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The family and I are headed to Sint Maarten this summer and would love some tips about places to go, things to see, people to meet, beaches to sun on . TIA




ps our resort is on Cupecoy Beach so the clothing optional beach is
already covered (pun intended)

You MUST go to Repaire Du Pirate restaurant!!!!! The owner, Marcel, is an absolute DOLL. He dresses like a pirate, and makes his own rum - which he'd be glad to give you a taste of. The restaurant itself is constructed of bits and pieces of his boat. Food's excellent too, best Creme Brulee I've ever had.

It's in GRAND CASE, pretty much right next to the police station. Can't miss it, Jolly Roger right out front and a skull and crossbones "no parking" sign.

Get there a quite a bit for my job. Going there Thursday morning again in fact. You just missed the Jump up Carnival, which cranks up just after Easter. For your shopping and what not, you'll need to head to Philipsburg. Front St. is basically where you will find all your shops and such.
Are you renting a car? If so, expect to pay a few hundred bucks for a deposit. You won't find them at Princess Julianna Airport like you do here in the states. They don't have rental cars at the airport, but you can have it delivered to your hotel. Taxi drivers livelihood is sort of protected this way. You can expect to pay anywhere from 25 to 50 US dollars per day.

Like I said, I'll be heading down there Thursday morning, then over to St. Kitts and Antigua for a bit then back up to Beef Island then home. I'll see what is coming up this summer for Carnival and what not. Let you know when I get back.

Never been there. All I can say is I'm jealous and have a great time!!

Thanks Mojo the kids will get a kick out of the Pirate.
Chalk the car rental is a must to see the island. Any tips on day excursions(other island to check out)?

phaninatl wrote:Thanks Mojo the kids will get a kick out of the Pirate.
Chalk the car rental is a must to see the island. Any tips on day excursions(other island to check out)?

Marcel will probably hand your kids a "chapeau" and revolver to pirate around with during dinner. Make sure you bring your camera!

Car rental - YES...the cabbies will gouge you six ways to Sunday. 20 bucks just to get into the thing. Rental car was the best thing I did.

St. Barth's (and Le Select) are an hour or so away by boat. HOWEVER..I must warn you....the way there 30% of the passengers were...er..ill. The way back it jumped to somewhere around 75%. (somehow I was spared) The ride was horrible. If you're going to take the Voyager, make sure you check the weather report.

I took another day trip over to St. Kitts. It was absolutely amazing, and the people the friendliest I've met. Da land of da Sugah Cane mon. Definitely go if you get the chance, there are several flights from St. Martin daily. Plenty of history there, too. When you land at the airport, ask a local cabbie what he'd charge for his services as a tour guide. Ours was terrific, and took us around the whole island...telling it's story the whole time. OH...if you DO get to St. Kitts, there's a band there called Small Axe Band. See them if you can, and if you can't...would you PLEASE pick me up their CD "Watch De Creep Up"? It was my favorite, and got broken....can't get one anywhere in the states

Anguilla and Nevis are also islands that can be visited on day trips, but I didn't get over there.

chalksoperations wrote:Get there a quite a bit for my job. Going there Thursday morning again in fact. You just missed the Jump up Carnival, which cranks up just after Easter. For your shopping and what not, you'll need to head to Philipsburg. Front St. is basically where you will find all your shops and such.
Are you renting a car? If so, expect to pay a few hundred bucks for a deposit. You won't find them at Princess Julianna Airport like you do here in the states. They don't have rental cars at the airport, but you can have it delivered to your hotel. Taxi drivers livelihood is sort of protected this way. You can expect to pay anywhere from 25 to 50 US dollars per day.

Like I said, I'll be heading down there Thursday morning, then over to St. Kitts and Antigua for a bit then back up to Beef Island then home. I'll see what is coming up this summer for Carnival and what not. Let you know when I get back.

wow...whats your job that takes you to all these places?? more importantly...how do i sign up?? haha

Been busy with two airlines:

www.chalksoceanairways.com

also fly with a relatively new carrier out of San Juan, also been tasked with airline safety for the company and it's sister company.

www.flycsa.com
wwwlflycaribbeanstar.com

Chalks just covers Bimini, Paradise Island, and soon to add Palm Beach.
Caribbean Sun and Caribbean Star covers San Juan, Tortola, St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Antigua, Anguilla, Dominica, St. Vincents, Trinidad, Tobago, Greneda, St. Lucia, Barbados and Guyana.

I have to do station safety inspections every now and again, which causes me to spend time at these places looking at Crash, Fire Rescue programs, Control Tower visits, local hospital and police and such.

My bar never runs out of rum.

MojosMama wrote:St. Barth's (and Le Select) are an hour or so away by boat. HOWEVER..I must warn you....the way there 30% of the passengers were...er..ill. The way back it jumped to somewhere around 75%. (somehow I was spared) The ride was horrible. If you're going to take the Voyager, make sure you check the weather report.

Yes, St. Barth's makes for a marvelous day-trip, but if you fly instead of sail you'll not regret it. Landing on St. Barth's is one of life's more eye-opening experiences -- You skim the top of a bluff before you drop like a rock down to the ridiculously short airstrip that ends on the beach (st. Jean). They may have improved that strip since I was there last (1999) but I bet it's still an "exciting" touch-down.

Rent a car right in the airport at St. Barth and see the whole island in a day. Don't forget to see Gustavia and Le Select. There are a handul of wonderful beaches and some fabulous "homes of the stars" up in the hills.

Everythings' Cool Beach.............Had a great time....

I was there last December with my family....went to Dawn Beach....decent snorkeling and the highlight of my trip $.75 bottled beer from the little beach grill.........that's right $.75 Carib........I couldn't believe it....There's a Buffettesque store in Phillipsburg called Last Mango in Paradise...cool stuff....http://www.buffettfan.net/gallery/displ ... =89&pos=11

I've only been as cruise ship passenger. We took an excursion to Orient Beach The only place I've seen in Caribbean with decent sized waves to play in. Food is expensive on the French side. Shopping on Front Street is good, but I've done better in St. Thomas. The driving must be scary... we drove past several parking lots filled with crumpled rent-a-cars.

phaninatl wrote:The family and I are headed to Sint Maarten this summer and would love some tips about places to go, things to see, people to meet, beaches to sun on . TIA

ps our resort is on Cupecoy Beach so the clothing optional beach is
already covered (pun intended)

Wellllll... ifn' you take me, you could meet MEEE down there... how's that????????

I'm glad you said meet not meat

phaninatl wrote:I'm glad you said meet not meat

I prefer to check all the meat on the buffet first...