Tortola or St. Martin?
 

Enjoy long walks on the beach, great sunsets, snorkeling. Been to St. John, Grand Cayman, TCI, Bahamas. Night life, casinos,shopping... not important. 2 adults, no kids. Deal breakers...nonstop flight from Newark, prefer US. currency. Thinking about Tortola (Sugar Mill) or French St.Martin (Grand Case Beach Club) in early Dec. Any thoughts?

Well, you won't find a nonstop into Tortola's Beef Island airport from Newark, that's for sure. But you could fly nonstop into STT (St Thomas) and ferry over to Tortola. Tortola offers more of what you're looking for in an island. I've stayed there once before (at the Sugar Mill, in fact), but I've only visited St. Maarten in transit on my way to Anguilla. Come to think of it, you might want to go the Anguilla route, which is a short ferry from the airport at SXM.

thanks!

I do not know Tortola, but I DO know St Martin well, because I live there - on the French side.

There are daily direct flights from Newark taking around 4 hours and 15 minutes - usually a bit longer on the return flight, I suppose because it it 'uphill' on the way back !!!

Grand Case Beach Club is a very nice, extremely well run, resort - though it doesn't have a 'resort feel' to it, and is much more intimate, probably because it is not in the form of the typical large complexes found on the Dutch side of SXM. The two sides of this 34 square mile island are as different as chalk and cheese!

The beach Club is also noted locally for being a perfect place for 'sunset watching'.

The beach at Grand Case itself is 'OK' (and the private and semi-private sections at the Beach Club are definitely the best part) - but it is NOT great for long walks.

If you enjoy beach walking, Orient Beach, the longest (and arguably the best) on the island is ideal, and is about a 10 minute (maximum) drive from Grand Case.

The 'down side' for you is that The Grand Case Beach Club is on the French side of the island which is of course a Euro zone - though Dollars are readilly accepted - BUT it IS well away from the Dutch side casinos, highrises, night clubs and licenced brothels !

Grand Case itself is also known as the 'Culinary Capital of the Caribbean', and the range of top class restaurants along the Boulevard fully justify that title - though you can also eat well there quite inexpensively.

St Martin is NOT noted for snorkeling. The closest area is Creole Rock, a 5 minute boat ride from the Beach Club, but excursions to other much better snorkeling areas are readily available, and can easily be arranged by the beach staff.

Anguilla has some excellent beaches, a couple of fine hotels, and some good restaurants but - unless you are interested in offshore banking - in my view, it doesn't have much else to offer. There IS a ferry service from SXM airport, but be warned - the ride can frequently be a bit bumpy !

Enjoy your vacation.

Thanks for your input, it has been helpful.Still undecided. Reviews of GCBC are so good!

DavidSXM

Stayed at Sonesta Maho July 29-Aug 4 - mediocre but doable for our budget. Wanted to try the restaurants in Grand Case but travel rep told us they're expensive. Had a nice lunch at Enoch's place in Marigot, filled with locals on Sunday and we ordered what everyone was having( fried whole fish platter) delicious at $14 US. Okay, so where do you eat well in Grand Case reasonably? I will likely be back with friends in November.

Hi foggydoggy

It is true tht most of the restaurants in Grand Case ARE expensive, however you CAN also eat cheaply there.

You need to try one of the LoLos. These are Locally Owned, Locally Operated (hence LoLO), barbecue type places, right on the waterfront, near the main parking lot at the entrance to the Boulevard.

There are also other reasonably priced eateries, mainly right at the other (less smart) end of the Boulevard, near the main N7 road.

In any event, it is worthwhile going to Grand Case to get some sort of flavor of France / Caribbean which you certainly would not have found in the grossly over-constructed area of Maho where you stayed.

Next time, try the French side of the island - unless of course you actually LIKE highrises, casinos, fast food and licensed brothels !