Getting ready for your St. Maarten Villa Vacation:

The Villalady's Guide to your Vacation in St. Maarten

Excited and getting ready to go?

What to Bring (and Not to Bring!) to St. Maarten:

Make sure you have your passport in good order for everyone in your party. You will not be allowed to board the plane without a proper passport, this includes expired passports.

You will be allowed one free checked bag on most airlines. There is a $50 fee for overweight bags, but an extra bag is only an additional $25. Always check with your carrier to see if rules have changed. After you pack for your St. Martin vacation, I recommend taking out half of your clothing and leaving it home! You need very little in the way of dress up clothes.

I recommend...

• Shorts,
• T shirts
• Long pants and a collared shirt, for dining out
• bathing suits and cover ups
  

For you guys out there do not even bother bringing a tie and jackets are never required unless you are going to a wedding or church.

Show up at the airport at least 2 hours before flight time. You have to pass through security gates, check in lines, and may have a long walk to your boarding gate (I am neurotic about being there early in case of any problems).

Always have the phone number for the airline you are booked on. If there is a cancellation of a flight, call the airline number immediately and see if they can put you on the next St. Maarten flight. This beats waiting in a long line to get taken care of.

Do NOT buy alcohol at the duty free shop at the airport. Alcohol is very inexpensive on St. Martin Island. It can be cheaper than juice or milk. No need to bring it down with you. You might want to bring several bottles home with you!

Take a sandwich from home or buy something at the airport to eat. You will NOT be served a meal on the plane from the US or Canada. Bring reading materials. The Villalady's St. Maarten vacation villas do come stocked with some books left by previous renters, so we have books for you to borrow and read. Just promise you will leave those you finish at our villa for the next guys.

Keep a copy of the villa address, because you have to fill out a St. Maarten immigration form on the plane that asks that question. Sometimes a cranky immigration person will not let you on the island if you do not know where you are staying.

If your plane is delayed, you should contact the villa or the property manager immediately so the responsible person will not be waiting for you to arrive at the villa all day. Advise the person in charge of the approximate new time you will arrive at the property. We do not want you to arrive at an empty house.
Make sure you take the directions to the St. Maarten villa rental with you. Also take all the arrival instructions you were sent.

St. Maarten Car Rentals

Alpha Car Rental is our top recommended car rental agency. Their rates are fair and the service is excellent. We can reserve a car for you from Alpha. Just request the latest rates from the Villalady. Anyone 18 years or older can rent on their own with a valid driver's license. However, if they have a provisional license they are not eligible. When you sign up for the car rental, tell them if you have any additional drivers. You should pay for the extra driver to avoid a hassle if you get into an accident.

And last of all, go directly to the villa as soon as you get your car rental. A member of the Villalady staff will be at the St. Maarten villa awaiting your arrival.

Welcome to St. Maarten Island! Arrival on the Island

St. Maarten/St. Martin Supermarkets

After you settle in to the St. Maarten villa rental of your choice, open the fridge and have a cold beer or soda. Unpack your clothing and go for a swim in your private pool. You might want to get to a supermarket for some snacks and food to stock in the refrigerator. If you are in Beacon Hill, just go over to the food express at the Sonesta Maho. They have some very nice choices for starter shopping. It is a minute's drive from La Casita or Casa Boco Villa.

If you are staying in the Pelican Cove area, fill up at the Peli Deli at the Pelican Resort or go over the mountain to the Grand Marche where you can find everything you have in your local supermarkets in the states or Canada. You will pass several smaller markets on the way if you need things for an emergency. There is another Grand Marche on the way to Marigot, just before you pass Port de Plaisance. You will also pass several other markets on the way that can provide adequate amounts of food for your vacation. Peli Deli is great for the following locations: Jubelibra, Sera Bella Villa, and L'Horizon.

St. Maarten Dining Secrets

Check your St. Maarten Dining and Shopping Information Sheet from Villalady and think about where you will dine on your first night. Do not venture too far the first night, unless you have been to the island before. Only reason for that is it is better to get to know the roads during the daylight.

If you are staying at one of our Beacon Hill villas, including La Casita and Casa Boco Villa, we suggest you go to the Maho area, home to some of the best restaurants. You can just drive a half-mile to the Maho Casino and a valet will park your car.

Check out the following St. Martin restaurants for a first night meal

• Paris Bistro
• Bajatzu
• Pizza Pasta
• Cheri's
• La Rosa
• Soprano's

We often go to Lal's for our first dinner as it is very informal, and delicious. Lal's is just past the airport:

• It has a small bar and about
• 10 tables and they have
• Some great Indian food
• Very fairly priced.

Or find another that we have not mentioned. There are many to choose from and too many to list! Finish off your first night with a little St. Maarten casino time if you wish. They may even stamp your valet car ticket so you do not have to pay for parking.

If you are staying at one of our Pelican Cove properties, drive out of Pelican Key and take your pick from about 15 different restaurants including:

• Toppers
• SkipJack
• Halseys
• Boathouse
• Pizza Galley
• Lady C (all the ribs you can eat for 11.95)
• Lee's for fresh fish is great and they have music most nights.
  

These are just a few that you can choose from. Even try the local guys at the fish market. They have small restaurants at the market with home cooked local food and great fresh fish. The Market is just over the bridge in Simpson Bay.

On the first day try a nice breakfast out. Zee Best in back of the Scotia bank at the Simpson Bay Yacht Club or at their location in Port de Plaisance is a relaxing and delicious way to start the day. The Hide-a-way at the Atrium resort has a nice Sunday morning breakfast.

On St. Martin's French side in Grand Case, for some great coffee, croissants and bread, try the Portofino. At Dawn Beach go to Busbys and if you want to breakfast at Orient Beach, the best is BayWatch. Tell Andy and Cheryl that Bobby and Marty Valins sent you. Stay to swim and relax for a few hours. Euros??? Here is some information about the exchange rate and some restaurants that try to entice dollars.

In Simpson Bay there is a great bakery opposite the Fed Ex office called La Sucriere. They have great bread, croissants and tidbits. There is a little balcony where you can enjoy a breakfast or a lunch. We go there everyday to pick up our baguettes and croissants.

St Martin Scuba Diving Adventures with Octopus Diving

Voted Tripadvisor.com's #1 St. Martin Attraction!

Reserve your undersea adventure with Octopus Diving, the top PADI scuba diving center on the island.  The Villalady heartily recommends these professionals for both expert and beginner St. Martin diving experiences. Owned and operated by Chris and Sallie Davies, this small dive center is located in Grand Case on the French St. Martin side of the island.

Octopus Diving Voted #1 by Tripadvisor.com Martin attraction out of 81 competing vacation experiences by real island travelers! A full five star rating is based on our amazing customer service and a great value for the money.  These St. Maarten scuba professionals know all the best dive spots and can serve up a new Caribbean adventure among these pristine reefs everyday if you wish!

Octopus Diving Exclusive Services include: Highly experienced diving instructors in the water with guests PADI International Resort and Retail Center status Maximum of 6 divers or snorkelers at a time. Fresh fruit and water provided on the boat. Assistance getting in and out of diving equipment All levels of PADI courses and certifications available. Unique St. Martin diving sites away from the crowds Beautiful new, fast, safe, and shaded dive boat!

Octopus Diving is the best St. Martin scuba and snorkeling value on the island.

Dive Excursion Prices:

Two site snorkel trip - $40
Discover Scuba / resort dive / Bateme - $99
Two tank Scuba dive with all equipment included $99
Two tank scuba dive without equipment $85.
Full day boat charter $700 including Captain, snorkeling gear, fruit and water.
Half day boat charter $350 including Captain, snorkeling gear, fruit and water.

Visa, Mastercard, Paypal and cash in Dollar or Euro are accepted and they don't use a set exchange rate. 

To reserve a space or arrange a charter, simply contact Chris and Sallie Davies at:

Octopus Diving
15 Blvd. de Grand-Case,
St. Martin, FWI, 97150
Tel  00590 590 29 11 27
Cell 00590 690 50 51 33
www.octopusdiving.com
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Voted Tripadvisor.com's #1 thing to do in St. Martin, according to real visitors!

Tell them Roberta Valins, the Villalady sent you!

The Best St. Maarten Beaches

So what beach do you want to go to today? You do have a choice of about 30 on the island! So if you want to meander through to the St. Martin French side, we love the following beaches. All have chaises to rent that can come with umbrellas. They are not expensive and usually come with a drink for the rental.

French Side St. Martin Beaches

The People's favorite is Orient Beach where restaurants abound. It can get crowded there as it is a big St. Martin attraction and buses from the cruise ships drop people off to spend a few hours swimming. This is a “nood&rdquo" beach in some parts so do not be surprised at what you might see!

Good places for lunch on Orient Beach, St. Martin: Most restaurants there charge in Euros so prices can be a bit high. There are many to choose from. At one end of the beach is Boo Boo Jam which has Creole food and French beach bars. Restaurants are to be found up and down the beach along with Andy's Baywatch for hamburgers and other good American type food. At the other end of the beach is the Club Orient resort which is all “Nood”.
Watching them play volleyball is an event! In between are many restaurants that serve drinks and lunch. Check them all out.

Look for a sign that says Butterfly Farm. This road takes you to a quieter beach called Le Galion. The road is the same as the Butterfly Farm and it might say Club Orient also. Patrick Turner has a small restaurant there along with St. Martin water sports activities. This is a nice beach for small children as it tends to be calmer than Orient. The road is an abomination but I hear they are repairing it for this season. In fact, I heard it was already graded. Try to visit the butterfly farm. It is on the same road to Le Galion Beach.

Go early because it is cooler and the butterflies are emerging from their chrysalises. Ask for a guide to show you around. Ours was full of information pointing out various butterflies, their habitats and egg deposits. This is a must for any nature lover or family with children. Also, saw a hummingbird nest for the first time!

One day try Friars Bay which is also on the French side as you leave Marigot and head towards Grand Case. Maybe you can get your bearings if you study it at the beginning of the day.

Grand Case Beach is nice and calm and if you have a lunch at the Sunset Café at the Grand Case Beach Club, you can have a chaise and enjoy “Petit Plage” on the other side of Grand Case Beach.

Here is a map of all of the St. Martin beaches on the island:

Dutch Side St. Maarten Beaches

Dutch beaches are great also. You must try Mullet Bay, Cupecoy Beach, Maho Beach, Great Bay, Dawn Beach, my favorites on the Dutch side. All have public access and parking. Just be careful and do not leave any valuables in the car when you go for a swim or an afternoon. Several of our St. Maarten vacation rentals, such as Casa Boco and Sera Bella, are just moments from these great beaches.

Great St. Martin Shopping

Day three can include a little St. Maarten shopping in the morning in Marigot or Phillipsburg. Check your prices at home for any electronics that you might be interested in. Then shop around in the stores on Front Street. You can bargain, especially if you know the price online or at home. You will save taxes as St. Maarten is a free port. Make sure that you are not charged the 3% turnover tax. It is supposed to be included in the price of what you buy.

Slow days in Phillipsburg are Saturday when there are few if any ships in. It is nice to have lunch in town and do take a walk on the boardwalk. T shirts stores, electronic stores and jewelry stores abound in Philipsburg and you can have a grand time just window shopping.

If you go to Philipsburg late in the afternoon, stay and have dinner at L'Escargot. It is one of the oldest restaurants on the island and has many of the original French favorites. Antoines is also a lovely spot for lunch or dinner.

If you want to go food shopping at Grand Marche on Bush Road, there is a nice restaurant to try for lunch. While it is in the parking lot of the Grand Marche, it has been around forever and is popular with St. Maarten locals as well as tourists. It is called Mark's Place.

Here are the locations of the three Grand Marche food markets on St. Maarten/St. Martin Island:

Bush Road Supermarket
Phone : 599-5424400
Fax : 599-5424401

Cole bay Supermarket
Phone : 599-5443118
Fax : 599-5443159

Simpson Bay
Phone : 599-5453055
Fax : 599-5453056

ATM

Learn how to use them and be careful. You will get dollars on the Dutch side and euros on the French side. I do not use them and often bring good old fashioned

Traveler's Checks

What kind of traveler's checks to buy?
When purchasing traveler's checks or traveler's cheques, stick to major brands like American Express, Barclays, Visa, Citibank, and Thomas Cook.

Buy at least some of the checks in small denominations, for two reasons: St. Maarten shopkeepers may be reluctant to accept large checks for modest purchases, and you'll want to avoid getting stuck with more foreign currency than you need.

If you're traveling with a companion, use dual-signature traveler's checks such as the American Express "Traveler's Cheques for Two." These are especially handy in emergencies, since either partner can use the checks.

They never expire unless the company goes out of business. So buy what you think you will need and spend the rest when get home from your St. Martin vacation if there is any money left over.

Good Stuff to Know for your St. Maarten Vacation:

Electricity: It is 110 on the Dutch side and usually 220 on the French side. Hotels will offer you a converter. Most of our properties on the French side have 110. Our Grand Case cottage and Oceanside apartments do have American electricity. They are both on the French side.

Public transportation:

Mini vans are the main source of public transportation.

You see them driving along the road and if you hail them they will stop anywhere to pick you up. They do not go into residential areas but stick mainly to the main road of the island. It is cheap and safe but not advisable if you want to tour the island your self at your own speed.

If you are staying in Grand Case at our cottage or at Oceanside apartments, you might be able to get away without a car. I do not advise it but it is doable.

20 Tips & Things to do in St. Maarten

Below is a list of 20 things to do to keep you on the go almost constantly on your St Martin vacation:

• Ask your car rental company for a map of the island.
• Take a ride around the island once. You will get your bearings and be able to plan some wonderful activities once you know how to get there. The island is about 37 square miles. One major road goes around the island. Things and sites veer off this main road and it is hard to get lost.
• We have many recommendations and great deals for numerous activities that you can book before you go. Go to the web site http://caribbean-activities.com/villalady/index.htm
• We recommend some of the daytime St. Maarten fishing charters and day sails around the island. You will get a water view as well as the road tour you took yourself. Show everyone the beautiful property you are staying in as you pass it on your sailboat.
• Take a day sail to St. Bart's. Bring your passport and bring Dramamine. It can be a rough sail. It is a very expensive island, so do not forget your credit card. This is a 15 mile sail on a catamaran.
• Walk around Marigot for some exclusive St. Maarten shopping. Look at Oro de Sol, Cartier, Little Switzerland when you are in town.
• Take the public ferry to Anquilla. Also bring your passport. Anquilla is a flat island with beautiful beaches. A taxi can give you a tour and wait for you as you swim or have lunch at one of their fabulous resorts. It is only 7 miles away from St. Maarten.
• Fly to Saba. It is a flight you will not forget. There is a wonderful hike up to the rain forest. It is a very sleepy island and everyone has the same three last names. There are no beaches but there are good dive places there.
• Spend a day on Pinel Island. Drive to the end of the road in French Cul de Sac and small boats ferry you across to Pinel Island. There is excellent St. Maarten snorkeling and swimming here. If Emile Larmony is your boat guy, tell him Roberta Valins sent you.
• Spend a day at Orient Beach. It is often crowded with tourists so see if you like that. Great St. Martin restaurants and water sports are available there. Buses bring the cruise people here be prepared for lots of gawkers. This is a topless beach to be sure. It used to be nude but the government was cracking down on this. However don't shudder if you neighbor is naked and put away your camera. Just hope they bring a towel when they sit at a restaurant on this St. Martin Beach. At the end of the beach is a naturalist resort where everyone is in the buff.
• The next beach over is called Le Galion. Good for water sports and a nice restaurant. Not nearly as large as Orient but much calmer. Always be careful of rip tides on any beach that you go to. Any beach can be suddenly dangerous.
• Go to the butterfly farm on the same road as Le Galion. Take the kids and go in the morning. See if you can get a guided tour. Take some nice photos of the butterflies and flowers.
• We recommend a lunch at the Lolo Ladies in Grand Case. The ribs are great and so are the sides. There are several “booth” restaurants in the middle of town. You can get lobster, chicken or shrimp. Then go for a swim in this calm quiet beach. It is very relaxing. You will want to return to Grand Case in the evening to sample one of the 30 restaurants that make Grand Case the ‘Gourmet Capital of the Caribbean’.
• Go to the Loterie farm. This spot is on the road to Pic Paradis. Have a great lunch there and take a hike up their mini rain forest. Check out the link and see what they have to offer for a wonderful morning or afternoon. Tell Julie, the wonderful chef, that Roberta Valins sent you.
• Market days are usually Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Locals go to the dock in Marigot and pick up fresh fish and other stuff. There is a crafts market every day at the harbor, as well as a Caribbean food fest where West Indian women in batik dresses and big straw hats sell spices, fruit and other produce and fishermen scale their catches (mostly red snapper) using a broomstick lined with beer bottle caps
• Try a local museum or art gallery. Marigot has one. Musee de Saint-Martin in Marigot (Terres-Basses Rd., 590-29-48-36, Admission: $5), includes displays of the history and culture of the island going back 1,500 years. For those wanting a gander at, and perhaps a purchase of, quality Caribbean art, there's Galerie Lynn (83 Blvd. de Grand Case, 590-87-77-24), Gingerbread Galerie (for Haitian art, Marina Royale, 590-87-73-21). Also stop at the Minguet Gallery on the way to Grand Case from Marigot.
• Buy fruit from a road side stand. They are usually fresh and it is quicker than going in to a super market. There are some special St. Maarten shops for you to find for souvenirs to take home. We recommend you find Danielle in the Belvedere shopping center for lovely fabrics, platters, and other decorating items. Plantation in the Orange Grove shopping center has imports from Thailand and other for eastern countries. Look for a store called J.W Sloane on Welfare road. They have great vases for outdoor use and wonderful paintings that are copies of originals inside. You will be in for a treat. They have some surprises for sale like very fancy beach robes that were identical to those sold at one of the fanciest St. Martin hotels on the island.
• Try a hangout like the Sunset bar at Maho Beach for great hamburgers and drinks and great place to meet people. Locals, students, and tourists all hang out at the Sunset. Always a favorite among the guests that stay at the Villalady's St. Maarten villas.
• Go to town late in the afternoon when the cruise ships have departed. The shops are open until 6:00 pm and you won't feel like you have streaming people all over the streets. We like a little souvenir shop called Rima. Find it on the Pondfill in Philipsburg. Rima is the largest tourist resort wear store on the St. Maarten Island. It is a big yellow building with flags flying from it. Fun store to browse around in. This is a one stop shop for tourists visiting this Island. Local handicrafts, souvenirs, beach garments at wholesale prices. Lots of parking. Open from 9am to 6 pm , MON TO SAT.
• A word of advice. Do not leave valuables in your car or trunk anywhere on the island. Take whatever is important or leave it home. St. Maarten can be a paradise, but you have to be aware or your surroundings and do not do foolish things. Treat your Caribbean vacation villa like your own home. Lock it when you leave for the day and when you go to bed.

A word to the wise: read the local newspaper to see what St. Maarten activities are going on. Thursday is the best day because it has all the coming weekend events but it is an interesting read every day. The one I read is the Daily Herald.

And for Good measure...

EMERGENCY ST. MAARTEN PHONE NUMBERS

• Emergency 911
• Ambulance 542-2111
• Fire 120
• Hospital 543-1111
• Police 542-2222

American Express: lost or stolen card, 336/393-1111 (call collect); lost or stolen cheques or cheque cards, 801/964-6665 (call collect)

Discover Card: 801/902-3100

MasterCard: 636/722-7111 (call collect)

Visa: 410/902-8022 (call collect)

Western Union: DHL Worldwide Express, 00-599/542-3174 (St Maarten; no agents in St Martin)

Enjoy!

Roberta Valins
The Villalady

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