St. Martin Advice
 

Hi all......thinking of traveling to St. Martin late July/early August. Looking at the Grand Case Beach Club. Hoping to catch a taxi to the hotel, spend days on the beach and enjoy the local beachfront eats and bars.

Anyone ever been? Is it safe in this area? Is it possible to eat and drink in this area without spending a fortune? The more casual local places are more appealing to my husband and I. Any advice appreciated. Looking for a casual, relaxed island vacation.

Thanks!

I like Grand Case, and am planning to go there in November (4th time, I think). We stay at Le Petit Hotel at the other end of the beach. I have friends who have stayed at Grand Case Beach Club, and they've liked that as well.

As far as safety goes ... well ... it's St. Martin, one of the more populous Caribbean islands. There is some crime here, most of it petty, so you need to take care of your person and your stuff. You can't completely let your guard down.

Grand Case is the dining capital of the island, and one of the best places to eat in the Caribbean. The restaurants are great. Some or quite high end, but you can also eat at lolos on the beach for 10 Euro per person.

If you search under my screen name for trip reports about Nevis (which I combine my St. Martin trips with), you'll find a lot more info.

Thanks, read your review. Very helpful. I read mostly great reviews, with some mixed reviews thrown in. It is hard to know what to expect and if it will be an enjoyable trip. Last year we went all inclusive in Mexico, we have also done Grand Cayman, now looking for something a little different. Local, but not too local........

I think Grand Case is a great place for both a local vibe and for excellent food. But I do think you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you don't rent a car and explore the island. Rentals on St. Maarten are typically pretty cheap, and taxis are comparatively expensive. So it's usually a good trade-off to rent.

Thanks Doug, I have read about some safety concerns there....but that's everywhere I guess!

Driving around the island by day is certainly not a problem (aside from the traffic in Marigot and Phillipsburg). There is crime in St. Martin, but it's never limited my enjoyment of the island.

You definitely need a car on this island. The cost of cabs goes up 50% at night and can be very expensive. I barely saw any cabs while there because so many people rent cars. Grand Case is far from Maho Beach which is a must see!