St. Maarten help please

[mrsstreet]

Hi,

We are renting a condo on Simpson Bay in March for ten days with six adults and two young children ages 3 and 6 months. I was curious if anyone could answer the following.

1. Should we rent a car? With two young children, we won't be exploring every day but would like to do a few things in other areas and, of course, eat out. I was reading on trip advisor that you should rent a small car bc the roads are narrow but with 8 people that's not practical. So are taxis a good alternative?

2 . Dining recs? One of my inlaws favorite things about vacations are good meals out. Any price point is fine but the restaurants must allow children, which I think it sounds like most do. We are fine with staying in Simpson Bay Area or heading over to the French side. I think we want to do Grand Case at least once. Anyone know anything about Harmony nights?

3. I read the ferry trips to Anguilla are about twenty minutes but the seas can be a bit rough. Opinions on this with two small children? I have to admit the worrier in me has thought about what would happen if the ferry sank and we have our six month old with us.

I'm scanning old posts and trip advisor threads, too, but thought I would ask specifically about these questions. Thanks!

[Alyssa]

I was there in 2000 so I'm a little out of date, but......


1) I would rent a car.  Driving is a little scary, I will warn you.  We had a couple close calls with people passing and having to dive out of the way.  But it's a large island and you will need to get around by a vehicle.

2) I LOVED Cheri's Cafe. www.cheriscafe.com/
The food was good, it's open air and the nightly entertainment while eating was fun.  It's also a family restaurant.  The French side is known for their food, there are restaurants everywhere.  I don't remember any of their names, only Cheri's.  It's located right by Simpson bay and Mullet Bay.

3) One of the highlights of my trip was taking a trip out to Prickly Pear Cay in Anguilla.  We took a large catamaran out, it was very smooth, they cut through the water nicely.  You can lounge on the netting and there are shaded areas too.  We went with Bluebeard Charters.  They serve you drinks on the boat, play music and when you get out there, you are able to go snorkeling on a reef.  They cook you lunch and you snorkel some more.  By about 3-4pm you head back.  It's a FUN day.
www.bluebeardcharters.com/

[reider19]

I'm a lurker (mostly), but we were there for our honeymoon in 2008 and are considering going back this summer. We stayed on the French side of the island in Grand Case.

1) I would say that you absolutely want to rent a car. It's the easiest way to get around the island. I struggle with generalized anxiety and I didn't find it too overwhelming at all. Driving in Italy was WAY, WAY WORSE. We rented a regular 4 door car.

2) The French side has amazing food, hands down (especially if you like french food). We loved Calmos Cafe for a casual beach bar in the sand experience that I think the kids would like: lecalmoscafe.com/accueil_en.html Spigga had some amazing italian.

3) we stayed in Anguilla for a week over the honeymoon, and the ferry ride was fine. Seriously. Again, I have generalized anxiety, and thus had I been frightened, I would have remembered (like I was for the plane ride from St. Maarten to Puerto Rico on that trip, for example. :::shudder:.

These islands are beautiful and so, so fun. I hope you have a wonderful trip!!

[mrsstreet]

Thank you both for the advice! It sounds like renting a car is the way to go.

[patches31709]

We have been to St Martin 4 times in the last 4 years. We always stay on the French side though, in Grand Case.

1) Definitely rent a car. We usually rent from Hertz, which is right by the airport, because they let you use a gps for free. There are so many amazing beaches on the island that you'll be able to drive to.

2) The Sunset Cafe is the restaurant on the property of the hotel we stay at - the Grand Case Beach Club. It's open to the public, and seriously has the best views and amazing food. Great for lunch but amazing for dinner! In Grand Case I also like La Villa. Le Piment in Orient Bay has awesome crepes. There are also some yummy restaurants on the Bay in Marigot. We went there for the first time last fall and had the best pizza. I'm pretty sure the restaurant was Le Galion.

3) We also used Blackbeard to go to Anguilla, it's a longer ride because you just sort of sail across, but there is a faster ferry, out of Marigot I believe. Your kids might also really like Pinel Island. It's a short very ride across the water to an uninhabited island. There are two restaurants and a really pretty gift shop on the island and that's it. You rent chairs for the day (or you could just bring blankets), and the water is gorgeous and super shallow.

[Moe]

1) You absolutely need to rent a car.  In fact, rent a bus/van.  Taxis are not a good alternative, unless you want to hire a car to drive you around ONE day.  Especially in Simpson Bay.

2) You won't run out of choices near SB.  Also, you're close to Mullet Bay/Maho, so anything will be really good.  And yes, definitely go to Grand Case one night.  NOTE, you'll get sticker shock, it's not going to be cheap.  Also, I always take people to go eat at the Lolos.  Those are the best, but note, these are almost like the shacks with picnic tables and plastic table covers, but that's where you get good home food - johnny cakes, conch and dumplings, fried fish, creole food - delicious!

3) The ferries are SOMETIMES rough during March-May (and it could be random, but most likely in April it's a bit choppy).  Dramamine for the kids?  (Oh, I have no idea what to give infants, but infants take the ferry all the time).

[Deleted]

Don't waste your time eating anything on the Dutch side.  LOL.

[mrsstreet]

Thanks so much for all your help everyone! Great advice.

[thebulldog]

We honeymooned in Anguilla and took a small plane over. There were six of us and it was crazy but so fun.

Sent from my SM-G900P using proboards

[thebulldog]

And prickly pear was really fun...also the beach by Uncle Ernies was my favorite.

Sent from my SM-G900P using proboards

[neonpink]

I was just there in May. I would definitely Rent a car you want to get out and explore other beaches and other parts of the island. I really enjoyed the French side and thought it had a lot more variety than parts of that that side. some of the beaches are also amazing and if you're only in Simpson Bay it'll be easier to see them with a car. Maho beach is fun to watch the planes fly over. Orient bay beach is blue, calm and gorgeous.

I would also take a catamaran tour. I used Bluebeard charters based on a recommendation here. I also gave the charter as a wedding gift to my now BIL .they said it was the favorite part of their honeymoon.

[neonpink]

I was just there in May. I would definitely Rent a car you want to get out and explore other beaches and other parts of the island. I really enjoyed the French side and thought it had a lot more variety than parts of that that side. some of the beaches are also amazing and if you're only in Simpson Bay it'll be easier to see them with a car. Maho beach is fun to watch the planes fly over. Orient bay beach is blue, calm and gorgeous.

I would also take a catamaran tour. I used Bluebeard charters based on a recommendation here. I also gave the charter as a wedding gift to my now BIL .they said it was the favorite part of their honeymoon.

[Moe]

Jan 28, 2015 17:35:17 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

Don't waste your time eating anything on the Dutch side.  LOL.

I beg your pardon!!!

But... Yeah

(though I will say Indonesian and Trini West Indian and Jamaican are best found in the Nederlandse Kant, that said, you have to know where they are (hole in the walls, mostly). 

[Deleted]

Jan 25, 2015 10:37:45 GMT -5 mrsstreet said:

Hi,

We are renting a condo on Simpson Bay in March for ten days with six adults and two young children ages 3 and 6 months. I was curious if anyone could answer the following.

1. Should we rent a car? With two young children, we won't be exploring every day but would like to do a few things in other areas and, of course, eat out. I was reading on trip advisor that you should rent a small car bc the roads are narrow but with 8 people that's not practical. So are taxis a good alternative?

2 . Dining recs? One of my inlaws favorite things about vacations are good meals out. Any price point is fine but the restaurants must allow children, which I think it sounds like most do. We are fine with staying in Simpson Bay Area or heading over to the French side. I think we want to do Grand Case at least once. Anyone know anything about Harmony nights?

3. I read the ferry trips to Anguilla are about twenty minutes but the seas can be a bit rough. Opinions on this with two small children? I have to admit the worrier in me has thought about what would happen if the ferry sank and we have our six month old with us.

I'm scanning old posts and trip advisor threads, too, but thought I would ask specifically about these questions. Thanks!

We went there for our HM in 2010 and we just fell in love and are totally jealous of East Coasters for whom its not as long or expensive a jaunt (we're in Seattle). We stayed at the Grand Case Beach Club on the French side and adored it.

1. We didn't rent a car and just had fun living life on no schedule using their "bus" system but with 6 adults and 2 super littles, I'd probably rent a vehicle. The roads ARE narrow and can get a bit twisty and the other drivers are fearless. (Too bad you can't enjoy the bus system, some of our best stories are from those adventures.)

2. We chose St. Martin in the first place because Grand Case is the culinary capitol of the Caribbean so you need to hit that side at least twice! We didn't have a single bad meal our entire time, the only meh meal was honestly on the Dutch side but with good drinks, who cares! On the French side:

*Le Calmos Cafe is nice and sitting right on the sand is fun.
*Sunset Cafe at the Grand Case Beach club is great for dinner - lovely sunset view of Creole Rock, friendly service, great food. My husband still reminisces about the "coconut rock" desert sometimes.
*Auberge Gourmande - we had a REALLY great, fancy meal there.
*Lolos - these were by far our favorite, on the main drag through Grand Case is a small spot where there are 4 together. We ate at 3 of them and our favorite was the one in the back on the right, though it may have changed hands by now. I'm not much of a pork person but their ribs with garlic butter, we still crave it constantly.

[Moe]

Jan 31, 2015 20:49:06 GMT -5 @ksta said:

Jan 25, 2015 10:37:45 GMT -5 mrsstreet said:

Hi,

We are renting a condo on Simpson Bay in March for ten days with six adults and two young children ages 3 and 6 months. I was curious if anyone could answer the following.

1. Should we rent a car? With two young children, we won't be exploring every day but would like to do a few things in other areas and, of course, eat out. I was reading on trip advisor that you should rent a small car bc the roads are narrow but with 8 people that's not practical. So are taxis a good alternative?

2 . Dining recs? One of my inlaws favorite things about vacations are good meals out. Any price point is fine but the restaurants must allow children, which I think it sounds like most do. We are fine with staying in Simpson Bay Area or heading over to the French side. I think we want to do Grand Case at least once. Anyone know anything about Harmony nights?

3. I read the ferry trips to Anguilla are about twenty minutes but the seas can be a bit rough. Opinions on this with two small children? I have to admit the worrier in me has thought about what would happen if the ferry sank and we have our six month old with us.

I'm scanning old posts and trip advisor threads, too, but thought I would ask specifically about these questions. Thanks!

We went there for our HM in 2010 and we just fell in love and are totally jealous of East Coasters for whom its not as long or expensive a jaunt (we're in Seattle). We stayed at the Grand Case Beach Club on the French side and adored it.

1. We didn't rent a car and just had fun living life on no schedule using their "bus" system but with 6 adults and 2 super littles, I'd probably rent a vehicle. The roads ARE narrow and can get a bit twisty and the other drivers are fearless. (Too bad you can't enjoy the bus system, some of our best stories are from those adventures.)

2. We chose St. Martin in the first place because Grand Case is the culinary capitol of the Caribbean so you need to hit that side at least twice! We didn't have a single bad meal our entire time, the only meh meal was honestly on the Dutch side but with good drinks, who cares! On the French side:

*Le Calmos Cafe is nice and sitting right on the sand is fun.
*Sunset Cafe at the Grand Case Beach club is great for dinner - lovely sunset view of Creole Rock, friendly service, great food. My husband still reminisces about the "coconut rock" desert sometimes.
*Auberge Gourmande - we had a REALLY great, fancy meal there.
*Lolos - these were by far our favorite, on the main drag through Grand Case is a small spot where there are 4 together. We ate at 3 of them and our favorite was the one in the back on the right, though it may have changed hands by now. I'm not much of a pork person but their ribs with garlic butter, we still crave it constantly.

I'm so happy you went to the Lolos!!!!

[Deleted]

There is NOTHING like the LOlos...we ate l ike 2/3 of our meals there XD We tried making the rice at home like theirs with a spice packet we bought at the Marigot market and it didn't taste the same. Honestly, the rum and the lolos are why we want to go back