 andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12074
Loc: Philadelphia
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IV: St. Martin has 2 sides- the Time Share side- Dutch- and the nice side- French. La Sammana has always been listed as one of the best- but I have my doubts. I have not stayed there but I have gone to the island so many times and have eaten there that I can give my opinion- it's overpriced and you can get better in Anguilla. There are mixed reviews about La Sammana that I would stay away. Oyster Bay is terrific altho it is technically on the Dutch side; Grand Case Beach Club is not 5 Star but the accomodations are very nice especially the 1 bedroom oceanfront and it has 2 beaches- one hidden from view- where you can get beach drink service; Esplanade has very nice rooms but it is on top of the hill and you have to walk thru the Beach Club to get to the beach. The location in Grand Case is the best because that is where the concentration of fine dining is. Further up the road on the way to Orient Beach is Le Habitation which is on it's own beach- but sometimes is an all inclusive- don't do it on this island- too much good food around. As to Orient Beach it's always crowded in high season but that is part of its charm- naked old coots showing off their shriveled whatever, newly minted implants parading around- it's hysterical- the beach is nice tho. It has the atmosphere of a party all the time- 5 restaurants spaced evenly around the crescent beach and beach chairs and umbrellas to rent. I don't know about low season.
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Andy -
St. Barts- where no day is ever the same and one day is not enough
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DebTor
Reged: 03/26/03
Posts: 1375
Loc: Toronto, Ontario Canada
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I'm so pleased you fell in love with St. Martin. It is one of our favourite vacation spots. We have enjoyed numerous dinners in Marigot and Grand Case that have been over the top. In fact, and I'm being quite honest, I prefer the restaurants in Grand Case to those in St. Barts...
DebTor
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LHouchin
Reged: 05/11/03
Posts: 96
Loc: Tulsa, OK
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The politically correct thing to say is "To each his own", but from my perspective, the statement, "We found the island(SXM)to be every bit as enjoyable as St. Barts" is due a rebuttal. We spent 6 years, 1983-88, vacationing on SXM. Finally, the hassle of fighting the cruise crowds in Philipsburg, the tour buses tying up traffic all over the island, the total commercialization of places like Orient, and the skyrocketing crime rate, drove us to St. Barth's. We have very close friends who have owned a beautiful home on SXM for over 30 years. They spend four to six months on the island each year and are invovlved in the local community. They are appalled at what the government has allowed to happen to the island over the past 15 years. Obviously, as evidenced by all the crowds, there are a great number of people who find SXM attractive. But each time I look across the 18 mile strait from St. Barth's to SXM, I am very glad to be viewing SXM from afar.
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DebTor
Reged: 03/26/03
Posts: 1375
Loc: Toronto, Ontario Canada
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IV, Roger and I are huge fans of Grand Case Beach Club. We love staying there....
DebTor
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Thanks all. I think Orient Beach would be fun for a day or so but it seems to me that some of the other beaches might be more to my taste. Appreciate everyone's input.
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KathyD
Reged: 05/12/03
Posts: 139
Loc: NYC
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Iv as a fellow lover of IDF I will tell you that La Sammanna is an incredible place to stay..I had to stay over in SXM last year on my way out of SBH and even though it was just for a night.. we had a lovely experience . Our room (right on the beach) was just as beautiful as IDF. We had an outdoor "living" area that looked out on the beach that was bigger than my NYC apartment (I do not jest here)..we ordered room service which was very good and also had a fabulous dinner at their restaurant. I was actually quite upset that I had to spend my last night of vacation on SXM and not SBH but after arriving at La Samanna I was happy to experience such a fine hotel...I think you would enjoy a couple of nights there....
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Kathy: Thanks for the input. I may someday try it out. Comparing it to IdF is STRONG praise indeed. Hard to ignore such a glowing report.
If we do stay on SXM in the future, we may give La Samanna a try. Oh, as I understand it, post-Luis, the people who own IdF hired away the former manager of La Samanna, perhaps contributing to a similar aura between the two places?
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EARL
Reged: 06/14/03
Posts: 357
Loc: Tidewater area of Virginia
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IV--
If going to SXM, I highly recommend a villa on the French Side. We stayed at La Samanna a while back and were very disappointed...quite expensive and the room less than we expected. While there we found Green Cay Villas, overlooking Orient Beach...liked it much better--away from the action on Orient; however, within walking distance of the beach and easy driving distance of Grand Case restaurants. We have been to Green Cay 5 times since then. I found IDF on SBH much better than La Samanna on SXM.
Of course, all of this is just my opinion.
EARL
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EARL
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Merci Earl.
Green Cay looks good on the internet! Thanks.
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Kirby
Reged: 01/08/05
Posts: 56
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If you have never stayed in SXM you must at some point. Grand Case has fabulous restaurants. I agree La Samanna is wonderful. IV - maybe you could just stay somewhere in SXM for a few days when you are going to SBH. Of course Andy is right about the dutch side. The problem I guess about SXM are the cruise ships. Last time we were there we made the mistake of going to Pinel Island and there were about 200 + cruise ship passengers on this tiny island. So it was really crowded. We did find other beaches that were pretty much deserted which was great!
It was a great trip though. We went to Anguilla, then SXM (French Side) then Nevis.
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andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12074
Loc: Philadelphia
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Since I went there this year, I must add Le Petit Hotel to my list of very favorites places. The rooms are exquisite, it's on the sand at the near side of Grand Case away from all the action so it's quiet and the hotel staff couldn't be more accomodating. I reviewed it on Trip Advisor.
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Andy -
St. Barts- where no day is ever the same and one day is not enough
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Kirby
Reged: 01/08/05
Posts: 56
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Andy - That is where we stayed, it was wonderful. Its so nice being able to walk to all of the Grande Case restaurants. Le tastevin and le cottage are 2 of my favorites.
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