We traveled to Grand Case as a part of our tenth anniversary trip in March 2014. I had visited the Dutch side of St. Maarten on a cruise as a teen, but this was my first experience on the French side. We obviously wanted to enjoy the beaches, but also learned through research that Grand Case is a culinary capital of the Caribbean. We also liked the idea that Grand Case was economically reasonable, yet we could stay in a hotel steps from the beach.
We chose the Hevea Hotel - at the time newly remodeled and under new ownership, which meant reviews were limited. What we saw we liked, and we decided to give it a shot. It was not beachfront and does not have anything resembling views, but you could cross the street in a few steps and end up here…
It's a gorgeous beach - beautiful white sand, enough rocks to make it interesting, and extends long enough for a decent walk. It's thinner than we would usually prefer and slopes quite a bit, but if you are looking for a relaxing time in a beach chair with a drink in your hand, you'll have no trouble finding it here. For those who might like to partake, it is topless...
We were able to see some planes come in over the beach, but the noise didn't bother us at all (we were concerned about this staying on the other side of the island…)
There is not a lot to Grand Case - mostly residential and restaurants - but there is plenty of Caribbean flavor.
What you absolutely cannot miss in Grand Case are the sunsets. Looking out over the rocks and the boats… They are just completely unforgettable...
Calmos Cafe
As viewed from the bar of Love Hotel
As viewed from Ocean 82 restaurant
Recommendations in Grand Case:
- Hevea Hotel: This was probably the most nerve wracking part of our trip - we just really didn't know what to expect. Honestly, it was a wonderful place to stay on a budget. It was relatively clean (a few bugs - nothing unexpected on a Caribbean island), remarkably quiet for being on the main street, and conveniently located. The desk manager only spoke French and we only speak English, but we figured it out and he worked quite hard to be sure we were happy. They do provide mosquito netting I would recommend using and do request a room at the back of the property (further off the street). They have a very cute breakfast place up front where they serve croissants in the morning.
- Rainbow Cafe: Located just across the street from Hevea Hotel, this is a charming little waterfront cafe by day and a beachside club by night! Breakfast here is a little pricy but delicious. Monday nights they turn up the music around 11 and you wouldn't believe the transformation. Think strobe light and girls dancing on the tables. It's crowded, but a lot of fun :)
Before it got crowded...
- Ocean 82: My favorite meal bar none in Grand Case. Fabulous fresh seafood with the most amazing view over the beach. Make a reservation and request a waterfront table. You won't regret a meal here.
- Calmos Cafe: Fantastic little beach cafe. Service can be a little slow, but you won't really care when you're enjoying a frozen drink or Corona by lamplight watching the sunset.
- Piazza Pascal: Interesting idea to have an Italian restaurant in the Caribbean. We thought the food was average. The balcony tables are gorgeous though - this whole restaurant has a very cool ambiance.
- Love Hotel: We considered staying here but in the end we were glad we didn't - it's a little more bohemian than we like. The bar, however, is amazing - very casual vibe and overlooks the water. It is also a perfect place to grab drinks or lunch on the beach during the day. Fabulous menu and service :)
- Blue Martini: Fantastic live reggae music in a very cool courtyard.
- Harmony Nights: Unique to Grand Case, this is a Tuesday night street festival. It's seasonal, so try to plan your trip when it's happening if possible. Lots of local food - cooked in roadside stands - and artisans selling jewelry, crafts, and banana rum in hand painted bottles (side note: be very careful opening these when you arrive home - we managed to shatter our beautiful bottle!) There is also a small parade with dancers in costume and lots of live music. We felt very safe the whole time until we left Blue Martini to return home. There are no street lights and people did clear out by midnight. Make sure you aren't alone.
Overall opinion of Grand Case: A great place to spend a few days! I think I would have been a bit disappointed if this had been our whole trip (post on Anguilla to come!) but I'm glad we went. The best parts were Harmony Nights and sunsets with drinks on the beach. Friendly people, relatively safe, fabulous beach. It's worthwhile.
No comments:
Post a Comment