for those interested in ST. Maaarten

[ClarabelleCow]

As you may know, other than Disney, my vacation love is St. Maarten, well we just returned from 2 weeks there. Here is a report and pictures I posted on another forum

April 2004 Trip Report

This is approximately my 25 trip since 1983, so it may be very mundane, but here goes!

DATES: April 17 – April 30

AIRLINE: American, 667 down 826 back, out of JFK, non-stop great flights, love that 4:18 departure!!

CAR: Kenny’s, no problems, typical white Corolla!

CELL: Brought old Nokia and had Cellular One set it up - no problems

ACCOMMODATIONS: Towers at Mullet Bay, rooms 609 first week and 803 second, hated moving. Couldn't really get settled in. But that was our choosing by coming down a week early this year (yup, one of the draw backs to fixed week timeshares!!)

WHO: Myself, husband, daughter age 11 and son age 4. Plus parents, family friends, and another couple joined us for 4 nights.

BEACHES: Mullet, Friars, and Orient

ATE AT:
Peg Leg - lunch and dinner
Bananas – dinner
Citrus Market – take out lunch
Turtle Pier – breakfast and lunch
Boathouse – dinner
Paris Bistro – dinner
Cheri’s – dinner (I will admit it was fun, just don’t sit up front!!! Way to loud!)
Antoine’s – dinner
La Gondola – dinner
Mario’s Bistro – dinner – my favorite
Lees – dinner
Bikini Beach – lunch
Rosie’s on Mullet – lunch several times, always quick and easy and tasty!!!
SSBB – drinks
Cliffhanger – drinks and a beautiful sunset
Brought ribs back from lolo outside of Lido, great meal, I had already made up some salads
Had Dominos delivered once, for the kids, and grought back KFC once because it was getting late and no one could make a decision!!!

Only went to the Casino twice, was probably up $300.00 for the trip

Private sail on Random Wind was a blast! Would definitely do it again if I had enough people!

Husband signed up for the St. Maarten Open, the charity golf tournament, for $160.00 for 3 rounds, a gift bag, cocktail party, silent auction and lunches, it was a lot of fun and would definitely do it again. The course is brown, but they tried to keep it watered, not much rain while we were down. It’s in its best shape, in ages, but still not close to being what it was. He played a total of 5 times and enjoyed it. Will definitely bring the clubs next year. I enjoyed it too, lots of time hanging out reading at the pool with the kids.

Traffic was awful, especially morning and late afternoon

Tried A&C coconut ice cream and Etna, enjoyed both, but A&C wins in the coconut ice cream contest! also went to Scoops and Haagen Daz.


Lucky Stables - my husband and daughter did a trip out with them, they were the only two with the guide and they loved it. Daughter is a very experienced rider, and my husband thinks he is!! They were given 2 challenging mares and had a blast. They were told an interesting story regarding Cay Bay, that the land is owned by hundres of people that don't even know they own it? And it can only be developed if all parties agree? Maybe Barbara can add to this, or is it just another St. Maarten Myth?

Great trip, already thinking about my fall getaway weekend!!!

Kim
St. maarten photos More photos of St. Maarten

 

[RebeccaLovesDisney]

Thanks for the report! During all your trips to St. Maarten, have you found any good places to snorkel? On our last cruise, we went to Orient beach for the day. The beach was beautiful and we had a great time. The surf was too rough to snorkel though. Just thinking about trying a different beach on our next cruise and would like to find a beach that was better suited to snorkeling.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I have always enjoyed snorkeling around Mullet Bay Beach, as you enter the beach go to the left.

Dawn Beach is supposed to be pretty good also, basically it all depends on the surf, while we were there, one day Mullet was smooth as glass, then 2 day slater it had 2 foot waves?

In 1995 and 1998 huricanes wiped out alot of the reefs, so snorkeling hasn't been very good, but you can at times see some pretty neat little fish!!

Anguilla was always good, especially shoal bay, but I haven't been over in several years.

Kim

 

[logan1_2000]

Also love St. Maarten, we did a week at the Divi in May 2000 and were back on RCI Nordic Empress March 2001 and Disney Magic January 2002. Thanks for the report and the update on the golf. Of your restaurant listings, is any of them a very nice italian restaurant, walking distance from Cheri's, sort of at the opposite end of a retail strip that I can only describe as "behind" the strip that Cheri's is at the end of, if you were approaching from the Main Road (does that make sense--I hope it does)? We went there twice during the Divi week and loved it.



Also want to put in an endorsement for good quality jewelers who are legit, not ripping off tourists and to whom we were sent by long time time share veterans, at Trident and Shivas on either side of front street. We have had great prices, U.S. based appraisals to back up the values we were told we were getting, and have done more business with them by email and phone since then from the States.

By the way, hello to Fairfield County, I'm a Trumbull High grad, class of '82.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

logan - the restaurant you refer to is either LaRosas Too, or Pizza Pasta, probably Larosas, it more upscale, and great food, the original owner Enzo, has left the island about 2 years ago, but the restaurant is great

As for jewelers, my favorite is Caribbean Gems, great to work with, I actually called when I got home because I saw a necklace at the airport that is on my must have list!!! Manu one of the owners, is working on finding me something close and will just send it up to me!!!

Trumbul 82!! to funny, Abbott Tech 86!