Cheap restaurants for those on a budget?
- Thread starter jgcpalmer
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KevinS
Senior Insider
Pizzas at Hideaway are full-sized pizzas, but they are very thin crust. All pizzas that I've enjoyed on SBH are very thin crust, which is perhaps why I enjoy them. Every one that I've ordered, no mater where, is a 12"-14" pizza. I've never seen Chicago-style pan pizza, and I've never seen a tiny individual pizza.
KevinS
Senior Insider
At La Cantina? Actually, that's exactly what you're looking for - the local scene where the local people who work for a living eat. For a €10 lunch you want to know where the blue collar worker, shop girl, and office worker are all eating lunch if s/he doesn't bring. Many of them will be bilingual, those that aren't will likely speak French instead of Spanish, and a few will speak Portugese. Just like at home, most of them will be nice people, thoroughly immersed in their own lives and issues, and ignoring you and yours. Sit down, order an inexpensive lunch, and enjoy! The people around you will be 90% local, and 10% visitors. On your blowout night, you'll be around 100% visitors.
Just as an FYI, the last time that I had any sort of real issue with a local was with a persistent drunk in '99.
We're looking at the last half of November, probably the week before American Thanksgiving.
Yeah, that sounds really good to us. Although it even makes me more want to brush up on my French.
Sounds good. That's the kind we typically go for around here (in Canada) when we get the chance.
We do like nature walks, but we figured there would be other things. Some things we've looked at (but haven't really looked much into):
Yellow Submarine ride
Underwater walk
Snorkelling (we don't have our own equipment, not sure how much it costs to rent)
Horseback riding
I am still meaning to ask this on another thread (as it's a bit off-topic here), but would love to hear what people think of these things, and what other type of fun, inexpensive things there are to do on the island. Also, eating out at a fancy place once or twice is an excursion to us - it's a fun thing we do for the experience but aren't going to do it every day that we're there.
In general, we're trying to save money because we originally only budgeted for an "all-inclusive" resort, one of those things where you can pay between $2000 and $3000 for two people and flight and accommodation and food and things to do are all included. Well, we fell in love with St Barts, but realized it's more expensive. So we're just trying to keep our costs down and still be able to visit this amazing island.
For some people, vacations like these come every year, sometimes multiple times. For us, this will be the first time we've flown somewhere since our honeymoon 7 years ago. We can't afford to take a lot of trips, and we're just trying to figure out how to get the most bang for our buck with it. And I'm sure I'll be posting on these forums over the next few months trying to sort out how to do just that!
And now you've got me wondering about more, actually, like a hiking guide? We didn't even know there was such a thing - we'd figure we could just do a bit of online research and figure out where we could go hiking that way. Is a guide a good idea?
Bart -my real name-
Senior Insider
Skip the guide and do some research on this site.
There are a couple of nice "hikes" (more like walks) that are fun and don't require a guide. One is to the Washing Machine/Natural Pools and the other is to Colombier Beach (the low route via Flamands). Check the "Timeless Tips" forum for more info.
I like renting snorkling equipment, but it's not the underwater wonderland that you might be picturing. You'll see some fish and may be a turtle but it's not less interesting than you're probably picturing. That being said, next time I go, I'll rent the equipment. It's 37 euro for the week at the Hopika (sp) shop in St. Jean sort of across from Andy's Hideaway.
Back to food - you can get by on the cheap doing meals "the french way" - - a hunk of cheese, a loaf of bread, some fruit, maybe some meat or a spead and wine. Lots of wine! You'll be amazed at how cheap you can get wine there, and if you don't already know it, you'll want to buy some rose. Actually lots of rose.
Also, I'd consider doing your excursion meals at lunch instead of dinner. There are many great places ON the beach or with a nice view that will blow you away in the day time, but at night, not so much. There's nothing like spending the morning getting sun blasted on the beach and then heading to a nice long lunch with a beautiful view and more rose! The restaurant at the hotel I'sle de France is one of these places. It's not cheap, but you can eat on the beach with your feet in the sand, and then after lunch, get one of their super padded lounges (with umbrellas) and spend the rest of the afternoon there. It's free at IDF, but cost 50E at the Sand Bar.
There are a couple of nice "hikes" (more like walks) that are fun and don't require a guide. One is to the Washing Machine/Natural Pools and the other is to Colombier Beach (the low route via Flamands). Check the "Timeless Tips" forum for more info.
I like renting snorkling equipment, but it's not the underwater wonderland that you might be picturing. You'll see some fish and may be a turtle but it's not less interesting than you're probably picturing. That being said, next time I go, I'll rent the equipment. It's 37 euro for the week at the Hopika (sp) shop in St. Jean sort of across from Andy's Hideaway.
Back to food - you can get by on the cheap doing meals "the french way" - - a hunk of cheese, a loaf of bread, some fruit, maybe some meat or a spead and wine. Lots of wine! You'll be amazed at how cheap you can get wine there, and if you don't already know it, you'll want to buy some rose. Actually lots of rose.
Also, I'd consider doing your excursion meals at lunch instead of dinner. There are many great places ON the beach or with a nice view that will blow you away in the day time, but at night, not so much. There's nothing like spending the morning getting sun blasted on the beach and then heading to a nice long lunch with a beautiful view and more rose! The restaurant at the hotel I'sle de France is one of these places. It's not cheap, but you can eat on the beach with your feet in the sand, and then after lunch, get one of their super padded lounges (with umbrellas) and spend the rest of the afternoon there. It's free at IDF, but cost 50E at the Sand Bar.
Thanks for the advice, Bart!
Good to know about the snorkling - glad that we can rent equipment for the week and then go snorkeling at our own convenience. And yeah, I figured it wouldn't be as amazing as some other places, but it will be fun anway. My wife has never been anywhere tropical, and has never been snorkelling, so it will be a new and exciting experience for her, regardless.
I had mentioned our place had a communal fridge before - I emailed the owner, and found out that there is and that I can store a small snack in there, so it sounds like I could store a bit of meat and cheese that we could use for sandwiches, so we can do cheap meals "the french way"
And thanks for the tips about the restaurantsk, and about I'sle de France. Will definitely have to check that place out.
Good to know about the snorkling - glad that we can rent equipment for the week and then go snorkeling at our own convenience. And yeah, I figured it wouldn't be as amazing as some other places, but it will be fun anway. My wife has never been anywhere tropical, and has never been snorkelling, so it will be a new and exciting experience for her, regardless.
I had mentioned our place had a communal fridge before - I emailed the owner, and found out that there is and that I can store a small snack in there, so it sounds like I could store a bit of meat and cheese that we could use for sandwiches, so we can do cheap meals "the french way"
And thanks for the tips about the restaurantsk, and about I'sle de France. Will definitely have to check that place out.
elgreaux
Senior Insider
jgc-I think you'd find the Isle de France very far out of your price range.. you're better off having lunch someplace with the 10 or 12 euros specials then heading to a beach like Saline or Gouverneur with chilled water for the afternoon.. if you eat lunch at the more reasonable places, then cook in at night you can probably stay in your budget... and there is nothing wrong with a locals scene, why would you want to go someplace and only eat with other tourists anyway?
Thanks - I was thinking more about using the lounge chairs and umbrellas, but I guess that's probably only free if you buy lunch, ha! And yeah, while we want to wander around the towns and see a good variety of beaches and locales, we're hoping to spend much of the vacation away from the hustle and bustle. Saline was the beach we were intending to spend most of our time at (we're planning on staying at Salines Garden.)
Yes, even for a "fancy" meal, we were thinking more along the lines of the fixed price menu at the Wall House.
marybeth
Senior Insider
Its probably more cost effective to just buy your sandwiches at the bakery anyway. As Kevin notes, the ham and cheese are great but there are other options. They also have take away salads, savory pastries and other treats.
I am not sure you can still horseback ride on the island since the place in Flamands closed. Anyone?
Agree you don't NEED a hiking guide, there is lots of great advice in the Timeless Tips section of the forum on various options. I was just speculating because you mentioned saving money for things to do. Snorkeling is just OK, but if you have never done it that could be fun.
Remember, too, that your trips to different beaches are "excursions" as well. I hope you are renting a car and not just planning to go to Saline. Its lovely but so are many others.
I am not sure you can still horseback ride on the island since the place in Flamands closed. Anyone?
Agree you don't NEED a hiking guide, there is lots of great advice in the Timeless Tips section of the forum on various options. I was just speculating because you mentioned saving money for things to do. Snorkeling is just OK, but if you have never done it that could be fun.
Remember, too, that your trips to different beaches are "excursions" as well. I hope you are renting a car and not just planning to go to Saline. Its lovely but so are many others.
Oh absolutely, I don't think we could do very much without renting a car, and it sounds like driving around the island is an adventure in itself.
