Lucy,
We own at The Towers and it's my trip report John was referencing. Thank you for your kind words, Vicki.
The Towers is most definitely quiet but in a pleasant kind of way. If you want to enjoy the pool with a good book, or your balcony for a pleasant nap, this is definitely a good place to do it. And obviously, regarding those balconies, the higher you go the better the view and the more pleasant they become with the breezes, etc.
And when I say the rooms could use an up-date, it's not that they're bad, they're just not pristine and new. The drapes and spreads are changed routinely though you might not believe it because they fade so fast in the constant sun and the furnishings takes a tremendous amount of abuse and misuse from folks who sadly, often view them as not their own so with less inclination to treat them as they would their own livingroom sofas, etc, if you get my drift. You have to understand the financials of the property to get the whole thing, and as a one-time vacationer here, you really don't need to hear all that!
About the rowdiest it ever gets is around happy hour
if there's anyone out at the bar, and
if they're doing bingo with drinks. I know that sounds a little hokie but we joined in in April and it was a pleasant way to mingle with the other guests. There may or may not be a manager's coctail party on Monday or Tuesday evening - it will be posted in the lobby and if you're a relative newcomer to The Towers and/or St. Maarten/St. Martin, you really should plan on attending the orientation coffee at the pool on Monday morning. Aside from the good island information they have, they also give away some great gifts and discounted trips, etc. Terri can answer any questions and concerns you might have plus book any trips you might be interested in.
Fresh pool/beach towels are available daily on the pool deck between about 9ish and 4ish. You can sign them out at the beginning of your trip and exchange them daily for fresh ones, but whatever you do, remember to turn them in, either daily or on Friday before they close, and get your receipt back. If not, you will be charged $50. per towel.
Chaise lounges are available free to Towers guests at Mullet Beach but they are not the chairs you'll see set up each morning. You have to locate the chair man (usually somewhere in the vacinity of Rosie's) and he'll get them for you and of course, tips are always appreciated.
You absolutely must have a car if you're staying at The Towers (and yes, there's plenty of free parking there) since there are
no restaurants or shops at the facility and beyond being able to prepay the night before and have fresh pastries left first thing every morning at the front desk, there are absolutely no restaurants here. The girls at the bar
may sell sandwiches and fries but that depends on who's working and who shopped and a lot of other silly things so you really can't even depend on lunches but they're very good when they have them!
I don't know what you would consider 'returning late at night' but we're out and about almost every evening - occasionally to the French side and all over the Dutch side - and we've never experienced any difficulties driving through here or driving home after an evening where-ever.
That said, at night once I've left The Towers driveway and hit the main roads, I would drive through the area with my windows up and doors locked (but I do that anywhere on the island and during the day, too, since we usually have the a/c on....) and I wouldn't stop for anyone for any reason and particularly not if someone tried to flag me down. But again, sadly, this is my approach to traveling anywhere on the island over the past few years and while we've never had any problems beyond a car break in at a beach parking lot, I don't want to tempt fate. BTW, my definition of late is that we're generally back in our room every evening by 11:00ish so to me, anything after that would probably be 'late' in my book. Aside from the fact we're getting 'older', we're early risers and after a long day on the beach we generally can't stay awake much beyond that!!
And I absolutely would not walk through this area after dark regardless of how tempting a quick walk to the beach might seem.
The laundry works - there are a couple of machines and you have to purchase tokens from the front desk but in all honesty, I've never used it although I know many who do. When we stay for two weeks I use a private laundry service and if I'm there for a week I don't bother giving up beach time for this.
In all honesty, we've been visiting St. Maarten since 1974 every year and if I had to choose between The Towers and your alternate location, I'd take The Towers in a heartbeat, knowing the island and knowing how convenient a location it is.
There's a complete grocery in Maho and another (that I've yet to try since it opened after we came home in April) up the road past the Atlantis Casino in Porto Cupecoy and it's supposed to be very good, too.
The staff at The Towers are very helpful, although seemingly a little aloof to some at first, but if you take the time to exchange pleasantries with them, they'll go way out of their way for you and if you have any issues in the rooms just call and they'll take care of the problems but in island time to the best of their ability. The maids will empty your trash each day and provide fresh towels and face cloths and once during the week they will do a complete freshening of the unit including changing bedlinens. They don't do dishes and they don't make up the beds daily unless you make arrangements for the daily paid service with the front desk.
Your rooms will have all the amenities you could need - lots of towels, hair dryer, tv w/dvd player, stereo, lounge chairs on the balcony and internet service can be rented hourly or weekly for your room for use through the TV. I haven't done this myself but know others who do, and still others you bring laptops and sit on the bench outside the building to pick up Wifi from some other source. And lastly, there are small room safes in each suite. The staff here is extremely honest and that's not really an issue but you should still use them for valuables.
Regular visitors will tell you never leave anything in your car anywhere, not even locked in the trunk out of sight. This is fact and should be listened to, but particularly so at the various beaches all around the island.
If you have any more questions or concerns, please feel free to ask away. We are already anxiously awaiting our next trip back to The Towers in November - it literally is our 'home away from home' and has been ever since it opened. Not the most luxurious but comfortable and immaculately clean so I doubt you'll be sorry with this choice.
Respectfully,
pat
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2010 10:13AM by pat.
