Trip Advisor Review from March 18, 2010:
Guests from London, UK
Roomy & pleasant apartment with balcony. Less than 10 minutes walk from the main drag of restaurants in Grand Case. Just yards from the petit plage beach which is really nice and quiet. Suzi, the host, was really kind and helpful. I left behind some clothes in the closet and she took them to the port and put them on a boat for me to collect at our next destination!
Trip Advisor Review from February 4, 2010:
Guests from Cleveland
The Dove's Nest is a hidden gem. The perfect balance of luxury and affordability just a 5 minute walk from the heart of Grand Case. The owners, Emile & Suzy, were extremely gracious and welcoming throughout the 12 days we spent in their condo.
Dove's Nest is located on Petite Plage Beach, right next to Grand Case Beach Club and a stone's throw from the nightlife and fine restaurants of Grand Case. It is a small condo complex of about 6 one and two bedroom units in one building. Emile & Suzy live in one of the units and rent the rest out to those who are lucky enough to discover them. We stayed in a one bedroom unit that was previously rented by a long term renter. It was a spacious unit with a large living room / kitchen area, a large bedroom, one bathroom, and a balcony with a beautiful view.
Like I mentioned, Suzy & Emile were both wonderful throughout our stay. One evening they invited all their guests to join them for a wonderful meal that included fresh lobster, mahi mahi Emile had caught the day before, ribs, chicken, too many side dishes to count, wine, beer, homemade liquors, and even dessert. It was fun to spend an evening with them and their family and enjoy the wonderful food. They also provided us with free ferry passes to Pinel Island, beach umbrellas, beach chairs, a baby crib & highchair, toys, a kayak, and lots of other great service that you don't find at a resort. They have a very friendly woman and helper that come 3 times a week to clean the condo and they also have a washer & dryer if you need to do a quick load. Linens, including beach towels, are included with the condo, a very nice plus that saves room in the suitcase.
Trip Advisor Review from January 27, 2010:
Guests from Toronto, Canada
Just what we were looking for. We are not keen on large resorts, crowded beaches and being surrounded by hordes of tourists and prefer being somewhat off the beaten path. That's not always easy, especially if you only have a week or so for a holiday. Grand Case is a fun little town and the whole island is easy to get around to find a different amazing beach every day. The location of the Dove's nest is perfect - at the end of the street - no noise but only a short walk to all the restaurants. It's less than a minute down the driveway to Petite Plage which is a lovely quiet beach. Other than a few local houses, the neighbours are 2 expensive rental houses hidden behind the trees. Added bonus is that these houses put a gate up so Dove's Nest is in a very secure area.
Our unit was a 1 bedroom, close to 1000 sqf, with a private terrace and a fully equipped kitchen. It's not a 5 star furniture wise, but it's all solid and comfortable. There is a big modern grocery store a 3 minute drive away. It's more expensive than shopping on the Dutch side, but very practical.......
Trip Advisor Review from January 16, 2010:
Guests from Boston
Our stay at "Dove's Nest" was a perfect ending of our vacation on St.Martin. The owners Emile and Suzy were extremely helpful and flexible with all our requests. The guest house itself is a "beauty" located at the very end of the Grand Case village in a secluded quiet area with a lovely sandy beach and clear waters. A definite 5-star vacation place.
From: Lienne Plantz
Sent: January 04, 2010 5:24 AM
Subject: addition to "doves nest guestbook"
Hello everyone,
If you're looking for a stay on this lovely island, the " Doves Nest" is the place to be. We spent last summer here with our family and rented 3 apartments. Every single one of them was great. Lots of space, fully equipped kitchen, great views and excellent service. A small walk down the hill will get you to a beautiful private beach where you can swim, snorkle, fish or just relax on one of the beachchairs which are provided by the doves nest. A free trip to the little island of Pinel is also included. The location is perfect. It's just a short stroll to the centre of Grand Case Village with a lot of small shops and various restaurants. And if you're looking for some exercise: just take a walk down the long and beautiful beach in the morning and pick up a "baguette" at one of the small grocery-stores on your way back. What a way to start the day!
But what moved us most of all was the hospitality of Suzy and Emile. The way we were treated ( as if we were family) was heartwarming and made us feel right at home. We've met a lot of their family and friends at the weekly BBQ they host. And it's not just a simple BBQ but one with freshly caught fish, lobster and homemade pies for desert. Yum....
It was the 5th summer we've spent in Grand case, but this was our first stay at the Doves nest. And it will most certainly not be our last because we are already planning our stay at Suzy and Emile's for next summer. See you in July!
Greetings from the " Plantz family " ( The Netherlands )
Trip Advisor Review from Dec, 28, 2009:
Guests from Chicago, Illinois
While doing research for a place to stay, we were having a bit of trouble finding what we wanted, we specifically wanted to stay in Grand Case, as close to the sea as possible with a reasonable price; little did we know before we left that we hit the jackpot! The Dove's Nest (TDN) was easy to find once we got to the Grand Case area and were given instructions by our host Suzy, for getting onto the property through the security gate. It was if we arrived at a friend's house for a stay; simple building with beautiful landscaping (and useful, as would later learn) and parking. Our place was on the 2nd floor, although it seemed higher up; 2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bath and large balcony with a great view. Each bedroom had one bed, a queen and a king and plenty of closet space. There was also a safe in the king bedroom. The TV had numerous channels, if needed, and the living room had a large couch and love seat, there is also a cd player. Leave your adapters at home (US), they have that taken care of. We spent most of our time on the balcony, when we were in the room. The kitchen has everything you need should you decide to cook any meals, we chose to do breakfast in the room to start our day. Make sure you get fresh croissants!!! There is a path down to the beach and there are chaise lounges for your use (don't forget your packable cooler). You can also use their loungers (for a cost--remember to bargain). TDN is walking distance to many restaurants in Grand Case and the local (lo-lo's). The baby back ribs were the best at the lo-lo's! This property works best for the independent traveller, as it does not have any amenities you would find at a resort.
One evening, Emile & Suzy treated us to a homecooked meal and lobster grill on the property, along with their famous tea punch! The entire Larmony family lives on the land, I believe there are six houses on the property. Emile and Suzy and the entire family were wonderful and we will definitely be going back. Oh, and you don't have to worry about ice--Emile is the man!
Trip Advisor Review from Oct. 19, 2008:
Guests from Marietta, Georgia
My wife and I along with another couple had a lovely stay at the Doves Nest. The property is located next to the Grand Case Beach Club and is a nice seven unit building run by a wonderful family who invited us to an amazing dinner one night.
The facilities are modern and the view is amazing. The building is approximately 45 feet up from sea level and the Balcony was great! We stayed during Hurricane Omar and we appreciated the modern structure to ride out the storm in.
The little town of Grand Case was decent even though a few restuarants were closed. The town really is the Gourmet Capital of the Carribean. We had some of the best meals ever.The local beach is small, quiet, and a little rocky. Fortunantly this place is only a short drive from Orient Beach, which was fantastic.
We had a good stay and I would highly recommend the Doves Nest to anyone looking for a nice Condo/Apartment type rental for Grand Case.
Trip Advisor Review from May 23, 2008:
Guests from Poughkeepsie, NY
My husband, 3-year-old daughter, and I had a lovely 5-night stay at the Dove's Nest. It is a wonderful retreat. It is located just beyond the bustle of Grand Case's main street on a quiet cul-de-sac. It is very peaceful, and truly the only sounds are the doves, the bananquits at the bird feeder, and the waves. Yet the wonderful restaurants are a pleasant stroll (10-15 min) or very short drive away.
Dove's Nest has direct access to Petit Plage just below, which is the little beach right next to Grand Case beach. Petit Plage is a good beach for a swim away from the crowd, though our young daughter preferred beaches that had fewer rocks. The Dove's Nest also provides a kayak for guests who want to paddle around and explore. They also provide complimentary tickets to the Islet Pinel boat, for a lovely not-to-be-missed day trip.
Dove's Nest is a small, family-run inn. There are only a handful of rooms, all with lovely view and balcony. We split our time in two suites, to accommodate our last-minute booking. Both were on the lower level, and had postcard-worthy views. They consisted of bedroom, living room, kitchen, full bath, and balcony. The rooms were bright, spacious, and spotless. The suites are accessed from the balconies, and the further suite is accessed via the nearer's, so we got to meet our neighbors.
The proprietors, Suzy and Emile, are lovely people and took wonderful care of us. They host a fabulous weekly cookout for friends and guests, and were kind enough to reschedule it so we wouldn't miss it. Their children are wonderful too. When our 3-year old was very cranky one morning, she (and we) were instantly cheered and laughing when a small toy bear suddenly was lowered from the balcony above by their daughter.
If you are looking for a quiet, laid-back and reasonably-priced place to stay in Grand Case, and don't want to be surrounded by swarms of tourists, you couldn't ask for a nicer inn or nicer hosts than at Dove's Nest.
Suzy,
I am sorry it has taken me so long to respond. My children loved The Doves Nest and Alice and I plan to stay with you next year during our visit to St Martin. Please feel free to use us as a reference if you are ever asked to provide one. You and your family were very kind and your apartments are magnificant.
Thank you also for the delicious lobster dinner. That was unexpected and very much appreciated.
Thanks again for making my childrens stay so enjoyable.
Jim Noon
October/November 2007
