QUICK FACTS THINGS TO KNOW ST. MARTIN, FRENCH WEST INDIES. ADDRESS Belmond La Samanna PO Box St. Martin CEDEX French West Indies

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "QUICK FACTS THINGS TO KNOW ST. MARTIN, FRENCH WEST INDIES. ADDRESS Belmond La Samanna PO Box St. Martin CEDEX French West Indies"

Dinah Malone
5 years ago
Views:

ST. MARTIN, FRENCH WEST INDIES THINGS TO KNOW CLIMATE Temperatures in St. Martin range from the mid-70s to mid-80s, reaching their peak between July and October.

1 ST. MARTIN, FRENCH WEST INDIES THINGS TO KNOW CLIMATE Temperatures in St. Martin range from the mid-70s to mid-80s, reaching their peak between July and October. WATER The water is drinkable, but bottled water is preferred by some. GETTING THERE You will fly into Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), which carries service from many large East Coast airports. Given the island s dual French and Dutch heritage, direct flights are also available from France and the Netherlands. La Samanna is located about 15 minutes from the airport, and your reservation includes complimentary private round-trip transportation. SPECIAL NOTE: St. Martin is great for a disconnected experience, but please note this may cause interruptions in technological services such as internet, TV and telephone. GETTING AROUND La Samanna s 55 acres are easily accessible by foot, but a butler is available to chauﬀeur you around via golf cart. Please note that La Samanna does not allow visitors to drive the golf carts on their own. Should you wish to venture outside the resort, a rental car is recommended. La Samanna receives special rates with Prestige Rental Car, which has a desk on the resort s grounds. PARKING Self-parking is available at the resort complimentary. CHECK IN/ARRIVAL PROCESS Your Destination Concierge will greet you at the main resort registration area and will then escort you to your residence and show you around the resort. If you plan to arrive early or check out late, please let your Destination Concierge know as soon as possible. QUICK FACTS ADDRESS Belmond La Samanna PO Box St. Martin CEDEX French West Indies CHECK IN 4 p.m. CHECK OUT 11 a.m. CURRENCY The oﬃcial currency of the French Antilles is the Euro, but USD is widely accepted. LANGUAGE French and Dutch are the oﬃcial languages of the island, but English is widely spoken. PASSPORT Yes CONVERTER La Samanna provides 110 and 220 volt adapters in each villa. AIRPORT SXM

2 THINGS TO KNOW GROCERIES For just the cost of groceries, your Destination Concierge will be happy to fulfill your grocery order. Simply complete the order form on your Inspirato.com account at least 72 hours prior to your arrival. Additional shopping trips are $25 plus the cost of groceries. SPECIAL NOTE: Groceries on St. Martin are generally more expensive than they are in the United States. IN-RESIDENCE DINING OPTIONS La Samanna s preferred chef, Chef Angie, is an island native, allowing her to cook authentic Caribbean breakfast, dinner and snacks in your villa. Additionally, room service is available. DC S TIP: Other than breakfast, Chef Angie s menus require a minimum of four people. Additionally, cash is recommended for the chef service a 20% fee will be added to your total if you want it on your folio. STAY FIT The fully equipped fitness center is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and includes cardio machines, weights, flat-screen TVs and headphones. PVA s TIP: Head to the Rendezvous Pavilion every Wednesday and Friday at 9:30 a.m. for complimentary yoga sessions. HOUSEKEEPING Daily. TIPPING GUIDELINES While our Destination Concierge teams and housekeeping staff welcome and appreciate recognition for exceptional service, tipping is not expected and is entirely up to you based on your level of satisfaction. If you would like to leave a gratuity, we suggest the following general guidelines: + Destination Concierge: $20-$50 per day depending on the level of service you experienced. + Housekeeping: $5-$7 per occupied room per evening is typical for luxury hospitality. + Restaurants: The customary 15-20% of your total bill is appropriate. Please note that for any bill that says Service Compris, no tip is necessary. + Vendors: Gratuity is dependent on the complexity of the experience or service, so we suggest using your discretion. AMENITIES + A stunning crescent-shaped beach + Two swimming pools + La Samanna Spa + A state-of-the-art fitness center + Three lit tennis courts with instruction and complimentary racquets + Camp La Samanna for kids ages four to 12 + Cabanas and private powerboats available for rent + Business center

3 THINGS TO DO SPA Open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the La Samanna Spa offers a range of treatments, such as massages, facials and body wraps that employ luxury French spa products. DC S TIP: Reservations are recommended. GOLF Mullet Bay Golf Course an 18-hole, par-70 course is the only golf course on the island, located on the Dutch side. An alternative option is to take an easy day trip to Anguilla, where you will find the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, home to an 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed championship course. BEACHES A crescent-shaped, white sand beach hugs the water just steps from your villa, giving you direct access to the pristine seaside. The coastline continues toward Long Bay, one of the longest and quietest beaches on the island. A little further along the coast brings you to Plum Bay (located about 10 minutes away by car), a slightly more rugged but more secluded area that offers great snorkeling during calmer tides. DESTINATION HIGHLIGHT Located at the end of Princess Juliana Airport s runway, Maho Beach s white sand and turquoise water is picturesque on its own, but that s hardly what makes it one of St. Martin s most iconic scenes. Jumbo jets land on the tarmac right next to the beach, meaning the airplanes come in just a few yards above swimmers heads and send the sand swirling. FAMILY At The Butterfly Farm, hundreds of exotic butterflies from across the globe flutter around beautifully manicured grounds. PVA s TIP: Join a 15- to 20-minute guided tour included in your entrance fee to learn from the experts, who can show you how to handle the delicate animals. MUST-DO Stroll through the idyllic village of Grand Case and right away you ll notice its characteristic architecture: intricate carvings and pastel colors make the wooden buildings stand out. The charming area is considered a hub for the island s dining scene, boasting a high concentration of gourmet restaurants. DC s TIP: Visit Grand Case at sunset for maximum enjoyment. ROMANTIC A petite sliver of beach, flanked by rocks and leading right into the water. This isn t a fantasy: Lovers Beach is just big enough for two (hence its starry-eyed name), making it the smallest beach on the island. Look closely on Pointe Arago s coastline and you ll find this isolated enclave.

4 THINGS TO DO ADVENTURE Jet packs aren t as far off in the future as you might think: Flyboarding turns science fiction into a thrilling water sport. A jet-ski turbine mechanism, attached to your feet, propels you up to 45 feet above the ocean and sends you charging underwater upon your descent. After a 20-minute orientation, you ll be flying high. NATURE Spend some quality time with some of St. Martin s best-known locals: the fish. A deep-sea fishing excursion immerses you in the seascape and shakes up your vistas of the coastline. Be on the lookout for mahi mahi, tuna, blue marlin and more. LOCAL Marigot Market s spectrum of colors and aromas rivals that of the natural flora and fauna surrounding it. The bustling bazaar features local vendors selling just about everything, from fruits and vegetables to artwork, jewelry and rum, of course. OTHER THINGS TO DO + Snorkeling + Water skiing + Zip lining + Kayaking + Sailing + Island hopping + Banana boat rides + Shopping + Hiking + Horseback riding + Scuba diving + Historical tours RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS FAMILY Izi Pasta Lounge (located on Simpson Bay) Italian chef Davide Foini created this casual offshoot of his well-known St. Maarten eatery, the upscale La Gondola Ristorante, and filled its menu with classic pastas, lasagna, entrees and desserts. ROMANTIC Le Cigale (located on Nettle Bay) Fine French cuisine and wine, candlelit tables, open-air dining and bay views obstructed only by gently blowing palm trees: Le Cigale s recipe for a dreamy dinner is tough to beat. SPECIAL NOTE: Open for dinner only and closed Sundays.

5 RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS FINE DINING Trellis (located on-site) Combining the island s hybrid French and Caribbean heritage, the haute cuisine at Trellis emphasizes freshly caught fish, lobster and other seafood. The panoramic ocean views make the perfect complement to a bottle of wine from the bistro s prolific selection. LOCAL The Karibuni Beach Bar Restaurant (located on Pinel Island) Casual Caribbean food and a relaxing atmosphere are what draw visitors to this beachfront hangout, where you can sip your cocktail at a table or in the shallow water directly outside. FESTIVALS AND ACTIVITIES + St. Martin Salsa Festival January + Carnival (French side) February to March + Heineken Regatta First weekend in March + Carnival (Dutch side) April to May + St. Martin Open Golf Tournament Second weekend in April + Ecotourism Day May + Fête du Nautisme (water sports festival) May + Billfish Tournament June + Bastille Day July + Schoelcher Day (boat and bike races) July + St. Martin s Day - November Information presented in this Inspirato destination guide is current as of March 4, While it is believed to be accurate, Inspirato LLC (and its officers, employees and affiliated entities, collectively Inspirato ) makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of the content presented herein. The contents of this destination guide may change at any time and without notice. This destination guide is presented for informational purposes only for Inspirato members and guests. Inclusion in this destination guide is not to be considered an endorsement or recommendation by Inspirato for any of the mentioned third-party products, services, activities or vendors. Participation in any of the mentioned third-party products, services or activities may require a separate agreement with a third party and members and guests are encouraged to review any such agreements carefully. Inspirato assumes no liability or responsibility for any injury, damage or loss that members and guests may incur with any third parties, and members and guests utilizing any information in this destination guide waive any claims against Inspirato. Inspirato is a registered trademark of Inspirato LLC.

QUICK FACTS THINGS TO KNOW LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA

QUICK FACTS THINGS TO KNOW LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA THINGS TO KNOW CLIMATE Like many mountain towns, Tahoe has a frequently changing climate. Overall, Tahoe's weather is clear and beautiful, with low humidity and close to 300 days