The Pelican had a lot to offer, and we really had no need to go off resort to find things to do. We vacationed there with my inlaws, both in their late 70s. The layout of the resort is VERY steep, the sidewalks and streets have uneven terrain. The hike back to our room from the beach, restaurants, etc. was a difficult one. Anyone out of shape or elderly may not do well. There were a lot of streets to cross, crazy drivers coming from all directions on very narrow streets. Be careful! We found many options available for dining and though the food was usually very good, the service was not. Most places automatically add a 15% service charge onto your bill, so check carefully before tipping. There were many hidden eateries on the resort, we seemed to discover a new one by accident each day. Ask for a detailed list and locations for all of them. The beach bar/grille had an excellent lunch menu, the burgers and hot dogs were fantastic and reasonable. Take advantage of the "boat tour packages" offered directly by the Pelican. They were a lot of fun, all refreshments were included in the price, and the captain and crew were very attentive. The 1/2 day snorkeling trip was great, plus we got a narrated tour on our way to our destination. There were quite a few beach vendors, but none overly aggressive or pushy. If you purchase from one of them, continue to give your business to that same person during your stay. Housekeeping came one time during the week, it was recommended to tip $3/day, which we did NOT do, since there was only one visit.

The resort is on a beautiful piece of land and the views from the pool, beach and 2 buildings are excellent. The other folks vacationaing there were very friendly as well. Those parts get a 5. The room is nice and comfortable- I give it a 4 and was in building D, right on the bay on the 4th floor.

Now for the bad part. The service and food are the worst I have ever had at a resort in the 30+ countries I have been to. There were people in the room they gave us a key to. We went back to the check-in desk, waited for an hour to be helped and they told us they were gone. Maids were still cleaning up the mess and the kicked out tenants came in screaming at us- a terrible way to start a vacation. Never was there an apology from anyone at the Pelican. We met many others who had similar experiences. 90% of the rest of the staff also had a very bad attitude. Food at all the restaurants was equally poor.

The close by "Hideaway Restaurant" and French owned cafe were the only places nearby that we liked. If you end up in any of the buildings up the hill- you may be very disappointed with the walk up a very steep hill and lack of a view. We traded from the Marriot timeshare in Aruba through Interval and this is a big downgrade no matter where you stay here- you will be disappointed. Have also stayed at the Kauai Marriot which is our favorite. If the natives of St. Maarten learn some customer service, it will have a chance- otherwise it will continue to be the "Unfriendly Island".

Had poolside unit B168 and it was very clean and just perfect for my families needs. There are new and more modern resorts to stay at but it had every comfort of home. The staff was as nice as they can be and everything about the resort was A+. You can not ask much more while on vacation. Enjoyed it so much we plan on buying there....JC

We paid for a deluxe studio unit for 2 weeks. Week one was ok. The unit was old, but clean and all was in working order. However-on the star of week 2 as I was about to have breakfast, there came a pounding on my door by some man advising me he was moving into the unit. I explained we had rented it for 2 weeks and there must be a mistake. After checking with the front desk ,we were told that we had to move because the owners were coming and they get first choice. We were never told we had to move units weekly when we checked in. With our bags aflying we were turfed from that unit and put in the "ghetto" - [-] dirty room complete with bugs and mold. When we complained we were told for another $1050 per week they could put us up in the new units across the road that they were building. After explaining that was not acceptable we were advised they had no other rooms available - all was full. They would not provide the accomodation we paid for. They would not refund any of the monies we paid because we were not given what we paid for. In short we were not listened to nor treated fairly. This is NOT a place I would reccomend if you like serenity on your hard earned vacation. If you're okay rolling with the punches you might get a nice room. It all depends on how "luck" treats you. They are not the least bit interested in resolving any customer problems. They got your money and you can ---- off. this is really too bad becausethe resort is in a handy location to Julianna airport. The place could really be something if they could inform people on how to use the place. eg how to retrieve voicemail messages on your room phone. This is an old resort built in the 80's. The orignal owners know the drill and where the amenties are but for visitors it can be a real hassle.