My husband and I just spent a relaxing week in St. Martin (March 3 - 10, 2007). We stayed at the Jardin de Chevrise. We made our choice based on the reviews from this site and they were bang on. The hotel is very quiet and void of the antics of an all inclusive type of place. The employees seemed genuinely happy to have us and respond to our needs. One thing to note is that we had a car, a must for the island in my opinion. We opted not to buy the breakfast but instead had coffed and pastries at the boulangerie at the bottom of the hill. Later in the week I ventured down to the pool where the breakfast at the Chevrise was being served and asked if i could buy a cup of coffee. She charged me 1.50 US and I recieved a full pot of great coffee. I would suggest this as an option for anyone who like me, needs a bit of a kick start in the morning.

As noted by other members, the beds were really hard but we were either worn out each night or we got used to them because we didn't have much of a problem sleeping. The shower is really not great but for us it was more humourous than anything. The rooms were very clean and we recieved maid service twice in our week long stay. This means keep your bath towels as you may not get them replaced right away although if you went to the front desk I'm quite sure they would exchange them for you. Also we paid 15.00 US to purchase a beach towel service that allowed us to exchange our beach towels everyday.

One thing to keep in mind about htis place is that the hotel does not offer a 24 hour on call service - the reception is open from 8 - 12 and 2 - 6, so if you need anything then you have to ask during these hours. Really not an issue outside of planning ahead.

If you're waivering on staying at this hotel becuase it's a 2 star I would suggest going for it. We thought the same thing but are really happy we chose this place. It was very personable and quiet. If you are a family then I would suggest staying at the sister hotel, Orient Beach. It is basically the same but with more room. If you're only a couple, then save the few hundred bucks to go shopping in Marigot and stay at the Chevrise.

I hope this review helps and enjoy your stay!

Stayed here from 3/17 to 3/23/06 - We had a great time.

It was out 2nd trip to SXM - the 1st time we stayed at the Pelican Resort and we wanted to try the French side this time... This is NOT a resort - Not realls social - RENT A CAR!!!!!! I don't think you can stay at a place like this and really get a feel for the island without a car and the driving is real easy.

A few things - The beach I would say is 1/4 mile down a path - Maybe the last reviewer didn't find the right path but, it's not that far and easily walkable.
Before I left i couldn't find a good map or couldn't place the hotel - If you look on any may or picture - the Jardin is North right behing Mount Vernon Hotel on Mt Vernon.

The review of the room was Dead On - Small, CLEAN, OK Beds and Shower - But, the people are friendly.

What was also good about the hotel was the location - Being on the French side we experienced more late nights on that side at Grand Case (2 minutes away) which is great for water side food ( Le'Escapade was Great) and the Orient area which is fun at night....We Loved Cote Plages as well as La Chapelle...

As far as the hotel - you get what you pay for - I felt like I was at a Red Roof Inn in Disney and people are comparing it to a Disney resort complaining that the monorail doesn't pick them up....

Everything is CLEAN - Pool is clean - Oh yeah and skip the breakfast - That French pasty place on the main road back down Mt Vernon is a much better deal and probably the same pastries...

Also - There's a good market / Wine store on the way to the hotel in Grand Case where you can get some real good Cheese to go with the Bread....

One IMPORTANT note - Bring Cash for the Fench side - ATM's are on the Dutch side and for some reason, the restaurants on the French side offer 1$ = 1 Euro if you pay cash which saves you 20%!!!!!!

Also there's some much better wine deals on the Dutch side near Simpson Bay for the Yachts.... Even French Wine is cheaper..

ENJOY!!!!

The Good:
The best part about this hotel is that it is clean. It is small and quaint with a European feel. A small pool is set in a courtyard surrounded by the two-story hotel buildings. Breakfast is available by the pool if ordered ahead. Rooms have kitchenette facilities with a good refrigerator. Small private patios in each unit have straight chairs and table for dining (not lounging). The location is very quiet.

The Bad:
We are familiar with the island so we were not surprised to find that hotel a good 15 minute hike to the closest beach. The marketing implies it is close to the beach but only as the crow flies. Most people use this hotel as a place to sleep and head out each day by car.

The Ugly:
The hand-held shower in the corner of the bathroom was a bit below most American standards. The king bed was actually two (rock hard) twins pushed together.

Overall:
You get what you pay for and for a budget hotel at least this place is very clean.

Jardins de Chevrise was a pleasant surprise. We reserved a couple of months ahead of time for a stay in early January. Because it was their high season, at a certain point our room became prepaid with no refund. At the last minute, we had to cancel two of the three nights we had planned to stay there. I e-mailed Jardins de Chevrise, and they couldn't have been more accommodating. They immediately offered to change our reservation and charged us for only one night. We were greeted graciously when we arrived, and there were tropical drinks waiting for us in our room. We would have liked to stay longer, but we had booked a cruise which left the next day.

The inn consists of several buildings around a pool and patio area. Orient Beach is a short walk through the gardens and along a trail. Each room has a kitchenette with stove and refrigerator. Our room also had a balcony complete with table and chairs. We found a small bakery nearby and a more complete grocery store up the hill along the main road. If you wish, you can have an enjoyable breakfast on the patio near the pool.

Jardins de Chevrise is on the French side, on the other side of the island from the main airport. We arrived by shared taxi van. The half-hour ride was enjoyable and scenic. The next day, the inn called the taxi service and the same van and driver arrived to pick us up and take us to the cruise port!

This is a great place to stay for rest and relaxation. The rates are reasonable and the staff is friendly and helpful. We would definitely stay there again.