What an awesome country!  St. Maarten/St. Martin is a great place to timeshare.  I was there for two weeks, the first one at the Sapphire Beach Gold Crown Resort.  It deserves its Gold Crown rating, as this is a very nice property.  Check-in was quick, the staff friendly and nice, low key about selling me yet another timeshare, the room cool and clean and big.  I had the one bedroom, and plenty big, the right equipment and big bathroom.  Ocean view rooms have their own hot tub on the patio, a nice feature for anyone.  This resort is near Cupecoy Beach, clothing optional and usually female optional.  The staff was friendly, the resort has a good little store with decent prices, good internet access, though at .35 cents a minute it is steep.  You can find internet access for $10 an hour all over the island.  There is really no beach at this resort, but the sounds of the ocean are beautiful, and a little calmer than the other side of the island which gets beaten by the Atlantic Ocean.  The bar/restaurant wasn’t open very late, though it was July and not Season.  They had decent food and a Jacuzzi with an ocean view by the pool.  At Sapphire they ding you $7.50 a day for insurance, and $20.00 a week for parking.  It’s an irritant that is unfortunately worth it, because this is an excellent resort, especially since I traded for it. 

A rental car has to be a necessity for anyone on St. Maarten.  Small enough to be quaint, large enough that driving sucks unless you just have to save the $150 a week.  There is bus service, but it’s mainly locals driving VW busses, so check your stomach at the window. 

From Sapphire it’s a quick 5 minutes to Maho Bay and Sunset Beach, or twenty or so minutes gets you to Grand Case where it helps if you speak French.  Many of the French do speak English but prefer not to.  The food is worth it if all you speak is Southern.  L’Amandier Plage is right on the beach, has a pool for yourself and the kids, and hosts a warm and wonderful group of people most every evening, except Tuesday when they close.  Loud music and strong drink are across the road and down a few paces at Le Pub.  And an amazing Curried Shrimp and Goat Cheese Salad were exceptional at La Maeva.  For Italian we chose Portofino and had an excellent meal.  All of these located in Grand Case.  Word of new restaurants will come to you as you meet people, and there are plenty.  Boo-boo Jam at Orient Beach, the more popular clothing optional beach on the island, serves an excellent swordfish dinner.  A few drinks, walk naked on the beach, catch the sunset.

Please contact Steve for more information