Good choice!
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

We do this every year and just love it! This year it was $78 per person, and we booked it in person at the marina. They generally do save certain days for cruise ship passengers, and when we booked they steered us away from those days so that they would be sure to have enough spaces for those excursions. This time there were three yachts in our race, and it was quite exciting!
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

IMHO Orient has so much more to offer than just its clothing optional experience! The beach itself is absolutely beautiful, and offers an incredibly long area for beach walking. The many bars/restaurants each offer a different atmosphere and food of all varieties. Many different types of water sports are available such as jet skis, catamarans, parasailing, and wind surfing. The actual nude be
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

We rented from Mohamed this April. The car, a Hyundai Getz was small and pretty beaten up, which was fine with us! Small is easier to park, and beaten up is less obviously a rental. It ran just fine, the A/C blasted, and we never had a problem. We have already reserved with him again for our trip in December.
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

I can definitely recommend La Vista. We own at La Vista Beach, and it is a great timeshare. Small, family-owned, and a great location!
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

Check redweek.com or ebay
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

Pat, I sent you a PM.
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

Thanks Anon, for the response. Do you leave a note with the tip, because my experience has been that any money left out will be right where I left it when I return to my room. Or do you just tip on the last day, so they know that's what it is? I personally don't know that I'm going to start this, because I continue to believe I'm paying for their services anyway. Last time
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

I've seen several posts here and on TTOL regarding tipping the maids at the hotels and/or timeshares. I have never tipped a maid anywhere except on a cruise ship, and I've traveled a fair amount. Is this a custom unique to St. Martin, or to timeshares? I've always felt that I have paid for the maid service in the cost for the room.
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

In my mind the restaurant situation hasn't changed that much since you were last there. The one place that I hear a lot about (I have not yet been there), is Tabba Khaddy. It is on the road to Oyster Pond if I'm correct. Spiga is still wonderful, as are Bistrot Caraibes, Le Auberge Gourmand, and Le Cottage.
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

Methinks Tony was kidding....
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

I don't know anything about Karibuni, but Kakao is right on Orient Beach, so if that's where you want to go it would be an excellent place to have lunch. I'll be there two weeks from today!!
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

Thank you Barbara. It's very sad to see such intolerance and negativity here. One of the wonderful things about St. Maarten/St. Martin is its diversity. There's something for everyone here. Grumpy simply said he/she didn't like Orient, and explained why. There's room enough for everyone; please let's be kind.
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

Absolutely! You're in France! The little grocery store right in the village has a reasonable selection of wines.
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

I have been to Kakao. It's on Orient, and quite nice. We had lunch there, and I really enjoyed the Salade Nicoise. I can't remember what my husband had, but I do remember that he enjoyed his meal too. The tables are separated; each table is in its own little gazebo like arrangement. Nice!
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

Excellent suggestion! Great beach, great restaurant. Try the Salade Nicoise.
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

"Road Etiquitte", an interesting term! There are no stop lights or stop signs on the island. (well, maybe a stop sign or two...) It's basically a matter of who gets to the intersection first. Everyone is pretty considerate of others, but occasionally a timid tourist (read me or you!!) will wait for an opening to enter traffic and muck up the whole thing. Just be agressive and c
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

True...I'll be curious to find out if their place was actually finished when they got there. From some of the pics I've seen posted on TTOL, it seems unlikely.
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

LaVista has a very good reputation; very small and family-owned. We bought there last winter, and will be spending our first week there in March.
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

My friends bought a condo there.
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

We have paid by credit card on the French side in restaurants which do not offer the 1 to 1, and have specifically asked if the charges will be made in Euros or dollars. In every case we were charged in dollars so the exchange rate was known before we paid, and we had no currency conversion fee on the credit card. Some credit cards do still charge a "foreign transaction fee", (not a c
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

What he really needs to learn is how not to get drunk. And that's easier said than done.
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

Friends of mine have purchased there and are flying out on the tenth of December (to use frequent flier miles). They are staying somewhere else for three days (so they think) until the can occupy their their condo. Should be interesting!
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

I guess I'm slow. I still don't get it, though I really have tried. Why wouldn't any business shop for their supplies where they could get them at the lowest price? So what difference does it make where a restaurant shops for its supplies? The profit margin is still there, and whether it is charged in euros or dollars, it is still the same percentage of the total. Are you sayi
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

You can get any watersports you desire on Orient Beach. There are also plenty of nice restaurants on the beach for daytime fare. At night for really great dinners go to Grand Case. My favorites there are Spiga, Le Pressior, and La Alabama. All of the restaurants have their menus posted outside, so you can walk up and down the street and decide where to eat. If you go early (6 or 6:30) you ca
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

Wireless internet access.
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

We've been to St. Martin twice and have never had anything stolen from us, nor have we seen the "bushwackers". That said, it pays to be vigilent. Never leave anything in your car, and if you go for a walk on the beach ask your neighbors to keep an eye on your stuff, or carry your valuables with you. Better yet, don't take valuables to the beach.
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

TTOL has live chats occasionally. www.traveltalkonline.com
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

You can't get Maui Jims at a discount anywhere, even in Maui!! My husband bought a pair there a couple of years ago, and they told him the price was never discounted anywhere, except in Maui and then only to Hawaiian residents. But aren't they just the best sunglasses anywhere?! I love mine...have two pairs!
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum

What kind of music do they play? Is it live bands, or a disc jockey?
Forum: The Friendly St.Martin Island Forum