Does anyone have info for this resort? We will be traveling there on an RCI exchange in March. We have a late flight arriving on the island approximately 10:00 pm, will late checkin be a problem?

I don't know about this place other than if its the one I'm thinking its out of the way and if you haven't been there already you should probly take a cab and rent a car for the next day if your renting one at all. Im sure they make arrangements all the time for late arrivals so the best thing would be call them and find out how they do it just so as you know for sure but I wouldnt want to try to get there in the dark on my own late at night.

Good news and (mostly) bad. The Cottages are a pretty little development in Anse Marcel, at the very north end of the island. For years, Anse Marcel was a very quiet, safe, sleepy cove, gated off by the large, attractive hotel (most recently, named "Le Domaine") directly on the water, just a few minute walk from the Cottages. The cove itself is gorgeously blue, tranquil water. It was our favorite area on the island to be away from it all -- exactly the opposite of the casino-and-bar life of the Dutch side.

But the large hotel has been bought out by Radison and is currently an unoccupied construction site; the other hotel (the Privilege) on the marina has closed, along with all the shops the hotels supported. The security gate is no longer staffed, and the beach is not maintained. I don't know whether you will even have chaises on the beach; there are certainly no amenities, no security provisions, and none of the activities (such as dive trips) that used to leave from the marina.

Quite simply, you need a car to stay there. Otherwise, you are calling cabs from Grand Case for everything. Since there is no longer anything on site or adjacent, you will end up spending piles more on cabs than you would on a car.

The GOOD news is that nearby Anse Marcel you have the best attractions of the French side. Orient Beach, Grand Case, Isle de Pinel (currently shut down by a ferry strike!).

Hope that helps!

Joel

we stayed here last March and I agree on calling a cab to take you there. I also would call ahead and make sure they know you will be arriving so late. Many times there was never anyone at the office even during the day. We were very disappointed with some things..coffee maker did not work, no toilet paper when we arrived...it took 3 days to get toilet paper (every where we went we would take some home) and they never did replace our coffee maker...we actually finally got so agrivated we took the one from the little resturant bar when no one was there so we could have coffee in the morning.

Thank you for the info. I contacted RCI with my concerns. They cancelled the reservation at the Cottages and we now are going to the Towers. I'm very happy to be going there. Thanks again.

We go to the Cottages several times a year. For our lifestyle, it's a perfect location. Anse Marcel is undergoing some major changes currently. A rental car is a necessity. For anyone arriving late best you contact Didier, the manager. If you have never been there, I suggest staying around the airport the first night. It would be very difficult to find the place at night.

You couldn't ask for nicer people, all of them

I sayed there several years ago. Didier, the manager, was THE world's biggest jerk, until he heard I was writing a travel review of St. Martin and then his attitude changed. He kept saying "I am the manager, I do what I want!"
Well, he can do what he wants but he got bad reviews from me.

I would not suggest this place simply due to this man. try anyplace else.

Stay at a hotel near the airport and drive out the next day...

judym Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thank you for the info. I contacted RCI with my
> concerns. They cancelled the reservation at the
> Cottages and we now are going to the Towers. I'm
> very happy to be going there. Thanks again.



Good move. Even with the late 10pm arrival, you'll be able to get a drink and something to eat in the Towers/Maho Bay area; not so in the north end of the island, as described above.

Ed

Hi, Has anyone been to the cottages lately. I have a unit on hold for 24 hours thru RCI. Should I stay at the resort? How far is the walk to the beach? Should we stay on the French side or Dutch side? Looking for good advice. Thanks Tim
Wednesday night 9-19-2007

I don't think the answer to that could be covered much better than what's already on this thread. The Cottages de Lonvilliers has been getting the same mixed reviews for years.

It's a good French Side location, about in between Grand Case and Orient Beach; the two main destination points of the north side of the island.

Most of the timeshares on the island are on the Dutch Side, and you'd probably be better off with the wide selection of timeshare accommodations that the Dutch Side has to offer.

I'd say, especially if it's your first time in St. Maarten/St. Martin, the Dutch Side is more "user friendly": with no money exchange necessary, lower prices in general, the number of, and english speaking television channels, casinos (Dutch Side, only) and a lot of good, moderately priced restaurants.

There are plenty of beaches spread out all over the island, and with a car rental, it really doesn't matter where you stay.

Ed

I have stayed at the Le'Habitation resort on several occassions. I understand it has been purchased and renovated as a Raddison. Is it open?

My wife and I several years ago spent at least three vacations an Anse Marcel at the Meridian. We loved it as well as the little village that grew up around it. The marina side restaurant was one of our favorites. It was relatively close to Grand Case and Orient Beach. We quickly found our way around, even driving at night, but caution as some cattle tend to wander on roadways. We wondered what had happened as we could no longer book at Le Meridian and say no further references.I hope the new hotel owners restore the area to its beauty and hospitality.

My wife and I are considering booking a couple weeks here in January/ Feb or March of 2010. After reading the reviews from the past and recent ones about the ownership change and/or becoming a Radisson Hotel, I'm concerned about what we'd be getting in to. Can anyone give me any recent updates?

We do like smaller quaint resorts, so this sounded good.

Thanks

I've stayed at the Cottages many times and own week 7 but stay an extra week during our vacations there. The Radisson doesn't own the Cottages. I've stayed at La Habitation twice a yrs from 87 till it closed and love the area.PM if you need more info. good luck. P.S. we'll be there during the last 2 wks in Feb.