“Laissez les bons temps rouler.”
It’s on a sign above the door at the Infinity Bar.
It’s that old French refrain, “Let the good times roll.”
And the moment you walk into the Oyster Bay Beach Resort, you understand.
The 180-room resort that straddles St Maarten’s Oyster Pond and the Caribbean Sea has long been one of those legendary places to stay in the Caribbean, the ones for Caribbean aficionados.
It’s the one that always seems to draw beach seekers who have fallen in love with the Caribbean, on an island that instantly makes you fall in love.
And it’s never been better, this place, perched above the ocean with a stunning view toward St Barth, at the edge of the comforting sands of Dawn Beach.
Indeed, the rooms are bright and breezy, and the Mainsail Pentbouse units, all of which come with their own ocean-view hot tubs, just might be the most spectacular rooms on the whole island.
And the resort is making more new additions, from a recently-launched putting green to the new Veranda Market and Bistro.
And perhaps most notably, it’s the perfect location in St Maarten.
Oyster Pond is right at the edge of the Dutch-French border, meaning it’s an easy trip both to Philipsburg and to the sights and sounds of Orient Bay and, a little further on, the culinary wonders of Grand Case.
That’s a rather privileged perch on the island – a bit of the best of both worlds.
But when the guests aren’t out exploring, they’re likely to be found at the pool and the Infinity Bar, a town square of sorts, one of the fulcrums of the resort, expertly stewarded by the famous Wanda.
Wanda has been here for 16 years; she’s in love with the place, too, serving up all manner of libation and the resort’s signature drink: the Guavaberry Colada.
It’s got St Maarten’s locally-made Guavaberry Liqueur, dark rum, pineapple and Coco Lopez, and it’s almost impossibly delicious.
As Wanda makes her way around the pool, she’s serenaded with salutes from guests — everybody knows her.
And that’s not a surprise at place that has developed one of the most impressively loyal followings in the Caribbean.
“Some guests come back two and three times a year,” Wanda tells me.
I ask her about the sign, and she says it’s a nod to the ongoing Owner’s Appreciation month, a celebration of the resort’s vacation club owners.
It may just be up for the month.
But here, it’s still good all year.
For more, visit the Oyster Bay Beach Resort.
See more in the latest CJ Video at the top of the page.