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SXM Blog
Esmeralda Resort Orient Beach11/12/2012 - By Ted 
The staff at St Martin Reservation Center goes to the island of St Martin to inspect every hotel that it represents in its US Reservation Office. This November we had the opportunity to visit Esmeralda Resort. The resort offers 92 rooms and suites situated on 7.5 acres, directly on Orient Beach. There are 17 villas each with a semi private swimming pool and in room kitchenettes or full kitchens in suites. Each villa includes 3 - 5 rooms or suites. Esmeralda has two great dining options on the resort property. Astrolabe is a gourment fine dining option with romantic poolside seating, that has received many awards. The complimentary continental breakfast included in all rates is served here. Coco Beach Bar is directly on Orient beach and serves lunch, and your favorite cocktail with beach service and compimentary beach chairs and umbrellas. Good News...Esmeralda Resort guests receive a priviledge card on check in that allows them to charge back to their room folio at more than a dozen resturants along the beach. While these establishments are not part of the hotel, it makes dining seamless for guests. More good news is that the rooms and suites are spacious and most have direct access to the pool and views of tropical gardens. The bad news is that only two of the villas (#46 & #47) offer rooms or suites with beach and sea views. Esmeralda Resort has had great reviews, especially since the $2.5 million in upgrades made in 2012. If you want to enjoy the best locations on the resort, it is important to reserve early with St Martin Reservation Center 800 480 8555. The island experts at this US Reservation Office for Esmeralda Resort will hand pick your room location and make your reservation without charge to your credit card until departure. (holidays require payment 90 days in advance). This No Risk reservation policy allows you to reserve early and get the best selection of rooms. The rack rates at this St Martin beach front hotel are quite high relative to the services and amenities offered, however, sales with rates of 20% - 40% off the rack rates make rates very competitive. The managment monitors the market and the damand to adjust rates. Call or email St Martin Reservation Center to get the best rates. If a sale is offered after you make an early reservation, give them a call to learn how to arrange to get the new sale rate. Esmeralda Resort has a maintenence program that provides some upgrades when it is closed during the month of September each year. In 2012 there was a major upgrade costing more than $2.5 million. We found the resort to be in excellent condition. The most obvious changes included upgraded kitchenettes, lighting & baths. Esmeralda received a renewal of a Four Star rating from the French rating agency. It is the only Four Star hotel on Orient Beach. La Plantation Hotel next door is also Four Star, however, it is not beach front. Here's the thing....these are caual beach hotels and cannot be compared with a US Four Star resort. If you want to be in Orient Beach, Esmeralda is clearly the top hotel option. However, ther are other Four Star Hotels on the French side of St Martin including La Plantation, Le Domaine, Radisson Bleu, La Samanna and Westin on the Dutch side. There are other smaller boutique beach front hotels you might consider. Which hotel is best for you depends on your needs and expectations. At St Martin Resevation Center 800 480 8555 you will get honest comparisons of Esmeralda to other hotel options on the island of St Martin. Their goal is to provide you with honest information that will allow you to match your expectations with the right property. |
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