hotel review: hilton vacation club - flamingo beach
LOCATED IN PELICAN KEY, ST. MAARTEN
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
The hotel is conveniently located in the center of Pelican Key. You’ll find a quickie mart and several great restaurants surrounding the hotel, all within a quick 2-5 minute walk. The area has a good amount of security gates as each hotel has its own, so you’ll feel safe walking around, even at night. Juliet’s Bistro (Great food) and The Red Piano (incredible nightlife) are directly across the street. And these two places are really all you need! It makes it easy to skip a car rental if you want.
CHECKING INTO THE HOTEL
Getting to the hotel was very easy, and I hired JoJunie Tours to be my transportation to/from the airport since the hotel does not offer airport transportation. The hotel is about 10 minutes from the airport, so it’s close enough to hop on over but far enough away that you don’t hear the planes much from your room.
I arrived around 2:30pm so I assumed my room would not be ready. It wasn’t a big deal; I just changed my clothes and headed to the beach while they held my luggage until my room was ready. It only took about 25 mins or so.
The front desk was super friendly; they memorized who I was and called me by name the whole time I was there. I was asked once about attending a presentation, and I just told them I couldn’t because my spouse was not present. (This is true for all timeshares; if you are married, your spouse has to be there as both parties have to make decisions.) They gave me some information about local events, and I headed straight to my room.
KING STUDIO OCEAN VIEW ROOM
This is a Vacation Club hotel, so all rooms have a full kitchen and dining area. Stocked with everything you need for a family of 4, and it felt very Airbnbish. It was a lot of space for me, but I think it would be perfect for a family of 3 or 4. There are 2 TVs and a pocket wall to close the doors if you need privacy. What I loved the most about my room (located in building 7) was that it was right on the beach, I had a fantastic view of the sunset, and I was close enough to hear the waves crashing at night. It was so relaxing!
PELICAN BEACH BAR & GRILL
There’s a restaurant on site called that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And it’s pretty good, and I ordered from there a few times. The first night I was there, I ordered the surf & turf; it wasn’t terrible for the price. While there, I started chatting with Nina at the bar; let me say she was one of the funniest bartenders I’ve spoken with in ages! She made a mean Bay Breeze and also busted out some pretty terrific shots. She seemed to work every day that I swung by, and I was happy that I had the opportunity to meet her!
PERFECT FOR FAMILIES
Overall, I really enjoyed my stay at the Hilton Vacation Club – St. Maarten. It made me miss my kids being little and being able to watch them play at the beach! This place is perfect for families—plenty of space in the rooms, a large pool, and calm waters at the beach. It comes for a reasonable price, as you can usually find rooms for less than $250 a night (or use your Hilton Rewards Points!).
ANOTHER 5-STAR HOTEL
Hilton has a way of capturing great experiences, and this hotel is on par with its standards. If you are looking for a place to stay that’s a little outside the box, book your trip to St. Maarten. It’s more than just a cruise ship stop! It’s a grand little island filled with a welcoming and close-knit community. Everyone knows everyone, and people go out of their way to learn your name!