September, 2009: Josh, We cannot thank you enough for helping to make our "relaxing" vacation just that... relaxing. We enjoyed every minute. We loved that Villas on Great Bay is a lovely small complex. Your location is perfect for anyone wanting a large beach + you are just a few minutes walk from the Philipsburg shopping district. We loved your morning visits with Sasha and Sammi(Josh's dogs) to deliver the morning paper and help us with any questions and give us ideas of things to do and see. Knowing you live on the premise made us very comfortable. The villas definitely exceeded our expectations and we have recommended you to our friends. The Lolos were great for local food - we visited one on Grand Case (Josh recommended) and it was excellent. We actually loved visiting St Maarten in September because it was considered off season, which meant less tourists. We plan on coming back next September.... See you then!! Sharon & Curt Shepherd
August 2009: Our stay at the Great Villas could not have been any more enjoyable. The layout of the villas, the location, certainly surpassed our expectations. During our week long stay we had the opportunity to explore a great deal of the island and I truly believe we found the best place to stay. Could not ask for anything more. Thank you and we look forward to returning in 2010!Brad Ogden
June 2009: This was our second visit to Great Bay Villas. We love to stay there for many reason; the beach is less than 100 yards away, the pool is awesome and less than 30 feet from your door; It is safe and the grounds are very well maintained as well as the inside of the townhouses. The Boardwalk in Phillipsburg is a short walk down the beach and is a great place to get to know Phillipsburg. Yes there are many touristy type places along the Boardwalk, but in my opinion, that makes it cool, plus the Get Wet Bar and The Green House are right along there. Parking is real easy and there are grocery stores very close. We like to walk to La Petite, a french bakery, for breakfast or the Green House for lunch and dinner. The Green House has an awesome Happy Hour and several pool tables that are always available, plus good reasonably price food. From the villas, it takes about 20-25 minutes to drive to Orient Beach or Grand Case, depending on which way you go. Plus you have the personal attention of Josh if you need anything. Overall, Great Bay Villas are a great place to stay while in paradise! Looking forwrad to our new trip!!!!Randy & Lisa Bennett
August 2009:Thanks again for EVERYTHING last week! Everyone had a ball!!! And Mike and I couldn't have been happier with how the wedding ceremony and reception went! We really appreciate all of your help over the past months in getting everything situated, and for your help to organize the catamaran trip! It was just one more event that made the week that much more fantastic!
My husband and I just returned from the fabulous Villas on Great Bay after staying for a week with family and friends for our wedding and honeymoon. The Villas were the perfect place for us to be. I found it online on TripAdvisor and was very impressed from my first communication with Josh (he responded extremely quickly), to my first impression upon seeing the Villas in person (beautiful and set in the middle of paradise). We were even greeted with a cooler full of chilled beverages awaiting us! Josh was very quick to respond to my many emails, and extremely helpful/easygoing/accommodating in helping me to plan my wedding from the States. He even helped me get in contact with a wedding planner and catering company for our event. This was the first wedding done on the grounds at the Villas, and everything was spectacular! Josh pretty much gave us free reign of any amenities that we needed (tables, chairs, etc.) and let us turn our event into what we had envisioned!
We had a group of 24 adults that came to St. Maarten (all for the first time) and everyone was impressed with the Villas, the location, the proximity to shopping, beach, casinos, and restaurants. There were things for everyone's taste! Josh helped us set up a Golden Eagle catamaran trip (which was awesome!!!) and went way beyond to advise us on the hot spots and things to do. He was always quick with a phone number if he didn't have the info on hand. Every single person in our group has said when they come back to St. Maarten, they'll be staying at the Villas.
The Villas were a great place for our group. We took up 7 of the villas and the pool/breezeway were our meeting ground every morning, afternoon and night. We felt very safe (thanks to the locked gates around the property) and we never felt the need to lock our doors when at the pool or visiting others' villas. The security guard was extremely helpful too - whether it was helping to unload the garbage, find a bbq to use or look for a missing wallet (which was just misplaced).
We had two people who rented cars and they never had a problem parking right in front of the property.
I could go on and on about how wonderful the villas are and how helpful Josh was! It made our stay that much more enjoyable! I would highly recommend the Villas on Great Bay, whether it's for a large group or just a couple of people! Daniel
March 2009 This was absolutely our best trip ever and we travel 3-4 times a year. We usually do all inclusive vacations and decided to try something different. I surfed the Internet and found this wonderful villa complex and must say I have found a gem. We will be returning again for more then the two weeks we stayed this year. Location was absolutely perfect. We felt very safe at all times. Josh who manages the villas knows his stuff and is always on hand to answer questions and help you plan a day if need be. He has two wonderful dogs names Sammy and Sasha both females and this really made our vacation as we are big dog lovers and these two are big sucks. We really did feel that we were at our home away from home. The villas are two storey, ours had 1.5 bathrooms with a full kitchen, living dining room area and a walk out from the bedroom and from the lower level into a private lanai. What more would anyone want. It was truly paradise. We enjoyed breakfast in always and had food on hand to make lunch if needed. We always walked the beach after 11am and returned mid to late afternoon after visiting many shopping and bar establishments during our walk. We sometimes had a great appetizer mid/later afternoon that filled us into the evening and then maybe enjoyed a snack or something later on if required. A little grocery just steps from the villa that offered everything that you would ever need to buy to put into the villa. We walked further down to a larger grocery for more variety. Josh will give you directions to a great bakery for good pastries and croissants for morning breakfast to enjoy with your coffee while you read the paper that he delivers daily to keep you abreast with the news if you want. The pool was so relaxing and we like our pool warm and this pool was refreshing getting in but once you were in I am sure it was 80 degrees. The gardens are gorgeous and the guests that arrive are both interesting and friendly. Someone always different but we enjoyed everyone's company. We were in villa 6 and it is very tastefully decorated. We did have the opportunity to view other villas and they are all well decorated to each individual owner and each one truly a gem whether you are right on the ocean or enjoying a villa in the gardens with just a short maybe 15 steps to the waterfront. It is very peaceful and I enjoyed watching the ships come in every day. Many visitors to the island but most people are very friendly. If you decide to book any of the 12 villas on this property I am sure you will not be disappointed...as I said earlier this was AWESOME....no words can really describe one of the best vacations that we have ever experienced. Thank you Josh and Zoey for your hospitality and to allow us to enjoy your dogs as if they were our own. Cheers to both of you and we will definitely see you next year....Patti Wyborn, Barrie, Ontario
January 2009 Once again we had a fabulous time at The Villas. Second time back in 6 months and we will definitely return again. My husband is already trying to figure out when we can return. We love the convenience of being on the beach and also being able to walk to the town of Philipsburg. We enjoy sitting out on the patio and meeting so many interesting people that have so many stories to share. Can't forget Sam and Sasha who come and visit us occasionally in the morning. Each time we have been there we come back home feeling well rested and relaxed. So here's to hopefully seeing you soon. Definitely well satisfied travelers.
Dean & Robin Bucher, Lititz Pennsylvania.
January 2009 Well……we just spent another month at our “home away from home” and can’t wait to go back again SOON!! Sigh……
The Villas at Great Bay have a special ambiance that you will not get anywhere else in the Caribbean. It is a small complex, directly on the Great Bay waterfront. You can watch cruise ships come and go…..and do they ever look beautiful at night when they leave! You can lounge on the beach or on the patio by the pool…..your big decision of the day! You can choose whatever lounge chair you want….no need to “reserve your spot” early in the morning as is the norm at so many other resorts! You can drive for 15 minutes in either direction and go to yet another beach! (I think there are 35 to choose from…). Beach….beach….beach….
You can cook a gourmet dinner in your fully-equipped kitchen, have a barbeque, or you can walk down the beach to Phillipsburg in 5 minutes and have dinner at the many wonderful restaurants in town.
You can always depend on Josh to bring your paper in the morning (he takes this opportunity to make sure all is well and happy) and he also frequently delivers fresh-popped popcorn! He is always there when you need him….the place just wouldn’t be the same without the personal touch of Josh. He goes above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that your stay is perfect! His wife, Zoe, is a sweetheart, too!
As we said in our testimonial from last year, we really don’t want the whole world to know how awesome the Villas at Great Bay are, because we want to make sure there’s always room for us when we come back…..which will be again next year! Paul, Danita, Norman
February 2009 Rejuvenating is the first word that comes to my mind, as I reflect on my most recent stay at "The Villas." The word is rich in meaning and in history. First of all, perhaps along with the Honicks, owners of Unit #4, I am one of the most frequent visitors of what I refer to as "heaven.'' My 2009 visit of 16 days was my 33rd time enjoying the beauty and uniqueness of "The Villas." Over the years, starting in 1976, I have witnessed the height, the depth, the waning and the wanting of this precious piece of Creation. From its pristine, unhampered natural beauty to its intersecting the major roads of Phillipsburg, "The Villas" have sustained and maintained its prominent place -- for which I am delighted and to which I am a living witness. But, perhaps, I stray ...
Ergo, back to my word: 'rejuvenating,' is an appropriate descriptive not only in terms of my 33rd respite in 'heaven.' But more so to the reality of "The Villas" being remodeled, reshaped and restored. Thanks to the direction of the board of directors, new life has come to this property. Under the skillful, watchful, sensitive and caring eye, hand and heart of manager, Josh Mayhew, has the dream of 'rejuvenating' been made real - for which I am ever so glad and happy. Along with Bob and 'Sam' Bailey, Josh definitely ranks as the most perfect managers of what was once called "The TowneHouses."
I cannot wait for visit #34, to 'beach whale' myself, read, sun, cook, be silent ... knowing full well how nicely and dutifully Josh will handle everyone's concerns; how the interchange of guests will be friendly and unimposing; how owners will display a sincere welcome, let alone a most generous kindness [e.g., Honicks]; how insistent Sasha and Sammy will be; how bright the outlook is for "The Villas"; but even beyond how luxiuriously time will past so Divinely fast... Father Mike
January 2009 What keeps us coming back year after year (for 8 yrs) to this paradise on earth.? To say we love St Maartin and staying at the Villas is putting it mildly. However we hesitate to rave too much for fear that our home away from home will not be available when we want to be there. Josh is terrific, from his early morning delivery of the papers to his afternoon delivery of freshly popped pop-corn, a smile on his face and a cheery greeting, all make for a pleasant stay. Can't wait until we return next year. Krengel
January 2009 We really had a great time and Sint Maarten/ St-Martin and we all loved the villa for its central location, its comfort and the pool/beach combo…and also for your great help of course. I am sure every day where the temperature will hit -20C, Isabelle will look at the Web cam and dream about returning! Thanks again for everything and I hope we will have the pleasure of returning to The Villas on Great Bay. Martin Provost
January 2009 I stayed in several different places on SXM before I ran across the Villas, but now I can't imagine staying anywhere else. In fact, I plan my visits to the "Friendly Island" around availability at this property. Each villa has all the comforts of home, plus the luxury of a beautiful white sand beach right outside the door and a property manager (Josh) who makes sure that every thing is perfect from the minute you arrive. The property is quiet and secure, the grounds are lush and well tended and it is just close enough to Philipsburg to make shopping or dining out an easy walk. But be warned, once you get settled in at the Villas, you may not want to leave. Sitting on the patio or floating in the pool, watching the boats in Great Bay is addictively relaxing! Cheers,Josh! And thanks for another unforgettable visit! -- Kay, Texas
Jan 2008, For selfish reasons, we are hesitant to tell the world what we think of the Villas. If everyone knows how WONDERFUL it is, everyone will want to stay there! We would like it to stay just as it is.....the best kept secret in the Caribbean! We stayed for a month in January and we are already planning a return trip next year! At the Villas you will find what you will NEVER find at your average resort - an uncrowded white sand beach at your doorstep, an uncrowded swimming pool, lounge chairs galore with lots of room between them, peace and quiet, privacy, and.....best of all, a manager (Josh) who knows you by name, actually CARES about you, and goes out of his way to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable! The villas have everything you need and, if you are missing something, Josh will take care of it. The little nearby grocery store is a great convenience and the prices are reasonable. It is so nice to have Philipsburg close enough to walk to but far enough away that you don't even notice it's there. Watching the beautiful cruise ships from your front door is amazing! Driving on the island is a breeze - don't hesitate to rent a car (Josh takes care of that, too!) and see the sights, visit the many beautiful beaches, experience the dining and shopping on the French side (St. Martin), and......don't miss a feed-up of ribs at one of the seaside BBQ's in Grand Case! Yummy and cheap!
November 2008 St. Maarten, a beautiful blue gem with crystal clear waters. The Villas on Great Bay was an ideal place to enjoy this island gem. The Villas were
closely located to St.Maarteen's shopping haven in Phillisburg and the beautiful beach of Great Bay was on our door steps. Josh and his dogs (Sam andSasha) were good hosts and ensured we were well taken care of during our stay.
A beautiful 8 days well spent! Tameika
October 2008 For our first time in St Maarten, on our honeymoon, we chose to stay at the Villas at Great Bay and had an amazing trip. From initially booking our trip we received excellent customer service and couldn’t wait to get there! We were welcomed with a friendly face (Josh), who made sure to show us around and made us feel at home. Our villa was beautiful with a view that was breath taking. Through our whole stay, Josh and Zoey assisted us with any questions we had about restaurants, beaches, etc. and were tremendously helpful in making sure we got the island experience. Although Hurricane Omar passed through during our stay, it didn’t dampen our memorable experience that we will always remember! Josh was great in making sure we had candles and passed by to see if we needed anything and was there through the storm. Our weeklong trip went by so quickly and we can’t wait to get back! Thanks again Josh and Zoey. Toula and Brian King
May 2008: Me and my 3 girlfriends spend 12 days in the Villas and I must say that we loved and enjoyed our stay. Fantastic location, good management(thanks Josh!!) and great facilities. We defenitly recommend this paradise-place to everybody who wants have a relaxed and comfortable vacation on this paradise-Island! X. Ramos
June 2008:We loved every moment of our vacation in St. Maarten! This was themost relaxing vacation we have ever had. The beautiful white sand beachwas quiet and uncrowded. The Villas are well cared for, secure and very comfortable. It truly is a home away from home. The location is perfect with dining, shopping, diving, and casinos all within walking distance.The manager, Josh is so helpful and accommodating as were all the staff. Josh's suggestions and advice were priceless. We definitely recommend renting a car to enjoy all the island has to offer. Lashley
May 2008:Me and my 3 girlfriends spend 12 days in the Villas and I must say that we loved and enjoyed our stay. Fantastic location, good management(thanks Josh!!) and great facilities. We defenitly recommend this paradise-place to everybody who wants have a relaxed and comfortable vacation on this paradise-Island!Ramos
May 2008:When booking on the internet you always arrive at your destination with mixed feelings. We were excited about spending ten days in St Maarten but having never seen the Villas on Great Bay before we were cautiously optimistic. We arrived about two hours early but our Villa was ready and the complex beautiful. Each Villa is secluded so if you wish to have privacy and relax you certainly can do that but if you feel like mingling with other guests the pool area is perfect for conversation. Our villa was spacious and clean. We had contacted Josh about getting a highchair and a pack n play for our two year old, everything was in the villa. The outdoor patios were a great place to have coffee in the morning and relax while watching the ocean. The complex location is an easy walk into town for shopping or restaurants. We highly recommend the Villas on Great Bay and look forward to a return visit. Thanks for everything,Joe, Chris & Madison
May 2008:Thank you again for your hospitality and help in guiding us to the best activities. We had a great time and will have many long term memories of the island. We wish we had a couple of more days because we wanted to do more snorkelling but just ran out of time.
Cheers,Steve, Maria, Laura and Ryan Ouellette.
May 2008: Thank you for your services and making our stay at the Villas a memorable one
It was so much more than we anticipated. We visit St.Maarten regularly and I believe we have now found our perfect resting place!!
The villas are located in an ideal spot and makes it convenient to get around. Access to the shopping center of Philipsburg is just a 5 minute walk away and the Great Bay Beach is literally at your "door-step". The gardens are luscious and well kept as well as the pool area and terraces. The villa was spacious and the interior design gave us a true sense of being in the Caribbean.
We already look forward to our next visit! Thank you for your hospitality.
All the best to you and your lovely wife, Jacquelyn
May 2008:Our St. Maarten visit and specifically our stay at Villas on Great Bay was more than we could have imagined. It was our first time visiting the island. We found the Villas to be very centrally located; easy walking distances to grocery stores, the "water excursions" and the boardwalk in Phillipsburg. The Villas themselves are roomy, clean, clean, clean and have everything a person could want. Josh impressed us all when he somehow intuitively knew we were parking in front of the Villas and he came out to welcome us and help us get acquainted with the property. We settled in really fast, getting to know the other people who were to be our neighbours for our time there. Josh is a fountain of information whether you need to know directions to main roads, available excursions and made reservations for us. Through Josh, we met an incredible taxi driver who took a real interest in us and had no qualms about being there for us when we had to go to the airport at 5:00 a.m. The fact that there are people such as this available to the guests at the Villas speaks volumes of Josh's care of the guests. We've only been home 1 week and we can hardly wait until we can
come back. Jan & Ken Parent. Calgary, Alberta
April 2008:I wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed ourselves @ The Villas. It was one of the most restful vacations we've ever had. We appreciated all your help during our stay. The villa we stayed in was just as amazing as the photos we had seen on line. It was just like a home away from home. Morning coffee will never be the same without having the beautiful
oceanview I enjoyed every morning. Karen Rogg
April 2008: We had a great time and loved the Villa. The location is perfect and the accommodations were quite comfortable. We also enjoyed watching the guests from the big resort walk down the beach and look at us sitting by the pool like they would prefer to trade places. I have been recommending the Villas on the TTOL website but I am concerned about letting the secret out. Thanks again for all your help and hospitality. We will be in touch shortly regarding next years reservations. Walt Smith
April 2008: We really enjoyed our stay at Great Bay Villas. We found the accommodations to be roomy, the kitchen well equipped and the complex quite nice and very secure. The beachfront is right there outside your door as is a wonderful pool and patio. The management is quite helpful with all sorts of info on dining and activity options. If you are looking for a quiet spot, a small friendly complex that is away from the hub bub, but located within walking distance to downtown Phillipsburg shopping and restaurants then this is a good choice. We are not into the big "resort" type places, so this was perfect for us. St. Martin is a wonderful island with many places to explore and some great beaches, some full of activity and some very quiet. If you have never been there, the give this island a try, you won't be disappointed. Mary
March 2008, Words can't express what a wonderful trip Michael & I had. Your place is
very welcoming; it was exactly what we needed. I will most definitely be
returning again. I've already given your website out to other families.
Thanks again for everything & I will be in touch soon. Jodie Nini
Nov. 2007: My fourth stay and each time gets better. The villas, the people, and the management (Josh) and managements’ wife (Zoe) are amazing…it’s like leaving home to visit friends and family…but you get better weather, scenery, food and fun…without the housework and headaches! Like winning the lottery (almost). Thanks for the hangover guys- seriously. See you next time and it’s my turn for dinner!!!Cheers,Jill, Toronto
Feb, 2008: Thank you very much Josh! We did enjoy our stay...we liked the location. Nice to have a quiet beach basically to ourselves...all beaches were close enough for a nice day trip! Plenty of good restaurants with in walking distance!
Shari B. Gardner
Oct, 2007: The Villas are truely a home on the Caribbean. We have been returning for the past eight years- and are booked for three visits this year. The facilities are comfortable, modern, private- accessability to restaurants, gambling, shopping are all pluses. And the management is wonderful. Josh is a hands on person and can never do enough to accommodate you.
The Popoks - New Jersey
11-2005: We've already spent 9 days at a local time share
resort, which was nice, but this place of yours is "the best". I
found myself thinking "Why would I want to go anywhere else on this
island?". I like it here so very much. You have a great place here
and good managers. Thank you for allowing us to share it with you.
The Irvin's- Apples Valley, California
05-06: Thank you so much
for a vacation of a lifetime. This villa is beautiful and we will
take home some very wonderful memories.
The Lees-Winston Salem,
North Carolina
Thank you so much! Boy did we need this
vacation. And what a view you have-your villa is just beautiful. I
hope we can come again soon.
The Marley's-Greensboro, North
Carolina
12-05: This villa is fabulous! We've been to St.
Maarten twice before (and to many other islands) and never have we
had such a wonderful, relaxing time. You and the management have
provided a wonderful setting. We WILL be back.
The Ganger
Family
03-06: We enjoyed our week immensely. We found your
place very comfortable and relaxing. We enjoyed the patio, the sun,
the naked people, the beer and the pool. Josh (the manager) was
great.
The Carnes-Denver, Colorado
04-06: It has been a
pleasure from start to finish. We had an absolutely wonderful time
this week. Your villa is just perfect. Josh was a major help to us
and doubled our fun. It is so beautiful here we are having a hard
time packing up to go home. We have decided to come back very
soon-can't wait.
The Johnson's-Cape Cod, Mass
07-06: I have to
tell you that the many years that I have been visiting St. Maarten
(since 1990) my husband and I have stayed at numerous places-looking
for the "right one". I must say we have found it! Your place is just
great-you have thought about every single detail and I am sure that
every person that stays at the villas can appreciate that. My
husband does have one complaint....not having enough time to stay
longer. Thank you, it was great. And as my husband said "You have us
for life".
Torres, San Juan, Puerto Rico
06-06: What a
great
time! Josh was a great help several times. We know who to call fro a
great place.
The Dolacks-Louisville KY
06-06: You have a
great place here. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
George &
Kay
08-06: We enjoyed our month. Hope we can come back in the
winter. We had a nice honeymoon.
Fulz-Tarpon Springs
FL
10-06: A country of wonderful "new made" friends.
Wonderful food, wonderful facilities, wonderful weather-Oh, did I
say we had a wonderful time? PS-Josh was terrific, he made our stay
one of the most memorable.
Pearlman-South Carolina
01-06: We
will never stay in a hotel here again. This was so much more fun and
comfortable. We met some nice people. Had a good time, place was
great, Josh was great. Starr
04-06: Our first family vacation
& we had the best time ever. It's going to be a hard act to
follow. It was everything we wanted. Lots of relaxing, swimming,
sun, fun, island adventures & of course just doing as we
pleased. Thanks so much to Josh. He was always helpful & full of
good cheer.
06-06: My son & I love this island. This is
my 2nd time here & it is my favorite Island. The condo reflects
the lifestyle here. It was calming the minute we walked in. I also
thought the staff was great as well as the neighbors.
Miller-Louisville KY
10-06: Thanks for a great vacation, you are awesome. The people at the Villas are so welcoming, you feel like you are amongst family. The gardens in the Villa are maintained weekly and the variety of plants are beautiful and attract some gorgeous birds and butterflies. Mornings were pure joy sitting in our private alcove, watching the cruise ships come in, and on the rare occassions that we were up early enough, watching a glorious sunrise.. The Villas themselves are spacious and clean and if something is needed, Josh is right there to make it right. The kitchens are a nice size and there is a corner store within walking distance that sells fresh veggies, meat,alcohol and everything else you may require. the kitchen is really helpful for warming up leftovers from one of the local BBQs, where you can't possibly manage to finish off their dishes. I really liked the convenience of the telephone and email. Thanks again, next time - we go for beer right?
Love Great Bay Villas! Teresa and the beautiful girls- CANADA
8-22-07: Josh, I just wanted to thank you again for everything. We had an amazing time on St. Maarten. The Villa was just as perfect as we remembered. It is the ideal place to relax and soak up some sun. We'll see you next year! Samantha - Ohio
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