Maho - A Happening Place **Updated July 2004
Written: Mar 07 '02 (Updated Jul 05 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Recently Renovated, Close to airport/beach/casino's/clubs
Cons: A little too close to the airport...
The Bottom Line: It is one of the only hotels on the island located next to so many entertainment options.
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| islandalex's Full Review: Maho Beach Hotel and Casino |
Maho is an area of the island that is constantly growing.
There are a few hotels, casinos, clubs, beaches, and many restaurants and boutiques. This is mainly a review on the area.
TEL: (5995) 4 52115
(5995) 4 53180
About the island phones...
5995 numbers are all Dutch. A 4 following means it is a land line, a 5 following means it is a cell. to dial Maho from the Dutch side, one would dial; 5 4 52115, from the French one would dial; 00 5995 4 52115, from America one would dial 011 5995 4 52115. confusing, I know...
French numbers begin with 590. a French cell is 590 690 and then the 8 digit #
A French land-line is 590 590 and then the 8 digit #.
The Maho hotel is a resort with 600 rooms, A/C, phone, beach, pool, restaurant, and a casino. It is, by far, the largest hotel on the island. It was renovated extensively after hurricane Lenny. It features a beautiful never-ending pool and waterfall with a swim-up bar. There is a bridge over the center of the free-form pool. The restaurant has a deck over a cliff with a magnificent view of the sunset and planes landing over the beach at the airport.
Most rooms have an ocean view, however, garden and pool views are also available. (sometimes all three!)
The rooms are, well, your typical hotel room. There is nothing exciting about them. They are always kept clean, nothing looks overly worn. The balconies are a bit small, as are the rooms, but who wants to spend any extra time in their room anyway???
I must admit that most of the time I have spent at the hotel has not been as a guest. It has been taking advantage of the best pool on the island, the worst beach on the island, and the best cliff to jump off. The locals can justify this because they give the hotel its only business in the beautiful off-season. Well, I have already described the pool, so I will move onto the beach. There are usually medium size waves here which wash away the sand at certain timed of the year. To combat this, the hotel divides the beach into two parts... the beach, and the deck. The beach is what runs from the water to a big cement wall. It varies in width quite drastically. If there is enough room for beach chair there are normally a few complimentary ones here. The deck is what the wall holds in. Yes, it is beach sand, however, it is just not the same as it is not constantly replenished and manipulated by the sea. However, there are beach chairs up here, and it still serves its purpose.. Just don't dig too deep or you will find the rubble holding up the sand.
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**UPDATE** The St. Maarten Marine Park, with the Maho Hotel, has begun a beach replenishing project. They are sinking “reef balls” offshore to act as a breakwater. Studies have shown that this will help keep the beach for longer and the change in current patterns will bring more sand to the beach. The artificial reef will be submerged, and will have coral transplanted to it. Fish begin to move into the “reef balls” within a few weeks. Coral growth is substantial in 5 years.
The “reef balls” have been studies thoroughly over the past few years and have no harmful effects on the environment.
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The cliff another wonder. It is about 30 feet high and wonderful to jump off, just as long as the waves are not too big, you can see any submerged rocks, and you are prepared for the really long swim to the beach.
There are two casinos in the area. The Dolphin casino and Atlantis casino. The hotel has slot machines in an area of the lobby. Atlantis offers very good shows nightly. Just beware, the shows aren't always appropriate for everyone. They do not enforce the age limit of 18 very strongly. Last time they had Russian dancers. They were superb, with many styles of dancing and costumes. However, every now and then a dancer or few would come out topless.
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**UPDATE** A new Initiative by Mr. Spadaro, the man in charge of the Maho Group, is to bring back the night life to Maho. (It used to be a large area with the Maho village and the Mullet Bay Village right next to each other. The Mullet Bay Village closed after Hurricane Luis in 1995.) At 9pm there is a street show done by the casino dancers. They come out, dance a few numbers in the street, then retreat back to the casino!
A new hotel, La Terasse, has also added to the amount of shops and restaurants available. The only downside, The entire Maho development is on either side of a main road.
An exciting development for the locals… The escalators are working, both of them!!! They are the only two on the island.
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The shops in Maho vary from up market designer shops to souvenir shops.
In the area there are many restaurants. Cheri's Cafe is an American-style sports bar with a nightly band. (Who used to sing "Who Let the Dogs Out" 10 years ago!) There is an ice cream shop which serves numerous Haggen Dazz flavors. There are also numerous Italian restaurants ranging in price from very expensive to great deal. New to the area is a Starbucks for the coffee addicted.
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**UPDATE** The Gizmo (Formerly Amnesia) is within walking distance from the hotel. The strip club, The Platinum Room, is next door. The Platnium room now has a restaurant where patrons can dine on beds!
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Q Club is even closer, and the latest and greatest indoor club on the island. Q Club is inside, but very nice, and large with two main floors. It is new, and very spacious. It is above the Atlantis casino. (which is directly across the road from the Maho hotel) Be prepared to dress nicely, and bring a lot of cash. There is no door fee, but the drinks usually range from seven to ten dollars.
Sunset Beach Bar is on the other end of the beach. This bar if famous for its live music, sunsets, and plane-watching, and laid back anything goes atmosphere. (www.sunsetbeachbar.net)
An island past-time is standing behind 747s taking off and holding onto the fence for dear life.
A new club and restaurant, Bliss, opened in Nov 01 next to Sunset. Bliss is an open club in Maho. It is perhaps the best on the island as it accommodates many types of people. The bohemian atmosphere is much more relaxed than the indoor clubs. It has a "beach" with a pool. It has floor shows as well.
Most things don't start until 11 pm. so plan on staying late and observing "island time"
An advantage of Maho is that it is included on the bus route, and you can get direct busses to Marigot and Philipsburg.
There is a golf club within walking distance as well as another much more beautiful beach that will restore your faith in Caribbean beaches.
Within a 3 minute driving radius there is:
-Palapa Marina, with more restaurants and shops, as well as a video rental store.
-At Palapa is the islands biggest dive shop, The Scuba Shop. It works with Dive Safaris to provide dive trips, certifications, and resort courses. (www.thescubashop.net)
-Sunset Theaters on Kim Sha beach.
-Simson Bay Yacht Club. The health food cafe there (Top Carrot) serves a wonderful vegetarian menu. I recommend the tomato mozzarella salad or sandwich.
The is also a Cyber Cafe in the marina complex with the fastest connection rates on the island.
The only disadvantage of Maho Hotel is that, during certain wind conditions, the planes taking off are very loud.
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**UPDATE** As of July 7th 2004 the Maho Hotel is going to carry the Sonesta brand. The hotel and the island are very happy with this development. Hopefully, the hotel will continue with its good service!
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For more information on St. Maarten / Sint Martin and the surrounding islands, please take a look at my other reviews.
St. Maarten / Stint Martin
Sint Martin, French Side:
Vacation Advice From an Islander
Philipsburg, the capital of Dutch St. Maarten:
Front Street, Back Street, Pondfill
Maho, the tourist capital of Dutch St. Maarten:
Fun, Sun, and Jets!
Transportation:
Forget the Taxis
Princes Juliana International Airport
Health and safety:
French Side - A Healthy Place...
Dutch Side - A Healthy Place...
General Itineraries:
Advice from an Islander
Local Customs:
Great Island, Great People
Hotels:
Maho - A Happening Place
Great Bay Beach Hotel - Depends What You are Looking For...
Anguilla
Hotels:
La Serena - A Beautiful Gem
Airlines With Regular Flights to St. Maarten
US Airways - Delays
American Airlines - Unaccompanied Minors
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
islandalex
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Location: Neth. Antilles
Reviews written: 39
Trusted by: 14 members
About Me:
I'm an island girl. I love traveling, gadgets,and splurging on beauty products!
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