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Super Markets:
Those on the Dutch side are a bit less
expensive. We go to the big one you pass on the way from the airport
to Hope Cottage at the second round about, the GRAND MARCHE. Do not
let the prices scare you, they are in Guilders.
While the super markets on the French side
tend to have more interesting selections, they are more expensive. We go to Match in Marigot. Buy the island rum punch here as the price is right.
Drive to Marigot via Grand Case. Go straight on over the round about
entering Marigot and you will come to a shopping complex on your
left. Turn in at the second turning and park…good luck finding a
place to park. You will need a one Euro coin for a trolley, but you
get it back when you return the trolley. They will sell you a coin
in the market. There are a lot of nice family bakeries, one
at the Frigate, just a short drive from us.
Beaches:
There are
descriptions and directions to all the beaches in some of the
guides. All beaches are topless.
We like
Dawn Beach especially as it is just below us. One section is
reached by taking the road to Oyster Bay Resort. The other section
is reached by going past the turning to Oyster Bay Resort, climbing
the hill and turning left at the bottom. Follow the signs to
Scavengers. This one is much less crowded and the beer and food is
cheaper. Good burgers.
We both like Friars Bay as it has
nice beach bars/restaurants. We prefer Cali’s. From Grand Case, go
straight on where the road turns sharp left and climbs a hill just
before Marigot. Follow the road and you will end up on Friars Bay
beach.
Orient Bay is
popular but it is crowded. It is clothing optional on the southern
end
as there is a nudist camp there. Very commercial, very French. Not
our cup of tea!
Restaurants:
For great ribs, a must are the shacks on the
square in Grand Case. We go there the first night we are on St.
Maarten. We prefer Talk of the Town and as it is usually the most
crowded, others must as well. If you want lobster, it is not much
more expensive just down the street in Bistrot Caraibes, one of our
favorites, and it is far better prepared.
The Frigate is a nice, inexpensive, little
restaurant below Hope Cottage just past the turning to Captain
Olivers. We frequent it a lot for everything from pizza to a simple
steak, salad and pommes frites. The daily specials are also very
good.
Captain Olivers is sign-posted from almost
everywhere on the island so follow their signs if you get lost on
the way to Hope Cottage. We no longer recommend Captain Olivers as
it is over-priced and has gone downhill over the years since its
peak when it was very good.
We often eat at a very nice restaurant in
Marigot with a mainly French clientele. It is unassuming but the
food is very good and you don’t have to pay for decor or pink
tablecloths. Sorry, but you have to book Hope Villa to learn about
this one.
For an oriental flavor, we recommend the
Bombay Brasserie in Grand Case for superb Indian cuisine and the Mai
in Marigot for Vietnamese cuisine in a romantic setting.
Also in Marigot is the Saint Severen. We
highly recommend it for a true French atmosphere and good cooking.
There is an even better atmosphere at lunch with great daily
specials but it is very crowded with French storeowners and the
like.
Our latest find is Lottery Farm...absolutely
fantastic with moderate prices. We have not eaten there in the
evening but a great place for a two-hour French lunch. Follow the
road out of Grand Case in the direction of Marigot. When you go up a
hill, look for the signs to Pic Paradise on your left. Take that and
there is a marked turning to the right for Lottery Farm.
Restaurant Tips:
Menus and prices are
posted outside all French Restaurants. On the French side, the prices always included
service unless posted on the menu. If you want, just
round the bill up and leave a bit of change. Some restaurants
will give you a 1:1 exchange rate for cash and this will be posted
outside. Always avoid restaurants with pink tablecloths…very
expensive!!! The French start arriving about 8:30 while Americans
eat about 6:30. Don’t expect to eat late at good restaurants without
reservations.
Night Life:Better on the Dutch side. Bars are
not our scene so you are on your own although our younger friends
recommend the Greenhouse in Philipsburg, the Boathouse by the bridge
coming from the airport and Sherries in Maho. They are lively
and they all serve
reasonably priced American style food.
The Casinos are on the Dutch side as
well. The Dolphin Casino in Maho is good.
When to go:
This is a
good question as most people go to the Caribbean during the High
Season when it is cold and horrible in the Northeast and Midwest.
They are going to get away from something. So far, we have been
there every month except October when we have commitments here in
the U.S. and we have not found a period that we didn’t like.
Personally, we feel that the
Caribbean is a most underrated Summer holiday destination. There are
fewer tourists, the roads are less crowded and you can get into the
more ‘popular’ restaurants. We sleep with just a sheet and the
louvered windows open. If the wind shifts to the southeast, we may
turn on the air conditioning in the evening when we go to bed.
The tourist bureau says that it
is about 3 degrees warmer in the summer. This is true but they
neglect to mention that the summer winds are not as strong and this
makes a big difference in the sheltered parts of the island which
can be uncomfortable. Hope Cottage is on a hill overlooking
the Atlantic Ocean and the trade winds make it very comfortable.
We joke that there is nothing between us and Africa.
Hurricanes:Traditionally, the hurricane season
is mid-June to mid-November but probably most likely mid-July to
mid-October. However, it has been three years since the island had a
hurricane. Remember, they are not always centered over the island
and then the consequences less severe. While we have taken and will
continue to take four-week vacations in the months of July, August
or September, we can understand that the average holiday-maker would
rather not have to sit out a hurricane. For this reason, we offer a
price break at Hope Villa during this period and we do offer another stay at no charge if a hurricane
hits Sint Maarten during your stay. |
