I am looking for any information which would be helpful for a first time visitor to St.Maarten. Suggestions for restaurants, beaches, day trips, shopping, etc. Also any interesting travel stories about the area would be great! Planning to stay at La Vista and would also love to hear anything about the resort.Thanks!!

St. Maarten has the second best shopping in the Caribbean next to St. Thomas. Great buys on gold jewelry.

Best restaurants on the French side along the ocean.

Expensive for everything.

Here is a list of our favorite restaurants on St Maarten/St Martin

Dutch Side

Phillipsburg:
Antoines (continental/french cuisine)
DaLivio's (italian food)both on the water

Simpson's Bay area:
Saratoga (owner/chef is American - David)
The Boathouse (casual dining on the water-inexpensive)

Lowlands(Cupecoy area)
Le Bistro Gourmand (salmon in a cream sauce is great also the beef)

French Side

Marigot
La Diva (Italian Restaurant owner is Michele)try his veal dishes
La Residence (rooftop dining fixed price menu)

At the Marina
Tropicana
Le Chanticlear

Grand Case
L'Auberge Gourmand (try the beef in roquefort sauce)

If you have a refrigerator in your hotel room stop at the Food Center and pick up bread, cheese etc for a quick lunch. Things are a bit more expensive because everything is imported so bring along snack items with you (can of nuts etc) you will save yourself some money. Next time rent a condo with Kitchen.

Our favorite beach is Mullet Bay - a long expansive stretch of beach.

Nightlife - many casino's on the Dutch side. There may be some entertainment in the hotels (check out Maho Beach Resort)

Take a ferry over to Anguilla for a day. The ferry operates out of Marigot harbor and I believe it runs on the hour - but check.

Many things to do or nothing at all:

Shopping, Tennis, Golf, Parasailing, Horseback Riding, Basking in the Sun, Gourmet Dining, etc.

Have fun - we leave on Fri 21 for 11 days.

St. Martin is definitely two separate worlds. The dutch side is very commercial and cogested, largely due to the cruise ships that come in regularly. The french side is quieter and more "carribean" in atmosphere, particularly outside of Marigot. Also the beaches are quite nice, especially Grand Case and Orient. There is a day trip to a small fishing island - only a 15 minute ferry ride away. (It leaves near Orient beach - just north of it). The island beach is amazing and you can buy fresh lobster on it.
We stayed in Grand Case at the Grand Case Resort. It was very nice and relatively affordable. The beach was terrific, the people were nice, and Grand Case has the best restaurants - all along one street. We had excellent food at each one.
We were not fond of the dutch side, for the reasons above, so I can't recommend much about it.
Another great side trip is to Anguilla. We stayed there three days and absolutely loved it. Unbelievable beaches (best I have ever seen) and great resorts. You should be aware that it is very expensive, but well worth it.
Feel free to e-mail me with any questions. ENJOY.

Hi Bob, Saw your message re. St. Maarten. You mentioned 3 days in anguilla. I am going there and would like to hear some feedback. I am staying at La Sirena on Meads Bay. Any info on these areas would be greatly appreciated.