I.I. resorts in St. Maarten/St. Martin

[morgancita Member Find all posts View Profile Close morgancita]

Has anyone used an I.I. resort on the island of St. Maarten/St. Martin? We're thinking possible honeymoon spot. Right now there's something we can get at the Pelican Resort Club, anyone familiar with it? Please let me know of any places you'd recommend avoiding, or places you love!

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

II has a number of timeshares that are "gold crown" status, on St Maarten.

The Pelican Marina Residences, in Simpson Bay is one of them. However, Pelican Resort Club in Philipsburg, is not. Do not confuse the two.

Since it is your honeymoon, it would nice to stay in gold crown resort, if possible. The Royal Islander Club La Plage, Maho Bay, Oyster Bay Beach Resort, Oyster Pond, and Royal Palm Beach Resort, Simpson Bay, are also gold crown resorts.


Location in St Maarten should also be considered. Maho, and Simpson Bay would be my top two locations.

Good luck!!!

[brother coony Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close brother coony]

Oyster Bay Beach Resort is my pick, BUT room should be on Marina side,overlooking the harbor, Dawn beach is nice and not as croweded,as the other resort beaches
Congrats.

[jfitz Member Find all posts View Profile Close jfitz]

The various areas of St. Maarten are quite different so the resort you choose should be based more on your interests rather than the accommodations. None of the timeshares, with the exception of the brand new partially completed Pelican Marina Residences, are above average in quality. Most are in various stages of refurbishment so rooms can vary considerably within the same resort.

The Maho area is close to the airport, a few restaurants, a strip of shops, and nightlife including the dance clubs, a casino, and bars with live bands on some days. The Royal Islander Club LaPlage is on the beach and the described features are on its doorstep.

The Simpson Bay area has a large variety of restaurants to suit every taste and pocketbook. Plenty of bars with live music, several casinos, a movie theatre and a miniature golf course. Watercraft and cruises can be had at several spots including the Marina adjacent to the two Pelican resorts. Your choices here are the new and very nice Pelican Marina Residences, the Pelican Resort Club and the Sunterra Royal Palm Beach Resort.

The Oyster Bay area is off the beaten path but on one of my favorite beaches, Dawn Beach. Oyster Bay Beach Resort is adjacent to Dawn Beach. The nearby Westin has a Casino and there are a few restaurants nearby. It is the closest II timeshare to Orient Beach and the farthest from the nightlife of Maho/Simpson Bay. If you decide on Oyster Bay, try to get a room with a view of Oyster Pond as Brother Coony suggests.

The Philpsburg area has all the duty free shops you would want to see in a lifetime as well as restaurants, bars and Casinos. For the most part, during the week Philpsburg rolls up the sidewalks by 6PM. Divi Little Bay Beach Resort is on the outskirts of Philpsburg on its own beach. The St. Maarten Sea Palace is on the beach in the center of the shopping district. I have never been inside the Sea Palace but it does not impress from the outside. I often wonder where, if anywhere, you park your car.

The only rooms I would recommend avoiding, and only because they are small and totally without a view, are the sleep two studios at the Pelican Resort. The sleep four studios are an entirely different animal.

Congrats and many years of happiness.

[clarebear63 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close clarebear63]

st martin

my husband and I stayed at the royal islander club laplage for our honeymoon and it was very, very, nice all rooms are ocean view. The rooms are very clean, staff was very friendly and attentive. Everything was in walking distance. Food store was across the street, restaurants, spa services,casino and entertainment.

We rented a car for the week and should have just rented one by the day at the front desk of resort, we rarely used it and had to park it in an underground garage across the street.

The only drawback was the planes landing very close to the resort but after a couple of days you kind of forgot about it.

We are going back this august but could only get the pelican resort it doesn't look that updated so we are a little worried comparing it to the royal islander club laplage.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Oyster Bay Beach Resort is my pick, BUT room should be on Marina side,overlooking the harbor, Dawn beach is nice and not as crowded,as the other resort beaches
Congrats.

Sent mom and dad here a few years ago and they just loved it - they did not rent a car and were able to have a good time doing various trips run by the resort and they went in May which would be considered off season.
I mention that because even though it WAS off season, there still was lots of activities/things to do.
For people NOT in their 70's I would recommend a rental car to really see the various parts of the island. I have only visited on a cruise but it is on my 'one day soon' list of places to visit.