Ok SO I got back from Saint Maarten and I ALMOST did not come home. If anyone has not been to this wonderful island before, time is running out. Over the past 16 years I have seen the island change in more ways then I can count. Hard to believe there is about 80,000 local people living on the island and construction going on everywhere. It is not the quaint island that no one knew about anymore. Traffic is getting really bad (and I go there durring low season I can not imagine high season), prices are starting to get high now that France has the Euro, but given all that, it is still may favorite island. Awsome food if you know where to eat, great people that after 16 years have become almost family, and wonderful beaches.

Anyways here are a few pictures that I took around the island. Hope you enjoy.

More Pics

Ok And you know you are a fat kid when you take pictures of the food you eat on vacation so you can remember how to make it when you get home!!!

Wow!!! thanks for sharing. I'm on the next boat to Saint Maarteen.

I'll restrain myself from making comments on the last two pics in post #2 :)

...tho I will say, this is freakin hilarious!
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g34/xaoss23/Vacation20Pics20133_jpg_Thumbnail1.jpg

when i went there back in 95. a group of us took a excursion to St. Barts also. now that is an awsome island the snorkeling was great. just watch out for the thousands of spiney sea urchins. unfortunatly that was pre digital camera days or else i would share pictures. also has anyone been to oriental beach there in st maartens?

Ya some of thos pics were at Orient Beach in St. Maarten... That is where the last two pics in post two that Tony is so excited about were taken.

I'm not excited... I just want one.... :)

LOl great pics!

What restaurant was serving those last two pictures and what was the market price? (please note that I have used up my self-restraint for the day in not posting the other "food" analogies that came to mind) :D

Great pics! Seems like you had fun.We are trying to find somewhere to go for vacation in August. About what price range is this trip in?

Ummm airfare runs about $500 or so in August since it is still off season. We have a condo there so staying for us is cheap but if you look up a few places on the internet I will try to tell you if they are worth the price. (They are building new ones so I do not know ALL the places to stay anymore.) The Dutch side of the island is cheaper then the french and nicer IMHO (The only deal on the french side is if you can find a restaurant or store to give you 1:1 US dollar to Euro.). The ONLY place I would stay on the French side is Orient Beach but there are alot of good places on the Dutch side. Food is going to run you around $50 a day per person. "lo-lo" Shacks are cheap for a good lunch. We buy imported cheeses and fresh pastry for breakfast to keep the price down. A nice meal for 2 will run you around $100 for two with a drink. Renting a car (the only way to really do it anymore) is cheap, like $99 for the week is what I paid. I have a bunch of info on the island if you are serious about going including menus of most of the nice restaurants. Jewelers are CHEAP there so you can find the best deals on the island buy buying good quality diamonds and taking them home.

I would say you could have a pretty good 4-5 star vacation there for two for under $3000 but someone else just went in April and maybe they can tell you what they spent since my estimates are off due to lack of having to pay for a place to stay.

What restaurant was serving those last two pictures and what was the market price? (please note that I have used up my self-restraint for the day in not posting the other "food" analogies that came to mind) :D


Market price was pretty cheap... You get to see your cut before you buy too since all beaches are topless and one is nude. Gotta love the French.

Great Pics. Where are your diving pics, LOL.

Great Pics. Where are your diving pics, LOL.


In the SCUBA thread: http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5175