Everything was wonderful! I traveled with my two young adult daughters and felt very safe as a single mother staying here. This was our 2nd trip to St. Martin and Dominue and Henri's property was wonderful! Elvis of Bananalocation rental cars met us at the airport and he drove us to the property. It is a gorgeous gated community sitting on the cul de sac overlooking picturesque views of blue waters, boats and Pinel Island. Audrey is wonderful and a wealth of information. She greeted us at the house and showed us all the essentials. Fred the pool guy was also great to chat with as he also knows the island very well and was full of ideas! We snorkeled at all the beaches but did not take a special snorkeling trip this time. Previously, we took Capt. Alan's and that was not bad. But you can find some areas off Pinel and Friar's beach too. Orient beach and Pinel are still our favorite beaches to sun and visit!
Kayaks are available and we used them several times. My only frustration was where you launch the kayaks, there is no way to get your kayak in the water unless you step in mushy wet, pungent weeds along the shoreline. But once you get out on the water, it is gorgeous!
We had breakfast & coffee by the pool in the mornings, then took off to a different area every day: Orient Beach, Pinel Island, Friar's beach, Grand Case, shopping in Phillipsburg and Marigot. We ate late lunch out every day at a different restaurant/lolo/bar. Spent our evenings back for the sunsets off to our left, and chilled wine poolside.Cocci Market is a small but well stock grocery a few blocks away. Villa Pizza is very close by, every thing is awesome and we ordered take out two nights there. Pinel Bars good drinks and food, Grand Case: Le Temps des Cerises for continental/American brunch one day, the lolos (I would recommend lunch there, shrimp skewers great but Marlin fish was dry), don't miss Salsa night as Calmos Café Thursday night! It gets packed so get a table early. Drinks and live salsa music was awesome!! Also, if you go out on the beach right behind the Lolos in Grand Case, you can get sea glass by the mobs. My daughters and I discovered this spot eight years ago, and this time we got plastic bags full in an hour of beach combing. Stop by Ma Dou Dou's as you will see her flavored Rhum bottles for sale all over the island. But go to her Rum shack just inside the gate in the cul de sac to buy your Rum gifts to take back home! Mon favorite is Mojito! Bon voyage!