If you like mesquite-grilled ribs, chicken and fresh fish, don't miss Lee's Roadside Grill in Simpson Bay. This open-air restaurant runs a deep-sea fishing charter and the charter's catch provides the restaurant with fresh fish. You can almost always find wahoo, mahi-mahi and red snapper on the menu. Often, there is also tuna. At lunch, you can order a grilled wahoo steak served with garlic butter and accompanied by a salad and French fries or rice and beans for $10. You'll be lucky if you can finish half of the wahoo! Serving portions of everything are more than generous, and the mesquite flavor is not overpowering. The restaurant fronts the lagoon in Simpson Bay, is open-air, casual, and nicely decorated. The wait staff is extremely friendly, and the drinks and all the food are extremely reasonably priced. There is live music by a local group every night. What more could you want? Grilled langouste? You can choose your langouste from the tank on the wharf. Or, maybe you prefer shrimp. This is truly one of the best deals on St Maarten!More on Lee's Roadside Grill
Cheryl Bartlam DuBois, an ex-catamaran captain who owned a charter business on St Maarten, has written a novel about life in the Caribbean. West of the Equator: In Search of Paradise is set in St Maarten and the surrounding islands. It is a story of adventure, romance, humor, island lore, Zen and the art of sailing in the tropics. If you've ever dreamed of leaving it all behind and making a life in the Caribbean, don't miss this book! Film producers have already discovered this delightful tale, and filming is scheduled to begin in St Maarten this summer. Although casting is not yet final, discussions are in place with Keanu Reeves, Rick Fox, Timothy Dalton, Scarlett Johansson and Gwyneth Paltrow. If you'll be in St Maarten on May 25, you can attend the book signing party at the Peg Leg Pub at Three Palms Plaza in Simpson Bay. Happy hour is 4:00 - 6:00 pm with cocktails and appetizers. The author will be present as well as the film producer Jeff Apple.
Direct Flights To and From St MaartenTo see at a glance direct flights to and from St Maarten, including airlines and frequency, check out the two following web sites. Direct flights to St Maarten's Princess Julianna International Airport are at http://www.airsxm.com/directflightstosxm.html , while flights from St Maarten to various places are at http://www.airsxm.com/directflightsfromsxm.html .
Great Hotel Deal in Simpson Bay!The Turquoise Shell Inn is located in Simpson Bay just steps away from many good restaurants and casinos. From April 15, 2007 until July 14, 2007, they are offering a special weekly rate of $700, including tax. Normally, you pay 20% of the hotel rate in taxes: 5% local tax and 15% service charge. The Turquoise Shell Inn is a 3-star hotel with 10 1-bedroom suites offering a fully-equipped kitchen, cable TV, air-conditioning, a ceiling fan and daily maid service. In addition, there is a large freshwater pool and the Caribbean is only steps away. The special weekly rate from July 15 until October 15 is only $590 and from November 15 until April 15 (high season), a mere $750 -- remember, that includes the 20% taxes charged by all hotels in St. Maarten. For photos and more information, check out their web site at www.tshellinn.com.
YACC -- Yet Another Caribbean CocktailWitch Doctor3/4 oz. Malibu Coconut Rum3/4 oz. Malibu Pineapple Rum3 oz. Orange JuiceMix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with orange slices.
Get in the Mood!Even if you can't travel to St. Maarten right now, you can still enjoy the sensation of being there. Check out www.sxmradio.com for a listing of six different radio stations that you can hear. One of the most popular is www.island92.com. And, don't forget to enjoy YACC -- Yet Another Caribbean Cocktail -- at the same time.
