too solid

I'm planning a trip for the gf's birthday. I want to leave sometime between Aug. 17 and Aug. 26 and stay for 1 full week. I've done a bit of research and I'm thinking of staying at the Sonesta Maho Resort in St. Maarten.

Anyone ever been to St. Maarten or any of the surrounding Islands?

I was also thinking Atlantis in Bahamas, but they don't offer all inclusives, and the restaurants and everything else there are way to expensive!

I'm not set on anywhere particular right now, and if anyone has had any good experiences please share! I wanna stay at a 4 and 1/2 and above resort! I'm looking to spend $2500-$3000. Any other ideas?

too solid

Bump!

Any feedback? Planning on booking the trip Tuesday! Let me know!

Bambi

Maybe you can consider taking her to a Caribbean cruise which will cost you around $1500pp all in with a balcony room. They go to St Maarten and other little islands too.

DrLev99

I've been to St. Maarten 3 times on cruises.....nice. If you want an awesome all-inclusive, check out Our Lucaya on the Grand Bahamas island in Freeport. I have yet to find better snorkeling than in the Bahamas. If you head to St. Maarten, Orient beach on the French side is beautiful....and you will see some boobies too.

Atlantis on Paradise Island is beautiful too....been there, but it's big bucks. Everything is twice as much as you'd pay normally. The casino there is gorgeous as well as the beaches. We took a 45-minute boat ride to Harbour Island, one the Eluthera islands, and it was even more beautiful....PINK sand beaches. Wayne Gretsky was playing BJ all day, every day, while we were at Atlantis (with 2 big guards around the table), and I played craps with Tommy "Hit Man" Hearns.

Barbados is awesome too....also pink sand beaches. St. John is also awesome.....Trunk Bay....WOW!

Skip Jamaica. Cayman islands are nice too....7-mile beach. Aruba is also nice.

too solid

Thanks for the info. guys, I'm sending you both pm's, have a few questions!

1esquire

I spent 8 nights in St. Maarten about 7 years ago. Stayed at La Samanna, or as I called it "Lots a Money." Very nice and private without crowded beaches. We stayed in a deluxe suite type thing that was really nice with a full kitchen, fridge, porch and roof-top patio. We had a blast there.

Enjoy.

too solid

LoL

That place looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing.. and ya the spending money part is definately gonna suck, but it'll we worth it in the end

C's Bimmer

I love Aruba of all the Caribbean Islands, but it's not cheap. And don't do the all inclusive deal. The food is marginal and it's not a great way to experience the true essence of the island. To save money and do it up the right way, you should sell your new Hartge Splitter and wheels.

too solid

I wouldn't mind all inclusive to save some $$$. I still won't end up eating all my meals at the resort.. we plan on taking day trips probably 3 days out of the week, and doing a ton of shopping.. I'll spend the remaining days lounging, eating and getting pie eyed!

I heard the high end stores down in St. Maarten have crazy deals.. $400 for a Gucci watch. $7 US for a carton of Marl's. Gonna be a good time wherever I end up

UUronL

Try to get to Cuba if you've never been there before. It's always changing, but most people advise folks to get there "before it changes"... the implication being that there will be a pretty big change if/when the Castros and communism fall (or if the US loosens sanctions and travel restrictions on US citizens).