We are planning a 7-day trip for Feb 2009 and are staying at the Royal Island Club la Terrasse. I need help with planning things to do. What are the top 5 things we should make sure we do? Do we absolutely need a car to enjoy the island? Anybody stayed where we're staying? Thanks.

Your place is right in the middle of the Maho area- there's a lot of action- shops, restaurants, beach, pool,casino etc. You would never have to leave this area if you didn't want to. But I always suggest renting a car- at least for a couple of days. The island is small and it's worth it to travel around the island and see other hotels, restaurants and beaches. You need to visit Orient Beach at least once (only the far end is a naturalist resort- the rest is filled with restaurants and water sports- lots of action). Visit nearby Mullet Bay Beach and have some ribs at Rosies's. Go to Pinel Island for a day. Be sure to visit the Marigot market place on Wednesday morning and have some fresh French pastries by the marina area. We've been going there for over 20 years and love every visit.

definitely rent a car although by staying at Le Terrasse, you are in the middle of many thing you can walk to.
One of the places you can walk to is Sunset beach Bar.
http://www.sunsetbeachbar.com/
It's on the other side of the runway from your hotel. A great beach bar and THE place to go to watch the big jets come in low over the beach.
a lot of fun!

definitely rent a car although by staying at Le Terrasse, you are in the middle of many thing you can walk to.
One of the places you can walk to is Sunset beach Bar.
http://www.sunsetbeachbar.com/
It's on the other side of the runway from your hotel. A great beach bar and THE place to go to watch the big jets come in low over the beach.
a lot of fun!
Another fun thing to do is head over to Spinanker's by the bridge in Simpson bay.. gotta drive that one.
In February the big mega yachts are here. Go there at 5:30 PM when the bridge opens to let the big yachts back in to the lagoon.
They are magnificent to watch and it's a great happy hour place.

Favorite Things Dutch
Sunset Beach Bar
Lee’s Roadside Grill (Right before you get to the bridge)
Favorite Things French
Marigot Market (get some jerk chicken)
Ferry to Anquilla (right at Marigot market)
Pinel Island
Favorite thing in Between
Layla’s restaurant Nettle Bay (hard to find but stunning)

Thank you, thank you, everybody! Your suggestions will help us plan how to use our time. This will be our first time to stay on the island--stopped on a cruise ship years ago. The island had been recently devastated by a hurricane at that time.

We just got back from St. Marten and I am still working on my trip report... but yes, I think a car is a must at least for part of your trip. One place not mentioned that I thought was a beautiful oasis is Loterie Farm - it's a beautiful setting and has a Fly Zone (zip lines!) and a great restaurant. We didn't do it, but have heard great things about the 12 Metre Challenge ("racing" on America's Cup Yachts) http://www.12metre.com/. Enjoy!

One of my favs is to day trip to Anguilla-for a completely different experience. You take a 20 minute ferry from Marigot-at Anguilla, take a taxi to Uncle Ernies. You will fall madly in love with this beach (Shoal Bay) one of the most gorgeous in the world.

Another evening, it's fun to watch the planes land at Sunset Bar, and it's a fun place to watch sunset and listen to bands.

Bamboo Bernie's is a cool place to hang at night.

1. Go to Orient Beach for the day. They have fun beach bars there. Rent chairs from one of them, have a few drinks and watch the world go by.

2. Eat dinner at Grand Case. You can splurge and dine in a four star French restaurant or you can eat in one of the lolo's and have a very tasty meal for much less. Either way you'll get great food.

3. Go over to Pinel Island and spend a day on the beach there. The water is so calm and it is relaxing.

4. Go to the Red Piano Bar in the Simpson Bay area near the Pelican resort and sing your heart out. Take a cab back so no one has to drive - LOL!

5. Make reservations for your next trip back because you'll be hooked.