do not indulge in your personal chosen vice.
TG

I too am an avid cigar smoker but I would never light up in a restaurant or public place knowing it could possibly offend another patron or waitstaff. Even taking the time to ask first if it would offend someone doesn't cover the patrons that might enter after you were to light up a stick. I won't even light up on a beach knowing that the smoke would offend someone down wind. Instead I will light up my Cubans in a private place knowing it would not be a problem for others. Now a casino is a whole different set of rules for me. I'll just light it up.

Tom, I made that comment because his wife WAS there and DID make a statement to that effect....as she walked away.

While I understand you may enjoy personally, I have to leave, use my inhaler, and hope not to need a nebulizer once I've been exposed. My vices will never put another in the hospital.

Had a similar problem at Sale e Pepe. The lady immediately behind me lit up and held the cigarette behind her and to her back (so as not to bother her table partner)...this however put it practically under my chair.
I got up and walked around the business next door until she was finished. Not fun to miss enjoying my appetizer.

Any type of smoking in a restaurant is an annoyance and shouldn't be allowed.

The worst place it bothered us was Club O. One guy, day after day would light up and we were downwind. Even those winds cant dilute a potent stogie.

My view is you should smoke what you want to smoke but no one should have to smoke what you smoke.

Leona,

We’ve enjoyed all our meals at Mary’s Boon over all the years we’ve been going to SXM so I know it was simply a bad night but it is a shame to have experienced this at a place we’ve always liked. It would have been so very easy for the waiter to simply say he had a potentially lively group coming in and allow us to make our own decision as to whether we should stay or return another night. I know the quality of the food that night was not the norm based on our own experiences over the years and on the experience of so many others such as yourself who’ve been totally satisfied.

You should have been forewarned of a boisterous group coming in . It would have been your decision to stay or leave.

Pat, there's usually a big sign outside the entrance to MB with any special events going on that day.

I think we are all in agreement that any kind of smoking that offends others is disrespectful. That is why it is banned in most restaurants and public places. I too, will find a spot outside to enjoy my cigar that will not offend, including the beach. My only point was that when I find a suitable place to smoke my cigar I would like to do so without condemnation. Let common sense prevail.

If I knowingly go into a place that allows smoking, then it is up to me to deal with it or not enter BUT, what you described above I do find very offensive and extremely rude. If the person wants to smoke, keep it in front of themselves, don't hold it behind or beside them where it will impact other people.

Many outdoor public places near me have banned smoking or limited the area to where smoking can take place. When one is in another country though, things are different.

Hi, Elaine.

We saw no sign - big, little or otherwise - announcing any function for that evening. Not saying there wasn’t one but if it was there, it was neither large nor prominent, and since the timing of the event was so close to our arrival, the prudent thing for the waiter to do as he was seating us, was simply to ask if we were aware they had something going on soon.

But that was only half the problem. The food was just plain terrible. Neither of us is what you might consider to be a ‘foodie’and we both tend to usually be on the forgiving side but this one meal was terrible in every respect and certainly not up to the level of what one should expect at a restaurant that’s been around as long as Mary’s Boon has been.

As I said, we’ve long been fans of every aspect of the Boon so we will willingly chalk that one evening up as being a total fluke and probably try again next trip. Stuff happens and we recognize that and will overlook our one bad experience.

I have seen the sign that Elaine is talking about, kind of a 'sandwich board' type sign, but truth be told, I personally would have probably ignored it if I was going there for dinner. I'm with you, though, I blame the waiter for not telling you and then also for disappearing. We had a problem with my meal when we went there for lunch, but it was easily remedied once I brought it to their attention. But if you have a problem and no waiter to address it, then it is not possible to fix it.

Does anyone know if Mary's Boon or Karakter's has Wi-Fi?

I know that Mary's Boon does....didn't visit Karakter's this year, but they used to have it up near the bus.

I know Mary's Boon has wifi, but I sometimes had to go to the lobby to get decent reception.

We used the wifi at MB this last May trip. Worked fine.

I had good wifi at Karakter last June.

We have never had a problem. I'd say Marys Boon internet is about as good as anyone for being on a little island. We were just there and they are digging in the road to Marys Boon now installing what they said would be fast fiber optic internet. That is be amazing. Never had a bad meal there but anyone can have a bad or off day. I would say something and if valid I bet they would comp the food. Really great caring hotel staff.

I can see me doing exactly the same thing that Pat did in this circumstance, just pay and get the heck out of dodge! If she could have gotten the waiter's attention to begin with, then I'm sure they would have addressed it. But by that time, I would just want to get out of there and chalk it up to a bad night.

Am sitting in front of our room at Mary’s Boon looking at over 6 busloads in the water and on the beach at Karacter. Six cruise ships in today.
Bob

Wow, I didn't realize they brought busses into Karakter..

That would have to be a site to see with the way parking and turn arounds are.

Agreed. The busses must pull straight in and then back up for a block to get turned around!!

280 tourists there one day last week.