Wannabe From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 675 posts, RR: 3 Posted (4 years 7 months 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 2918 times:
So my wife calls me this afternoon and tells me that she just booked a trip for the family to the Royal Islander Club in St. Maarten for next June. She tells me that they have a beach with good views of the airport. I've wanted to go there for years, but figured there was no way she would ever want to stay there. I doubt she understands how close to the airport we are. Has anyone ever stayed there (dumb question on this forum)? Any reviews would be appreciated. Also....I assume a 70-200 F4L will be adaquate?
ANITIX87 From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 3233 posts, RR: 14 Reply 1, posted (4 years 7 months 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 2880 times:
The 70-200 will be WAY too long a lens if you're on Maho beach. It may be ok for shots from the hotel north of the airport, but from Maho beach you'll never, ever need more than 25mm, IF that!
TIS
www.stellaryear.com: Canon EOS 50D, Canon EOS 5DMkII, Sigma 50mm 1.4, Canon 24-70 2.8L II, Canon 100mm 2.8L, Canon 100-4
Viv From Ireland, joined May 2005, 3106 posts, RR: 31 Reply 2, posted (4 years 7 months 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 2858 times:
Quoting Wannabe (Thread starter): So my wife calls me this afternoon and tells me that she just booked a trip for the family to the Royal Islander Club in St. Maarten for next June.
Lucky devil to have such a good wife!
Nikon D700, Nikkor 80-400, Fuji X Pro 1, Fujinon 35 f/1.4, Fujinon 18 f/2
AC888YOW From Canada, joined Jan 2005, 510 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (4 years 7 months 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 2834 times:
I've stayed at the Sonesta, which is right beside the Islander Club. The airport is VERY close (you can walk to the terminal in less than 10 min), and the runway threshold is only a couple hundred meters away.
On Maho Beach I shot mostly using my 24-105mm lens. 24mm was just wide enough to shoot the Air France 343 or Corsair 744 side-on from the rocks in front of SSBB. 24-105mm was perfect to shoot everything else (757s, 320s, etc.) from the beach, including shots over the fence of aircraft taxiing, etc.
I also brought my 10-22mm and 100-400mm, which I busted out a few times to obtain some different shots away from the beach.
All shots were made with a Canon 20D having 1.6x crop factor.
JRowson From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 345 posts, RR: 13 Reply 4, posted (4 years 7 months 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 2756 times:
I mainly used my 24-105 on the beach and from the Sunset Beach Bar. 10-22 was used for close-ups on the beach. I only used a 70-200 a couple of times whilst down on the beach and that was for some close-ups of the smaller stuff.
James Rowson. Canonite and lover of all things L. JAR Photography.
Rampkontroler From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 859 posts, RR: 7 Reply 5, posted (4 years 7 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2675 times:
I highly recommend Mary's Boon Beach resort. It was founded years ago by an aviation nut and is situated next to the runway and has the most awesome beach that goes all along the runway and is almost 100% private and undeveloped:
744flyer From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 62 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (4 years 7 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2668 times:
Hey,
on the far side of the airport, there's a small hotel called Mary's Boon. When I went down there this past summer, she let me go up on the roof and take some pictures of departing planes even though I wasn't even staying there....very nice people, and phenomenal views.
I also stayed at the Royal Islander club...it is an amazing place. And the pool is RIGHT by the runway, and even has a 'deck' you can go up on to see the planes from.
I had a 10-24mm lens, and it worked out GREAT. The 200mm could also come in handy.
Have a great trip.
Luke Rafferty
Wannabe From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 675 posts, RR: 3 Reply 10, posted (4 years 7 months 5 hours ago) and read 2543 times:
Thanks for all of the advice and comments. My wife figured that indulging my hobby will give her and my daughters free reign to shop. Who am I to argue? As I mentioned, we are staying at the Royal Islander, but I will head over to Mary Boons to see if I can use their roof. Does anyone know how the recovery is going after this years hurricane season. Recent pictures of the beach show very little sand. Evidently there was substantial damage. Can anyone confirm?
Flying Belgian From Belgium, joined Jun 2001, 2360 posts, RR: 10 Reply 11, posted (4 years 6 months 4 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 2506 times:
Quoting Wannabe (Reply 10): Thanks for all of the advice and comments. My wife figured that indulging my hobby will give her and my daughters free reign to shop. Who am I to argue? As I mentioned, we are staying at the Royal Islander, but I will head over to Mary Boons to see if I can use their roof. Does anyone know how the recovery is going after this years hurricane season. Recent pictures of the beach show very little sand. Evidently there was substantial damage. Can anyone confirm?
Wannabe
A friend of mine is on a cruise in the Carrib at the very moment. He departed San Juan and stopped in SXM. He told me by text message that SXM sustained several damages, and many facilities need heavy repairs. And the access to Maho Beach wasn't easy at all. Don't ask me precisions, I don't have any at the moment !! I will post more when he comes back in Belgium at the end of this week.
Torch From Canada, joined Jun 2005, 3 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (4 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days ago) and read 2175 times:
St. Maarten sustained significant damage from Hurricane Omar. The Royal Islander was heavily damaged and is closed for repairs. I have heard different dates for reopening, ranging from January until June. You might want to check with the resort.
Photography from the Royal Islander is spectacular and your lense is more than enough. In June, you will have the sun behind you at the Royal Islander. The shots for Sunset Beach Bar are made in the winter when the sun travels to the west via the southerly route.
The Sunset Beach Bar has reopened under the name Sunset Bar and Grill and also sustained significant damage from Omar. I have been told that the beach is returning. There was no sand for several days following Omar due to erosion. Also a new fence has been built for the airport as the old one was blown over by Omar.
Have a great vacation - I have been 4 times now and am always as excited by the aircraft action as on my first visit.
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From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 675 posts, 
From Ireland, joined May 2005, 3106 posts, 
From Canada, joined Jan 2005, 510 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 345 posts, 
she will when the first 747 takes off! You better make use of this holiday as I have a nasty feeling that she won't want to come back!! 
From Belgium, joined Jun 2001, 2360 posts, 
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