Radisson Resort to Reopen August 2008

The Radisson Resort St Martin in currently undergoing an $80 million renovation and transformation. The hotel is located in Anse Marcel on 1600 feet of beachfront on the north coast of St Martin. Originally scheduled to open in April 2008, the date has been pushed forward to August 2008. The renovations will feature the Larimar Spa; more than 5500 sq ft of meeting space; an open-air, beachfront restaurant; a contemporary upscale tapas bar in the lobby; lush, tropical gardens and an infinity pool.

The hotel will offer 189 rooms and 63 suites plus waterfront suites adjacent to the hotel’s 150-slip marina, which can accommodate yachts and sailboats up to 90 feet. The marina is located among one of the safest and prettiest harbors in the Lesser Antilles. The full-service marina is open daily and offers electric hook-up, clearance and customs services, laundry and shower facilities and fresh water. WiFi, restrooms and pay phones are available. In addition, the marina offers business services including photo copies and fax services.

Halsey's Restaurant and Lounge

Halsey’s is a very casual, come-as-you-are restaurant and lounge located just south of the Simpson Bay drawbridge across the street from the Royal Palm Resort. They offer such entrees as pecan-encrusted rack of lamb, filet mignon with broiled gorgonzola, sesame-encrusted yellowfin tuna, blackened mahi-mahi and duck breast with foie gras.. Happy Hour takes place every day from 4:00 to 6:00 with tasty nibbles such as fresh oysters and mussels. Fridays feature a sushi menu, wine and cheese tastings and a $5 Martini menu. Halsey’s also stocks a wide assortment of wines from all over the world as well as premium liquors and beers. For more information, check out their web site at http://www.halseysrestaurant.com.

86 Welfare Road, Simpson Bay
599.544.2882
Open 7 days a week

Jet Blue Flights from JFK

In mid-January, Jet Blue began flights from JFK to St Maarten beginning at just $154 one way. Reports from passengers confirm their claim to extra leg room and free, plentiful snacks. In addition, they offer seatback TVs with Direct TV programming and free wireless. In October 2007, Jet Blue was named the number one U.S. domestic airline by Conde Nast Traveler magazine's "Readers' Choice Awards" for the sixth year in a row. As of January 2008, the average fleet age of Jet Blue Airways was only 3.2 years. Their fleet consists of 104 Airbus A320-200 planes with a capacity of 150 passengers and 30 Embraer 190 planes (see photo) with a capacity of 100 passengers. The Embraer 190s are equipped with XM Satellite radio. The Airbus will also be equipped with XM Satellite radio once the current project of upgrading the seatback TV screens to a larger size is completed.

Horseback Riding

If riding a horse on the beach next to the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean is part of your vacation plans, St Maarten offers many opportunities.

Bayside Riding Club
Bayside Riding Club on Le Galion Beach on the French side offers a variety of horseback rides as well as riding lessons. Both English and Western style riding are available. You’ll ride along 1-1/2 miles of white sand beach through the Nature Marine Reserve. The 2-hour ride includes a swim with your horse and a stop for refreshments at a local beach bar and restaurant. Riders must be seven years of age, and pony rides are available for the younger set. Among the possibilities are:

One-Hour Group Beach Rides

You’ll ride on trails through the Nature Marine Reserve and along the beach.

11:00 AM to 12:00 PM or 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM50.00 euros or $65.00 per person

Two-Hour Group Beach Rides

This ride also takes you through the Nature Marine Reserve but also includes a swim with your horse in crystal clear waters. After your swim, you'll stop for a complimentary drink at Tropical Wave Beach Bar and Restaurant at the far end of the bay.
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM70.00 euros or $90.00 per person

One-Hour Private Beach Rides

This is for you if you want to canter on the beach!
70.00 euros or $90.00 per person

One-Hour Sunset Group Beach Ride

This ride is the same as the One-Hour Group ride but returns as the sun is setting on the horizon
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM or 5:30 PM to 6:30 PMdepending on the sunset!60.00 euros or $80.00 per person

Lessons

Their French Federation Certified (FFE) instructor offers riding lessons from beginner basics through experienced. Lessons in dressage and jumping are also available. Lessons are available in French or English.

Adult Private $65.00 per hourChild Private $55.00 per hour

Information
Bayside Riding ClubRue du Le Galion
Coconut Grove

Le Galion Beach, St. Martin, F.W.I.

Reservations: Tel: 011(590) 873664 Fax(0590) 873376

tracie@baysideridingclub.com

OK Corral
OK Corral in Oyster Pond has variety of rides available, including the popular 2-hour horseback ride along Orient Beach. After a brief stop at the shops along Orient Beach, riders make their way through St. Martin's hillside on the return trip. Smaller children will enjoy the stable's pony rides.

Lucky Stables
Lucky Stables has been operating on St.Maarten for many years and has built a reputation as a professional riding and training stable. You’ll first ride through the residential and industrial area of Cape Bay before reaching the seclusion of the Cape Bay area with trails through the hills and along the beach.

Departure times

1-hour trail ride: 8 am- 4 pm, every hour, $42

2-hour trail ride: 8 am and 2 pm, $61

1-hour Sunset Ride: 5 pm, $42

2-hour Sunset Ride: 4 pm, $61

2-hour Champagne Night Ride: 8 pm, $61. Only on Wednesday and Friday

Credit cards are not accepted. All rides include swimming with the horses.

Jet Blue to Fly to St Maarten

This morning, Jet Blue started accepting reservations from JFK to SXM starting Thursday, January 17, 2008. You can make reservations through April of 2008. At this time, flight 787 leaves JFK at 9:35 am and arrives at SXM at 2:40 pm. Flight 788, the returning flight, leaves SXM at 3:35 pm and arrives at JFK at 7:05 pm.

The regular round trip airfare on Tuesdays and Wednesdays is $318, plus taxes and fees. Fares for their flights on other days are $498 round-trip Thursday, $568 round-trip Friday, and $638 round-trip Saturday.

The Peg Leg Pub is located right on the lagoon in Simpson Bay with dining indoors or out. Famous for its beef and seafood, their menu also includes an extensive offering of appetizers such as coconut shrimp, fried calamari and beer-battered onion rings to go with a choice of more than 35 cold beers. They also have numerous salads, deli sandwiches and burgers. Appetizers are half price and drinks are two-for-one during happy hour. The Peg Leg Pub is located in the Three Palms Plaza near Domino’s Pizza and is open daily from noon until 11:00 pm. Note that they are closed for Sunday lunch.

Loterie Farm and the Fly Zone

Loterie Farm is a peaceful 135-acre private nature preserve near the bottom of Pic du Paradis. Designed to preserve island habitats, it offers a rare glimpse of Caribbean forest and mountain land. Visitors can go horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, take ecotours or practice meditation and yoga. All the trails at Loterie Farm begin at the base of the 1400 ft mountain and lead to the top of St Martin’s highest point, Pic Paradis, offering views of Orient Beach, St Barth and Anguilla. Lunch, from 12-3 pm, and dinner, from 6:30-9:30 pm, is served at the Hidden Forest Café, Tuesday through Saturday. The Café is open from 12-6 pm on Sundays and is closed on Mondays. Bon Apetit featured this treehouse-like eatery in their February 2005 issue. All dishes are made using only the freshest ingredients found on the island and each is garnished with fresh flowers from the property.

Loterie Farm's newest attraction, the Fly Zone, allows you to soar over the forest canopy via a series of ropes, cables, and suspended bridges. Zip-lines are suspended high above the forest reserve, soaring between 200 year old mango and mahogony trees. Ti’Tarzan is a special area with suspended bridges and swinging ropes that was designed for children. All participants on the Fly Zone and Ti’Tarzan are required to wear closed shoes or footwear that is secured to your feet.

Rte. de Pic du Paradis

Phone: 590/87-86-16 or 590/57-28-55

Cost: $5, 1½-hr tour $25, 4-hr tour $45

Hours: Daily, from sunrise to sunset.