Fifteen minutes in the opposite direction you're in French territory... unique. Again with much to do: shopping, restaurants, ferry to Anguilla, local market at the port, and a Marina.

Marigot Marina is encircled with waterside restaurants from Zee Best, serving the best breakfast pastries, to pizzerias, to gourmet restaurants. Shops line the three to four block area with goods ranging from T-shirts to expensive jewels,imported clothing and beauty products from France.

The Port at Marigot is also interesting - market is there daily, but the best days are Wednesdays, and Saturdays when fish and produce is also sold. There are restaurants and bars overlooking the market and the port. Many of these restaurants are moderately priced compared to Grand Case and it's gourmet restaurant. Late at night the bars and clubs are vibrant. No casinos on the French side. From here you can also take a frerry to Anguilla and it's high end resorts and lovely beaches.

Best Things About the Resort:
Port de Plaisance is a quiet self contained resort with spacious accommodations.

The pool on the top floor of the resort overlooking the bay is very peaceful.

The casino has lots of prizes, giveaways, entertainment and $5 tables.

Free Internet access and if you don't have your own computer, after 5PM they allow you into the reservations office to use their computers—I couldn't believe it.

Resort Experience:
The units here are very private and comfortable - all with balconies and a water view along Simpson Bay and the marina. This resort markets to Europeans for 2-week vacations, and boaters with large yachts make this home because of their large marina. The resort is totally self-contained with pools, restaurants, a few shops, a deli and a casino with no need to leave, but you are on St. Martin—you MUST explore.

If you have a car the location is perfect -and a car is absolutely necessary for your ventures to the beaches, restaurants and casinos - or shopping, if that's your interest. There is a car rental office on premises.

In the past few years, occupancy seems very low and predominantly European. We are happy for the quiet enclave and leave the property for daily trips to the beach and at night to restaurants and casinos. The staff is friendly and try to be helpful. The casino has penny and nickel slots—in case you become low on funds—free drinks, an excellent singer nightly and on weekends a free show and drawings for cash. Last summer they opened a gourmet restaurant overlooking the casino floor.

There are no planned daily activities and children would be bored. The resort is in need of upgrading but we continue to find good value and a casual quiet ambiance here—coffee on the balcony in the morning with the rustling on leaves in the palm trees—watching the boats coming and going and planes flying over quite low in the afternoon to land at the airport across the bay.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Good
• Service: Very Good

Port de Plaisance's gold crown needs some polishing, but it is still one of the better exchanges on St. Martin for it's location and spaciousness. A long, curvy road landscaped with flowering bougainvillea leads you to what once was truly a 5-star resort.

It sits on a promontory in Simpson Bay, surrounded by water and beautiful yachts in the marina. The landscaping is lush, the staff pleasant, and its location equidistant between Marigot and Maho is superb. The resort is self contained and offers lots of amenities: a marina, three restaurants, a casino, a rooftop pool, children's playground, a sunning beach, spa, fitness room, tennis courts, snack bar, mini-mart, sundries shop, car rental, and business office. Nothing is missing.

Each time we exchange here there are fewer guests and fewer Americans, therefore some services are lessened or nonexistent. For example, there is the manager cocktail party where cocktails are served in the casino with Pringles and mini-pretzels... no manager, only a few guests and the timeshare salespeople. No pool attendant—you must bring your own snacks and drinks and obtain pool towels at the front desk. There are very few guests at the restaurants and the casino. Overall, the standards seemed to have fallen.

On the plus side, we were given a two bedroom although our exchange was for a one bedroom. The units are very large, clean, and sparsely furnished with island type furniture—nice looking but only of fair quality. The kitchen has a full refrigerator, microwave, stove, oven, dishwasher, and plenty of dishes and cookware. The all-marble bathrooms have large showers or a tub/shower combo, bidet, sink with designer faucets, corian counter tops, and enclosed cabinets. The living room/dining room open area is a nice size with plenty of storage and an armourer with TV.

The very large deck extends along the entire living room and bedroom with 2 sets of sliders for access. The deck is furnished with both regular chairs and lounge chairs, foot rests, and small snack tables. Some lower floors have partially obstructed views due to the mature foliage, but this provides shade, interest, and a nice rustling with the breeze.

Port de Plaisance does not meet US standards for a gold crown resort. It needs more manicuring and maintenance but we overlook that for a week at this quiet retreat. It's an easy drive to Marigot or Maho and a bit further to Grand Case, Orient Beach, or Phillipsburgh. The staff seems more pleasant each time that we visit and this year there is even free internet access; dial-up in your room, wifi in the lobby, or if you don't bring your own computer they will allow you to use the reservations office computer after 6pm!

If you're looking for planned activities, drinks by the pool, hustle, bustle, and nightlife, you would be best to exchange elsewhere. If you up for a quiet getaway to enjoy St. Martin's beaches and gourmet food, I'm afraid that you'll be competing with us again next year to exchange here.