Just back: Not sure why so many on this board put it down-Part.1
 

Just back from a week at Grand Case Beach Club. Instead of posting what we did each day (we did a lot) I’ll put everything in categories. This was the 8th island Ive been too and it was beautiful, much prettier than st. thomas though it reminded me more of this island than any other. I mean its no bermuda but I’ve been to much worse places (like jamaica). We had no prob. w. crime, not sure if that was luck or the norm.<BR><BR>Hotel – highly recommend. We were upgraded from a 1 to a 2 bedroom gardenview on arrival and I loved how much space we had (including 3 terraces. We could see the water from one of them). Pierre the water sports guy is very nice as were the men who man the desk at night. The women are more ‘business like and curt. The security guard even walked us to a nearby restaurant our first night bc we were a little skittish. Not sure why people bitch about the beaches. They were plenty big for me and I liked the choice b/t the busier one and the quieter, more shaded one. Also it was great being able to walk to dinner though I’d avoid Fri and Sat nights. The road is narrow (one car only can pass at a time) and when you add throngs of people and cars parked on the roadside its just too big a pain (literally as my friend was hit by a rearview mirror of a car that decided to pull off where she was walking. Luckily only her hand was injured). It feels a bit creepy for the short ways until the first restaurant but we survived. You CANNOT walk to restaurants via the beach despite what I was told on another forum. Manager’s cocktail party had good hors d’s.<BR><BR>Grand Case does look kind of scuzzy by DAY but at night restaurant row is very quaint, I thought. Overall I didn’t see the poverty or run down areas that I saw in St. Thomas.<BR><BR>My complaints:<BR>- extremely rude wait staff at sunset caf&eacute; and lousy basket of bread for continental bfast<BR>- very low ceilings in parts of the upstairs (hit my head twice) lol<BR>- we had no water for 30 minutes 2 different days<BR>- no tv for the same amt of time<BR>- kitchen wasn’t great; fridge was full size but had no shelf space, frying pan wasn’t non stick and we didn’t get dish soap till our third day<BR>- odd sewage-like smell in our upstairs bathroom. We also smelled this on prickley pear. I have no clue but it seemed to get worse when we ran the water (?) Not unbearable but still….<BR><BR>Restaurants<BR>Sunset Caf&eacute; – very good food at dinner despite rudeness (we were told ‘I couldn’t carry all the plates’ when asking why a couple who came in 20 min after us was served first). Major attitude, but amazing locale right on the water.<BR><BR>Spiga- very good food, reasonable (appetizer portion of pasta was enough for me and cost $13). Short walk from hotel.<BR><BR>L’Pressior – beautiful inside but horribly slow service, small portions, not so great taste wise and the waiters had foul body odor that didn’t help my appetite. <BR><BR>California – pizza for one $7; oceanfront dining, okay d&eacute;cor, very loud and busy and when we were there people were smoking cigars. Not a ‘romantic’ place. More like a pizza hut on the water. Cute shop at the front where you can buy decorative things and incense.<BR><BR>

Not familiar. What island is this?

Molly must be referring to St. Martin. Yes it is a nice island, going back there this summer for the 6th time or so. Grand Case Beach Club is located in the village of Grand Case on the Northern Coast of St. Martin. I agree that it would have been convenient if she had mentioned the island....

It's St. Martin because this trip report is also on TTOL. I have been to over 15 islands in the caribbean and just recently spent two separate weeks in St. Martin this past year and loved it. To each his own. I prefer staying on the Dutch side but both flavors of the island are interesting and I had no problems with Crime. The island was lush and people were friendly. Tons of Happy Hours and pretty beaches. Food can be very reasonable or you can spend a fortune in Grand Case if you want. Without big wine expenses we didn't find Grand Case much more than any other good restaurant in the States or anywhere else in the Caribbean. The cocktails were certainly much cheaper in St. Martin than in St. John's, USVI or Aruba. <BR><BR>I would return.

nice report, molly. Glad you posted it but don't assume there are many on this board who put down St. Martin. Maybe some since it's not for everyone but maybe it's the same one or two posters that like to hear themselves talk who are doing all the bashing.