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You are here: Home / travel / Useful things I learned in St. Martin

Useful things I learned in St. Martin

April 1, 2011 by MCM Mama 13 Comments

We spent our entire vacation on the French side in a lovely little hotel (Bleu Emeraude) in Grand Case.  Best.decision.ever.

Some useful things to know if you choose to do the same:

  • Paying $1 to pee in a *clean* men’s room at the mall in Marigot = best money ever spent.
  • Orient Beach is lovely and a great place to spend a day at the beach.  Get there early.  Park at the Club Orient end near Pedros.  Be prepared to see a lot of old willies as apparently the demographic most likely to take advantage of the “clothing optional” end of the beach is 60+ year old men.
  • Don’t forget your bikini.  “Mom Suits” stick out like a sore thumb.
  • Vibrams make decent beach shoes.  You will get even more weird looks than you do in the U.S.
  • Always have a water bottle with you.  It’s easy to find a rum drink or beer anywhere.  Water can sometimes cost more.
  • The best sign to see anywhere is 1 euro = 1 dollar.  Make sure you came with plenty of cash.  If not, there are ATMs at the Westin in Dawn Beach and in Philipsburg where you can get dollars.
  • The Lolos (barbecue huts) have the BEST Caribbean food for a reasonable price.  Our favorite was Talk of the Town in Grand Case.  Chez Coco in Marigot was pretty darn good too.
  • When you are ready to blow the bank, however, dinner someplace like Le Tastevin where you get a dinner whose courses include lobster, escargot, scallops, and shrimp + a glass of wine with each course is worth every.single.penny.  Even if it is a LOT of pennies.
  • Even if you don’t like light lager type beers, a Carib with a lime on a hot day is awesome.
  • Don’t stop for any of the people standing on the side of the road outside the resorts.  They are just trying to scam you.
  • Packing your loosest pair of pants for the flight home is a really good idea.  They may not be so loose by the time you put them on.

We should be on our way home this evening.  Any guesses on whether it will take less than the nearly 36 hours it took us to get from our house to our hotel in Grand Case?  Closest guess wins a prize.  ;o)

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Filed Under: travel Tagged With: international travel, Orient Beach, St. Martin, tips, vacation

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Comments

  1. Steel Springs says

    April 1, 2011 at 1:30 pm

    Sounds like a great trip! I loved the tip about 1 euro = 1 dollar. That's like free money. I hope you have a smooth, hassle-free trip home.

    Reply
  2. Julie says

    April 1, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    That sounds like an awesome vacation. I need some of that!!

    Reply
  3. (Just) Trying is for Little Girls says

    April 1, 2011 at 2:03 pm

    I guess 33 hours 23 minutes.Did you wear a bikini? I learned the same rule in Hawaii, EVERYONE wears a bikini. Like you said, mom suits not allowed.But, what if you are over 40 and scared to wear one? I guess being out of the continental US should make it okay.Welcome home soon!

    Reply
  4. Dash says

    April 1, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    Unfortunately ride homes come quickly, no one ever seems to get stranded in Paradise, unless you're in a Madonna movie. Sounds like you had a great time!!

    Reply
  5. Penny says

    April 1, 2011 at 4:02 pm

    No on the bikini. Sounds like you had a great vacation and learned alot. I think you will get back to the US in 34 hrs.

    Reply
  6. The Green Girl says

    April 1, 2011 at 4:21 pm

    Welcome back home! Sounds like you had an amazing time.Love that you rocked the Vibrams proudly on your vacation!

    Reply
  7. Kayla says

    April 1, 2011 at 8:00 pm

    I would just have to stick out like a sore thumb in my mom suit. I am fit as I have ever been, but there is just no remedy for a 44 year old belly post-two very large baby boys.

    Reply
  8. Kayla says

    April 1, 2011 at 8:01 pm

    Your trips sounds really awesome, by the way! What a place to relax.

    Reply
  9. joyRuN says

    April 1, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    Sounds like a heavenly trip. And EXCELLENT tip on your last bullet point 🙂

    Reply
  10. Deanna @ The Unnatural Mother says

    April 2, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    Nice trip!! I want to be in that same exact spot looking out at the ocean, safe return from paradise!

    Reply
  11. lindsay says

    April 2, 2011 at 10:36 pm

    very key to have a water bottle! when we were in tahiti i would fill mine up at the hotel fitness center to avoid paying an arm and a leg at restaurants.we ate at some place that had plastic monkeys hanging from the ceiling. burgers were like $20.i don't know if it's too late to guess but i'm gonna go with 27 hrs.

    Reply
  12. Marlene says

    April 4, 2011 at 3:42 pm

    That picture looks like pre heaven. St. Martin sounds lovely!

    Reply
  13. Badgergirl says

    April 10, 2011 at 9:05 pm

    Sounds like a great trip!

    Reply
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Who is MCM Mama?
A slightly obnoxious mom and wife who loves good beer and running, who struggles a bit with depression especially in the winter and when running isn’t allowed, who’d rather go on a fun vacation than upgrade the kitchen or add a master bath, and has a minor addiction to the Marine Corps Marathon.

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